The Prowler is definitely an interesting SMG. I usually have a disdain for weapons that fire in bursts. It all started with the M16A4 back in Battlefield 3, I would always get killed in a fair fight, just because I couldn’t fire fast enough. My disdain for burst-firing weapons has lasted ever since. That is until I discovered the Prowler. I now have a healthy respect for the Prowler Burst SMG, as it has served me well in many a clutch situations.
Why I Love the Prowler Burst SMG
Here’s what I believe makes the Prowler so unique compared to other burst-firing weapons in games. For starters, it fires a 5-round burst. That is definitely over the average as most burst-firing weapons usually fire in bursts of 2 or 3. And unless you’re playing a mil-sim like Squad or Project Reality, that simply isn’t enough! Here’s where the Prowler comes in. Its 5-round bursts pack enough of a punch and can be fired in such a quick succession that it doesn’t feel at a disadvantage when facing fully automatic weapons. Combined with its reasonable spread and great accuracy, the Prowler is a formidable beast indeed.
The Stats of the Prowler Burst SMG
Now let’s take a look at the specifics.
| Target | Mods | Dmg | 100 | 150 | 175 | 200 | 225 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head (1.75x) | – | 110 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Head | Lvl. 1 | 105 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Head | Lvl. 2 | 95 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Head | Lvl. 3/4 | 90 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Body | – | 75 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Body | Fort | 65 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Legs (0.75x) | – | 60 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Legs | Fort | 50 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
As you can see, its damage per burst actually exceeds the Hemlok. Some people find this shocking. “How can a submachine gun do more damage than an assault rifle?” Well, what they usually forget is that the Prowler fires a 5-round burst, while the Hemlok only fires 3. This is why its damage is greater than the Hemlok’s. But even if we consider the damage per single bullet, it’s quite respectable as far as submachine guns are concerned. It’s not quite at the level of the Volt or the Alternator. But it’s definitely not as low as the R-99.
Attachments for the Prowler Burst SMG
Ok, but what can you slap on it?
The Prowler has the usual 4 attachment slots. These are:
- Laser Sight
- Extended Heavy Mag
- Standard Stock
- 1x HCOG “Classic”
- 1x Holo
- 1x-2x Variable Holo
- 2x HCOG “Bruiser” 1x Digital Threat
Ideal Prowler Set-Up
If you’re lucky with the loot, you should ideally set up your Prowler in the following manner.
Start off by locating an Epic Laser Sight. Follow that up with a Legendary Extended Heavy Mag. Locate either a 1x-2x Variable Holo or a 1x Digital Threat. And finish off with an Epic Standard Stock.
The Laser Sight and the Extended Heavy Mag are imperative, as soon as you find those two then everything else is a breeze. If you manage to locate an Epic Laser sight, the gun basically becomes a pinpoint laser that doesn’t require you to aim down sights. The Epic and Legendary Extended Heavy Mag give you 15 extra bullets, which translates to 3 extra bursts.
Is the Prowler Burst SMG Competitive Against Other SMGs?
This is a question that a lot of people often ask. The whole point of an SMG is to have an insanely high fire rate, which allows you to get up close to your opponent and melt their face. Take the R-99, the C.A.R, or the Volt. Excluding the R-99, all of them have a higher damage per bullet and are fully automatic. Surely they’ll win in a straight-out fight, right?
Not necessarily. Nothing can guarantee that every bullet will hit its mark. Especially with some of the aforementioned guns, which are notorious for their spread and or recoil. The Prowler doesn’t suffer as much from the same issue. You can almost be sure that most of the bursts will hit around the same area, as the dispersion is lower. That is why I believe that the Prowler is a gun that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Potential Balance Changes for the Prowler in the Future
Season 16 is nearly upon us. Who knows what goodies Respawn Entertainment will give us? As it currently sits, the Prowler Burst SMG is what players would consider an A-tier or even an S-tier weapon. It all comes down to personal preference.
A potential change that could happen in the future would be a rebalancing of its ammunition and bursts. We may end up seeing a larger magazine size with a smaller burst. That would definitely shake things up for the Prowler.
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