SWAT-556 - Black Ops 2 Weapon Guide

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This time, we're covering the SWAT-556.

The SWAT is the first burst-fire weapon you'll unlock, at level 10, and Black Ops 2 marks the weapon's first appearance in the Call of Duty series.

The SIG SG 556, as it is known in real life, is a weapon of Swiss origin that was first produced in 1986 and introduced into service in 1990.

It is the US-made version of the SG 551, and in real life is a semi-automatic weapon intended for the civilian market.

The parent design is technically chambered for the Swiss 5.6mm GP 90 round, although this specification is fully interchangeable with the far more common NATO 5.56mm cartridge.

The SWAT name used in-game refers to 'Special Weapons and Tactics' police units, a potential role for this weapon: the change likely made to avert potential licensing or legal issue.

In-game, damage per shot is moderate, but very consistent out to a long range.

You'll usually need 3 body shots to kill, although this drops to 4 shots at an extreme distance.

The SWAT also has a higher-than usual headshot multiplier, which means that you can kill with a single burst at any range - although it is rather unlikely to score three headshots in a single burst.

Equipping the select fire attachment will reduce your ranged damage considerably: you'll generally need 4 shots to kill instead of just 3.

Post-patch, the weapon now has LMG-grade penetration, technically higher than the other assault rifles - but in practical terms, performance through walls is similar to its peers.

Rate of fire is high within the burst - at the equivalent of 940 rounds per minute, a well-placed sequence of shots will quickly down a target.

There is a mandatory delay between your bursts, however - and so your overall maximum rate of fire will be around 500 rounds per minute instead.

Select fire will make your weapon fully-automatic, and as such will let you fire at the full 940 rounds per minute, the same as the Type 25.

When employed as a burst weapon, recoil is very low - with your sights settling during the delay.

Even within the 3 shot burst, kick is relatively mild: it's not uncommon to hit a mid-range target with all three bullets fired, if your aim is true.

Automatic fire via select fire will prove to be less accurate - continuous shooting will lead your aim vertically upwards, making burst fire a better option for longer distances.

Aim time is standard for the assault rifle class, at 250 milliseconds - as is your movement speed, at 95 percent of the maximum base speed.

Magazine capacity is again standard for the SWAT's class, with thirty rounds between reloads.

Extended clip will give you 39 rounds instead of the more usual 40, for a supply more easily divisible by the 3-round-burst.

Reload times are quite bearable, on the more rapid end of assault rifle reloads at 2.09 seconds.

Given the restrained consumption of a burst fire weapon, such reloads seldom prove inconvenient.

The SWAT-556 is an excellent weapon within its mid-to-long range niche, and rewards players able to force engagements at this range with the potential for high scorestreaks.

With excellent range and relatively low recoil, the SWAT retains good burst lethality out to quite some distance, and even in cases where the first burst fails to kill - the second is equally accurate and quick to follow.

Unfortunately, the burst fire and consistent ranged damage won't serve you well in close quarter gunfights - the SWAT's performance at such ranges is severely lacking.

The weapon's demand for accurate burst placement means lucky hipfire or your secondary is all you can rely on: going toe-to-toe with the SWAT will almost always leave you at a disadvantage.

Still, if you position yourself well and prepare your defences, you can round out these flaws and dominate from afar.

Keep your distance, and patiently bait a trap - lure your enemies into your sights, wait for the perfect moment to strike...

...and SWAT your opponents like flies.

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