Building the perfect Fireteam in Predator: Hunting Grounds is no small feat, because the play styles of teammates and the Predator can vary wildly from match to match. The good news is that there are only a few weapons we would classify as “bad”, so personal preference for enjoyment will not get in the way of being a strong teammate.
To help you customize the perfect Fireteam member, here is an analysis of the best and worst weapons of each type, along with a DPS test by YouTube content creator NinaaTV showing off a side-by-side comparison of each category.
Assault Rifles
This category is a great starting point, because, all options fall within a narrow range of damage output potential. Both the QR-4 and GOSL-R offer consistent, reliable, and fast damage output at close and medium range, while the G-ROW and AR-W they falter in the medium and long-range, especially the latter due to its wide bullet spread. While the first two options are “best”, none are bad choices.
Sniper Rifles
The category of Sniper Rifle is quite special because each of the three options is strong in their own way, and rather than saying they have drawbacks, it is more appropriate to say that they all suit a different style of play.
The ABR-Z offers strong damage and a high rate of fire, making suitable for fighting AI human and Predator alike depending on the optic used. It is the most versatile option for clearing objectives while being hunted.
The SAWZ-50 is a powerhouse that deals tremendous damage at range and suits a playstyle geared towards spotting the Predator from afar and making it hurt. Due to having the slowest fire rate of any weapon in the game, its potential is wasted against the AI and needs to be partnered with a weapon that is suited to close-quarters combat.
The 7EN is the oddest of the bunch because it still deals great damage to the Predator but is awkward against the AI. While it can more easily be used to fire multiple shots in quick succession, any competent Predator will remove themselves from a situation where they can be brought down by a Sniper Rifle. If a player can reliably track and hit the Predator often, they may prefer the SAWZ-50, but if they miss often, the 7EN is helpful for taking more shots while still dealing slightly less damage.
Pistols
Even after its recent nerf, the 2XL remains the best option for players who prefer pistols. This is because at close range all three pistols can dispatch a Predator in about the same amount of time if a player lands all of their shots. However, at medium range, the 2XL is far more efficient, while the 1011-12 comes closely behind. It is only the GRIMTECH19 that becomes ineffective at medium range, and for this reason, is not a good choice compared to the other two.
Shotguns
The best shotgun is without a doubt the XDB-12, giving players tremendous firepower up close with its dual shot capability. Apart from stopping virtually everything up close with ease, its medium-range damage is surprisingly high and a good candidate for a small nerf. The DJL-33 is a great starting weapon, but only useful up close, and punishing if a player misses due to the slow fire rate.
Unfortunately, the most enjoyable shotgun is also the weakest and least effective at all ranges. The CS-12 looks and sounds like a beast as a fully automatic shotgun, but its damage is shockingly low and could really use a buff. In the video above, we can see that even at close range it is outclassed by the default shotgun, and players will run through their entire stock of ammunition at medium range without taking down a Predator. Outside of personal enjoyment and pretending to be Terry Crews from The Expendables, this weapon should be forgotten until it receives a buff, even with an extended magazine.
Submachine Guns
The Submachine Gun category offers a clear-cut tier of weapons. At close range, all three weapons deal virtually the same output of damage over time, but at medium range, there are notable differences. The Z-06 outperforms its competitors by a large margin, followed by the ZR-55 as slightly less effective, and finally, the PDW-Z, which is all but useless at medium range.
This is interesting because according to the effective range attributes listed in-game, the ZR-55 is lower than the PDW-Z, but for some reason, this is not the case in practice.
The Specialists
Three options exist under the Special category of both primary and secondary weapons. While it is tempting to use the S-R3D Minigun, not everyone has this option as it was a pre-order bonus. Luckily, outside of nostalgia for the original film, this is not the best option. At point-blank range, both it and the RP-103, available to everyone, take down the Predator in no time at all. However, at medium range, the classic minigun loses all of its potency and will run out of ammunition before it is able to take down the Predator.
This means that the most useful option in all circumstances is the RP-103, offering high damage, decent accuracy, and 150 rounds to lay down suppressing or covering fire without the need to reload often.
Surprisingly, the D34-D Grenade Launcher is by far the weakest specialty option, taking longer at any range to deal the same amount of damage. Since patch 1.06 also removed the grenade's ability to explode on impact, it is now more difficult to land hits, and there is no reason to take this weapon into a match.
Mix And Match
Ultimately, it is great to see that most weapons in Predator: Hunting Ground are efficient at dealing damage at either close or medium range because rather than forcing a meta loadout to all players, there is a broad range of combinations to suit different play styles. A slow but powerful Sniper Rifle paired with the XDB-12 Shotgun will allow for tremendous firepower at all distances from a target, but there are so many other options as well.
If players stay away from those few weapons that are significantly underpowered or effectively useless at medium range, they will be on the right track to becoming a formidable match against any Predator.
Source: Youtube – NinaaTV for DPS testing