Well, Gears 5 might not have experienced one of the smoothest launches in gaming history, but it's up and running now. Multiplayer's always been a major staple of the entire franchise, so you already know most players hoped online as soon as they could - most of them swarming to Team Deathmatch like moths to a flame.
If you're one of those moths and you don't want to get burned, then you'll need to know which weapons are the best and worst for TDM. So without further ado, here are the top five best and worst weapons for Gears 5's Team Deathmatch mode.
10 Hammerburst II (Best)
Let's start things off with an oldie but a goodie - the Hammerburst II, from Gears of War 2. Though the Locust Horde designed this rifle, it's more accurate and more powerful than the standard Lancer - capable of scoring headshots against targets who are seemingly on the opposite side of the map!
Sometimes the best tactic in Team Deathmatch is to lock your enemies down with suppressive fire - a tactic that the Mark 1 Lancer excels at. However, accurate shots from a Hammerburst II (bolstered by a perfect reload) can down enemies just as quickly and longer ranges. And, as a bonus, it's super easy to find ammo for this weapon.
9 Retro Lancer (Worst)
Man, we wish the Retro Lancer was more viable in TDM - it looks awesome and has amazing finishing moves! But, unfortunately, this gun is a 'master of none' - its range pales in comparison to the Mk 1 Lancer or Hammerburst and its damage pales in comparison to the Gnasher.
The Retro Lancer also kicks like a mule and eats ammo like Kirby at a HomeTown Buffet! We also have a theory that the Retro Lancer brainwashes its wielders into always blindly charging at enemies - no matter the distance between them - in the vain hope of impaling them on the RL's bayonet. In short, the Retro Lancer is far too impractical for TDM - or most other modes, for that matter.
8 Breaker Mace (Best)
One might look at the Breaker Mace and lop it into the same category as the Retro Lancer - after all, both weapons look rad but also seem too archaic do any real damage in a firefight. But then you pick up the Breaker mace for the first time, and you manage to gib the entire enemy team with one swing!
Apparently, bringing a mace to a gunfight works a lot better than bringing a knife. This weapon has caused so much rage since Gears 5's launch, numerous players outright hate it. Even its initials spell 'BM.'
7 Incendiary Grenades (Worst)
According to Gears 5's insane logic, slamming a razor-sharp crystal mace down near your feet is completely safe. But stand near an incendiary grenade that you tossed for a few seconds too long and you'll be crawling around like a dog!
In the right hands, incendiary grenades can be effective - if fairly weak - weapons that briefly keep your foes from accessing certain areas. But in the wrong hands, incendiary grenades cause more trouble than they're worth - turning your TDM game into a babysitting session, as you struggle to revive allies that keep setting themselves on fire!
6 Longshot (Best)
Ah, the Longshot - it's been taking heads ever since Gears of War 1! As far as video game snipers go, the Longshot is one of the most accurate and powerful weapons in history! But you have to take the time to master this gun if you want to make the most of it.
Some players seem to genuinely possess a special connection with the gun - hitting headshots the millisecond the finish rolling out of a firefight. Others can turn around in a second and kill someone miles away by hip firing! Honestly, sometimes the best tactic in TDM is to give the Longshot to the player on your team with the best aim.
5 Snub Pistol (Worst)
The Snub Pistol is another relic from Gears of War 1, but it's the antithesis of the Longshot - the Snub has a pitiful firing range and hits with the force of a mosquito bite. Its 12 round magazine might seem like a decent amount, but it's less impressive when you have to dump the whole thing into one target.
The Snub's only redeeming trait is that it's a starter weapon. But, then again, so is the Boltok Pistol. With so many great weapons in their arsenal, one wonders how the Locust ever managed to lose to the COG in the first place.
4 Boomshot (Best)
As far as power-weapons go, perhaps none generate as much anxiety and fear as the Boomshot. Much like the Breaker Mace, a skilled player can wipe entire teams with one Boomshot blast. However, Boomshot users can fire away without having to get anywhere near their enemies - especially if they have the high ground!
The Boomshot is also easier to use than most of the other power-weapons in the Gears franchise. Honestly, just don't get trigger happy with this thing and fire while you're danger close - we've seen countless players blow themselves to bits over the years and it never gets old.
3 Cryo Canon (Worst)
Hey reader, do you like moving slower than a turtle and having a giant target painted on your back? Do you enjoy being unable to roll, Roadie Run, or turn around at a rate faster than 2 miles per hour? If so, then the Cryo Canon might be your favorite weapon in Gears 5!
For the rest of us, however, this gun just isn't worth the trouble. It has a pitiful range and weighs you down far too much. Speed kills in Gears 5 - that's true for each game in the series, come to think of it. The Cryo Canon takes away your maneuverability and leaves you vulnerable to just about every other weapon in the game.
2 Torque Bow (Best)
The Torque Bow, in contrast to its the cousin the Boomshot, is one of the hardest power-weapons to master. You have to be accurate lest you waste the bow's limited ammo. You must also master the arts of timing your charges and perfect reloading in the heat of battle.
Should you endeavor to master the Torque Bow, you'll have one of the strongest guns in the entire franchise at your disposal. We've seen, pros tear through the enemy team with ammo to spare, allowing them to keep the enemy locked down for the rest of the match! When Torque Bow pros go on a roll, it's hard to stop them.
1 Smoke Grenade (Worst)
What can we say about this weapon that hundreds of memes haven't already said better? The only thing smoke is good for is setting the stage for a rave.
We don't care how many buffs they give to this weapon, smokes will always be useless for one key reason - you can't see through your own smokescreen!