5 best weapons in Rust (2024)

Modified Jul 15, 2024 13:46 IST

5 best weapons in Rust (Image via Facepunch Studios)

Having the best weapons in Rust will allow you to progress much faster than others. With there being no rules as to party sizes, staying alive can be tricky if you aren't well-equipped. Survival is the crux of this game, and good weapons will enable you to handle most situations well. They will also keep the zergs at bay when you're outnumbered.

This article will explore the five best weapons in Rust and provide players with a detailed brief on their use case.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinion.

M249, Assault Rifle, and 3 other best weapons in Rust

Here is a detailed list of the five best weapons in Rust, alongside a brief on how you can procure them in the game.

1) M249

M249 is an excellent LMG (Image via Facepunch Studios)

The M249 Light Machine Gun is among the best weapons in Rust. It is undoubtedly the strongest in-game and has a capacity of 100 bullets per magazine, which feed on 5.56 ammunition. It has negligible recoil and is best used as a raid-defense tool. Pair it with the 8x scope and a laser sight, and you will shred any player who comes your way.

The M249 can be exclusively unlocked by destroying the Patrol Helicopter, or the Bradley APC in the Launch Site. There's no option to craft this weapon.

Also read: Rust "client update required" error: Possible fixes and reasons

2) Assault Rifle

Assault Rifle has great damage output (Image via Facepunch Studios)

The Assault Rifle, popularly known as the AK-47, can also be counted among the best weapons in Rust. The AK-47 has great damage output across both medium and long-range combat. However, it is an expensive weapon to build. Here's what it costs to craft this weapon:

50 High-Quality Metal
200 Wood
1 Rifle Body
4 Metal Spring

Its high damage output and fantastic magazine size make it a great counter against zergs with over 8-10 members. Whether you use it as a raid defense weapon or a roaming weapon, the AK-47 is undoubtedly the best all-rounder in the game.

As in most games, the Assault Rifle has an extremely punchy recoil, and players are advised to shoot in bursts until they're comfortable spraying down with the weapon.

3) MP5A4

MP5A4 has a high fire rate (Image via Facepunch Studios)

The MP5A4 is a Tier-3 weapon, similar to the Assault Rifle, and one of the best in the SMG class. It has an extremely high fire rate, great damage output, and a comfortably large magazine to work with. The MP5A4 is suited for close-to-medium range combat for the most part. You will be better off closing the distance and engaging with enemies instead of spraying from far away.

To craft the MP5A4, you will need a Workbench Level 3, and the following items:

15 High Quality Metal
1 SMG Body
2 Metal Spring

The fact that it costs relatively less makes this weapon a great pick for solos and duos. Furthermore, players can also potentially get their hands on it by killing Scientists, Elite Crates, and Military Crates.

4) Semi-Automatic Rifle

Semi Automatic Rifle is cheap to craft (Image via Facepunch Studios)

The Semi-Automatic Rifle, popularly known as the SAR, is a Tier-2 weapon that's extremely cheap to craft. Its range and reliability across all ranges make it a fantastic weapon for early games. Being a rifle, the SAR feeds on 5.56 ammunition. It is perfectly suited for medium-to-long-range gunfights, but its fast fire rate also makes it quite devastating in close quarters. These attributes make it one of the best weapons in Rust.

You can craft the Semi-Automatic Rifle with:

1 Semi Automatic Body
450 Metal Fragments
1 Metal Spring
4 High Quality Metal

5) Pump Shotgun

Pump Shotgun deals high damage (Image via Facepunch Studios)

The Pump Shotgun is arguably one of the best weapons in Rust from the Workbench Level 2. It deals high damage and is a devastating raid defense tool. While it feeds on Shotgun ammo, you can make it work for both longer ranges (using Slug shells), and extreme close-quarter combat (using buckshot or incendiary shells).

You can easily get your hands on the Pump Shotgun by completing a task at the Fishing Village. Alternatively, you can also find it in Military Crates or Elite Crates.

You can craft the Pump Shotgun with:

15 High Quality Metal
2 Metal Pipe
1 Metal Spring

You can get free Twitch drops: Rust Global Warfare Twitch Drops: All rewards, how to unlock, and more

That's all there is to know about the five best weapons in Rust. For more related news and guides, check these links below:

Edited by Abhishek Manikandan