The VST is a brand new SMG in Black Ops 7 and one of the fastest-firing weapons in the game at 1053 RPM. It's built purely for close-quarters aggression — a 190ms ADS and 110ms sprint-to-fire means it's ready to fire almost instantly when you break from a sprint. If you like pushing objectives and winning gunfights in tight corridors, the VST is worth loading up.
VST Base Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 1053 RPM |
| ADS Time | 190ms |
| Sprint-to-Fire | 110ms |
| Bullet Velocity | 520 m/s |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Reload | 2730ms |
Damage Profile
| Range | Head | Chest | Stomach | Upper Leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8m | 25 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| 8–12m | 22 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
| 12–23m | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
| 23m+ | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
The VST has four distinct damage bands. It hits hardest within 8m, where the 1053 RPM fire rate combines with 20 chest damage to produce a blistering TTK. Past 12m the damage drops off sharply — keep engagements tight.
Best VST Loadout — Best Build (Meta)
The go-to VST build for Black Ops 7. Built around the standard close-range SMG formula: muzzle to stay off the radar, barrel for bullet velocity, extended mag to cover the high fire rate.
| Slot | Attachment |
|---|---|
| Muzzle | Hawker Series 45 |
| Barrel | 14" LTI Expedition Barrel |
| Underbarrel | Vas Convergence Foregrip |
| Magazine | Avarice Extended Mag II |
| Stock | Hawker Cub-55 Pad |
Why this works: The Hawker Series 45 is a lightweight suppressor that keeps you off the minimap with minimal handling penalty. The 14" LTI Expedition Barrel extends effective range and helps bullet velocity — important for an SMG that loses damage quickly past 12m. The Avarice Extended Mag II is essential at 1053 RPM, where a 30-round base mag runs dry in under 2 seconds of sustained fire.
Best VST Loadout — Rush Build
A faster, more aggressive variant that prioritises fire-rate consistency over handling.
| Slot | Attachment |
|---|---|
| Muzzle | Hawker Series 45 |
| Barrel | 14" LTI Expedition Barrel |
| Magazine | Avarice Extended Mag II |
| Stock | Hawker Cub-55 Pad |
| Fire Mods | Buffer Springs |
The Buffer Springs mod increases fire rate consistency and reduces felt recoil during full-auto. With the stock already handling sprint-to-fire, this variant trades the underbarrel slot for the Fire Mods slot — giving you slightly more spray control while keeping everything else identical.
How Does It Compare?
At 1053 RPM the VST is one of the highest fire rate SMGs in Black Ops 7. It wins gunfights quickly when you're within 8m, and remains competitive out to 12m with the right build. Past that, it fades fast. Use it as your primary weapon in modes like Hardpoint or Domination where you're constantly pushing into tight spaces. In Search and Destroy or modes with longer sightlines, pair it with a longer-range secondary.