Best DMRs in PUBG

If you’re looking to master a versatile and reliable weapon to facilitate your battle royale adventure in PUBG: Battlegrounds, you’ll want to acquaint yourself with DMRs. Since there are multiple options, we’ll help you choose the best DMR in PUBG according to your playstyle.

Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) is a subset of Sniper Rifles. In real life, these high-precision weapons are wielded by experts who assume the role of a designated marksman. They can operate at mid-range and are also excellent at sniping distant enemies, giving ambitious players a lot of flexibility.

There are eight DMRs in PUBG, but not all are built the same. For those who want to distinguish the best from the worst, our PUBG tier list ranking all DMRs according to their strengths is all you need.

All DMRs in PUBG: Battlegrounds, ranked

Mk12

If you want to dominate your PUBG lobby with a DMR in your loadout, don’t think twice before picking up the Mk12. It shoots potent high-velocity bullets, letting you tackle enemies at mid- and long-range like a pro. Its recoil pattern isn’t difficult to master either, so you only need time to get a hang of it. 

Unfortunately, the Mk12 sports only one firing mode, which lets you shoot one bullet at a time. Since it deals a lot of damage, you can still use it in close range as long as your aim is stable. Thankfully, it has a high fire rate, so you can always spam your left mouse button to compete against automatic rifles.

Mk14

Mk14 has been dominating the list of top DMRs in PUBG for a long time—and for good reason. It deals high damage and flaunts an impressive bullet velocity and effective range. Its biggest advantage is that you can switch between automatic and semi-automatic firing modes, so you can easily tackle enemies at any range. It also features a bipod, so going prone helps stabilize its recoil.

While it’s an S-tier weapon in PUBG with little to no flaw, you may want to be vigilant when using it in automatic mode. Its magazine holds just 10 bullets without an extended mag and 22 with it, so you may run out of bullets in the middle of a close-range fight without realizing it. 

SLR

The SLR is one of the best DMRs for long and mid-range fights, thanks to its high damage potential and bullet velocity. Most players with good aim and patience can find great value in it. If you’re looking for a DMR that feels similar to a sniper rifle but with a semi-automatic firing advantage, you’d want to pick this potent gun up. 

That said, the SLR sports a quirky recoil pattern, which can be hard to control. You can make it better by attaching a Compensator muzzle to it. If only it’d support a foregrip.

Dragunov

The Dragunov is an absolute beast of a DMR, but only if you’re up for a challenge. Like the SLR, it flaunts a tough recoil pattern and slow fire rate, mimicking the design of a bolt-action sniper rifle. That said, if you’ve got enough patience to master its quirks, the Dragunov pays back with potent damage output, letting you knock down enemies with just a couple of bullets at mid- and long-range. You’d want to avoid it in close range, though.

I recommend prioritizing attachments that control recoil and an extended quickdraw mag if possible when using this gun. This will significantly reduce the drawbacks and let you snipe those pesky opponents down with ease.

SKS

The SKS supports a range of attachments, letting you effectively balance out its quirks and find crucial value off it. Load it with the perfect set of accessories, and it becomes a scary weapon to deal with in ranged fights. It also deals a fair amount of damage, making it a top DMR choice among PUBG players.  

Without attachments, however, the SKS can be hard to control. If you don’t have a muzzle like the Compensator or a foregrip like the Half or Light Grip to counter its high recoil, you may find it hard to land accurate shots.

QBU

A Sanhok map-exclusive DMR, the QBU is an excellent weapon when used to its strengths. It features a bipod that activates when you are prone and greatly reduces its recoil. So, if you prefer snaking around in the dark green grass of Sanhok and sniping unsuspecting targets, you should definitely have it in your loadout.

When it comes to DMRs and bolt-action, however, players seem to prefer higher damage potential over everything else. The QBU’s damage potential isn’t as high as that of other DMRs available in the game. Moreover, it isn’t available in maps like Miramar and Erangel, which highly encourage the use of DMRs. Sanhok’s design promotes close-range fights, so players prefer picking up SMGs and ARs instead of semi-automatic guns like QBU.

Mini14

The Mini14 is a popular choice in PUBG due to its low recoil and bullet drop. If you’re just starting out with sniping, this is the DMR for you. The best thing about the Mini14 is if you miss your initial shots, its high muzzle velocity lets you spam bullets and compensate for your mistakes. It’s also great against moving targets and in close range if needed.

Being a 5.56mm gun, however, the Mini14 deals the lowest damage out of all DMRs in the game, making it unreliable in many cases. A seasoned DMR player would much rather have an SLR or SKS in their loadout than a Mini14.

VSS

The VSS can be deadly in mid-range fights and, thanks to its integrated suppressor, leave your enemies wondering where the bullets are coming from. It has two firing modes—single and auto—so you can use it in close range too. It’s great for scoring kills at a distance, especially if you land in a hot drop and find a sniping spot.  

As a DMR, however, the VSS falls short in its damage potential, making it a weak choice for your loadout beyond the early game. It also has an annoyingly high bullet drop coupled with low muzzle velocity, so it’s a struggle to hit targets at a distance, especially if they’re moving. It doesn’t support any scope attachment beyond its integrated 4x, either.