The Modular Gauss Rifle - Short 1 Gladius is a 3rd generation submachine gun released alongside the MG-S1 Jackal and VE-S Canis as part of a series of empire specific weapons, with each breaking the convention of that faction's SMGs and bringing unique attachments to table. For the Gladius, these attachments are SPRW Ammunition and the Hybrid Suppressor.
The Gladius does not have true any equals amongst submachine guns, coming in with the highest damage-per-bullet in its class, as well as the second lowest fire rate. The current record holder for the slowest is the NSX Tengu by only 9 rounds per minute, with a similar damage per shot. The Gladius is very slightly faster (if less forgiving) than the Tengu at close range with a slower reload to offset that advantage. The Tengu is hypothetically more damaging longer ranges in exchange for its harsher recoil. The Tengu's 7 shot kill potential at its 40 meter minimum damage range trends closer to 12 shots in practice because of its scatter-shot projectiles. This is when slowly tapping out shots to allow full recovery from recoil. Meanwhile, the Gladius can comfortably match that performance without letting go of the trigger. Neither is particularly good at medium-short ranges relative to most other automatic weapons, but the Gladius does have an easier time of it than most submachine guns, particularly when fitted with a forward grip.
The closer comparison is the AF-4 Cyclone, which is essentially a less extreme version of the Gladius. Compared to the Cyclone, the Gladius has a higher minimum damage, and gives the user an easier time controlling the recoil. The Cyclone still holds the mantle of the submachinegun with the fastest time-to-kill despite its lower damage tiers. The main edge the Gladius holds is that it has a 3 shot headshot kill range that reaches more than 20 meters; the Gladius' headshot TTK actually pulls ahead of the AF-4 Cyclone by a twentieth of a second in this specific range bracket. Naturally, this depends on flawless aim and a cooperative cone of fire. The first can be achieved with practice. The second may run up against the weapon's starting CoF and bloom values, which are marginally worse both in hipfire and aimed fire.
The consistency of the 3-shot headshot seems to come at the expense of a wildly variable muzzle velocity. Different attachment combinations involving SPRW Ammunition, Soft Point Ammunition, and/or the Hybrid Suppressor can drop muzzle velocity as low as shotgun projectiles or raise it into ranges that compare well to the average carbine. Learning to lead one's targets again and again can be a frustrating process for wielders that frequently swap between these options.
A hybrid suppressor reduces weapon noise, muzzle flash, and prevents the player from showing on the minimap when firing, but bullet velocity is reduced by 20%.
The rail mounted Darklight Flashlight can illuminate hostile cloaked infiltrators and dark areas but the light can give away your position. The light can be turned on and off with Toggle Attachment hotkey.
It is possible to earn both Ribbons and Medals while using the MGR-S1 Gladius. Each ribbon is a standard reward for achieving a set amount of kills with the submachine gun. Medals are awarded upon reaching kill milestones with the weapon.
Dev Note: This weapon was mostly where we wanted it to be, but needed a bit of tuning in the damage per magazine department. The mag size reduction removes some of that damage per magazine, while still keeping it between an unmodified Cyclone and the Blitz SMG. The magazine reduction indirectly creates a more substantial tradeoff for the SPRW attachment as well.
MG-S1 Jackal and 
VE-S Canis as part of a series of empire specific weapons, with each breaking the convention of that faction's SMGs and bringing unique attachments to table. For the Gladius, these attachments are SPRW Ammunition and the Hybrid Suppressor.
NSX Tengu by only 9 rounds per minute, with a similar damage per shot. The Gladius is very slightly faster (if less forgiving) than the Tengu at close range with a slower reload to offset that advantage. The Tengu is hypothetically more damaging longer ranges in exchange for its harsher recoil. The Tengu's 7 shot kill potential at its 40 meter minimum damage range trends closer to 12 shots in practice because of its scatter-shot projectiles. This is when slowly tapping out shots to allow full recovery from recoil. Meanwhile, the Gladius can comfortably match that performance without letting go of the trigger. Neither is particularly good at medium-short ranges relative to most other automatic weapons, but the Gladius does have an easier time of it than most submachine guns, particularly when fitted with a forward grip.
49 OR 
MAX
Flash
Harasser
Sunderer
ANT
Lightning
Prowler/
Magrider
Chimera
Vanguard
ESF
Valkyrie
Dervish
Liberator
Galaxy
Bastion Weak Point
