On this page:
Best PKM loadouts Best PKM Perks and Equipment How to unlock the PKM
Best PKM loadout in Warzone
The PKM is pretty much a no-frills LMG. When you think, ‘hmm, I feel like playing a game with an LMG,’ this is what you’re thinking. So, with that in mind, here’s a couple ways to deck out your PKM to maximise your effectiveness in Verdansk.
Best mid- to long-range PKM loadout in Warzone
This one is the best PKM loadout. It’s accurate, deals a lot of damage, and is basically all you need to play a strong LMG game. The only real weakness is reload time, so make sure you’re factoring that into your gameplay and using an SMG to quickly switch and fire with. You can also take advantage of reload cancelling, which is when you quickly switch weapons as soon as your ammo number changes, rather than waiting for the full animation to finish. Anyway, here’s the attachments you should chuck on your PKM:
Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor (Level 7) Barrel: 26.9” Extended Barrel (Level 36) Laser: Tac Laser (Level 54) Optic: VLK 3.0x Optic (Level 11) Underbarrel: Snatch Grip (Level 45)
So, here’s the lowdown on your PKM attachments. The Monolithic Suppressor is, as always, an absolute no-brainer. Keeping you off the map whilst simultaneously boosting range? Yes please. Pairing this with the 26.9” Extended Barrel, the longest one available, is also essential for maximising the range and accuracy of your PKM. The Snatch Grip is a personal favourite for really sorting out that recoil control too, with the added bonus of helping you aim down the sights quicker - just remember to switch to your other weapon when running long distances as it’ll reduce your movement speed. Your Tac Laser further improves your ADS speed and keeps your aim steadier with very little drawback. It’s rare that an enemy sees the green laser and takes you down because of it, especially at the ranges you want to be engaging with the PKM at. Finally, your optic. The VLK 3.0x Optic is the perfect level of magnification with a super-clean sight. According to some players it also reduces your recoil slightly, which makes it an extremely good option. Some might fancy running an extended magazine because of the gargantuan reload time of the PKM, so if you feel comfortable without the mobility bonus of the Tac Laser then feel free to chuck on a longer ammo belt too.
Best close-range PKM loadout in Warzone
This is an off-meta PKM loadout for those of you who fancy something a bit different. The PKM will by no means rival the FFAR 1 or MAC-10 in close quarters, but it’s a fun way to try and go against the current meta. If you want a sniper support weapon with a bit more mobility than standard LMG fare, why not give these attachments a try:
Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor (Level 58) Laser: Tac Laser (Level 54) Optic: VLK 3.0x Optic (Level 11) Stock: FSS Close Quarters Stock (Level 36) Rear Grip: Stippled Grip Tape (Level 25)
There’s a few attachments that stay the same with this setup, like the Tac Laser and Monolithic Suppressor. They’re just too important. However, switching out the long barrel for the FSS Close Quarters Stock really boosts your gun’s mobility. If you’re feeling extra spicy, feel free to whack on the No Stock, but keep in mind this’ll significantly damage your recoil control. Stippled Grip Tape is the other addition here, as it improves both your ADS speed and sprint-to-fire speed, giving you that extra split second when an enemy jumps you and you have to start firing as swiftly as possible. This build is still pretty solid at medium ranges too, but won’t do quite as well from long distance thanks to the lack of a long barrel and underbarrel foregrip for recoil.
Secondary weapon
If you’ve picked the former build for your ranged prowess, I’d definitely go with an SMG as a secondary. Specific favourites include the MAC-10 and MP5, but it’s really up to you depending on what feels best. If you want to use the gun as a sniper support class, chuck on your favourite sniper. What works great here are some of the snappier options like the Kar98k or SP-R 208.
Best PKM loadout with Perks and Equipment
The right Perks and Equipment are important in the Warzone, so here’s what you should go for:
Perk 1: EOD Perk 2: Overkill/Ghost Perk 3: Amped Lethal: Proximity Mine Tactical: Heartbeat Sensor
EOD is probably the best possible choice for perk slot one. It mitigates enemy pushes when they come at you with Semtex or Thermite, and could give you that extra survival time you need to finish a gunfight. Overkill is very important to get your ideal secondary, but if you already have it then Ghost is really useful. Lots of enemies will gun you down after tracking you with a Heartbeat Sensor, so avoiding that is extremely important. Finally, Amped is a great choice for the PKM, as changing weapons quickly becomes more and more vital when you’re wielding a slow LMG. Often I’d go for C4, but the PKM can already deal decent vehicle damage from a distance. Instead, I’ve picked the Proximity Mine, as it can give you that little bit of pre-warning when you’re getting flanked and even a blast of damage on your enemies. Finally, the Heartbeat Sensor can allow you to get the drop on non-ghosted foes, which can be a real quick difference between life or death. It’s also great for sussing out flankers.
How to unlock the PKM in Warzone
The PKM is available by default in Warzone. If you fancy using it, just head over to your ‘Edit Loadout’ menu and select it from the LMGs category. There you go, all the PKM info you need! Want more Warzone help? Well, why not listen to a bit of Warzone Audio Bang, RPS’ latest Warzone news and discussion podcast, or have a look at the full list of best Warzone guns if you’re still undecided.
