Discover the best weapons in Hunt: Showdown 1896 with our current weapon tier list. Compare top rifles, shotguns, sidearms, budget choices, ammo considerations, and powerful loadouts for close-, medium-, and long-range fights.
There is no single weapon that dominates every fight in Hunt: Showdown 1896.
Range, ammunition, fire rate, penetration, reload speed, Weapon Capacity, Traits, and your secondary weapon all affect how strong a gun actually is.
A shotgun may be devastating inside a Boss Lair but nearly useless against a team controlling open ground.
A powerful rifle may dominate at 70 meters but become uncomfortable when an enemy pushes through a doorway.
That is why the strongest Hunt loadouts are usually built around coverage rather than raw weapon power.
The current inventory system makes this even more important. Weapons now use numbered Weapon Sizes, and a Hunter normally has 5 Weapon Capacity. Quartermaster increases that limit to 6. Most Carbines are around Size 3 while full rifles are generally around Size 4, giving players considerably more freedom when pairing weapons.
Our current overall weapon tiers are:
Tier: S Tier
Weapons: Mosin-Nagant, Krag, Auto-5, Dolch 96 Precision, Nitro Express
Tier: A Tier
Weapons: Berthier 1892, Lebel 1886, Rival 78, Slate, Sparks, Uppercut, Vetterli 71, Frontier 73C, Hunting Bow, Crossbow
Tier: B Tier
Weapons: Specter 1882, Terminus, Officer Carbine, LeMat Carbine, Martini-Henry, Springfield 1866, 1865 Carbine, 1890 Cavalry, Marathon
Tier: C Tier
Weapons: Highly specialized or less efficient variants that require a particular playstyle to outperform stronger alternatives
This does not mean a B-tier weapon cannot beat an S-tier weapon.
Hunt rewards headshots, positioning, sound awareness, and range control heavily enough that a skilled player using an inexpensive rifle can easily kill somebody carrying one of the most expensive loadouts in the game.
The tiers instead represent how consistently each weapon can create advantages when used properly.
These weapons offer some of the highest PvP potential in the current arsenal.
They generally combine strong damage, excellent follow-up potential, strong range, or exceptional killing power.
The Mosin-Nagant remains one of Hunt's premier rifles.
Its biggest strength is consistency.
It gives experienced players excellent long-range pressure, strong penetration capability, reliable follow-up shots, and enough versatility to remain dangerous from medium range into long-distance engagements.
The major 2026 change is ammunition.
Mosin-Nagant variants now use Special Long Ammo rather than standard Long Ammo. Special Long Ammo can be shared with weapons such as the Krag, Lebel, and Berthier, but cannot be replenished from normal Long Ammo sources. Players instead need Special Ammo Crates, Ammo Boxes, or Full Restocks.
That means Mosin players need to be more disciplined.
Missing ten speculative shots is now considerably more punishing.
Best for:
experienced rifle players;
medium-to-long-range combat;
teams that like rotating around compounds;
players comfortable landing accurate follow-up shots.
Main weakness: expensive firepower becomes much less useful if you waste your limited ammunition.
The Krag remains another excellent Special Long Ammo rifle.
Its smooth action and fast follow-up capability make it particularly dangerous when enemies are moving between cover.
Where slower weapons encourage one decisive shot, the Krag gives you opportunities to quickly pressure a Hunter who survives the first hit.
It performs extremely well in:
compound perimeter fights;
medium-range rotations;
ranged team fights;
situations where multiple targets appear quickly.
Like the Mosin, however, it now uses Special Long Ammo.
That gives the Krag an important weakness: ammunition economy matters.
A disciplined Krag player is terrifying.
A player constantly firing low-probability shots may discover that one of the game's strongest rifles has become an expensive club by the final fight.
The Auto-5 is one of Hunt's most dangerous close-range weapons.
A normal shotgun already threatens an immediate kill at close range. A semi-automatic shotgun adds something even more valuable: rapid follow-up pressure.
If the first shot fails to kill, you can quickly fire again.
That makes the Auto-5 extremely dangerous when:
pushing Boss Lairs;
defending staircases;
fighting around doors;
clearing small buildings;
holding extraction cover.
Update 2.8.1 also increased its reserve ammunition. Basic shells went from six reserve rounds to eight, Flechette also increased to eight, Slugs increased from four to five, and Penny Shot increased from nine to twelve.
Its weakness is obvious.
Outside shotgun distance, you need a secondary weapon capable of keeping you relevant.
Never build an Auto-5 loadout that leaves you helpless whenever an enemy refuses to enter your building.
The Dolch 96 Precision remains one of the strongest options for players who value fast follow-up shots and close-to-medium-range pressure.
Its strength is not simply damage.
It is the ability to quickly punish:
missed enemy shots;
exposed rotations;
healing attempts;
aggressive pushes;
multiple opponents appearing in quick succession.
The current capacity system has made weapons such as the Dolch Precision especially interesting. Official Update 2.8 loadout discussion specifically highlights the Dolch Precision as a Size 3 option that can be paired with Size 2 backups, or with another Size 3 weapon when using Quartermaster.
Its biggest danger is overconfidence.
A fast-firing weapon encourages players to continue shooting when repositioning would be smarter.
Hunt still rewards accurate first shots.
The Nitro Express is not the easiest weapon in Hunt.
It is not the most forgiving either.
But its tremendous stopping power gives it S-tier potential in the hands of a player who understands its limitations.
Update 2.8 increased the Nitro's reserve ammunition from 2/4 to 2/6, while Update 2.8.1 removed random ADS deviation over longer distances, making aimed shots more predictable.
The Nitro excels at converting brief opportunities into kills.
Its disadvantages include:
unusual sight picture;
limited ammunition;
high punishment for missed shots;
poor suitability for careless sustained fighting.
This is an S-tier weapon with an equally high skill requirement.
A-tier guns are excellent choices that can compete with almost anything in the game.
Some are slightly more specialized than the S-tier options. Others sacrifice a little raw power for better affordability or Weapon Capacity efficiency.
The Berthier became particularly interesting after Update 2.8 because it moved into the Size 3 category.
That allows it to pair with significantly stronger secondary weapons than many traditional full-size rifles.
The developers themselves described the Berthier as extremely powerful immediately after the inventory rework.
Update 2.8.1 subsequently reduced its standard damage from 132 to 128 and Spitzer damage from 113 to 109 because it was outperforming other Size 3 choices.
Even after that reduction, it remains very strong.
Its biggest advantage is loadout efficiency.
You are not simply evaluating the Berthier against another rifle.
You are evaluating:
Berthier + powerful secondary
against
larger primary + more limited secondary.
That distinction matters enormously under the current inventory system.
The Lebel remains an excellent long-range rifle.
It provides strong ranged pressure and works particularly well for players who prefer deliberate engagements rather than aggressive close-range fights.
Like the Mosin, Krag, and Berthier, the Lebel now uses Special Long Ammo.
That makes ammunition management one of its largest considerations.
The Lebel works best when you:
control distance;
take high-quality shots;
rotate after firing;
avoid wasting ammunition against uncertain targets.
If you want to continuously spam shots through bushes and walls, there are more forgiving choices.
The Rival 78 remains one of the best value shotguns in Hunt.
Its defining advantage is extremely simple:
two shots are immediately available.
That second shell changes close-range fights.
You can:
immediately correct a missed first shot;
kill a second Hunter;
shoot once through cover and follow up;
pressure an enemy without beginning a long reload.
Update 2.8.1 significantly improved full-size shotgun ammunition reserves. Rival basic shells increased from 8 to 12, while Flechette, Dragon Breath, Slugs, and Penny Shot also received larger reserve pools.
The Rival is an excellent choice for aggressive players who want strong close-range lethality without paying for the Auto-5.
The Slate offers a strong compromise between shotgun firepower and sustained close-range pressure.
It does not provide the same instant double-barrel response as the Rival or the semi-automatic pressure of the Auto-5, but it remains extremely effective when pushing compounds.
Update 2.8.1 increased its basic reserve ammunition from 6 to 12 and its Slug reserve from 4 to 8 while also slightly reducing its price.
That significantly improved its staying power through longer Missions.
Use the Slate if you like:
aggressive compound pushes;
multi-Hunter fights;
shotgun play that does not rely entirely on one or two shells.
The Sparks represents one of Hunt's most recognizable risk-versus-reward weapon designs.
You get extremely threatening rifle damage.
Then you must deal with having one shot before reloading.
That means every shot creates a decision.
If you hit somebody, your teammate or secondary weapon can often finish the target.
If you miss, the enemy receives a window to move or counterattack.
The Sparks is especially effective for players who understand positioning and do not remain exposed while reloading.
It is also one of the official beginner loadout recommendations when paired with the Officer.
Its strength increases dramatically when your team understands how to capitalize on your hits.
The Uppercut is one of Hunt's best sidearms for extending the effective range of a close-range primary.
It is particularly valuable alongside shotguns because it gives a shotgun player meaningful ranged pressure.
Update 2.8 increased Uppercut reserve ammunition from 6/9 to 6/12, with Precision variants receiving even more reserve ammunition.
It also remains standard Long Ammo rather than Special Long Ammo.
That makes it an excellent secondary when you need:
penetration;
ranged pressure;
strong damage;
a reliable backup for a shotgun.
The Vetterli is one of the most balanced rifles in Hunt.
It provides a useful mixture of:
manageable recoil;
reliable damage;
reasonable fire rate;
strong variant selection;
good medium-range performance.
Update 2.8 moved the Vetterli into the Size 3 ecosystem, although its extra ammunition was reduced as part of the balancing changes.
Its biggest strength is flexibility.
It rarely feels completely inappropriate for the fight you are taking.
That makes it particularly effective for players who want one familiar rifle family they can use across many different loadouts.
The Frontier family benefits heavily from the current inventory system.
The Frontier 73C is Size 3, allowing it to pair naturally with Size 2 weapons without Quartermaster.
That opens many strong combinations.
The official developers also specifically highlighted the Frontier Marksman with High Velocity Ammo as a Size 3 weapon that pairs well with Size 2 backups.
It provides:
good ammo economy;
useful fire rate;
approachable recoil;
plenty of loadout flexibility.
It may not have the raw pressure of the Mosin or Krag, but its efficiency makes it one of the easiest rifles to recommend.
The Hunting Bow is difficult to rank because it plays very differently from firearms.
Used correctly, however, it can be extremely dangerous.
Its strengths include:
quiet kills;
close-range lethality;
ambush potential;
PvE utility;
pressure from unusual positions.
Its weaknesses are equally clear:
projectile travel requires practice;
aggressive firearm users can overwhelm you;
missed shots are highly punishing;
open-range fights become difficult.
The Bow belongs in A tier because its ceiling is high, but it demands a deliberate playstyle.
The Crossbow occupies a similar specialist role.
A well-placed bolt can immediately end a close- or medium-range engagement.
Update 2.8 increased the Hand Crossbow's standard bolt damage from 195 to 205, demonstrating that bolt weapons continue to receive careful balancing within the new inventory economy.
Crossbows reward:
ambushes;
patience;
careful positioning;
knowledge of projectile behavior.
They punish panic shooting.
B-tier does not mean bad.
Many of these weapons are excellent value choices or become extremely strong with specific Traits, ammunition, or loadouts.
They simply have more obvious weaknesses than the higher-tier options.
The Specter is a reliable shotgun with solid staying power.
Its full-size reserve ammunition was increased in Update 2.8.1, including 12 basic reserve shells and 8 Slugs.
Its main disadvantage is that faster close-range weapons can punish you between shots.
Use your positioning rather than trying to out-spam every shotgun.
The Terminus can become very dangerous in the right setup.
Update 2.8.1 gave full-size Terminus variants larger ammunition reserves and reduced the base Terminus price from 238 to 168 Hunt Dollars.
That makes it an increasingly attractive value option.
It works particularly well for players willing to build around its strengths rather than treating it as a generic shotgun.
The Officer Carbine provides fast follow-up shots and is dangerous in close-to-medium engagements.
Update 2.8 slightly increased its horizontal recoil, reducing some of its previous consistency.
It remains strong when you need rapid pressure, but the player must control their shots rather than mindlessly firing at maximum speed.
The LeMat Carbine is attractive because it offers flexibility.
Its rifle component covers standard engagements while its shotgun capability gives you an emergency close-range option.
The developers specifically highlighted the LeMat Carbine in a Quartermaster pairing with the Vetterli Marksman because it can handle close-range fights while the Vetterli handles distance.
That versatility is valuable even if neither component is individually the strongest weapon in its class.
The Martini-Henry provides strong Long Ammo pressure at a lower cost than premium repeating rifles.
Its weakness is follow-up speed.
Like the Sparks, you must be disciplined about when and where you fire.
It works best when you:
hit → break line of sight → reload → reposition.
Do not remain standing in the same window waiting for your next round.
The Springfield is one of the strongest budget examples in the current arsenal.
Update 2.8.1 increased its standard damage from 132 to 139, while also improving its High Velocity and Explosive damage. The developers specifically said the goal was to strengthen its role as an inexpensive Size 4 weapon after Dumdum Ammo became Scarce.
That makes the Springfield significantly more attractive than older tier lists may suggest.
It is still a single-shot weapon.
But if you want high damage without paying premium-rifle prices, it deserves attention.
The 1890 Cavalry was introduced with Update 2.8 as a Size 3 Long Ammo rifle.
It deals 139 damage, has a 380 m/s muzzle velocity, carries 1/18 ammunition, works with Fast Fingers, and supports FMJ and High Velocity ammunition.
Its biggest selling point is efficiency.
Size 3 allows strong secondary pairings, while Long Ammo gives it respectable pressure.
It is not the fastest or most forgiving rifle, but it can form extremely effective affordable loadouts.
A strong loadout should answer one simple question:
What do I do when the enemy refuses to fight at my preferred range?
If your primary is a shotgun, bring ranged capability.
If your primary is a long-range rifle, consider something that protects you when enemies push.
If both weapons perform the same role, you may be creating a major weakness.
This concept is one of the most interesting results of Update 2.8.
The developers specifically highlighted Berthier Riposte + Rival Mace because the Size 3 Berthier can be paired with the smaller Rival without requiring Quartermaster.
The combination gives you:
Berthier
medium-range pressure;
long-range capability;
penetration;
strong follow-up potential.
Rival
immediate close-range threat;
two rapid shotgun shots;
strong building-clearing ability.
This is exactly what good Hunt loadout design looks like.
Each weapon solves the other's biggest weakness.
The Mosin should control the majority of your ranged fights.
Your secondary exists primarily for situations where an enemy reaches your compound or pushes your position.
Prioritize a secondary that provides:
rapid follow-ups;
reliable hip-fire or close-range handling;
low Weapon Capacity requirements.
Remember that Mosin ammunition is now Special Long Ammo.
An Ammo Box can become valuable during prolonged fights because normal Long Ammo replenishment no longer supports the Mosin family.
This is a classic Hunt concept for a reason.
The Rival handles:
doors;
staircases;
corners;
indoor pushes;
immediate close-range fights.
The Uppercut gives you:
ranged pressure;
strong penetration;
meaningful damage outside shotgun range.
The combination forces enemies to respect you both inside and outside the compound.
If someone refuses to push your shotgun, you still have a weapon capable of challenging them.
The 1890 Cavalry is particularly attractive for budget Hunters because it gives you 139 Long Ammo damage from a Size 3 weapon.
Use your remaining Weapon Capacity for something that protects you in closer fights.
This setup gives you strong ranged pressure without committing the cost associated with premium Special Long Ammo rifles.
This combination is included in Hunt's current official beginner recommendations.
The Frontier provides a forgiving general-purpose firearm, while the Hand Crossbow adds close-range and utility potential.
It teaches several important Hunt skills:
leading moving targets;
managing engagement range;
switching weapons based on distance;
projectile timing;
ammunition discipline.
The Sparks deals heavy rifle damage but only gives you one shot before reloading.
A fast secondary solves the obvious problem.
Hit an enemy with the Sparks, then quickly swap weapons and pressure them before they recover.
The official beginner guide uses exactly this philosophy with Sparks + Officer.
This loadout teaches excellent habits because every missed Sparks shot forces you to reposition or adapt.
Both weapons are Size 3, so the combination requires Quartermaster under the current 6-capacity maximum. The developers have specifically used this setup as an example of the possibilities created by Update 2.8.
The Vetterli handles longer-range engagements.
The LeMat provides medium-range support and a close-range shotgun option.
The result is an extremely versatile setup.
A weapon tier list should never completely ignore Custom Ammo.
The same gun can perform very differently depending on the ammunition loaded into it.
FMJ generally appeals to players who value penetration and damage retention through cover.
It is particularly effective when you frequently attempt wallbangs or fight around wooden structures.
The downside is usually projectile velocity.
You gain penetration but may need to lead moving targets more.
High Velocity ammunition makes moving targets easier to hit at distance.
It is especially useful with weapons where standard muzzle velocity makes long-range leading uncomfortable.
The trade-offs vary by weapon, so do not automatically equip High Velocity simply because a larger velocity number looks better.
Slugs turn shotgun aiming into a more precise process and can greatly increase the weapon's effective threat when accurately placed.
They also punish misses much more heavily than standard buckshot.
Update 2.8.1 increased Slug reserves across many full-size shotguns, making them significantly more sustainable than before.
Dumdum creates Bleeding pressure and can force enemies to stop fighting so they can deal with the status effect.
However, Update 2.8 moved all Dumdum ammunition into Scarcity, meaning it should no longer be treated as an unlimited default component of every loadout.
That is important when reading older Hunt guides.
Many previous recommendations were built around constant access to Dumdum.
Spitzer is valuable for high-velocity long-range shooting and penetration.
It is especially relevant for players who enjoy sniper or marksman gameplay.
However, Spitzer was also moved into Scarcity in Update 2.8.
Do not build your entire understanding of a rifle around always having scarce ammunition available.
Our strongest close-range choices are:
Auto-5
Rival 78
Slate
Specter 1882
Crossbow
At true shotgun range, positioning matters enormously.
The best shotgun is still useless if you repeatedly expose yourself to rifle fire before reaching the building.
Strong medium-range choices include:
Krag
Berthier 1892
Vetterli 71
Frontier 73C
Officer Carbine
Dolch 96 Precision
LeMat Carbine
Medium range is where flexibility becomes most important.
You may move from outdoor cover to interior fighting within seconds.
Top long-range choices include:
Mosin-Nagant
Krag
Lebel 1886
Sparks
Nitro Express
scoped rifle variants
Your ability to hit moving targets and understand muzzle velocity becomes increasingly important as distance grows.
Hunt Dollars matter.
If you constantly purchase top-tier guns and lose them before extracting, you may achieve worse long-term results than somebody running dependable mid-tier equipment.
A good weapon for you should satisfy three conditions:
You can afford it.
You understand it.
It fits your loadout.
A player who has fired hundreds of shots with the Vetterli may perform considerably better with it than somebody using a Mosin for the first time.
Muscle memory matters.
Sight familiarity matters.
Knowing exactly when your weapon is ready to fire again matters.
Do not change your primary gun every Mission because a tier list told you another weapon is technically stronger.
Before building a loadout, decide how you want to approach fights.
Prioritize:
Auto-5;
Rival 78;
Slate;
Crossbow;
fast sidearms.
Your secondary should give you enough range to pressure enemies who refuse to enter the compound.
Prioritize:
Berthier;
Vetterli;
Frontier;
Krag;
versatile Size 3 combinations.
You want two weapons that overlap slightly without creating a huge blind spot.
Prioritize:
Mosin-Nagant;
Lebel;
Krag;
Sparks;
scoped variants.
Your biggest concern should be what happens when another team closes the distance.
Prioritize:
Springfield 1866;
1890 Cavalry;
Frontier 73C;
affordable sidearms.
Avoid assuming that budget means weak.
The Springfield's current 139 base damage and the Cavalry's 139 Long Ammo damage can still punish expensive loadouts severely.
A sniper rifle and another long-range weapon may sound powerful.
Then a shotgun player enters your building.
Try to cover multiple engagement distances.
This has become particularly important after the Special Long Ammo changes.
Mosin, Krag, Lebel, and Berthier cannot rely on normal Long Ammo resupply.
Do not fire continuously at targets you are unlikely to hit.
Custom Ammo is not a guaranteed upgrade.
FMJ may slow your projectile.
Special ammunition may change penetration.
Scarce ammunition may be difficult to replace.
Choose ammunition because it solves a problem, not because it looks more advanced.
Some weapons become substantially better with supporting Traits.
Fast Fingers, Iron Eye, Quartermaster, Scopesmith, and other weapon-related Traits can change how comfortably a loadout performs.
Build the Hunter around the weapons when appropriate.
A loadout designed for a highly aggressive veteran may be terrible for somebody who prefers slower ranged fights.
Instead of asking only:
What is the strongest weapon?
Ask:
What is the strongest weapon for the way I actually play?
The Mosin-Nagant remains one of the strongest overall rifles because of its ranged performance, damage pressure, and reliability.
However, its move to Special Long Ammo means players must manage ammunition more carefully than before.
There is no single weapon that is best at every range.
The Auto-5 has some of the highest close-range pressure because of its semi-automatic follow-up shots.
The Rival 78 is arguably the better value choice because its two barrels provide tremendous immediate lethality without the same investment.
The Springfield 1866 and 1890 Cavalry are excellent current budget candidates.
The Springfield was buffed to 139 base damage in Update 2.8.1, while the Cavalry offers 139 Long Ammo damage from a Size 3 weapon.
The answer depends on your primary.
The Uppercut is excellent for adding range to a shotgun loadout.
Fast-firing pistols are often better when your primary rifle already handles ranged combat.
The best secondary is usually the one that covers your primary weapon's weakness.
Full-size shotguns received substantially larger reserve ammunition pools in Update 2.8.1.
Crytek stated that full-size shotgun usage had fallen after the inventory changes, so their reserves were increased while sawn-off shotgun reserves were reduced.
That improved the sustainability of weapons such as the Rival, Slate, Specter, Terminus, and Auto-5.
Yes.
The Berthier received a damage reduction from 132 to 128 after becoming particularly strong as a Size 3 weapon, but its Weapon Capacity efficiency still allows excellent secondary pairings.
It remains one of the most flexible rifle choices.
The best Hunt: Showdown 1896 weapons are not necessarily the guns with the largest damage number.
The strongest weapons give you control.
The Mosin and Krag control distance.
The Auto-5 and Rival control close spaces.
The Berthier and Vetterli create flexible loadouts.
The Uppercut gives shotgun players a way to fight at range.
The Sparks rewards precise opening shots.
And budget weapons such as the Springfield and 1890 Cavalry prove that you do not need the most expensive arsenal to win.
Build around your preferred engagement range, then use your second weapon to cover the situations where your primary struggles.
Most importantly, learn your chosen weapons properly.
Understand their sights.
Learn their velocity.
Know how quickly they cycle.
Know when they need to reload.
Know which fights they should avoid.
A familiar A-tier weapon will usually serve you better than an S-tier gun you barely understand.
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