THE FINALS weapon tier list

There are 21 weapons in THE FINALS and some are worth putting time into leveling up, while others are not. To help you with your weapon choice, here’s a tier list of all weapons in the game.

There are several niche weapons in the game that require support from your loadout or teammates to be effective. This is why you may find weapons lower on the list than you expected. It doesn’t mean they are bad; you just need more prep work to take full advantage of them.

Finally, the weapons in the same tier are not ordered in any way. Some tier lists include orders within their tier, but that system doesn’t work for THE FINALS since weapons are inherently tied to class builds.

Here’s our THE FINALS weapon tier list.

THE FINALS weapon tier list as of Patch 1.2.2

S-tier weapons

You can’t go wrong with the weapons in the S tier. Though each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses, in general, if you get the hang of these five guns, you’ll be able to top the leaderboard.

FCAR (Medium build)

Pros

• Holographic sights.
• Excellent at mid to long-range.
• Shots land accurately with lower recoil.

Cons

• Small magazine size, requiring you to be precise and manage reloads.

FCAR is plaguing the arenas of THE FINALS right now as everyone is using it to try and dominate the match. Previously, AKM was a solid counterpart to this rifle, but after several nerfs, FCAR leaves no one standing.

It’s incredibly accurate and can reach further than most weapons thanks to its range and sights. The only thing you have to keep in mind when using this assault rifle is its magazine size. With only 20 rounds you’re bound to be reloading often. Just make sure you don’t reload in the enemy’s face.

V9S (Light build)

Pros

• Excellent at both close and mid-range.
• High flexibility, suiting a variety of playstyles.
• Rewards aggression and mobility of light classes.
• Fast reload time.

Cons

• Rewards high shot accuracy, requiring good aim to be effective
• Less effective at very long range.

The V9S pistol is one of the best weapons in the game with high damage and versatility. If you’re playing as a Light build I highly recommend you pick this weapon up. Other Light weapons can be pretty good, but nothing beats the aggressiveness of the V9S.

M11 (Light build)

Pros

• Large mag size.
• Quick reload speed.
• Fastest fire rate in the game.

Cons

• High recoil makes shots difficult to control, especially for new players.
• Damage of each individual shot is low, making it difficult to secure kills.

The M11 is a default Light build submachine gun and playing around it is similar to the SA1216. It’s only good at a very close range where you can manage your recoil and land most of your shots. Once you get the hang of it, this gun will feel like a portable laser beam capable of erasing the opponent’s health bar.

Lewis Gun (Heavy build)

Pros

• Compared to other Heavy weapons, the Lewis Gun is well-rounded.
• Comfortable recoil.
• Large mag size.

Cons

• Long reload time.
• Specializes at close range, typical of Heavy class weapons.

We had to mention at least one weapon for all the Heavy players out there. Although most Heavy weapons are niche, the Lewis Gun is an all-around light machine gun that will serve you well in the heat of battle. It has decent damage and a very comfortable recoil to consistently win gunfights, something the other LMG, the M60, can’t do.

FAMAS (Medium build)

Pros

• Easy-controllable bursts.
• High fire rate allowing you to spam bursts.
• An all-around rifle that is suitable for different playstyles.

Cons

• High damage fall-off.
• Not very effective at close range.

One of the additions to THE FINALS in season two is the FAMAS for the Medium class and it quickly became my favorite weapon in the game. It might not be as effective as FCAR, but it’s very easy to pick up because it’s a burst-fire rifle and bursts are very easy to control. If you’re looking for something simple to have fun with and still perform, FAMAS is an amazing choice.

A-tier weapons

Weapons in the A tier are almost just as good as the ones in the S tier but are more situational. These are the weapons we like to keep in our reserve loadout in case the pace of the match shifts.

XP-54 (Light build)

Pros

• Highly effective at close range as an SMG, but more accurate than the M11.
• Includes an ADS mode with a scope, allowing for higher accuracy.
• Very high fire rate.

Cons

• Individual shots are less effective, requiring more bullets to kill a target.
• Shot accuracy is necessary to operate the XP-54 effectively.
• Most effective at close range.

The MP5 made its way into THE FINALS and goes by the name of the XP-54. It’s another weapon worth your time on a Light build thanks to its accuracy and scope. The scope alone makes it more comfortable to use this submachine gun; pair that with a manageable recoil and you get a recipe for a deadly close-range weapon.

R. 357 (Medium build)

Pros

• Effective at all ranges.
• Extremely high damage input that can two-shot light build targets.

Cons

• Slow fire rate.
• Very small mag size.
• Requires highly precise aim.

The R. 357 is one of the best weapons in THE FINALS if you have the aiming skills to hit your shots. If you don’t, it performs poorly. The gun will reward your aim by outgunning almost anyone on the field. This six-shooter holds six rounds (as you might’ve guessed), so make every shot count.

Model 1887 (Medium build)

Pros

• One of the most diverse weapons in the game.
• Also effective at mid-range.
• Deals heavy damage with each shot.

Cons

• Low fire rate.
• Requires intense aim accuracy despite being a shotgun.

For a shotgun, this weapon has a lot of versatility which comes at a cost of fire rate. A lower fire rate means you have to be precise, especially because it has a very tight pellet spread. Treat Model 1887 like the R.357: Make every shot count and it will dish out immense damage.

Sledgehammer (Heavy build)

Pros

• Extremely high damage output.
• Leaves enemies unable to respond to your attacks.

Cons

• Works best on Light or Medium targets.
• Most effective when targets are isolated.
• The hammer swings extremely slowly.

Getting up close and personal can be dangerous, but not if you have a Sledgehammer that has the highest damage from all of the Heavy weapons. If you can isolate fights and corner other contestants, there’s not much they’ll be able to do. If you’re a fan of playing Reinhardt in Overwatch 2, this could be the weapon for you.

AKM (Medium build)

Pros

• Accessible early in the game for Medium builds.
• Similar to AK weapons from other FPS games.
• Balanced in all statistics, suited for players with diverse playstyles.
• Large mag size.

Cons

• Doesn’t guide the player in the direction of a particular strategy.
• Best at mid-range, and struggles in very close and very far combat.

A good old and reliable AK is here too, in the form of an AKM, one of the first weapons you’ll get to use in THE FINALS as a Medium build. It’s a staple weapon with solid damage and recoil. At the mid-range, you’ll be in the perfect position to eliminate any contestant in your way.

KS-23 (Heavy build)

Pros

• High damage per shot
• Effective even at medium range

Cons

• No ADS mode, it simply zooms in your screen
• Fires slugs, so you have to be very accurate

The KS-23 feels like the R.357 but for the Heavy build. It can dish an immense amount of damage two-shotting Light builds, but only if you manage to land your shots. Because it’s a slug shotgun, there’s no pellet spread, there’s one bullet that you have to land, and without proper ADS mode, it can be extremely hard.

B-tier weapons

B-tier is way more niche than what you’ve seen so far. These weapons are harder to master and require a more dedicated playstyle, but can still dominate the arena.

LH1 (Light build)

Pros

• Gives an option for Light classes to do some serious and quick damage.
• Better range than almost every other Light weapon.

Cons

• Large recoil makes this weapon difficult for beginners to pick up.
• Shots need to land accurately.
• Lower mag size.

This rifle can be very effective once you learn to control it. The LH1 has one of the fastest time-to-kill in the game, but the recoil will throw the gun left and right. Don’t let it discourage you from trying it out though; just be prepared to spend more time learning this weapon.

SR-84 (Light build)

Pros

• The only true sniper rifle in the game, if that is your preferred playstyle.
• Each shot gives a very high damage output.
• Shots are very accurate with little recoil.

Cons

• Low mag size, requiring precise shots and frequent reloads.
• Useless without precise aim.
• Usually requires you to play away from your team.

THE FINALS gunfights often happen in tight spots, especially when contesting a cashout, so generally there’s no use for the sniper rifle. If you are arming yourself with an SR-84, you have to know when to move in with your team and be able to deal damage with the weapon up close. Don’t be that guy who stays in the back, scoping the entire round, as it rarely helps your team.

Flamethrower (Heavy build)

Pros

• High damage output.
• Capable of clearing a larger area of the map.

Cons

• Friendly fire puts teammates at risk.
• Flames can also destroy elements of the map.
• Situational, requiring awareness to use effectively.

Once an S-tier weapon, the Flamethrower can deal massive amounts of damage to enemy teams. However, if you don’t pay attention when using this flammable weapon, you can end up doing more harm than good for your team, including setting teammates on fire and destroying goo barricades that were giving you an advantage.

93R (Light build)

Pros

• Decent mag size.
• Fast reload speed.

Cons

• A burst-fire weapon, which can be uncomfortable at close range.
• Recoil can be unpredictable.

Burst-fire weapons are not for everyone, and so isn’t the 93R pistol for the Light build. The 93R is a decent weapon in all departments, but whenever I used it, I felt like my shots couldn’t catch up with the opponent. At close range, it’s important to be quick at aiming and firing, which isn’t an option in between bursts.

Sword (Light build)

Pros

• A melee option with a faster attack speed.
• Longer blade gives the sword a longer range than other melee weapons.
• High damage output.

Cons

• Most effective when paired with precise mobility.
• Best when used as a combo with other abilities or teammates backing you up.

You probably know how frustrating it can be to play against the Sword users. They run around and no one seems to be able to kill them. The blade can be powerful but you need the right loadout for it. Something like a Cloaking Device specialization paired with a Stun Gun or a Glitch Grenade will help unlock the Sword’s full potential.

C-tier weapons

Weapons in the C tier are just not that efficient. You can use them, but the results will be worse than if you were using other weapons, simple as that.

M60 (Heavy build)

Pros

• Accessible early in the game.
• Large mag size.

Cons

• Low accuracy and high recoil.
• Long reload time.
• Best at close range.

The only time you might use the M60 is when you don’t have the Lewis Gun unlocked. The M60 has a higher clip size, but with its accuracy, half of the shots usually fly into nowhere. I only recommend using it when you have no other option.

Throwing Knives (Light build)

Pros

• A projectile weapon instead of a gun with hit scan bullets, offering a different playstyle.
• Good at close to mid-range.

Cons

• Stats are not outstanding in terms of fire rate or damage output.
• Low accuracy due to projectile nature.

While an interesting concept, the Throwing Knives are way too inconsistent due to being projectiles. You can only use them effectively up close, but at that range, there are far better options to use like the V9S and XP-54.

CL-40 (Medium build)

Pros

• Can easily destroy buildings and give your team control over an area.
• High damage can affect multiple enemies at once.

Cons

• Serves a similar purchase as other gadgets.
• Awful at securing kills on enemies.

CL-40 is a grenade launcher that is good for destruction, but not so good for elimination as a full-fledged rifle. Since there are other means of creating holes in the walls, it’s not worth sacrificing something like an AKM for it. We don’t recommend equipping this one.

MGL32 (Heavy build)

Pros

• Great for controlling map areas or securing a cashout.

Cons

• Small mag size.
• Requires situational awareness and map knowledge.
• Situation-specific, not versatile.

Along the same lines, there’s MGL32. It’s great for leveling buildings but can be hard to secure kills with. It may not be the worst option for your Heavy loadout, but only when you know how to use the environment to your advantage.

SA1216 (Heavy build)

Pros

• High damage at close-range targets.
• Fire rate combined with individual bullet damage allows for quick spam.

Cons

• Unique playstyle requires specialization.
• Only effective at short range.
• Requires adjusting to specific shot timing.

The SA1216 four-barrel shotgun is a pretty unique concept with an equally unique playstyle. This shotgun is a powerhouse, but you have to play to its strength, which is point-blank bullet spam. The gun requires good positioning above all and after you learn to play around the delay between every four shots, you’ll be unstoppable.

D-tier weapons

Finally, we have the most niche weapons in the game. Using these requires the utmost commitment and sheer will.

Riot Shield (Medium build)

Pros

• Offers the most protection.

Cons

• Doesn’t actually do very much damage.
• Impossible to use as an engagement tool or long-range attack.
• Hyper-specific, defensive playstyle.

It’s hard to hit you when using the Riot Shield, but it’s hard for you to hit others. I can imagine someone using it with a Guardian Turret and mines to defend a cashout, but I have yet to see it done successfully.

SH1900 (Light build)

Pros

• Large damage output if you catch enemies off guard.

Cons

• Tiny mag size.
• Only effective at extremely close range.
• Slow fire rate despite mag size.

I got shot by this thing a few times, and it was always because I made some sort of a mistake. With this double-barrel, you have to be quick to get in, land your two shots, and get out. One wrong step and you’ll be dead.

Dagger (Light build)

Pros

• Best weapon for surprise attacks from behind.
• Fast attack speed.

Cons

• Only more effective than other melee weapons at one niche strategy.
• Lacks versatility and power.

Last, and definitely least, there’s the Dagger. It has a powerful backstab attack, and that’s the main way to play with it. You can get it to work, but I’d recommend opting for a Sword that’s more consistent and versatile.