What Are Close Quarters Challenges and Why Should You Care?
If you’ve been grinding through Battlefield 6‘s multiplayer, you’ve probably noticed that some of the most lethal weapons aren’t just handed to you. The Close Quarters challenges are your gateway to unlocking two of the game’s most devastating submachine guns: the SCW-10 and SL9.
Here’s why these challenges matter: the SCW-10 isn’t your typical peashooter SMG. Chambered in 10mm, it hits significantly harder than most weapons in its class, making it a nightmare for enemies in tight spaces. The SL9 is equally impressive for aggressive playstyles. If you’re serious about dominating close-range combat, these challenges are worth your time.
Before You Start: The Rank 23 Requirement
Here’s something that trips up a lot of players—you can’t even see these challenges until you hit Rank 23 in multiplayer. It’s a bit frustrating, but it makes sense from a progression standpoint. The game wants you to have some experience with the core mechanics before chasing advanced weapons.
Once you’ve hit that rank threshold, head to the main menu and navigate to Challenges > Assignments > Weapon to track your progress. This is where you’ll monitor your Close Quarters stats and see exactly what you need to complete.
For more weapon unlocks and strategies, check out the complete weapons list guide to plan your progression path.
Close Quarters Challenge Breakdown
Let’s cut through the fluff and look at exactly what you need to do:
Close Quarters 1
Reward: SCW-10 SMG
- Inflict 10,000 damage while aiming down sights (ADS) with SMGs
- Get 200 close quarter kills with SMGs
My Take: The 10,000 damage requirement sounds intimidating, but it actually accumulates faster than you’d think. If you’re actively going for kills, the damage will come naturally. The real focus here should be racking up those 200 close-range eliminations. Hip-firing might feel tempting, but remember—you need ADS damage, so get comfortable with your iron sights or optics.
Close Quarters 2
Reward: SL9 SMG + Compact Fire Player Card Title
- Get 300 kills with either the SCW-10 or SGX
- Get 20 multi-kills with SMGs
The Challenge: Multi-kills are definitely the hardest part of this grind. You need to eliminate multiple enemies in quick succession, which requires good positioning and a bit of luck. The good news? You only need 20 of them, not 200.
Smart Strategies to Complete These Challenges Faster
Pick the Right Game Modes
Not all modes are created equal when you’re grinding SMG challenges. You want chaos, close quarters, and constant action. Here are your best bets:
- Team Deathmatch – Pure combat, no objectives to distract from the killing
- King of the Hill – Enemies cluster around control points like moths to a flame
- Escalation – Fast-paced with plenty of close-range firefights
- Rush – Smaller objective zones force everyone into tight spaces
Pro Tip: Avoid large-scale modes like Conquest on massive maps. You’ll spend more time running across open fields than actually engaging enemies. Use the custom multiplayer search to filter out the big, sprawling maps and focus on infantry-heavy environments.
Map Selection Matters
Stick to maps with lots of buildings, corridors, and tight chokepoints. Urban environments and indoor sections are your friend. If you’re spawning into wide-open desert maps with 500-meter sightlines, you’re doing it wrong.
Multi-Kill Hunting Tips
Getting 20 multi-kills can feel like pulling teeth if you’re not strategic about it. Here’s what works:
- Flank aggressively – Circle around enemy positions rather than charging head-on
- Use flanking routes – Learn the less-traveled paths on each map
- Target grouped enemies – Wait for 2-3 enemies to bunch up near objectives before engaging
- Reload management – Nothing worse than getting one kill and running dry when targets are lined up
- Extended mags – If your SMG supports them, use larger magazines to maximize your multi-kill potential
Loadout Recommendations
While grinding these challenges, optimize your loadout for close-range aggression:
- Optics: Red dot or holographic sights for fast target acquisition
- Barrel: Anything that improves hip-fire or ADS speed
- Magazine: Extended mags for multi-kill opportunities
- Underbarrel: Laser sight for better hip-fire when you need it
For detailed weapon builds and challenge strategies, the Danger Close challenges guide offers additional tips that apply to aggressive playstyles.
How Long Will This Take?
Honestly? These challenges are pretty reasonable compared to some of the other weapon grinds in Battlefield 6. If you’re actively focusing on them and playing the right modes, you can knock out Close Quarters 1 in 4-6 hours of solid gameplay. Close Quarters 2 takes a bit longer because of the multi-kill requirement, but it’s still manageable.
The key is consistency. Playing a few hours each session while specifically hunting these objectives will get you there faster than casually working on them over weeks.
Are These Weapons Worth the Grind?
Absolutely. The SCW-10’s 10mm punch gives you a legitimate advantage in close-quarters combat, and the SL9 rounds out your SMG arsenal nicely. Once you’ve unlocked them, you’ll have some of the best tools for aggressive, run-and-gun playstyles.
Plus, there’s something satisfying about earning weapons through challenges rather than just leveling up passively. It makes the unlock feel more meaningful.
Official Resources and Community Hubs
Want to dive deeper into Battlefield 6? Check out these official sources:
- Official EA Battlefield 6 Page
- Battlefield 6 on Steam
- PlayStation Store – Battlefield 6
- Epic Games Store – Battlefield 6
- Battlefield 6 Reddit Community
Ending note
Close Quarters challenges aren’t the most punishing grind in Battlefield 6, but they require focused effort. Stick to close-range maps, play objective modes that bunch up enemies, and don’t get discouraged by the multi-kill requirement. The SCW-10 and SL9 are legitimately strong weapons that’ll serve you well in aggressive playstyles.
Now get out there and start stacking bodies. Those SMGs aren’t going to unlock themselves.
