Why a Gun Tier List Matters
An Apocalypse Rising 2 gun tier list matters because surviving hostile players and The Infected depends on choosing weapons that fit the situation. A firearm can have different ammunition, capacity, firing mode, attachment options, damage values, accuracy, recoil, and reload speed.
Community tier lists are useful starting points, but they are not official balance rankings. The TierMaker community ranking is an average from 10 submitted lists, with higher-ranked guns shown at the top and lower-ranked guns at the bottom. Its listed update date is August 23, 2026.
The game’s weapon reference describes guns as a primary means of defense against both hostile players and The Infected. It also recommends using melee weapons against infected enemies when possible, saving bullets for PvP and avoiding unnecessary attention.
A smart tier list should therefore be a decision tool, not a replacement for reading weapon stats. Consider whether a gun has the ammunition you need, enough capacity for the fight, and attachments that support your intended use.
| Source | What it provides | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| TierMaker community ranking | Cumulative average from 10 submitted tier lists | Community opinion, not an official ranking |
| TierMaker gun template | A template covering 91 gun images as of September 2025 | Does not provide a completed placement for every gun |
| Apocalypse Rising Wiki weapon page | Weapon categories and listed statistics | A stat table is not a tier list |
| YouTube tier-list discussion | Individual creators’ testing and opinions | Rankings are explicitly subjective and may be outdated |
How to Read Weapon Tiers
Most player-made lists use letter tiers such as S, A, B, C, D, and F. A higher tier normally signals that the creator thinks a weapon is more desirable, while lower tiers indicate weapons they would avoid or use less often.
That structure is useful, but the sources show why two players can disagree. One video creator says rankings were based on stats and VIP-server testing, while also stating that the rankings were their and a collaborator’s opinions. The creator also warns that some information could be outdated.
Another creator used a specific rule: attachments installed on a weapon were not part of the rating, but the ability to accept attachments could be considered. This distinction matters because the official weapon data lists attachment compatibility separately from base weapon statistics.
When comparing entries, use these questions:
- Does the weapon use ammunition you currently have?
- Is its capacity sufficient for the encounters you expect?
- Does it fire semi-automatically or at a higher listed rate of fire?
- Can it accept suppressors, sights, or grips?
- Are you choosing it for close range, range, or general survival?
| Tier-list factor | Why it can change a ranking | Source-backed example |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | More rounds can reduce reload pressure | M21 lists 20- and 30-round capacities |
| Damage | Higher listed damage can change lethality | L96A1 lists 40 body damage and 60 head damage |
| Rate of fire | Affects follow-up shot speed | Auto-5 lists 300 rate of fire |
| Attachments | Can affect how players value a weapon | Mini-14 lists suppressor, sight, and grip options |
| Accuracy and recoil | Affect practical performance | Weapon tables list HIP, ADS, and REC values |
Rifle, Marksman, and Sniper Comparisons
Rifles, marksman rifles, and sniper rifles cover several different stat profiles. The Mini-14 is listed as a civilian rifle using 5.56mm NATO ammunition, while the Model 94 and Model 94 Ranger use .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum respectively.
The marksman-rifle category includes weapons with varied capacities and ammunition types. The M21, MSG-90, and PSG-1 use 7.62mm NATO, while the Dragunov and Mosin-Nagant PU use 7.62mm Rimmed. The VSS Vintorez is listed with 9mm Subsonic ammunition.
Sniper rifles in the supplied weapon table are the L96A1 and M40A1. Both use 7.62mm NATO, have semi firing mode, and list 25 limb damage, 40 body damage, and 60 head damage. Their capacities and listed rates of fire differ.
| Weapon | Category | Ammo | Capacity | Firing mode | Listed attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-14 | Rifle | 5.56mm NATO | 20, 30 | Semi | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| Model 94 | Rifle | .44 Magnum | 11 | Semi | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| M21 | Marksman rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 20, 30 | Semi | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| MSG-90 | Marksman rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 10, 20, 30 | Semi | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| PSG-1 | Marksman rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 10, 20, 30 | Semi | Suppressor, grip |
| Dragunov | Marksman rifle | 7.62mm Rimmed | 10 | Semi | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| L96A1 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 10 | Semi | Suppressor, grip |
| M40A1 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 5 | Semi | Suppressor, grip |
The M21’s listed 20- or 30-round capacity separates it from the five-round M1903 Springfield and the three-round Model 788 and Model 788 Carbine. That does not automatically make one gun universally better, but it is concrete information a player can use when comparing rankings.
A creator’s commentary identified the Model 788 Carbine as number 77 in their personal ordering and said it shared issues with the OAS, including rare ammunition. Treat that as one creator’s assessment rather than a community-wide conclusion.
Shotgun Stats and Close-Range Choices
Shotguns use 12 Gauge Buckshot in the supplied table and have noticeably different capacities, rates of fire, and attachment availability. Their listed body damage is 56 and head damage is 72 for every fully shown shotgun entry below.
The Coach Gun has a two-round capacity but a listed rate of fire of 400. The Maverick 88 and Model 590 each list eight-round capacities, with lower listed rates of fire. The Auto-5 lists five rounds and a rate of fire of 300.
| Weapon | Ammo | Capacity | Rate of fire | HIP | ADS | Reload speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-5 | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 5 | 300 | 88% | 67% | 3.4s |
| Coach Gun | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 2 | 400 | 93% | 69% | 1.8s |
| Maverick 88 | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 | 65 | 96% | 70% | 2.7s |
| Model 590 | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 | 72 | 98% | 71% | 2.7s |
The Model 590 is the only fully shown shotgun in the source table that lists both a sight and grip. The other shown entries list a sight, except the Auto-5, Coach Gun, and Maverick 88, which are shown with sight compatibility only.
A higher capacity may be valuable if you expect repeated engagements, while a faster listed reload can matter when a weapon is empty. Those are different strengths, so a shotgun’s spot on a tier list should be read alongside its actual numbers.
Community Rankings, Templates, and Limits
The available TierMaker pages establish that Apocalypse Rising 2 weapon templates exist, but they do not reveal a complete published placement for every firearm. One template says it includes all guns as of September 2025 and contains 91 images. It explains its image-border convention:
- White outside a square indicates a normal weapon.
- Green indicates a rare weapon.
- Orange indicates a special weapon.
- Black indicates newer weapons.
A separate “ALL Weapons” beta-map template contains 90 images and was last modified on July 22, 2025. Since templates can differ in scope and date, do not assume every list includes exactly the same weapons.
The YouTube discussion also notes that two weapons, the M44 Mosin-Nagant Carbine and Trooper M1919 A6 LMG, were added while the video was being made. The creator excluded them from the main list and instead discussed them in an additional-rankings section. This is a useful reminder to check the source date before relying on any older tier list.
One creator placed the OAS in F tier and described it as the worst gun in that creator’s ranking. The stated concerns included slow aim-down-sights speed, poor hip accuracy, a bad default sight, and rare ammunition. Those points are an opinion from that video, not a verified universal tier placement.
FAQ
What is the best apocalypse rising 2 gun tier list?
The TierMaker community ranking is the broadest supplied ranking source because it averages 10 submitted tier lists. It was listed as last updated on August 23, 2026, but it should still be treated as community opinion.
Are weapon tiers official?
No official weapon tier list appears in the supplied sources. The Apocalypse Rising Wiki provides weapon statistics, while TierMaker and YouTube sources provide community or creator opinions.
Should I rank guns by attachments?
That depends on the list’s rules. One creator did not rank guns based on installed attachments, but did consider whether a weapon could accept attachments. The weapon tables list attachment compatibility separately.
What weapon do players start with?
A new save starts players with a Snubnose revolver, three Snubnose 6rd Speedloaders, a box of .45 ACP ammunition containing 24 bullets, and a Pocket Knife.