Rust Weapons Tier List – For Best Guns

When playing Rust, regardless of the level of development you have reached, it’s good to know the Rust weapons tier list. If you know the options and what is required to obtain them, you can plan your moves with much greater precision.

Here’s a typical S-F gun tier list that you can use to orient yourself. Of course, you do not need to follow it to the letter, as some guns are better than others if you have vast experience with them, even though they’re weaker if a player is new to all of them.

A specialist must consider that your effectiveness with a Rust gun is determined not only by the strength of that gun but also by your competence with it.

With the upcoming Primitive update on February 6, 2025, several weapons are expected to undergo significant changes, potentially affecting their performance and tier placements.

Best Rust Weapons at a Glance

Tier	Weapon	Best Use Case	Damage	Fire Rate (RPM)	2025 Update Changes
S	M249	PvP, Defense	50	500	Fire rate adjusted
S	L96 Rifle	Sniping, Long Range	80	40	No change
S	Rocket Launcher	Raiding, Base Defense	350	N/A	No change
A	AK-47	All-around PvP	40	450	No change
A	LR-300	Mid-range PvP	40	550	Accuracy improved
B	MP5A4	Close-range combat	30	600	Faster reload speed
C	Thompson	Mid-range combat	40	600	Damage buffed
D	Crossbow	Early-game sniping	50	N/A	Faster reload speed
E	Eoka Pistol	Desperation weapon	20	N/A	No change

S-Tier Rust Guns

These are the best guns in Rust, and 3 items can be easily added to this category:

• M249
• Rocket Launcher
• L96 Rifle

All 3 of them are extremely useful in many situations and will allow you to get kills easily. They’re perfect when defending your base but are also highly effective on the field, especially if you have a hiding spot where you can wait undetected for the enemy to show up.

The M249 is often regarded as the best gun in Rust. Its magazine capacity is 100, and the weapon’s RPM (or rounds per minute) is 500. This rate of fire allows you to shoot around 8 bullets per second, which is more than enough to kill an enemy.

2025 update: Post-Primitive update, it’s anticipated that the M249 will receive adjustments affecting its rate of fire, which may influence its standing in the S-Tier.

The L96 is the best sniper rifle in Rust. Learning to shoot with this gun properly takes time, but it’s a skill that will give you huge benefits. In many other games, such as CS or Team Fortress 2, a sniper rifle can deal a lot of damage and kill with one or two bullets. 

Rust Weapons Kind

Rust is no different. The only problem here is that you don’t have unlimited ammo. Every bullet needs to be put to good use. Another important thing is to use this gun from a long enough range. Otherwise, instead of having an advantage, you’ll have a disadvantage. 

At close range, even someone with a pistol can kill you and easily dodge your shots. But they will hit nothing at long range, while you will hit most of your shots.

The Rocket Launcher is a very powerful Rust weapon that can be used in raids or to defend your base. It deals AoE damage and is extremely effective in narrow spaces where the enemy constantly has a solid wall beside him.

A-Tier Rust Guns

The options in this Rust weapons tier list may not be as strong as the ones from the S-tier, but they are still very effective.

• Assault Rifle (AK-47)
• LR-300 Assault Rifle
• Bolt Action Rifle
• Multiple Grenade Launcher

The AK-47 and the LR-300 are great weapons at almost any reasonable range. They will assist you in winning PvP battles and give you a great firepower advantage. They deal a lot of damage and are quite accurate if you know how to control them. Both of them are strong, and choosing one over the other is only a matter of personal preference.

2025 update: The Primitive update is expected to enhance the accuracy of the LR-300 Assault Rifle, potentially elevating its status within the A-Tier.

Many Rust players prefer the AK because it reminds them of the AK-47 in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. If you’re a CS player, this gun will feel a bit more familiar.

TIP: Rust Recoil Patterns | AK | MP5 | LR | Thompson

B-Tier Rust Weapons

There are around half a dozen Rust guns in this category that are worth mentioning:

• MP5A4
• M38 Rifle
• Spas-12 Shotgun
• M92 Pistol
• Pump Shotgun

These guns work well at close range but don’t try to use them when you can barely see the enemy on the screen because you’ll only waste your bullets and give away your position.

2025 update: Anticipated changes in the Primitive update may improve the reload speed of the MP5A4, making it a more viable option in close-quarter combat.

If you want to use a Shotgun in Rust, ensure you do it while you are close to your target, preferably inside a building where he can’t use his range advantage (in case he has an A-tier or an S-tier gun).

C-Tier Rust Weapons

The C-tier Rust weapons list includes these guns:

• Custom SMG (submachine gun)
• Python Revolver
• Thompson
• Semi-Automatic Rifle
• Semi-Automatic Pistol

These guns are cheaper versions of their more sophisticated alternatives. They can still get the job done but are less strong than A-tier or B-tier weapons. 

In the early portion of the game, when you may not yet have the possibility to acquire a high-quality gun, these options will keep you alive and give you an advantage against poorly equipped opponents.

2025 update: The Thompson is expected to receive a damage boost in the upcoming update, which could potentially move it up to the B-Tier.

TIP: Looking to upgrade weapons? learn the Best Way to Get Scrap in Rust

D-Tier Guns in Rust

The D-tier gun list includes:

• Nailgun
• Crossbow
• Compound Bow
• Waterpipe Shotgun
• Revolver
• Double Barrel Shotgun

These guns are quite primitive but sometimes they will be all you will have. They’re the equivalent of the $5 pistol sold by Leonardo Di Caprio’s character to Russel Crowe’s character in The Quick And The Dead. To highly skilled players, they’re complete dirt. But they will know how to use them if the need arises.

2025 update: With the Primitive update, the Crossbow’s reload time is anticipated to decrease, enhancing its usability in early-game scenarios.

E-Tier weapons in Rust

This category only includes one gun. The Eoka pistol. It’s one of the weakest weapons in the game, but it’s still better than your fists.

2025 update: No significant changes are expected for E-Tier and F-Tier weapons in the upcoming update.

F-Tier weapons in Rust

This category includes three very primitive weapons you should try to avoid using in PvP because they require a lot of skill to get the job done. When you have such a weapon, it’s best to avoid fights and only use it in desperate situations.

• Hunting Bow
• Stone Spear
• Wooden Spear

Upcoming Weapon Changes in the Primitive Update

The Primitive update, set for February 6, 2025, aims to rebalance several weapons in Rust. Players can expect adjustments to damage outputs, reload speeds, and accuracy across various firearms. Staying informed about these changes is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.

Best Loadouts for Different Playstyles in 2025

• Aggressive PvP Player (Close-Range Combat)
  • Primary: AK-47 / MP5A4
  • Secondary: Spas-12 Shotgun
  • Explosives: F1 Grenade
  • Armor: Heavy Plate Set
• Defensive Base Protector (Raiding & Defense)
  • Primary: M249 / Rocket Launcher
  • Secondary: Python Revolver
  • Explosives: C4
  • Armor: Metal Chestplate & Roadsign Gloves
• Stealth Sniper (Long-Range Combat)
  • Primary: L96 Rifle / Bolt Action Rifle
  • Secondary: Semi-Automatic Pistol
  • Utility: Silencer attachment
  • Armor: Ghillie Suit

Conclusion

I hope this Rust weapon tier list was useful in helping you understand what the options are and what you’re striving toward as the game progresses. Some guns can be used at long range, others at medium range, and others only at short range. Objectively, the best weapons are the S-tier ones, but sometimes you need to work with what you’ve got.

If you want your guns to look amazing, check out our guide on the best Rust skins to find top-tier cosmetic upgrades for your weapons. On Tradeit, you will find plenty of great Rust skins.

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