There are few games on the market quite like Escape from TarkovThe hardcore, survival, FPS is all about loading into a raid and extracting whatever valuable loot you can find. The problem is that everything in a raid wants you dead. Thankfully, Escape from Tarkov has an extensive catalog of weapons for players to choose from in order to defend themselves.

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Escape from Tarkov's weapon modding system is extremely in-depth, allowing players to modify most weapons to suit their needs. However, not all weapons are created equally. Some guns are just better or have access to better mods. Here are the top 10 guns you should be using.

10 DVL-10

The DVL-10 is the king of taking out opponents without giving away your location. The weapon comes with a built-in silencer and has access to some of the most powerful ammo in the game. 7.62x51 NATO ammunition is capable of penetrating every piece of armor currently available in a single shot. The gun is not very customizable, which is both a good and bad thing. It means that it is nearly ready to use right out of the box, just requiring an optic to get going. However, that also means that its stats can't be improved further with mods, nor can its appearance.

With its top tier stopping power and ludicrously quiet shot, the DVL-10 is the ultimate weapon to bring into a long-range map like Woods.

9 AKM

The AKM is one of the few guns to remain highly effective from day one of a wipe, right through to the last. Early on, an unmodded AKM can be used as a DMR, taking well-placed shots with its powerful ammo to drop enemies from afar, while still having access to a full-auto mode if fights end up being close range. Towards the middle and end of a wipe, the AKM can be brought down to a reasonable recoil level with mods and a higher recoil control skill. The 7.62x39 BP round will go straight through anything class 4 and lower while working its way through class 6 armor in as little as three shots.

The AKM is a budget-friendly, jack of all trades option that can be used in both long-range engagements and close-quarters combat effectively, but it is not the best at either.

8 SA-58

The SA-58, known colloquially as the FAL, is like a wild, untamed beast upon purchase. It has horrendous recoil and switching it to full auto mode exacerbates the issue even further. However, few weapons benefit from mods like the FAL does. With the proper, hefty investment, the FAL can be tamed. The gun becomes the best jack of all trades weapon in the game. It is one of two guns that shoot 7.62x51 NATO rounds, one of the most powerful ammo types in the game, in full auto. The weapon stops flying all over the place when shooting, and instead feels like a decently modded 5.45 AK, with much higher kill potential.

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The SA-58 is not a gun that should be used unmodded very often. It takes a considerable investment to turn this wild beast into a proper killing machine.

7 MP7A2

tarkov mp7 mod screen

For players who prefer a fast-paced, in your face style of gameplay, the MP7A2 should be the weapon of choice. The best submachine gun available, the Mp7A2 is an absolute laser within its range. Combined with its 950 RPM fire rate and ammo capable of going through the best armor in the game in as little as a single bullet, the MP7A2 makes short work of anything in its sights. The small size of the firearm also means that it is far less likely to get caught on walls or other types of cover.

The MP7A2 is held back by a smaller than ideal magazine size, range, and lower flesh damage on its best rounds. However, few guns can compete with it in close quarters combat.

6 SVDS

tarkov svds mod screen

Recently in the Tarkov community, there was a huge debate on the effectiveness of the Mosin rifle. Many argued that it was far too strong for the cost, capable of one-shotting the chest fairly consistently. As a result, the developers increased the price of the weapon, increased the price of the ammo, and increased chest health so that it could no longer one-shot. For a measly few thousand extra roubles, players can buy an SVDS instead. The SVDS is a straight improvement over the seemingly overpowered Mosin in every way. It shoots faster, can use a larger & changeable magazine, and is more easily modded. With the chest health change, the SVDS can two-tap anyone in the chest with three different types of ammo.

The SVDS is one of the most underused guns in Escape from Tarkov. Newer players and veterans alike can benefit from using this semi-auto Mosin.

5 M1A

The M1A is the best semi-automatic weapon in the game. It can be modded to have great recoil and is best in class ergonomics. With some investment, a player can have a gun with a long-range optic, a canted sight for close-range fights, access to top-tier ammo, and a weapon that shoots as fast as they can click without bouncing all over the screen. The M1A is great on all maps but shines on maps with unpredictable engagements at various ranges. On a map like Customs, the M1A thrives. It can pick people off from afar across the river or it can clear dorms without issue.

Whenever you have an M1A in your hands, there is never a fight where you are too far or too close to an opponent.

4 AS Val

With absolutely no modifications, with the exception of the player's optic of choice, the AS Val has among the best recoil in the game. The majority of the ammo available for the AS Val is capable of penetrating or shredding all armor in fractions of a second thanks to their high penetration and armor damage values. On top of its incredible ability to deal with armor, all AS Val rounds deal above-average flesh damage. Coupled with its 900 RPM fire rate and built-in silencer, the AS Val drops players before they even knew what hit them.

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While the weapon is essentially a death laser in close-quarters, the bullet drop for medium-to-long-range is extreme. The financial burden of running the gun still doesn't stop it from being an incredible weapon.

3 AK-74N

The AK-74N is the most powerful of the AK variants in Escape from Tarkov. Shooting the smaller 5.45x39 caliber round, the AK-74N has far less base recoil than the 7.62 Ak's, as well as access to the single highest penetration round available for an assault rifle. The AK-74N is a weapon that is effective on every map in nearly every situation. While it may be outclassed by more specialized guns, like the AS Val in close range, it always gives the user more than a fighting chance to win. With access to 60 round magazines, the AK-74N is one of the few weapons capable of wiping full squads as a single player with relative ease.

2 M4A1

The Colt M4A1 has access to some of the best ammo and best budget ammo around. The weapon can be modded to suit the player's goals & fill every niche from long-range DMR, to an SMG like weapon. It can use 60 round magazines, which means it has exceptional squad wipe potential. The M4A1 is the assault rifle with the lowest possible recoil throughout al calibers and turns gunfights into a point and click game.

1 HK 416A5

hk416a5 tarkov mod screen

Sacrificing a small amount of recoil for a slightly higher rate of fire than the M4A1, the HK 416A5 is the best weapon in Escape from Tarkov. Take everything that makes the M4A1 great, such as best in slot recoil, large magazines, & access to some of the best ammo in the game, and throw it onto a gun that shoots even faster. The HK is competitive in every range and every situation. There is no weapon that can compete with it in mid-range firefights, which are where most engagements take place.

Many players, scavs, raiders, and bosses have fallen to the bullet hose that is the HK, and many more will follow.

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