Machine Guns

Machine guns give up accuracy and subtlety for a huge magazine and a high volume of fire. Light machine guns are carried like any other gun. Heavy machine guns are torn off turrets or taken from heavy gunners. Both work best in a Body build that charges into a fight and keeps the trigger held down.

Combat

Pros

• The magazine is large, so long bursts and crowds of enemies are no problem.
• Body perks improve machine guns directly, from no movement penalty to ammo refills on kills.
• Light machine guns carry +85% headshot damage. Aiming at the head during a long burst is worth it.

Cons

• A heavy machine gun cannot be holstered or stored, and it blocks sprinting.
• Swapping weapons drops the heavy machine gun on the floor.
• A heavy machine gun is slow to move with, so it is best reloaded behind cover.

Weapon Categories

Best Machine Guns

Name	Image	Why
M2067 Defender		Power light machine gun, +85% headshot damage
MA70 HB		Power light machine gun, +85% headshot damage
Mk. 31 HMG		The heavy machine gun torn off turrets

M2067 Defender and MA70 HB share the same headshot damage and armor penetration. The better choice is simply the one available at a higher tier. Mk. 31 HMG is best for a single big fight, because it cannot be carried away afterwards.

Character Builds

Body perks improve light and heavy machine guns, along with shotguns and blunt weapons. A high enough Body is also needed to rip a heavy machine gun off a turret in the first place.

• Like A Feather removes the movement speed penalty of light and heavy machine guns, and of shotguns.
• Onslaught refills 20% of the ammo after a kill with a light machine gun, so a long burst can keep going.
• Die! Die! Die! adds crit chance, fire rate and handling as Stamina drops. It works well with a gun that fires for a long time.
• Bullet Ballet cuts bullet spread by 25% while moving.
• Dread lowers enemy Armor by 15% with ranged attacks.
• Spontaneous Obliteration adds a chance to kill and dismember enemies outright at low Health.

The Solo skill grows with Body. It adds Health and carrying capacity at its milestones.

For cyberware, Clutch Padding cuts the Stamina cost of shooting. Shock Absorber and Immovable Force both cut recoil. Immovable Force also gives the bonuses that normally need cover. ProxiShield reduces damage from enemies who get close.

Notes

• Heavy machine guns come from turrets or from heavy gunners who drop them.
• A heavy machine gun is lost as soon as its owner swaps weapons. It is best used right where the fight is.
• MA70 HB x-MOD2 belongs to the Iconic x-MOD2 series, which has two guaranteed mod slots and improved handling.
• Standard machine guns cannot be upgraded. Higher tiers come from loot and vendors as the level rises.

All Machine Guns

Every machine gun is listed below. The Iconic weapons come first, then the standard ones.

Iconic Machine Guns

Name	Image	Headshot	Armor Pen	Location
MA70 HB x-MOD2				Dogtown

Standard Machine Guns

Name	Image	Headshot	Armor Pen	Location
M2067 Defender		+85%	25%
MA70 HB		+85%	25%
Mk. 31 HMG