9mm SMG

Lore & Background

On Halcyon, weapons are as much a social marker as a practical tool. The 9mm SMG belongs to the working class of the colony—the people who load cargo, patch hull breaches, and keep the hydroponics bay from flooding. It is not the polished, branded sidearm of a Monarch's security detail, nor the exotic energy rifle a player might find in a vault. It is a utilitarian, slightly worn tube of metal that fires small, cheap rounds in quick bursts.

The game's world-building treats small arms like this as the default of everyday violence. In a colony where resources are rationed and the Monarchs control the flow of better hardware, a 9mm SMG is what you grab when the lights flicker and something is moving in the corridor. It is not elegant. It is not powerful. But it is there, and it is yours, and in the first hours of waking up on a derelict colony ship, that is enough.

Fans often remember the 9mm SMG as the weapon that defined their first firefight—spraying rounds into a cluster of enemies in a narrow hallway, feeling the satisfying rattle of fast fire, and then realizing they needed to find more 9mm before the next room. It is the gateway weapon, the one that teaches the player the rhythm of The Outer Worlds' combat before the bigger guns take over.

In Their Own Story

The corridor smelled of recycled air and something faintly burnt. You'd been awake for maybe an hour—maybe less. The Halcyon groaned around you, a sound like a ship that had forgotten what it was supposed to do. Your hand found the 9mm SMG tucked against your hip, its polymer grip slick with the thin sweat of your palm.

Three of them came around the corner. Security, by the look of their vests, though the insignia was scuffed and the patches were mismatched. They had bigger guns. You had faster hands and a magazine that could empty before they finished raising theirs.

You fired. The 9mm rounds punched into the nearest one's shoulder, spinning him into the bulkhead. The other two returned fire, and the sparks off the wall told you the rounds were cheaper than yours. You kept moving, kept the trigger down, let the SMG chatter its small, angry voice into the dark. When it was over, you checked the magazine. Four rounds left. You'd need to find more. You always needed to find more.

Reader's Guide

Item: 9mm SMG Type: Submachine Gun Tier: Common (Standard)

The 9mm SMG is a fast-firing, low-to-moderate damage submachine gun that fires 9mm ammunition. It has a light weight, making it easy to carry alongside other gear, and its rapid fire rate compensates for its lower per-round damage. It is best suited for close-to-mid range engagements where you can keep the trigger held down and let volume of fire do the work.

Drop / Acquisition: The 9mm SMG is available early in the game on Halcyon, the colony ship. It can be found in early mission areas, picked up from downed enemies, or purchased from early-game vendors. It is not quest-gated and is not DLC-exclusive—it is a standard part of the base-game early arsenal.

Notable Notes: As a Common-tier weapon, it does not carry special modifiers or unique effects. Its value is in accessibility and the commonness of 9mm ammo, which is found throughout the early game. It is not a weapon to build a full loadout around, but it is perfectly serviceable for the first few hours while you hunt for something with more punch. The flavor text on the item card keeps things dry and in-world, referencing its use by Halcyon's maintenance and security staff, reinforcing the game's theme that even the most mundane gear has a story behind it.

Did You Know?

• The 9mm SMG is one of the earliest reliable weapons players can acquire, making it a rite-of-passage sidearm for many new players' first firefights on Halcyon.
• 9mm ammunition is one of the most widely available ammo types in the early game, meaning the 9mm SMG rarely leaves a player stranded without reloads.
• In The Outer Worlds' design, Common-tier weapons like the 9mm SMG lack special modifiers, intentionally keeping early-game combat focused on positioning and fire-rate management rather than gear optimization.
• The weapon's fast fire rate and light weight make it a popular choice for players who prefer a 'spray and pray' style before upgrading to heavier, slower-firing rifles.