FragPunk takes the standard rules of a 5v5 hero shooter and flips them on their head, allowing players to create their own rules through the use of Shard Cards. The game’s roster of Lancers also provides a wide range of unique skills, ensuring that every match is action-packed and unpredictable.

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However, while players may enjoy randomizing rules and wielding powerful abilities, weapon choice remains one of the most critical factors in securing victory. FragPunk features a diverse arsenal, and while weapon selection ultimately comes down to personal preference, some undeniably rank higher in the meta than others. With that in mind, here are the 10 best weapons to use in FragPunk.

10

Standard Blitzer

Deadly Knife With One-Hit Kill Capabilities

The first weapon on this list is actually one that all players carry by default but rarely use: the Standard Blitzer. With FragPunk currently dominated by firearms, players may often opt to ignore melee weapons entirely, but the Standard Blitzer can be useful for a few reasons. To start, the weapon deals solid damage if players can get close enough to their enemies. It’s a reliable two-hit kill from behind when using the slash attack, or even a one-shot kill if players use their alt-fire to stab an enemy from behind.

When attacking from the front, however, the weapon is a bit less effective, requiring three slashes to kill or two stabs. However, if players charge their knife’s stab attack, they can land an instant kill when fully charged, while also increasing the attack’s range. While players won’t always want to rely on their knife, using it in situations where they’re holding a doorway waiting for an enemy, or playing as a stealth-oriented Lancer like Zephyr, can give them the edge in combat.

9

Highlife

High-Damage Sniper Rifle/Shotgun Hybrid

Next up is the Highlife, a bolt-action Sniper Rifle that will likely be the go-to pick for hardcore Snipers and quick-scopers alike. The Highlife boasts one of the highest damage-per-shot profiles in the entire game, delivering a one-shot headshot at all ranges if the player’s health remains at its base value. It’s also a one-shot to the torso up to eight meters and a reliable two-shot at every other range. Of course, this only applies to the ADS damage, as things change quite a bit when hip-firing.

While the Highlife functions like a traditional Sniper Rifle when scoped in, it actually fires a spread of three rounds when hip-fired, making it a forgiving weapon for close-range engagements. The hip-fire spread can deal up to 360 total damage when all three rounds hit the torso at 8 meters, making it a formidable choice even for beginners. Add in the fact that the weapon also comes with a 10-round magazine—which is rare for bolt-action weapons in shooter titles—and the Highlife is worth trying out, especially on maps with long sightlines.

8

Resolver

The Best All Round High-Damage Sniper Rifle

Following the Highlife is the Resolver, another bolt-action Sniper Rifle that serves as an excellent long-range weapon for players to utilize. Statistically, the Resolver is noticeably slower than the Highlife, featuring reduced movement speeds across the board and an aim-down-sight time that is nearly double that of its counterpart. However, despite being the more sluggish option, the Resolver cements itself as the superior all-around Sniper Rifle based on damage output alone.

The Resolver is undoubtedly the most reliable Sniper Rifle for eliminating enemies in FragPunk. It can one-shot opponents to the body at distances of up to 17 meters, and even beyond that range, enemies will be left with significantly less health compared to a shot from the Highlife. Additionally, the weapon boasts a higher zoom level, allowing for greater precision in long-range engagements. Of course, to balance its higher damage, the Resolver comes with a notably slower fire rate and a smaller magazine, but these trade-offs are well worth it.

7

Vicious

High-Damage Pistol With One-Shot Potential

When it comes to the best secondary weapon in FragPunk, the Vicious blows all other options out of the water. This high-powered semi-automatic Pistol boasts exceptional stopping power, allowing for one-shot headshots up to the 8-meter mark—an attribute not shared by any other weapon in its category. Additionally, the Vicious is a reliable three-shot kill to the body and essentially guarantees a two-shot kill at any range if players mix in a headshot beyond 8 meters.

Of course, to balance the weapon’s superior damage, it does take a hit in fire rate, though its rate of fire is still fast enough to allow players to land two or three quick shots for a swift kill. The hipfire accuracy is also laser-precise, and its fast draw speed makes it a formidable option when players don’t have time to reload their primary weapon before the next gunfight. The only real downside of the Vicious is its heavy reliance on skill and accuracy, which may discourage some beginners from using it entirely.

6

Meat Maker

Powerful Pump-Action Shotgun

Following the Vicious is the Meat Maker, a pump-action Shotgun that may fly under the radar for most players but could be one of the strongest weapons in the game. The Meat Maker is an absolute powerhouse in close-range engagements, boasting the potential to one-shot players anywhere on the body up to 10 meters and serving as a reliable two-shot option—excluding headshots—up to 25 meters.

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Though the weapon’s damage potential depends on whether all its pellets hit the target, with its tight pellet spread, it’s fairly common for players to pull off a reliable one-shot or two-shot kill. Pair this with the weapon’s relatively fast fire rate, and players have the potential to dominate in close-quarters combat. The only major downsides of the Meat Maker are its long reload speed and poor range, both of which can easily be manageable.

5

Ghost Pepper

Fast-Firing LMG With A Large Magazine

Serving as the first full-auto option on this list is the Ghost Pepper, one of two Light Machine Guns available in FragPunk. This weapon has the unique effect of increasing its fire rate over time, starting at 600 RPM before quickly ramping up to 800 RPM when the trigger is held. When compared to the only other LMG in the game, the Ghost Pepper manages to sit just ahead of the My Way in overall TTK at 600 RPM, though the difference is fairly minimal. However, factoring in the weapon’s ability to fire faster over time, players have an option that is much better for overall DPS.

The Ghost Pepper’s superior damage output also allows it to surpass many other full-auto options, beating top picks like the Fever and the Discipline. The weapon also boasts a near-bottomless magazine capacity of 100 rounds, allowing players to sustain fire for much longer. The only major drawbacks of the Ghost Pepper are its less-than-ideal movement speed, its fairly slow reload speed, and the fact that its recoil can be difficult to handle as the fire rate increases over time.

4

Clampdown

Fast-Firing Submachine Gun With An Excellent TTK

Moving onto Submachine Guns, we have the Clampdown, an excellent weapon for players looking for a strong close-quarters option. Though the Clampdown sits just behind the Mad Dog-S when it comes to raw damage per shot, there is quite a bit of competition between the two in terms of overall TTK. For instance, the Clampdown kills faster than the Mad Dog-S up to 10 meters for both headshot and body shot damage, beats the Mad Dog-S in body TTK up to 20 meters, but falls behind beyond that point.

This means that from 10 meters to 20 meters, the Clampdown is hands-down the best Submachine Gun to run in FragPunk in terms of damage output. However, there are a few things to note. Firstly, the weapon’s fire rate is incredibly high, forcing players to reload much more often in each gunfight. The weapon’s vertical recoil is also relatively high, requiring players to practice managing it when firing at enemies from afar. Despite these flaws, however, it remains a solid option.

3

Mad Dog-S

Versatile Suppressed Submachine Gun

The raw damage output of the Clampdown is tough to beat in the Submachine Gun category, but players considering an SMG might also want to take a look at the Mad Dog-S for a few reasons. First off, while it falls behind the Clampdown in TTK up to 10 meters, it kills faster from 10 to 20 meters for headshot damage and ranks as the better option in damage output from 35 to 60 meters.

This means that if players want a more consistent damage output at range, the Mad Dog-S is the superior choice. That’s not all, however. The Mad Dog-S also comes with an integrated suppressor, making it great for stealth plays. This nifty Submachine Gun is also relatively easy to control recoil-wise, which is essential for players looking to stay on target during close-range firefights.

2

Fever

Excellent High-Damage Assault Rifle

Continuing the trend of excellent full-auto weapons is the Fever, one of the more popular choices among the player base. The Fever is an exceptional mid-to-long-range Assault Rifle in FragPunk, boasting a higher damage per shot than the only other Assault Rifle in the game, though it sits just behind the Ghost Pepper LMG in raw power. While players looking for an Assault Rifle may be inclined to choose the Fever over the Discipline, it’s worth noting that despite its higher damage per shot, it actually ranks behind the only other Assault Rifle in TTK when factoring in just body shots.

However, this changes significantly when aiming for headshots, as the Fever ranks as the fastest-killing Assault Rifle when landing headshots specifically. Therefore, if players tend to aim for headshots more frequently, the Fever may be the better pick overall. Other notable advantages of the Fever include its relatively easy-to-control recoil pattern and clean iron sights. However, the weapon does have a slightly slower aim-down-sight and movement speed compared to the Discipline, though the difference is hardly noticeable.

1

Discipline

Fast-Firing Assault Rifle With Great Versatility

Currently, one of the top-picked weapons in FragPunk is the Discipline, one of two Assault Rifles renowned for its high fire rate and incredibly clear optics. At first glance, players might be quick to dismiss the Discipline when comparing it to the only other Assault Rifle in the game due to its lower damage per shot. However, upon closer inspection, the Discipline actually boasts a better TTK on average when firing at the torso. Thanks to its higher fire rate, it can deliver significantly more damage in a shorter time frame.

The weapon itself is also relatively easy to handle, though players will still need to compensate for its recoil, which veers to the right and requires vertical control. Its hip-fire accuracy is also quite solid, making the Discipline effective for both long-range engagements and close-quarters combat. While its sight reticle is relatively large and may obstruct visibility for some players, it remains manageable, offering a versatile Assault Rifle suited for a variety of encounters.

Released

March 6, 2025

OpenCritic Rating

Strong