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GTA 5 Weapons Tier List (2026)

Our GTA 5 weapons tier list ranks guns by extracted damage, RPM, range, magazine and practical role, with separate treatment for explosives.

Abdullah JawadBy Abdullah Jawad·Updated Aug 13, 2026
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This GTA 5 weapons tier list puts the Combat MG Mk II, Heavy Sniper Mk II, Assault Shotgun, AP Pistol, and RPG in S tier because each is a top answer for a role players regularly need. The order uses extracted stats and practical role coverage, not the in-game HUD bars.

Info: Tiers compare usefulness across PvE and general freemode. A specialist can rank highly without beating every automatic weapon in a close-range body-shot calculation.

Tier definitions

Tier

Meaning

S

Best role-defining loadout picks

A

Excellent alternatives with a clear tradeoff

B

Strong but replaceable

C

Situational, awkward, or access-dependent

D

Weak routine value

gta 5 weapons
TiersSRole leadersAExcellentBStrongCSituationalDWeak routine value
SRole leaders
Combat MG Mk II
Machine Guns
Heavy Sniper Mk II
Sniper Rifles
Assault Shotgun
Shotguns
AP Pistol
Handguns
RPG
Heavy Weapons
Why S-tier: The best general automatic plus the strongest default specialist for long range, close quarters, drive-bys and explosive anti-vehicle work.
AExcellent
Special Carbine Mk II
Assault Rifles
Carbine Rifle Mk II
Assault Rifles
Railgun
Heavy Weapons
Tactical SMG
Submachine Guns
Marksman Rifle Mk II
Sniper Rifles
Why A-tier: Excellent alternatives whose access, ammunition, magazine or role keeps them just below the default S-tier pick.
BStrong
Combat MG
Machine Guns
Advanced Rifle
Assault Rifles
Heavy Rifle
Assault Rifles
SMG Mk II
Submachine Guns
Heavy Revolver Mk II
Handguns
Why B-tier: Strong and usable weapons that are replaceable by a better-equipped or more flexible option in the same broad job.
CSituational
Heavy Shotgun
Shotguns
Musket
Sniper Rifles
Marksman Pistol
Handguns
Precision Rifle
Sniper Rifles
Double Barrel Shotgun
Shotguns
Why C-tier: Large paper numbers or niche behaviour do not compensate for slow follow-up shots, narrow range, low capacity or awkward general use.
DWeak routine value
SNS Pistol
Handguns
Vintage Pistol
Handguns
Ceramic Pistol
Handguns
Why D-tier: These handguns can work, but a normal loadout has more capable choices for the same routine role.

S tier

Weapon

Role

Data point

Combat MG Mk II

General automatic

47 damage, 556 RPM, 100 rounds

Heavy Sniper Mk II

Long range

230 damage, 1,500 range value

Assault Shotgun

Close range

Repeat-fire shotgun

AP Pistol

Drive-by

25 damage, 600 RPM

RPG

Explosive anti-vehicle

Explosion-data role

Weapons · Database Entry
Combat MG Mk II
EliteConfirmedDamage 47Fire Rate 556 RPM
Price
$119K
View →

The Combat MG Mk II is the broadest automatic choice. The other four win specific jobs that its weapon class cannot fill.

A tier

Weapon

Role

Why it misses S

Special Carbine Mk II

Rifle

Easier rifle choice, less magazine pressure

Carbine Rifle Mk II

Rifle

Strong alternative, preference decides

Railgun

Heavy

Powerful specialist with ammunition constraints

Tactical SMG

Drive-by automatic

Good vehicle option, AP Pistol remains simpler

Marksman Rifle Mk II

Mid-long range

Faster follow-ups, less per-shot force

Weapons · Database Entry
Heavy Sniper Mk II
EliteConfirmedDamage 230Fire Rate 50 RPM
Price
$165K
View →

B tier

Weapon

Role

Combat MG

Automatic before or without Mk II conversion

Advanced Rifle

Close-range rifle damage model

Heavy Rifle

Slower rifle alternative

SMG Mk II

Compact automatic

Heavy Revolver Mk II

High single-shot handgun damage

C tier

Single-shot weapons, low-capacity novelty picks, and weapons whose best case depends on a narrow encounter sit here. The Musket and Marksman Pistol can show large base damage without providing the repeatability of a normal loadout.

D tier

Routine weak-value picks belong here when another owned weapon fills the same role with a better magazine, fire rate, range profile, or access path. D tier does not mean the weapon cannot kill an NPC. It means there is little reason to make it the default.

Warning: Explosive file values cannot be compared by reading projectile `Damage` alone. Some records store zero there and obtain the real blast value from joined explosion data.
Weapons · Database Entry
AP Pistol
StandardConfirmedDamage 25Fire Rate 600 RPM
Price
$5K
View →

Methodology

Automatic weapons are compared using base damage, RPM, magazine, range, and drop-off. Snipers, shotguns, explosives, and drive-by weapons receive role-based evaluation because one body-shot formula would misrepresent them. Headshot values are not treated as one universal multiplier.

Note: This is an editorial tier list built on extracted data. It still needs a named reviewer to run the S and A tier picks in the current public build before publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best weapon in GTA 5 Online?+

The Combat MG Mk II is the best general-purpose pick in this framework. Carry specialists for range, vehicles, close quarters, and drive-bys.

Why is the AP Pistol S tier?+

It fills the drive-by role with 600 RPM and an 18-round base magazine. That access matters more than comparing it with a weapon that cannot be used from the same seat.

Are Mk II weapons always better?+

No. Conversion, ammunition, attachments, and role matter. This list ranks the resulting loadout, not the label.

Methodology

Tiers combine base damage, fire rate, magazine, range and drop-off with practical role coverage. Snipers, shotguns, explosives and drive-by weapons are evaluated within their roles rather than forced through one automatic-weapon formula.

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