Canto SMG Guide: Blueprint Farm, Best Attachments, and Upgrade Path for Raids

This guide breaks down how to unlock the Canto SMG blueprint through the Hurricane event, how to reliably locate raider caches, and how to build Canto with upgrades and attachments so it performs like a true SMG-AR hybrid in raids.

How to Get the Canto SMG Blueprint

The Canto SMG blueprint is tied to the Hurricane event. To obtain it, you’ll need to run the event and actively search raider caches across the maps. The blueprint can drop early, but the key is consistency: open as many caches as possible per run.

Best Practice: Prioritize Cache Density Over Everything

• Plan your route around known cache clusters rather than chasing fights.
• If you’re in a squad, split briefly to check nearby cache spawns, then regroup.
• Extracting with the blueprint matters more than padding your kill count.

Finding Raider Caches Faster with Metaforge

If you’re struggling to locate raider caches, use Metaforge to display cache locations for each map. This removes the guesswork and turns blueprint farming into a repeatable route rather than a scavenger hunt.

• Pick one map and learn its cache loop.
• Run the same loop until you can do it quickly under pressure.
• Once you’re efficient, expand to a second map so you can adapt to lobby conditions.

What the Canto SMG Is Good At (And Where It Struggles)

Canto’s identity is a hybrid between an SMG and an AR. It can pressure at close range like an SMG, but it also has the feel of a controllable mid-range weapon once you invest into the right upgrades and attachments.

In practical performance, Canto sits in a balanced spot: it feels stronger than weaker SMG options, but it doesn’t automatically replace top meta picks. That’s a good sign for long-term viability, because it rewards investment rather than overpowering lobbies out of the box.

Core Weaknesses You Must Fix

Unmodified Canto tends to lose fights due to three main issues:

• Small magazine size that punishes missed shots and multi-target pushes.
• Slow reload time that creates dead windows during door fights and resets.
• High dispersion that makes sustained fire unreliable, especially when tracking strafing targets.

The good news is that upgrades and the correct attachment package directly address these weaknesses.

Upgrade Priority: Take Canto to Level 4 If You Can

If you want Canto to compete in raids, upgrades are not optional. Each upgrade step meaningfully smooths out its worst-feeling traits, and the weapon becomes much more consistent once fully developed.

Take a look at: our PvE meta guide for raids and trials

Why Level 4 Matters

• Dispersion becomes more manageable, letting you commit to longer bursts.
• Reload and handling feel less punishing during fast collapses.
• Overall consistency improves, which is what wins squad fights.

If you’re choosing between upgrading Canto and spreading resources across multiple weapons, prioritize Canto only if it’s a weapon you plan to run regularly in duos/squads.

Best Canto Attachments (Recommended Setup)

Canto’s attachment choices should be made to reduce dispersion first, then stabilize recoil so you can keep damage on target during chaotic pushes.

A compensator is the default choice because it directly helps with Canto’s most noticeable problem: dispersion. If you can access it, the level 3 compensator is the standout because it makes the weapon feel dramatically tighter in sustained fire.

• Better for mid-range tracking and holding angles.
• Makes follow-up shots more predictable after the first burst.

Grip: Angled Grip vs Vertical Grip

Both grips are viable, but they emphasize different control styles.

Angled grip helps control side-to-side recoil. This pairs well with players who are comfortable manually managing vertical recoil by pulling down during sprays.

Vertical grip is the simpler, more automated option. It reduces the amount of recoil management you need to do, which can be valuable in messy close-range fights where you’re also tracking movement, listening for footsteps, and watching doorways.

• Choose angled if your horizontal recoil is the main problem.
• Choose vertical if you want easier overall stability under stress.

Magazine: Green or Blue Based on Team Size

Magazine choice should match your expected fight pattern.

• Green mag is a strong default for tighter engagements and faster tempo.
• Blue mag is better when you expect longer fights, more armor trading, and multiple downs before a reset.

As a rule of thumb: solos and quick skirmishes can lean green; squads and extended pushes can justify blue.

Stock: Green Stock vs Padded Stock

The stock slot is where Canto can shift from “SMG that struggles at range” into the hybrid role it’s meant to fill.

Green stock is the reliable everyday pick. It keeps the weapon feeling stable without overcommitting to one playstyle.

Padded stock is the high-impact option. When paired with the compensator, it can make Canto feel much more like a laser, letting you confidently take mid-range beams and punish cross-room peeks.

• Use green stock for general raiding and flexible loadouts.
• Use padded stock when you want maximum control and hybrid performance.

How to Play Canto in Raids (Duos and Squads)

Canto shines when you treat it like a flexible damage tool rather than a pure hipfire SMG. Your goal is to win the first contact, then keep pressure while your team collapses.

Take a look at: this battleground PvP guide for teamfight fundamentals

• Pre-aim common swing points and commit to controlled bursts.
• Don’t reload in the open; reload behind cover or after a teammate takes aggro.
• Use grenades to force movement, then punish the exit with sustained fire.

Handling Two-Team Chaos

When multiple teams are present, Canto’s small magazine and reload speed can still punish you if you tunnel. Play for clean downs and quick armor breaks rather than chasing every finish.

• Focus fire to secure one knock quickly.
• Reset your angle during reload windows.
• Let teammates cover while you reload instead of wide-swinging.

Recoil and Burst Discipline

Even with attachments, Canto rewards burst discipline. If you hold the trigger through every engagement, dispersion will eventually cost you. Shorter, controlled bursts keep your damage consistent and reduce wasted ammo.

• Close range: longer bursts are fine if you’re centered on target.
• Mid range: burst, re-center, then burst again.
• Against strafers: prioritize tracking over firing speed.

Common Mistakes That Make Canto Feel “Bad”

• Running it unupgraded and expecting meta-level performance.
• Skipping the compensator, which leaves dispersion unchecked.
• Reloading at the wrong time during pushes, especially in squads.
• Over-spraying at mid range instead of using controlled bursts.

If Canto feels inconsistent, fix the build first, then adjust your firing rhythm.

Frequently Asked Questions

It can work, but it won’t feel competitive in raids until you address magazine size, reload speed, and dispersion through upgrades and attachments.

What’s the single best attachment for Canto?

The compensator is the most important, especially at higher levels, because it directly improves sustained accuracy and makes fights feel more controllable.

Angled grip or vertical grip for Canto?

Angled grip is great if horizontal recoil throws you off target, while vertical grip is the safer all-around choice if you want easier control in close-range chaos.

When should I choose padded stock over the green stock?

Pick padded stock when you want Canto to lean harder into mid-range beams and hybrid SMG-AR play; stick to the green stock for a more flexible default.