Rust Weapon Tier List

Weapons in Rust are the foundation of your economy, progression pace, and overall survival during a wipe.

A weapon tier list isn’t about arguing over the meta. It’s about understanding one simple thing - which weapon gives you the most value for your resources and your current skill level. An AK might be the best weapon in the game on paper, but for a newer player it’s often weaker than an MP5 or Thompson, because recoil and fight stress kill real effectiveness.

Weapon Evaluation Criteria

To keep this ranking honest, weapons are evaluated not only by damage, but by how practical they are in real gameplay.

1. Damage and DPS
   How quickly a target can be taken down. In PvP, raw damage per bullet matters less than how fast you can deal damage in an actual fight.

2. Recoil and Control
   A weapon can be meta on paper, but if it’s hard to control, missed shots will cost you the fight. Recoil control is half the power of any automatic weapon.

3. Wipe Availability
   T1, T2, and T3 matter. A weapon you can get on day one may be stronger for progression than a rare gun you see once a week.

4. Total Cost of Ownership
   Not just crafting cost, but ammo, attachments, repairs, and the risk of losing it. Cheap weapons often win through economy alone.

5. Versatility
   Weapons that work for roaming, base defense, monument runs, and counter-raids are more valuable than highly specialized tools.

S Tier - Top Weapons in Rust

S Tier weapons dominate fights and give the highest chance of winning when skill levels are equal.

AK-47 (Assault Rifle)

The AK is the strongest weapon in the game in terms of raw damage and potential across all ranges, especially mid to long distance. If you can control the recoil, you can delete players before they even react.

Pros:

• high body and headshot damage

• excellent versatility across distances

• perfect for roaming and prolonged fights

Cons:

• extremely difficult recoil, especially under pressure

• newer players often lose fights due to missed shots

The AK is top tier only if you can actually control it. Without recoil control, it’s just an expensive toy.

LR-300

The LR is for players who value consistency. It deals less damage than the AK but wins in ease of use.

Pros:

• very comfortable recoil

• high accuracy and stability

• ideal for solo and duo players who need reliability

Cons:

• cannot be crafted - only bought or looted, making it hard to get consistently

• can lose to an AK with equal aim

M249

The M249 is the king of base defense and prolonged engagements.

Pros:

• massive magazine with minimal reloads

• insane DPS when holding a position

• terrifying during pushes and counter-raids

Cons:

• rare and expensive

• awkward for mobile PvP

• difficult recoil and heavy spread at long range

A Tier - Excellent Weapons

A Tier weapons are slightly weaker than S Tier, but remain extremely effective for most players.

MP5

The MP5 is one of the best PvP weapons in the T2-T3 range. It kills fast, has manageable recoil, and is deadly in close to mid-range fights.

Pros:

• high DPS

• great for roaming

• strong in pushes and counter-pushes

Cons:

• weaker at long range

• requires confidence in fights

Thompson

A mid-wipe classic. Cheap, simple, and reliable.

Pros:

• early and inexpensive craft

• easy recoil control

• excellent for solo play

Cons:

• worse range and accuracy than top-tier rifles

• heavily dependent on positioning and sights

Semi Automatic Rifle (SAR)

The SAR is for disciplined players. It’s not about spraying, it’s about accuracy and control.

Pros:

• strong damage with consistent hits

• ammo efficient

• great for base defense and mid-range fights

Cons:

• loses to automatics in chaotic close combat

• requires calm, precise clicking

SPAS-12

The SPAS-12 is one of the strongest shotguns, especially in late wipe and positional play. It shines in tight spaces, staircases, doorways, base corridors, and during online raid defense.

Pros:

• extremely high close-range damage

• excellent control of entrances and corridors

• great for online base defense

Cons:

• weak at mid-range

• heavily positioning dependent

• ammo choice matters a lot

B Tier - Good Weapons

B Tier weapons are solid and effective, but come with clear limitations.

M92 Beretta

The M92 is a pistol for players who want high fire rate and mobility. It feels good in hand and works well as a secondary or light roaming weapon.

Pros:

• high fire rate for a pistol

• effective at close range

• solid sidearm option

Cons:

• weaker than SMGs and rifles

• heavily dependent on headshots

• struggles in prolonged fights

Custom SMG

A cheap SMG that can surprise enemies at point-blank range.

Pros:

• very fast kills up close

• affordable and accessible

Cons:

• poor range

• unforgiving at mid distance

Python

A powerful revolver for players who can land shots.

Pros:

• high damage

• effective against armor

Cons:

• slow fire rate

• missed shots often mean death

• only 6 rounds

Pump Shotgun

The pump shotgun is a more accessible version of the shotgun playstyle. It’s not as strong as the SPAS, but still extremely dangerous up close, especially early to mid wipe. Great for ambushes, defense, and room clearing.

Pros:

• strong per-shot damage

• useful in early midgame

• powerful in corridors and base defense

Cons:

• poor mid-to-long range

• struggles against automatics without positional advantage

• requires disciplined shot timing

C Tier - Average Weapons

C Tier weapons work, but are highly situation dependent.

Revolver

Pros:

• cheap and early-game friendly

• usable in the first hours of a wipe

Cons:

• inconsistent

• weak against armor

Double Barrel

Not a weapon for fair fights, but for ambushes and surprise pushes.

Pros:

• massive point-blank damage

• can instantly flip a fight

Cons:

• only two shots

• if you don’t kill, you usually die

D Tier - Weak Weapons

D Tier weapons are a forced choice when nothing better is available.

Eoka

Pros:

• almost free to craft

• can sometimes secure an early kill

Cons:

• pure randomness

• loses to almost everything

Waterpipe Shotgun

Pros:

• cheap

• can save you in the first minutes of a wipe

Cons:

• single shot with long reload

• terrible against prepared opponents

Melee Weapons - When They Actually Matter

Melee weapons are relevant in two cases - the first hours of a wipe and finishing enemies when ammo isn’t worth spending. The most practical options are the machete and salvaged sword due to decent damage and swing speed.

In PvP, melee is always risky. If you rush someone, you rely entirely on their mistake. Treat melee as an economy tool or barrel farming option, not a primary weapon.

Specialized Weapons - Sniper Rifles

Snipers are weapons of control. Their goal is to strip gear, stop rotations, knock players off rooftops, and slow enemy movement.

Bolt Action Rifle

The most practical sniper rifle. The bolt-action is a stable and reliable long-range tool.

L96

The hardest-hitting option, but very rare. This is a dominance weapon when you fully control distance.

What Weapon Should You Choose?

Quick recommendations:

• for beginners - SAR, Thompson

• for solo players - Thompson, MP5, LR-300

• for roaming - LR-300, MP5, AK (if you can control it)

• for base defense - M249, AK, Custom SMG

• for cheap runs - SAR, Revolver

Conclusion

S Tier dominates but demands skill. A Tier offers the best balance of power and ease of use. B Tier is reliable and consistent. C and D Tier are forced options for early wipe or low-resource situations.

If you want to win more fights, choose weapons based on your goal and recoil control level - and even a cheaper gun will bring results.

While deciding between AK and MP5 - jump into CobaltLab and test your luck!