Picking the right primary weapon can give you the edge in your XDefiant matches. Fortunately, we have you covered on a tier list of the best ones.
There are currently over 19 primary weapons in XDefiant as of the game’s Preseason. They cover various gameplay styles, from assault rifles to sniper rifles and everything in between. Having a good weapon is a big part of helping your team to take down your opponents and win the match. However, knowing which weapons are the best may be tricky to figure out. Luckily, we have curated a tier list below of the primary weapons in XDefiant so you can be ready to equip the best armaments against your enemies.
XDefiant Primary Weapons Tier List
| Tier | Weapon Name |
| S | ACR 6.8, AK-47, M4A1, MK 20 SSR, MP7, TAC-50 |
| A | AA-12, M249, M44, MDR, MP5A2, P90, Vector .45 ACP |
| B | Double Barrel, M16A4, RPK-74 |
| C | M60, M870, SVD |
The above table represents how each weapon currently ranks in XDefiant. This is likely to change, though as weapons are going to be receiving buff and nerfs in the game’s first official season.
Best Primary Weapons by Tier in XDefiant
S Tier – ACR 6.8 (Assault Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Get 10 Longshot kills with Assault Rifles.
The ACR 6.8 has fantastic damage, range, and recoil control. Players can effectively hit enemies from medium-range distances with ease. The gun feels like a great all-arounder, and you should strive to level up once you get it.
S Tier – AK-47 (Assault Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Deal 4,000 damage to enemies with Assault Rifles.
The AK-47 has optimal damage and range to take players down from almost any distance. However, the trade-off is that it shoots slower than others and has a kick that takes a little getting used to. These don’t weigh it down and are guaranteed to take down your enemies fast with their high damage output.
S Tier – M4A1 (Assault Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Unlocked at the beginning for players.
While the M4A1 is a starter weapon, it is one of the best weapons in the game. It features great accuracy, moderate damage, and good mobility, all packaged into one. Some shooters lack a strong starter weapon; however, the M4A1 in XDefiant is pretty much perfect right out of the gate and gives players a good start in the field. Throw a Red Dot Sight attachment on the gun, and things get even better.
S Tier – MK 20 SSR (Marksman Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Default weapon, unlocked right away.
The MK 20 SSR is the best Marksman Rifle in XDefiant and one of the top weapon choices overall. It feels almost like a crime at how good it performs. The accuracy is incredibly stable, and most times, it takes only two shots to take down a foe, especially from the chest area upwards. While much of XDefiant is fast-paced, the MK 20 SSR holds its own perfectly, and players should use it immediately.
S Tier – MP7 (Submachine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Get 20 Point-Blank kills with Submachine Guns.
The MP7 Submachine Gun is at the top of its class and is a top choice for winning many of your fights in XDefiant. It has a very high rate of fire but is paired with great accuracy. Players must be aware, though, that it is mainly strong at close range. So, be sure to be up close to maximize its value.
S Tier – TAC-50 (Sniper Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Get 10 One-Shot kills with Sniper Rifles.
The TAC-50 outdoes its peer, the M44, by a long shot (pun absolutely intended). The weapon boasts more significant damage and accuracy, and, with the proper shot placement in the waist and upwards, it’ll take down your target in one shot.
A Tier – AA-12 (Shotgun)
- How to Unlock: Get 15 Point-Blank kills with Shotguns.
The AA-12 is a powerful Shotgun for players to use. The high damage output mixed with the fully automatic fire rarely is outmatched. Players can use it in both aiming and hip fire styles and achieve the win in most gunfights. Many of the maps in XDefiant mixed with objective modes make the AA-12 a solid pick for getting the win.
A Tier – M249 (Light Machine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
The M249 (also known as the SAW) is the best of the LMGs in XDefiant. Offering a high-capacity magazine of 100 rounds, the damage output and accuracy are both moderate for the gun. Players can use this to hold down choke points in many of the maps in the game. However, the weapon does suffer slightly in mobility, as it can be clunky and slow to aim, especially in fast-moving matches.
A Tier – M44 (Sniper Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
The M44 Sniper Rifle may look older, but it is nothing to toy with. The gun boasts incredible stopping power and can help keep enemies down from a distance. However, it lacks a bit of accuracy. The all-around effectiveness makes it a good weapon overall, though, especially for a starting Sniper Rifle.
A Tier – MDR (Assault Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Reach Tier 10 in the Preseason Battle Pass to unlock for free.
The MDR is the newest Assault Rifle and shows its worth right away. While not as potent as the M4A1, the MDR gives consistent shots from medium to even long range. Overall, the weapon provides a good, equal amount of damage, accuracy, and low recoil that players should strive to check out. The only knock against it is that it is unlocked in the earlier part of the Battle Pass; other Assault Rifles begin to show their worth faster.
A Tier – MP5A2 (Submachine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
The MP5A2 is a classic SMG. It is a starter weapon that works well, especially in the SMG class of guns. Providing above-average damage combined with steady accuracy helps land powerful shots. Compared to the MP7, the weapon lacks, and in medium-range encounters, it tends to falter. However, giving a grip attachment will boost the accuracy, making it a more viable choice.
A Tier – P90 (Submachine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Get 10 Hipfire kills with SMGs.
The P90 is pretty average in most areas, including damage and accuracy. However, its large magazine allows it to shine, allowing for 50 rounds. It’s the highest amount for any SMG in the game. Players should look to level up the P90 and equip attachments to help bring down its stronger recoil.
A Tier – Vector .45 ACP
- How to Unlock: Deal 10,000 damage with Submachine Guns.
The Vector boasts a speedy rate of fire but lacks in magazine size, which is only 25 bullets by default. Because the weapon is an SMG, playing in tight spaces, the Vector deals massive damage and will help in many close gunfights.
B Tier – Double Barrel (Shotgun)
- How to Unlock: Get 10 Hipfire kills with Shotguns.
The Double Barrel is an immensely powerful Shotgun for players to use. It deals solid damage from both close and medium range, and has fairly impressive accuracy as well. However, players only have two shots before reloading the weapon, and its reload speed is also incredibly slow. Players need to take down their enemy in both shots, or they will likely not survive the encounter.
B Tier – M16A4 (Assault Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Get 20 Headshot kills with Assault Rifles.
The M16A4 is another classic weapon. However, it provides a middle-of-the-road experience for XDefiant. Although providing good damage and pinpoint accuracy, it is a burst rifle. Therefore, players will need to get used to no automatic fire and aiming high up on the opponent to ensure their 3-bullet burst is effective. Compared to the other Assault Rifles, the M16A4 is not the strongest around.
B Tier – RPK 74 (Light Machine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Deal 10,000 damage to enemies with Light Machine Guns.
The RPK 74 is a decent Light Machine Gun for players to utilize. It provides just slightly lower damage than the M249. Where it is weak, though, is its recoil, meaning players need plenty of attachments to bring that down. For a weapon class like LMGs, meant to suppress enemies and an area, the RPK 74 is a decent choice but a middle-of-the-road one at best.
C Tier – M60 (Light Machine Gun)
- How to Unlock: Deal 5,000 damage to Enemy Equipment with Light Machines Guns.
The M60 may look and act like a solid damage dealer, but be cautious. For the LMGs, this weapon is the weakest link. It provides rough mobility, being as big and chunky as it is. Additionally, it suffers damage output among its peers, and players may need to invest in various attachments to make it more usable.
C Tier – M870 (Shotgun)
- How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
The M870 Shotgun is a mediocre weapon, especially in XDefiant. Although it’s a Shotgun, its damage and range are lacking, making it inconsistent in gunfights and unreliable. The 12 shells are a bonus, but having the pump action can cause you to drop in gunfights more often than preferred.
C Tier – SVD (Marksman Rifle)
- How to Unlock: Get 15 Longshot kills with Marksman Rifles.
The SVD lacks in various ways for a Marksman Rifle. It is slightly less powerful than the MK 20 SSR, which, mixed with the slow rate of fire, causes the weapon to feel clunky to fight with. Furthermore, the slower mobility, especially in faster-paced fights, makes the SVD feel like a lose-lose situation in XDefiant. Compared to its peer, the SVD is a relic and something that pales in comparison.
That is everything to know about the best primary weapons and our tier list for XDefiant. Do you agree with our lineup? Let us know in the comments below. While in between creating your next loadout, be sure to visit our Guide Hub on XDefiant to see more articles like this one.
Leave a Reply