THE FINALS best weapons, ranked

THE FINALS‘ arenas are open, and those of you jumping into the game will need the best weapons to snag that win.

Not all the weapons are available from the get-go. Some you will need to unlock with 800 VRs that can be earned by simply playing the game. Weapons are also tied to one of the three character builds (classes) available in the game: Light, Medium, and Heavy.

Many weapons in the game like the Sword are meant for you to lean into a specific playstyle. While in this list I go over the best weapons for general use, you can make more niche weapons work with the right loadout. Here’s our list of the top weapons to use in THE FINALS.

Best weapons to use in THE FINALS

8) Model 1887 (Medium build)

A deadly tool for close-range encounters is the Model 1887, which you can unlock for 800 VRs. It’s a lever-action pellet shotgun with a spread tight enough to guarantee a good chunk of damage if you hit a body shot. It’s a good weapon to keep in reserve for your Medium loadout as you never know when fights will be taken into tight indoor areas. This shotgun quickly became my go-to weapon for retaking a cashout placed in a small room.

7) M11 (Light build)

Perfect for close range, the M11 is a great SMG to use when playing as a Light class. The weapon has the fastest fire rate in the game and can practically beam targets up close. When comparing it to another submachine gun, the XP-54, the M11 is superior in extreme close-quarter combat scenarios.

On the other hand, as soon as you step away a few meters, you’ll quickly notice the gun’s heavy recoil deeming it almost unusable. The downside of having to rush into other contestants is that you are very squishy as a Light Build. You have to play carefully and ideally flank the enemy players to make good use of this gun.

6) XP-54 (Light build)

Back in the open beta, I didn’t think much of the XP-54. While the devs didn’t do much to this weapon since THE FINALS‘ full launch, it feels much better considering the changes to all the other guns in the game.

The XP-54 has a scope that makes it more comfortable to use in close and mid-range gunfights. A moderate recoil and relatively high fire rate make it generally better than the M11 submachine gun and in some cases, even better than the V9S.

5) Sledgehammer (Heavy build)

When you play the Heavy class, you will often get up close and personal with the enemy players, and for those moments, allow me to introduce you to the Sledgehammer. After the latest Flamethrower nerfs, the Sledgehammer is the best close-range option for the Heavy build.

The best part is there aren’t many counters to the Sledgehammer except for running. Unless you are fighting another Heavy player or multiple enemies at once, an attack using a Sledgehammer almost always guarantees a kill, making it worthy of your 800 VRs.

4) Lewis Gun (Heavy build)

The Lewis Gun was always a better M60. It has a smaller magazine size, but thanks to higher accuracy than the M60, you can make your shots count. The problem is that Lewis Gun was also affected by several nerfs that made it harder to control.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many decent ranged options for the Heavy build. Unless you’re confident in your ability to use the brand-new KS-23 shotgun, Lewis Gun is your best bet.

3) V9S (Light build)

The V9S pistol used to be the best weapon in the game with its damage, fire rate, and effective range. While it’s not as strong anymore, it’s still one of the best weapons in THE FINALS and is a precise tool at close to medium range.

Despite the latest nerfs to this weapon it’s still very versatile, which is key as you constantly decrease or increase the distance between yourself and the enemy players. Up close, you can spam the fire button to secure a kill almost as fast as using a submachine gun, while from a distance, simply go for slower shots to deal damage as if it were an AR.

I could fight against almost any weapon in the game with the V9S, so I highly recommend it be on your shopping list for a Light character.

2) FAMAS (Medium build)

A brand-new weapon introduced in season two for the Medium build is the FAMAS. It’s a burst-fire assault rifle that packs a decent punch and is very easy to use.

Because it’s a burst-fire weapon, you don’t really have to worry about recoil when firing the gun. Just keep your crosshair on the enemy and keep shooting. The sweet spot for the FAMAS is in those mid-range fights. If you are too close, the submachine guns or even melee weapons can overwhelm you. At longer ranges, you simply won’t deal enough damage to hurt the enemy significantly.

1) FCAR (Medium build)

The FCAR is by far the best weapon currently available in THE FINALS. It has high range, good damage, and a perfect fire rate to engage in close to mid-range combat.

The downside, however, is its 20-round magazine. You have to be accurate and manage your ammo when weaving in and out of engagements. At first, you’ll likely end up reloading right in front of the enemy, which will cause you to lose a fight, but as you use the FCAR more and more, you’ll get the feel of it and become a nightmare for the enemy contestants to deal with.