PDW

PDW
Lore/Real Name	Senjata PDW
Based on	ST Kinetics CPW
Tier	II
Weapon Slot	Secondary
Weapon Type	Personal Defense Submachine Gun
Prestige Weapon Version	✗
DLC Weapon Version	✓
Challenge Coins Version	✓

The PDW, also known as the Senjata PDW, is a Tier II secondary weapon in World War Z.

Overview

The Senjata Personal Defense Weapon is a rather controversial gun that occupies a niche somewhere between a less accurate Pistol and a weakened Compact SMG. It is one of the only 2 fully automatic weapons in the game that can be carried in the secondary weapon slot (the other one is the Geist 17MP Machine Pistol with the "Refreshing Kills" perk).

Performance

The PDW is a fine backup weapon for taking out roaming common Zekes because of its large magazines, rich ammo pool, and great rate of fire. At the same time, it is not a good substitute for a primary weapon because of its relatively low firepower.

The main distinctive feature that sets it apart from other secondary weapons is the "CQB Specialist" perk in the unique slot. It increases the melee stamina by 4 bars as long as its magazine is empty, letting the player trigger signature strikes more often before getting fatigued.

Damage breakpoints

Unless noted otherwise, the numbers are provided for the Co-op Campaign mode on Extreme difficulty (5 skulls) with no active mutators. The weapon is assumed to have maximum base stats. The target Zeke is assumed to be at point-blank range (less than 4 meters away from the player).

Common Zeke

• 1 headshot without any perk & class modifiers.

Lurker

• 3 headshots without any perk & class modifiers.
• 2 headshots with "Weighted Bullets", "Point-Blank Focus", or both.
• 1 headshot with 4 perk bonuses active at the same time: the PDW's "Weighted Bullets" & "Point-Blank Focus" perks plus the "Gunslinger's Switcheroo" & "Bounty Hunter".

Weapon Stats

Early levels

Level 1–Level 4 stats
Level	Power	Accuracy	Handling	Fire Rate	Max Penetration	Magazine capacity	Max Carried Ammo
1	3	5	5	7	0	30	150
2	3	5	6	7	0	40	240
3	4	6	6	7	0	40	240
4	5	6	7	7	0	40	240

Base stats after level 5

Power	Accuracy	Handling	Fire Rate	Max Penetration	Magazine capacity	Max Carried Ammo
5	6	7	7	0	40	240

Perks

Unique perks

Name	Effects	Available at weapon level	Unlock conditions
Semi-Auto	Single-fire mode instead of full-auto. +1 Penetration, +70% Damage	6	950
Fine Motor Skills	+50% Weapon switching speed	6	500
CQB Specialist	+4 Melee stamina bars (strikes before getting fatigued) while this weapon's magazine is empty	12	3 documents for Tokyo 2: Final Call
Ghost	When killing an enemy with a headshot from this weapon, you get a masking effect for 5 seconds if you have taken damage from zombies in the last 15 seconds (the cooldown is 60 seconds)	11	100

Common perks

Name	Effects	Available at weapon level	Unlock conditions
Extended Mag	+5 Magazine capacity	8	500
Custom Sight	+2 Accuracy, -1 Handling	8	500
Ergonomics II	+2 Handling, -15% Damage	9	500
Weighted Bullets	+20% Damage, -25% Max ammo	10	500
Point-Blank Focus I	+25% Damage at less than 4 meters	13	1 document for Tokyo 1: Setting Sun
Veteran I	+15% Reloading speed. The reloading speed bonus is stackable but can't be higher than 50%	14	500
Friend Not Foe	-25% Friendly fire damage (dealt and received)	15	500

Weapon Progression

Unlock requirements by level

Level-up requirements
Level	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
XP	100	175	275	375	400	400	425
	150	500	750	1000	1000	1250	1250
Level	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
XP	425	450	450	475	475	500	500
	1500	1500	1750	1750	2000	2000	2000

Design

The PDW is based on the ST Kinetics CPW from Singapore.

Legacy

Before the Horde Mode XL update (released on January 24, 2023) that redesigned the game's weapon system, the Compact PDW's progression model looked as follows.

Legacy stats & level-up model
Level	Icon	Power	Accuracy	Handling	Fire Rate	Max Penetration	Magazine	Carried Ammo Capacity	Silencer Upgrade
1		3	4	7	7	0	30	150	✗
2		3	4	8	7	0	40	240	✗
3		4	5	8	7	0	40	240	✗
4		5	5	9	7	0	40	240	✓
5		5	5	9	7	0	40	240	✗
Unique Versions
Operations Force ( DLC )		5	5	9	7	0	40	240	✓
Challenge Coins *		5	8	8	7	1	48	288	✓

*The Challenge Coins version of the PDW fires in Semi-auto.