Hello, this is XboxAhoy and this is the twenty-fifth episode of my Black Ops 2 Weapon Guide.
This time, we're covering the M27.
Unlocked at level 31, Black Ops 2 marks the M27's first depiction in the Call of Duty
series, where it is the fifth assault rifle unlocked.
The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is a designation given to a variant of the HK416 design, in
turn a descendant of both the American AR-15 and German G36 designs.
It was designed in response to the US Marine Corps' Infantry Automatic Rifle program in
2006, intended to find a modern lightweight weapon capable of filling a squad support
role.
HK, FN and Colt all offered competing designs - FN's SCAR-derived HAMR being the major competitor
to the HK416 in testing.
HK's offering came out on top in 2009, earning the M27 designation - named after the 2nd
Batallion, 7th Marines for their involvement in automatic rifle testing.
In 2011, the M27 started to enter service, replacing the M249 SAW in a Limited User Evaluation.
While the replacement has seen criticism for its lack of sustained fire ability, the M27
does provide reliable automatic performance, and may yet see an expansion of its role.
In-game, damage is low - you'll generally need at least four shots to kill, or up to
five at a distance.
The M27's effective range is pretty good, however - so you can expect consistent performance,
if not impressive per-shot damage.
Penetration ability is on-par with most other assault rifles - paired with the lower damage,
cutting through cover is not the strongest trait of this weapon.
The M27's rate of fire does make up for the lower damage, however - 750 rounds per minute
is above average for the assault rifle category.
Compared to a typical SMG, output is not that impressive - but hipfire is nonetheless a
reasonably effective last-ditch defence: certainly more effective than most other weapons within
the assault rifle class.
Low recoil is perhaps the M27's key trait - it is able to place a series of shots into
a surprisingly small target at range.
The low damage paired with relatively high output and precision means that this weapon
is very much geared towards combat at a middle to long distance - and while it might lack
power it is not left wanting in the consistency stakes.
Otherwise, handling is average for its class - aim time is relatively quick, at just a
quarter of a second - and your mobility is the assault rifle default, at 95% of the base
speed.
Magazine capacity is average, at 30 rounds between reloads: Extended Clip will take this
to 40 rounds instead.
Reloads are swift, at just 2.03 seconds.
While not often a problem, the relatively high rate of fire can burn though a magazine
quickly without good fire control.
Our build with the M27 is all about slowing down the game: forcing your enemy into a more
leisurely pace, avoiding the hectic rush of SMGs and instead holding the enemy at an arm's
reach.
In doing so, we'll be making the best use of the M27: as a weapon that doesn't perform
well in close quarters, anything we can do to avoid such gunfights will do wonders for
your longevity.
First up is the Suppressor: this attachment will keep you off radar when you fire, at
the cost of a portion of your effective range and a minor increase to recoil.
The downsides aren't too severe however, as the M27 has a low differential between its
maximum and minimum damage, and in cases where you need an extra bullet to kill, it is easily
dispensed.
The stealth benefit will prove very useful when it comes to avoiding unexpected conflict
- your enemy won't be able to pinpoint your exact position, which will mean you'll find
yourself blindsided less often - enhancing your survivability and increasing your odds
of attaining the higher streaks.
Next up, Extended Clip offers a duofold benefit: more rounds available on tap, and a larger
initial starting supply.
The former proves useful with the M27's fire rate, as 30 rounds is easily depleted, and
the additional 10 may prove decisive when tackling multiple foes at once.
The additional supply will mean you won't have to scavenge for more rounds too often,
allowing you to hold a critical defensive position for longer.
Our perk selection is designed for such long streaks: and our first choice is Hardline.
Conferring a 20% bonus to points accrued, this perk ties in nicely with our cautious
build, and will help you to attain the highest streaks more often.
Next up, Perk 2 Greed permits two choices from the second tier: the first of which will
help to reliably swing long-range gunfights in your favour.
With the M27's need to land a large number of shots to secure a kill, Toughness is a
valuable asset: reducing flinch when shot, and the odds that your resultant shots will
land off-target.
Second selection this tier is Scavenger: the ability to resupply ammo and equipment particularly
useful on long streaks, as running out and being forced to vacate an otherwise comfortable
firing location can end up getting you killed.
Tactical Mask is our third tier selection: keeping your sights clear and preventing any
enemy from tilting their already-skewed close quarter advantage.
A Claymore in your lethal slot gives you another layer of insulation, able to cover a doorway
until a hapless foe trips the deadly explosion, or until you're otherwise notified of your
defences' destruction.
Similarly useful, if less lethal, is the Shock Charge - this proximity-based deployable allowing
you to cover another angle, shocking those who dare get too close to your position.
Any shocked enemy will prove particularly pliant to your fire, and with scavenger you
can loot their corpse for another round of defence.
That's our build: a slow set of defensive traits, designed to force enemies into gunfights
on your terms, well within the M27's comfort zone.
Close-range aggression with the weapon will nearly always put you at a distinct disadvantage:
taking a more support-oriented tack will play to your strengths, and avoid the loss of gunfights
due to poor per-shot damage.
And, as long as you're being cautious, you may as well shoot for the higher streaks - edging
inch by inch towards the top-tier air support can eventually swing a game in your favour.
The M27 is an easy-to-handle assault rifle with low recoil and the potential to reliably
hit targets repeatedly over the longer sightlines.
The relatively high level of output means you're not dependent on any single shot finding
its mark, but instead can benefit from greater consistency in lieu of higher damage.
The faster rate of fire also makes the M27 relatively effective from the hip - and while
you may need four shots to kill, you are far more likely to land these shots than with
a slower-firing weapon.
Of course, the M27 is far from effective up close, principally because of its lower damage
- its time to kill pales when compared to any other SMG or Shotgun.
It is because of this weakness that you should seek to avoid close-range encounters - keeping
enemies at an arm's reach will greatly enhance your overall performance.
In addition, you may struggle to compete against higher damage weapons at range if you're not
careful: while you have the ability to accurately direct the four or five shots needed to kill
at range, an enemy sniper need land only a single shot to simply snuff your streak.
Still, the M27 is a foolproof option with reach far beyond most other automatic weapons:
able to effortlessly tackle distant opponents with a stream of accurate fire.
Never mind the HAMR, this tack-driver will help assemble your advantage, construct your
victory...
...and nail your opposition.
Thanks for watching, this has been XboxAhoy.
Join me next week, when I'll be covering the Assault Shield.
Until then, farewell.