Unlock the hidden power of the Tanto .22 in Black Ops 6 – a slow-firing SMG that defies expectations by shredding enemies at close to medium range with surgical precision. Master the perfect loadout and class build to turn this underrated weapon into your ultimate run-and-gun tool, dominating every match with lethal accuracy and unstoppable momentum.
The Tanto .22 goes toe-to-toe with both the Jackal PDW and the C9 to make up the top three SMGs in Black Ops 6.
However, where you’ll want to be sprinting and sliding around the map primarily firing from the hip with the former, the Tanto is much better suited to fighting from distance, making it more akin to an assault rifle despite its small size.
How to unlock the Tanto .22 in Black Ops 6
To unlock the Tanto .22 in Black Ops 6, you need to reach player level 16. This unlocks the weapon automatically without requiring any specific challenges, making it accessible after just a few hours of gameplay. The Tanto .22 is the third submachine gun available in the game, following the C9 and KSV, and is known for its slow rate of fire and effectiveness at longer ranges.
The Tanto .22 is unlocked in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 by reaching level 16. This means that it should only take a couple of hours to unlock, and once you do, you can start leveling it up. It’s the third SMG you’ll unlock, after the C9 and KSV.
Best Tanto .22 loadout in Black Ops 6
The best Tanto .22 loadout in Black Ops 6 maximizes the weapon’s high damage and effective range despite its slow fire rate. Key attachments include the Long Barrel for extended range, the Ported or Compensator muzzle for improved recoil control, and the Ranger Foregrip to enhance horizontal recoil and sprint speed. The Commando or Ergonomic Grip boosts handling and aim-down-sight speed, while Rapid Fire helps mitigate the slow fire rate. This setup turns the Tanto .22 into a versatile SMG capable of dominating both close and medium-range engagements, rewarding players with precise aim and strategic positioning.
Here is the best Tanto .22 loadout in Black Ops 6:
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Stock: Balanced Stock
- Fire Mods: Recoil Springs
- Optic: Accu-Spot Reflex (Gunfighter)
- Magazine: Fast Mag I (Gunfighter)
- Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip (Gunfighter)
For this build, we’re utilizing the Gunfighter wildcard to have eight attachments, but if you decide not to run with it, ignore the final three suggestions.
As mentioned, the aim with the Tanto .22 is to manage the recoil and ensure it can compete at range. The Compensator buffs the vertical recoil control, while the Vertical Foregrip buffs the horizontal recoil control, so both are essential. Meanwhile, the Long Barrel buffs the damage range and is a better choice than the Reinforced Barrel because bullet velocity doesn’t come into play much here.
Meanwhile, the Balanced Stock ensures you retain some mobility by buffing all the various types of movement speed. Then, Recoil Springs will buff both horizontal and recoil control even further. Take this build into the firing range and you’ll see that with a tiny bit of tap firing, you’ll be able to land pretty much every shot on the 100 meter target, which is unfathomable for most SMGs.
The additional three attachments are useful because having an optical sight can come in extremely handy at range, and the Fast Mag I may reduce the size of your magazine by five bullets, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives thanks to the aim down sight speed, reload quickness, and sprint to fire speed buffs. Then, the Ergonomic Grip assists further with mobility, ensuring you’re not hamstrung to only fight at range.
Best Tanto .22 class in Black Ops 6
The best Tanto .22 class in Black Ops 6 focuses on maximizing the weapon’s unique strengths as a slow-firing but high-damage SMG that excels at medium to long ranges. Key attachments include the Ported Compensator for excellent first-shot recoil control, Long Barrel to extend damage range, Ranger Foregrip for recoil stability and mobility, and Rapid Fire to increase fire rate. This setup transforms the Tanto .22 into a versatile powerhouse capable of competing with assault rifles, especially when paired with perks like Gung-Ho, Assassin, and Double Time for aggressive, fast-paced gameplay. Complementing the loadout with a long-range secondary weapon such as the LR 7.62 ensures preparedness for all combat scenarios, making this class build one of the most effective in Black Ops 6 multiplayer.
Here is the best class to use alongside the Tanto .22 in Black Ops 6:
- Pistol: Grekhova
- Melee: Knife
- Tactical: Flashbang
- Lethal: Molotov
- Field Upgrade: Assault Pack
- Perk 1: Ghost
- Perk 2: Forward Intel
- Perk 3: Cold-Blooded
- Specialty: Recon
- Wildcard: Gunfighter
As with most classes in the game, the Grekhova and the Knife are the obvious choices as the best options for each category. Choosing between the Flashbang or Concussion in the tactical slot is mostly personal preference, but the Flashbang seems to be stronger in Black Ops 6. However, if you want to go more specialized, you could opt for a Shock Charge in this slot to freeze enemies in place.
Lethal grenades are also down to personal preference because the Frag and Semtex are both great, but the Molotov is a lot of fun as well. Since this class and weapon isn’t quite as mobile as some of the other SMGs, the Molotov is a strong pick to cover an area in fire. Then, we have the Assault Pack as the Field Upgrade because, chances are, you’ll be rinsing through ammo fairly quickly with the Fast Mag I equipped.
We’re opting for the blue perk trio to get the Recon specialty, which allows you to see enemies through walls for a moment after respawning.
Elsewhere, Ghost is a no-brainer as you’re undetectable by enemy UAVs, Forward Intel increases your minimap size and shows direction indicators for revealed enemies, and Cold-Blooded makes it so you can’t be seen by AI targeting and thermal optics.
Finally, there’s the Gunfighter wildcard to ensure you can use another three attachment slots, though if you don’t go for this, Perk Greed would be the next recommendation to equip Ninja, Flak Jacket, or Tac Mask.
How does the Tanto .22 outperform other SMGs in Black Ops 6
The Tanto .22 outperforms other SMGs in Black Ops 6 primarily through its exceptional damage range and recoil control, making it effective at medium distances where most SMGs struggle. Unlike typical SMGs that emphasize high fire rates and close-quarters mobility, the Tanto .22 features a notably slow fire rate but compensates with high damage per shot and manageable recoil, allowing for precise tap firing even at ranges up to 100 meters.
Additionally, the weapon benefits from attachments like the Compensator, Long Barrel, Vertical Foregrip, and Recoil Springs, which collectively enhance its accuracy and damage range, transforming it into a versatile choice that bridges the gap between traditional SMGs and assault rifles. The introduction of the Binary Trigger attachment further boosts its fire rate from 441 to 652 rounds per minute, improving its close-range combat viability without sacrificing its superior recoil handling.
Overall, the Tanto .22 excels by offering a unique playstyle focused on controlled, accurate shots at longer ranges than typical SMGs, making it a top-tier option for players who prefer precision over raw speed in Black Ops 6.
How does the Binary Trigger enhance the Tanto .22’s performance in Black Ops 6
The Binary Trigger significantly enhances the Tanto .22’s performance in Black Ops 6 by increasing its fire rate from a sluggish 441 rounds per minute to a much faster 652 RPM. This attachment converts the weapon’s firing mode to semi-auto with binary functionality, meaning it fires a bullet both when the trigger is pulled and released, effectively doubling the firing cadence if the player can tap quickly.
This boost in fire rate reduces the weapon’s time-to-kill, making it far more competitive in close-quarters combat where the original slow fire rate was a major drawback. However, the Binary Trigger comes with trade-offs: it blocks the use of Barrel and Underbarrel attachments, which normally help extend damage range and reduce recoil, and it also prevents equipping Rapid Fire, another fire rate enhancer. Despite these limitations, the faster firing speed and unique firing mechanic make the Tanto .22 viable and fun to use, transforming it from one of the weakest SMGs into a formidable option for aggressive playstyles.
In summary, the Binary Trigger turns the Tanto .22 into a high-fire-rate, semi-auto weapon that rewards skillful trigger tapping, improving its close-range lethality while sacrificing some customization options.
