XDefiant best guns: Meta weapon tier list
Dexerto / UbisoftOur ultimate XDefiant weapon tier list ranks all of the guns in Ubisoft’s shooting game and, based on the current meta, there are eight to choose from in the top tier.
There are a lot of weapons to wield in XDefiant including primary and secondary guns to build out loadouts as you see fit.
Those at the top of our rankings are what you want to use right now, but your gun of choice will either have great damage and movement speed or can one-shot enemies from a distance. With that in mind, these are the very best weapons in XDefiant right now.
XDefiant weapon tier list: Best guns ranked
Best gun in XDefiant
Of all the weapons featured in our S-tier, we particularly recommend the ACR 6.8 or AK-47 if you want to use an Assault Rifle and an MP7 for those running an SMG.
Our tiers explained
- S: The best guns in the game
- A: Very good weapons offering an alternative to other options
- B: There might be situations where these weapons can perform well
- C: Best to avoid unless you find yourself drawn to them
Now, we’re going to do a deep dive into each weapon in our XDefiant weapons meta tier list, ranking them from top to bottom.
S-Tier weapons in XDefiant
ACR 6.8 – Assault Rifle
UbisoftAt the very top of our XDefiant weapon tier list is the ACR 6.8. This is simply the best of the best when it comes to what you want out of an Assault Rifle. It’s got low recoil no matter what you put on it, a high fire rate, enough bullets in each mag to take down at least two targets before reloading, and consistent performance at any range.
Though you may get outtraded up-close by an SMG and at long-range by Marksman Rifles or Snipers, you’ll stand a good chance at any range with a weapon that’s strong in any situation. If you’re looking for the jack-of-all-trades workhorse rifle, this is the gun for you.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the ACR 6.8, check out our guide.
AK-47 – Assault Rifle
UbisoftThe AK-47 is a very different Assault Rifle from the others in the category. Unlike the standard AR identity as a consistent and accurate weapon that functions at all ranges, the AK is a slow-firing, high-damage rifle with a fast TTK that’s balanced by how difficult it is to handle.
Some recent balance changes nudged the AK-47 up a tier, and it’s currently one of the best guns in the XDefiant meta. Once you hone in on the right loadout and get the hang of controlling its recoil, this rifle shreds. Not to mention this weapon has some of the best ironsights in the game.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the AK-47, check out our guide.
LVOA-C – Assualt Rifle
UbisoftThe LVOA-C assault rifle was added to XDefiant in Season 1 and has become a top weapon thanks to its crazy fire rate. It’s closer to the MDR than a classic rifle and does need to be rained in with attachments to be useful in matches.
It’s described as having similar damage to the M4A1, but its high fire rate makes it so much easier to use. Once players master the recoil, and get some attachments to mitigate its vicious kick, it becomes a monster at medium range.
It beats out most assault rifles in its class at the middle range thanks to its fire rate, and can even beat SMGs since it has more damage per bullet.
Check out our guide if you’d like to see the best loadout for the LVOA-C.
M16A4 – Assault Rifle
UbisoftBurst weapons tend to be hit or miss when it comes to competitive multiplayer shooters; they’re always either really good or really bad depending on where their TTK lies between bursts. As you can probably tell by its placement, the M16 is a top-tier rifle.
With body shots hitting for 24 damage apiece, you can easily take down a target in two bursts. That, combined with a small delay between bursts and high accuracy, makes the M16A4 an absolute menace if you’ve got the accuracy to use it.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M16A4, check out our guide.
MK 20 SSR – Marksman Rifle
UbisoftMarksman Rifles are exceptionally good in XDefiant, and the MK 20 is the crown jewel of the class. 69 damage per hit on a body shot up to 50 meters makes it an incredibly consistent two-shot kill. And, considering leg shots hit for 49, you only need one body shot as long as you’re getting hits on target.
This combined with low recoil, a decent fire rate, and a forgiving 10-round mag makes the MK 20 SSR a meta staple. This Marksman Rifle is strong enough to be effective even at close range if you’re landing shots, making it an obvious S-Tier choice.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MK 20 SSR, check out our guide.
P90 – Submachine Gun
UbisoftIt’s hard to hate on the P-90. It’s an iconic gun, one that’s known for having a massive, 50-round mag that can put a ton of rounds down range. That’s no exception in XDefiant; the P-90 is absolutely, 100% busted in this game. Low recoil, more rounds than any other SMG, the least damage falloff in the class, and good hipfire. The P-90 has it all, and it’s a clear step up from every other SMG in the category.
Where other SMGs have strong hipfire, a high fire rate, or more accuracy at range, the P-90 takes all of those niches and does them better than the other guns. This is the SMG you’ll want to run.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the P90, check out our guide.
MP7 – Submachine Gun
Out of every SMG in XDefiant, the MP7 has the best balance of strengths that you’d want out of the weapon class without many of the drawbacks. While it still has low range like other weapons in the category, it’s also got low enough recoil and a high enough fire rate to counteract its low range.
Meanwhile, the MP7 has a lightning-fast TTK up close and some of the best hipfire in the game. Considering how inconsistent shotguns are in XDefiant, this is your best close-range option and outshines the other options with the right attachments.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MP7, check out our guide.
L115 – Sniper Rifle
UbisoftIntroduced in Season 1, the L115 is arguably the best sniper rifle in the class as it is easier to move around with than the TAC-50, and hits harder than the M44.
Players can use this gun at range in modes like escort, or dive into the front lines like you’re using an M44, it all depends on how you build its loadout. The sniper is the most versatile weapon in the class and almost as consistent as the TAC-50 with some attachments added on top.
If you’d like to see the best loadouts for the L115, check out our guide.
PP-19 – SMG
DexertoThe MP7 and P90 hold a slight edge over the PP-19, but this SMG has several unique characteristics that make it a viable alternative. You rarely have to worry about reloading because of the 55-round magazine size, and even when you run out, the quick reload time makes it hardly noticeable.
In addition, the PP-19 retains an impressive time-to-kill speed of up to 20 meters and has an easy-to-control recoil pattern. Without any attachments, this SMG suffers from slower mobility than other class offerings, and it is still slow with a full loadout. However, excellent strafe, aim down sight, and sprint-to-fire speeds make up for that weakness.
A-Tier weapons in XDefiant
SVD – Marksman Rifle
The SVD is worse than the MK 20 in terms of recoil and is a bit harder to use, and it still doesn’t quite reach that one-shot kill threshold despite having higher damage. However, there’s one trick you can do to put this gun all the way into S-Tier: Running the Cleaner Faction.
Headshots hit for 98 with the SVD, just under the 100 HP most factions have. However, that burn tick passive on shots from the Cleaner faction pushes this gun over the edge into that one-shot territory when you land a headshot.
The only reason the gun is not in S-Tier is because it relies on which faction you’re using to get the most out of it. If you’re not running Cleaner, the MK 20 is the better choice.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the SVD, check out our guide.
93R – Pistol
In most cases, the 93R is the best sidearm you can take. It’s got a consistent 2-burst kill that can out-DPS some of the rifles in this game and rival SMGs if you’ve got the accuracy for it. And, though its small 15-round mag doesn’t leave too much margin for error, extended mags go a long way with this weapon.
The 93R’s aggressive damage falloff and diminishing accuracy at long range keep it from having the power level of a primary, but it’s a great sidearm.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the 93R, check out our guide.
MDR – Assault Rifle
UbisoftThe MDR hits that sweet spot right between an Assault Rifle and an SMG, boasting a high fire rate that comes with equally high recoil and a high level of effectiveness at close range. While this means it suffers a bit beyond 20-25 meters when it comes to consistent accuracy, this gun excels within its niche.
It’s got the exact same damage profile as the M4A1 up close (24 to the head, 17 to the chest), but it has better mobility like an SMG. It’s a solid option and deserves its A-tier placement, but not worthy of that S-tier rating.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MDR, check out our guide.
L86 LWS – LMG
DexertoThe L86 LWS is a joy to use because it has the firepower of an LMG with the mobility of an AR. It will take some time to master the difficult-to-control recoil pattern. But if you can reign in this monster, the steep learning curve pays dividends.
Stacked up against other meta contenders, the L86 LWS boasts one of the fastest time-to-kill speeds in the game, and all players should try this weapon.
SPAS 12 – Shotgun
DexertoThe SPAS-12 puts the M870 to shame with how much better it is. In comparison to other shotguns, the damage drop-off isn’t as drastic and with some attachments you can make the pellet spread even tighter for longer ranged gunfights.
Despite that, this weapon is, unfortunately, nothing more than a fun change of pace in casual matches. Shotguns get thoroughly out-classed by SMGs in short-range gunfights and that also applies to the SPAS-12.
Sawed-Off Shotgun – Pistol
UbisoftThe Sawed-Off Shotgun was introduced in Season 1 as a powerful option for a secondary weapon, and its major drawbacks earlier in the season were dealt with in later patches to bring it to a higher tier.
This gun has the highest damage output in the secondary weapon class, but it has very limited range and can only put out two shots before needing to reload. Its in-game description says it’s like having a primary weapon in the secondary slot, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that players should try to run this gun like a primary weapon.
Some balance changes pushed this weapon to a higher tier since its reserve ammo increased to 10, while its sprint-to-shoot time was reduced to 150ms. This makes it a great secondary weapon to run alongside a Marksman or Sniper Rifle to finish off low-health enemies or deal with people rushing in too close for comfort.
If you want to see the best loadouts for the Sawed-Off Shotgun, check out our guide.
Vector .45 ACP – Submachine Gun
UbisoftThe Vector is, on paper, a fantastic SMG. It’s got a low time to kill and dishes a ton of damage at close range, and it sounds like exactly the type of weapon you’d want in this category. However, two huge drawbacks put this gun in the A-tier.
One, it’s got some killer recoil. This thing kicks like a mule, and getting accurate shots on anyone at longer ranges isn’t worth trying. Two, a mag size of 25 is too small for how fast this weapon fires. To turn this gun into the best version of itself, you’re going to need a ton of attachments.
However, the Vector can still outperform the other options in its class outside of the two SMGs ranked above it.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the Vector, check out our guide.
M60 – Light Machine Gun
Light Machine Guns in general aren’t the best in XDefiant due to how bulky they are and how often they get outperformed by other weapon classes when it comes to DPS and mobility, but the M60 is a special case due to the way TTK thresholds work in this game.
It’s got 25 damage to the chest, meaning a consistent 4-shot kill to the chest while putting 100 rounds down range before having to reload. You’ll have to adjust your playstyle and keep yourself from running around to get the most out of this gun, but it’s unrivaled when it comes to holding down one area with a constant rain of bullets.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M60, check out our guide.
M249 – Light Machine Gun
UbisoftThe M249 is the fastest-firing LMG in the class, as it makes the most of its 100 rounds and puts them downrange as fast as possible. However, that also gives it the most recoil out of the bunch and makes it a bit difficult to control.
Additionally, it doesn’t deal quite as much damage as the M60 and comes with all the drawbacks associated with carrying around a big ol’ machine gun. Luckily, a recent update increased the reload speed bonus when using certain Magazines, granting you an even better reload time.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M249, check out our guide.
TAC-50 – Sniper Rifle
UbisoftAll of XDefiant’s Sniper Rifles are very powerful in the right hands. They’ve got enough punch to one-shot most targets, and the game’s extremely fast scope speed allows for some MW2-esque quick scoping (talking the 2009 one here). XDefiant is a quickscoper’s paradise.
However, the August 14 balance changes made snipers like the M44 gain increased spread reduction duration. Now it should take a bit longer to focus on the scope so you can’t snipe an enemy before fully scoping in. It’s still a great weapon for a slower playstyle but these nerfs still affect it in the meta.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the TAC-50, check out our guide.
B-Tier Weapons in XDefiant
686 Magnum – Pistol
If you fancy yourself a deadeye shooter, the 686 Magnum may be for you. The 93R puts a bunch of rounds down range, but the 686 packs a serious punch. It’s a consistent 3-shot kill at most ranges, 2 if you can land a headshot, and it’s got much less recoil than the D50 despite having higher damage.
The 686 isn’t for everyone, but those who are confident in their aim stand to get a lot of value out of this pistol. In the right circumstances, you can outperform a rifle or SMG with it.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the 686 Magnum, check out our guide.
Double Barrel – Shotgun
UbisoftThe Double Barrel is certainly the most consistent out of all the shotguns. Though it’s got the obvious drawback of having 2 shots before you need to reload, it’s also got the most range, the tightest spread, and the highest damage of any shotgun.
That said, if you’re running this, make sure you’ve got a decked-out pistol you’re comfortable swapping to. You’ll be getting a lot of mileage out of your sidearm considering just how slow this Shotgun’s reload is.
This is the definition of a situational weapon and we’d advise only using it on small maps.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the Double Barrel, check out our guide.
D50 – Pistol
Ah, the Deagle. A tried and true gaming classic when it comes to big, impractical pistols that kick hard enough to cover half your screen after they shoot. They’re a bit hit or miss with how strong they are in competitive multiplayer games, and XDefiant’s Deagle is on the weaker side.
It deals 45 damage at close range, falling off to 33 at just 10 meters. This gun was purposely kneecapped, when it comes to TTK, with it only being a consistent 3-shot kill if you’re using the Cleaner Faction. That said, its gun is incredibly rewarding to land headshots with and has the fun factor that may make it worth using for some.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the D50, check out our guide.
M9 – Pistol
The M9 pistol is the epitome of a reliable sidearm. It doesn’t do a ton of damage per shot, but it’s got a high fire rate, decent mag size, and generally low recoil. Nothing worth writing home about, but it’ll do the job in a pinch.
If you’re looking to have a sidearm on you exclusively to finish off targets and get those last few shots in on a target with low health, this is the gun for you. It lacks the panache of the flashier sidearms, but it’ll never do you wrong.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M9, check out our guide.
RPK-47 – Light Machine Gun
UbisoftThe RPK-47 is fine in every sense of the word. It’s between an Assault Rifle and an LMG in terms of how it feels to use, shaving off some of the clunkiness and slow aim speed for less ammo per reload.
Smaller mag means quicker reloads, and its recoil is fairly easy to control with its low fire rate. However, that control comes at the cost of less DPS than the M249. It still suffers from the low mobility and slow aim speed of an LMG, but not to the extent of other weapons in the category. But, at that point, why not just run an Assault Rifle?
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the RPK-47, check out our guide.
AA-12 – Shotgun
UbisoftShotguns are hilariously inconsistent in XDefiant, with them having dramatic damage dropoff beyond spitting distance against an opponent. Additionally, they’ve got a wide pellet spread that makes it difficult to get a solid grouping on any target.
However, the AA-12’s high fire rate tries to make up for some of these issues. With a drum mag and a choke, the AA-12 does alright. The weapon also received some huge balance changes on July 31 which bumped it up a tier.
Its improved range and reduced spread make the AA-12 a decent shotgun to play with. However, you’re still better off running an SMG in most situations if you want something that performs up close.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the AA-12, check out our guide.
C-Tier Weapons in XDefiant
M44 – Sniper Rifle
UbisoftThis gun has the best movement speed and maneuverability of the sniper rifle class. Faster scope-in speed and more mobility make this the premiere montage weapon for players who are confident in their skills.
However, it’s been pushed down on our list due to being nerfed. Its sprint-to-shoot time and hip-fire spread increased, while the time it would take to focus on the scope to gain the best accuracy was decreased.
We still recommend that you swap to a sidearm to finish the kill at times or add attachments to compensate for its lack of finishing power for the bulky class.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M44, check out our guide.
MP5A2 – Submachine Gun
UbisoftThe MP5 is one of the more iconic SMGs in gaming, and it’s known for having a bit more accuracy and range than its counterparts in the category. However, while the MP5 is sold that way in XDefiant, it’s got some fairly aggressive damage falloff. Once a target is beyond 10 meters away from you, this gun’s damage falls off a cliff.
This isn’t all that abnormal of SMGs in this game, but the MP5 lacks a lot of the perks of guns like the MP7 and P90 like a large mag size and good hip fire. This weapon is certainly usable, but there are better guns in the class.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MP5A2, check out our guide.
M4A1 – Assault Rifle
The M4A1 is essentially just the ACR 6.8, but worse. While it has slightly lower recoil, the ACR’s recoil is low enough to be controllable at most ranges. The M4A1 also does 17 damage per shot in comparison to the ACR’s 21, giving it a slightly higher TTK despite having a higher fire rate.
The two are very close in terms of damage output, but running the ACR will put you at a distinct advantage. It’s not a bad starter AR, and that high fire rate gives you a bit more room to miss shots, but there are so many better options in the class.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M4A1, check out our guide.
M1911 – Pistol
There aren’t many outright bad weapons in XDefiant, but the 1911 is one of them. It lacks the mag size to keep up with the M9, the power to keep up with the Magnum, and still has some pretty aggressive kick. It feels powerful like you’d expect a 1911 to feel, but the damage just isn’t there.
Considering it requires four shots on target to take down most targets (5 against the Phantom faction), you don’t have much room for error with 7 rounds in a mag. The 1911 isn’t unusable, but it’s definitely the worst pistol in the game.
If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M1911, check out our guide.
M870 – Shotgun
Shotguns aren’t great in XDefiant, but the M870 is definitely the worst. It’s got the lowest fire rate out of them all, yet it also lacks the range and spread to one-shot consistently. Running this weapon will put you at a disadvantage against anyone who isn’t within spitting distance.
And, while attachments help this issue, it’s truly not worth the trouble. That said, you can check out the best loadout for this weapon in our guide if you’re feeling so inclined.
That’s our XDefiant weapons tier list with the best guns you can use based on the current meta. For more on the game, check out the best audio, PC, keyboard and mouse settings, every faction ranked, and the best modes for leveling up weapons.