PUBG Update #27 is a sizeable patch that’s now live on the PC test server. It includes several gameplay balance changes, weapon reworks, loot adjustments, as well as new content. There’s a new weapon being added to Vikendi, the MP5K, and PUBG’s next Event Pass known as the Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card is coming to the game. Also, the Flare Gun has been nerfed.

Let’s take a closer look at PUBG Update #27.

New Weapon

MP5K (Vikendi)

• Has a high rate of fire and minimal recoil.
• Attachments: Tactical stock, various magazines, muzzle attachments, grips, and scopes.
• It has six attachment slots and two of them are for scopes (one for a standard scope and the other for the Canted Sight).
• It has three different firing modes: Single, Burst (3-round bursts), or Auto.
• Uses 9mm ammo.
• It does 33 base damage.
• Only available on Vikendi.

The Vector was removed from Vikendi, and the new MP5K has replaced it. It doesn’t fire as fast as the Vector, but it does do more damage.

The MP5K has a nice default magazine size (holds 30 bullets) and it’s intended for close-range combat, but if you add some attachments to it (such as a tactical stock and compensator), then it’s quite effective as a medium-range weapon, too.

Overall, it’s a strong submachine gun that can also function as an assault rifle (with the right attachments).

Hopefully, the MP5K is eventually added to the other maps.

Buffs

M16A4

• Burst mode recoil has been decreased.
• Increased the range before it experiences damage fall-off.
• Canted Sight and Tactical Stock can now be attached to it.

The M16A4 has been the weakest assault rifle in PUBG for a long time now, but now it’s finally getting some decent buffs.

Its burst mode will now actually be useful for mid-range fights with the recoil reduction (though the single-fire mode is still the best option for long-range fights).

The best buff here is allowing the M16A4 to receive a tactical stock. This attachment will significantly improve the gun: it will decrease the recoil recovery time, decrease the iron sight/scope sway, improve its ADS speed, and make its hip-fire more accurate.

I would still rather have a M416 or G36C over the M16A4, but the M16A4 is definitely less of a death sene these changes.

MK47 Mutant

• Tactical Stock can now be attached to it.

Just like the M16A4, this assault rifle will be much better with the tactical stock attachment: it will decrease the recoil recovery time, decrease the iron sight/scope sway, improve its ADS speed, and make its hip-fire more accurate.

Sniper Rifles and Submachine Guns

• Sniper Rifle body damage shot damage increased from 110% of base damage to 150%.
• Submachine Gun limb shot damage increased from 120% of base damage to 125%.

These are some good damage buffs for Sniper Rifles and SMGs (especially for the Sniper Rifles).

Now a body shot from a Kar98k will almost be as devastating as a headshot with this change.

Weapon Attachments

• Pistols and Submachine guns will now share attachments.
• Bullet Loops for Shotguns, the Win94, and Kar98K have been combined into a new item called Ammo Loops.
• You can now attach holo sights to Pistols.

While not a clear buff, these changes benefit a bunch of different weapons.

SMGs can now use pistol attachments and vice-versa. So, a pistol extended magazine is no longer a worthless attachment, since you can now attach it to your UMP45 or MP5K.

And I’m glad you can now attach a holo sight to your pistol — it will make the pistols more reliable in those early game skirmishes.

Nerfs

UMP45 (Goodbye UMP9)

• The UMP9 has been replaced with the UMP45.
• The UMP45 uses 45ACP ammo, and its default magazine holds 25 bullets (35 with an extended magazine).

This a big change that might not go over well with the PUBG community, since the UMP9 was easily the most popular SMG.

But the UMP9 was definitely overpowered, and it was often a better mid-range option than any assault rifle in the game.

The new UMP45 is basically a slightly nerfed version of the UMP9 — the UMP45’s default and extended magazines both hold less bullets than the UMP9’s magazines (now 25/35 instead of 30/40).

Though outside of the magazine nerf and changing the ammo from 9mm to 45CP, there were no further damage nerfs, so the UMP45 should still be a strong SMG.

Vector

• The Vector has been rechambered and it will now use 9mm ammo.
• The Vector’s default magazine has been increased from 13 to 19, and its extended magazine has been increased from 25 to 33.
• Base damage decreased from 34 to 31.

The new UMP45 takes 45CP ammo, and the new Vector will use 9mm ammo — the PUBG devs with the switcheroo!

This is definitely a nerf due to the damage decrease, but the trade-off here is the Vector gets an even bigger magazine.

A larger magazine combined with the Vector’s extremely fast rate of fire means it should still be effective as a close-range weapon.

First-Aid Kit

• First-Aid kits no-longer heal players instantly. Instead, your health will restore over a 2 second period.

This is a huge nerf to First-Aid kits.

Let’s say your health bar has fallen to 1 HP. You will need a few seconds to use the actual First-Aid Kit, and then you’ll have to wait an additional 2 seconds for your health to fully regenerate.

Also, this change will make it harder for players to survive Blue Zone damage (especially later in the game).

Bottom line is: the First-Aid kit is no longer a get out of jail free card for a player that just took a lot of damage.

Flare Gun

• The Flare Gun icon on the world map and mini-map has been removed, and there will no longer be an on-screen message indicating incoming special care packages.
• Flare Gun spawn rate decreased to an average of 3 Flare Guns per game for every map.
• Squad mode special care package content reduced from 2 sets to 1 set.
• Now only 2 sets of special care packages and 2 armored UAZs can be called in per game.

There were too many Flare Gun planes crowding the sky in PUBG games, so now the Flare Gun won’t appear as much.

Also, players will not be able to use it as much with the new special care package/armored UAZ limit.

Other Gameplay Balance Changes

• Decreased the aim sway that you experience when getting shot by an enemy.

We’ve all been there — you start shooting an enemy, but before you can finish killing that target, a different enemy shoots you in the back, so that messes up your shot and you’re unable to secure a kill.

With this change, your reticule won’t sway as much while being shot, so it will be easier to aim while under duress.

• Vehicles now protect players from receiving grenade damage.

Now you can hide behind an UAZ and not take any frag grenade damage (if the grenade is not directly under you), but don’t use a vehicle as a blast shield for too long…because it will eventually blow up and kill you.

• Significantly increased the spawn rate of ARs, DMRs, and SMGs on Erangel.
• Slightly increased the spawn rate of Sniper Rifles and Handguns on Erangel.

There are now more guns on Erangel. Less looting and more shooting!

General Updates

Those are all the big gameplay changes from PUBG Update #27, but there are some other updates coming in the next patch that PUBG fans will love.

As I mentioned earlier, Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card is expected to launch during the next patch. It will cost $9.99 USD and give players access to over 60 rewards for 10 weeks; you just have to play the game and complete the challenge missions to unlock neat new outfits, weapon skins, and backpack skins!

Also, the replay system, custom match options, and gameplay performance have been improved.

Please be sure to check out the official patch notes to get more details about all the changes.

And it was just announced that PUBG Update #27 will come to the PC live servers on March 27^th.

PC Players: Live servers will undergo maintenance for 7 hours on Mar 27 5:30pm PST / Mar 28 1:30am CET / Mar 28 9:30am KST.

Update #27 which includes the MP5K, Loot Balance, Survivor Pass: Wild Card and more will be available once maintenance is complete!https://t.co/k7S2jV33JC

— PUBG Support (@PUBG_Support) March 26, 2019