TL;DR - Meta Loadouts Right Now

Perfect loadout: Striker AR + Thunder Shotgun + Shockwave/Heals. Best overall weapon: Mythic Thunder Shotgun (200 headshot). Most underrated: Hammer AR (laser beam accuracy). Avoid at all costs: Ranger Pistol, Makeshift weapons. Pro tip: Prioritize shield over weapon rarity.

Half the lobby dies because they're running around with grey pistols thinking they're John Wick. Truth is, weapon choice determines fights before they start. This isn't opinion – it's math. Let me show you which guns actually slap and which ones belong in the vault.

The God Tier (Take These or Lose)

Thunder Shotgun

Damage: 140-185 (rarity dependent)
Headshot multiplier: 1.75x
Why it's broken: One-pumps are back. Hit your shot = instant elim

If you don't have this in your loadout, you're throwing. Period. The Thunder Shotgun is the undisputed king of close-range fights. Land a clean headshot and even 200 HP enemies disappear.

Striker Burst AR

Damage: 35-40 per bullet
Fire rate: 3-round burst
Effective range: All ranges
Secret sauce: First shot accuracy resets fast

This gun lasers. The burst pattern is predictable, recoil is manageable, and it chunks health at any distance. Plus, it uses light ammo (easier to find).

Nemesis AR

Damage: 24-28
Fire rate: Very fast
Magazine: 30 rounds
Best for: Aggressive box fighting

New this season and absolutely cracked. The Nemesis melts builds and health bars equally. Think of it as a hybrid between AR and SMG. Controller players especially love this thing.

A Tier (Solid Choices)

Hammer Assault Rifle

Why it's good: Zero recoil, consistent damage
Why it's not S-tier: Slower fire rate
Best use: Medium-long range beams

Maven Auto Shotgun

The deal: Less damage per shot, but very forgiving
Perfect for: Players still working on shotgun aim
Combo potential: Follow up with SMG spray

Thunder Burst SMG

Surprise factor: Insane DPS up close
Downside: Burns through ammo
Tip: Hipfire only, ADS ruins it

B Tier (Situational Picks)

Warforged Assault Rifle

Old reliable but outclassed
Take it early game, upgrade ASAP
Decent for pressure but won't win straight fights

Havoc Pump Shotgun

High risk, high reward
Slow fire rate punishes misses
Only worth it if you hit consistent 150s

Ranger Rifle

DMR that thinks it's a sniper
Good for third-partying
Bad for actual fighting

Trash Tier (Never Pick These)

Ranger Pistol

Literally throwing
20 damage tickles
Grey AR > Gold pistol

Makeshift Weapons

Emergency only
Craft immediately
Playing with these = voluntary disadvantage

Drum Shotgun

Nerfed into oblivion
Maven does everything better
RIP to a former legend

The Perfect Loadouts by Playstyle

Aggressive W-Keyer

Thunder Shotgun (close range delete button)
Nemesis AR (box fighting shred)
Shockwave Grenades (mobility)
Mini Shields (quick heals)
Flex slot (more heals or utility)

Passive/Placement Player

Striker Burst AR (long range picks)
Maven Auto Shotgun (defensive option)
Med Mist (team healing)
Big Pots (full shield)
Grapple Blade (rotation tool)

Balanced Fighter

Striker Burst AR (versatile primary)
Thunder Shotgun (close range)
Small shields (quick healing)
Shockwaves/Rift (mobility)
Med kit (full reset)

Weapon Priority Checklist

When looting, follow this order:

Shotgun first - Can't box fight without one
AR second - Need range pressure
Healing third - Minis > everything
Utility fourth - Mobility or extras
Sniper last - Only if you're nasty with it

Attachments & Mods Guide

Chapter 5 brought weapon mods. Here's what actually matters:

Must-Have Mods

Red-Eye Sight: Easier headshots on ARs
Drum Mag: More spray potential
Angled Grip: Recoil reduction

Skip These

Laser Sight: Gives away position
Heavy Barrel: Slower ADS not worth it
Bayonet: Meme tier attachment

Combat Tips by Weapon Type

Shotgun Fighting

Pre-aim corners
Jump shot for head level
Build between shots
Never 50/50 unless you must

AR Battling

Crouch for accuracy
Tap fire at range
Spray builds up close
First shot accuracy abuse

SMG Tactics

Hipfire in boxes
Follow shotgun damage
Pressure builds
Burn before they heal

Ammo Management

Light ammo: 300 minimum (AR spam) Shells: 50-100 (depends on shotgun) Medium: 200 if running Hammer AR Heavy: Skip unless sniping

Pro tip: Drop excess ammo for heals. You can't shoot if you're dead.

Mythic Weapons This Season

Mythic Thunder Shotgun

Location: Defeated boss drops
Why it's worth: 200 damage headshots
Counter: Don't peek it

Mythic Warforged AR

Location: Various boss POIs
Bonus: Thermal scope
Reality: Good but not worth focused drop

Weapon Meta Changes

What's different from last season:

SMGs nerfed (shotgun meta returns)
AR accuracy buffed across board
Snipers still vault-worthy
Mythics more common but less OP

Quick Decision Guide

See two weapons? Here's what to take:

Grey Thunder Shotgun > Gold Maven
Blue Striker AR > Purple Warforged
Any shield > Better weapon rarity
Mobility item > Third weapon
Mythic > Everything (usually)

Mistakes That Get You Killed

Running single shotgun shells - Always grab 30+
Ignoring minis for guns - Heals > weapons
Taking snipers in moving zones - Dead weight
Double AR loadout - Why limit yourself?
No mobility late game - Rotation = survival

The Zone Wars Special

Different loadout for Creative warriors:

Thunder Shotgun (box fights)
Nemesis AR (versatile)
Minis x2 (constant healing)
Shockwaves (reposition)

Skip big pots and meds. Fights end too fast.

Final Loadout Wisdom

Your loadout should match your playstyle, not some YouTuber's. That said, certain weapons are objectively better. The Thunder Shotgun isn't optional – it's mandatory. The Striker AR isn't preference – it's optimal.

Master these loadouts, understand the tier list, and watch your K/D climb. The best gun doesn't make you good, but the wrong gun makes you dead.

Time to update that loadout. Your Victory Royales depend on it. 🎯