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Tier list

Rivals Weapon Tier List (September 2026)

Last checked September 9, 2026

By the Claude Gaming team

This Rivals weapon tier list ranks the guns, melee weapons and utilities that decide rounds after the Summer Update, from the meta primaries down to the tools we would leave in the shop.

We compared three rankings published since the June balance patch and settled the disagreements by real match performance in ranked lobbies, so a couple of placements differ from lists written before the sniper hitbox change.

Cost is part of the picture: a free weapon that keeps up with 600-key purchases earns its tier, and an expensive one has to justify the price.

S
Assault Rifle Assault Rifle
Sniper Sniper
Permafrost Permafrost
Paintball Gun Paintball Gun
A
Shotgun Shotgun
Minigun Minigun
Uzi Uzi
Katana Katana
Revolver Revolver
Distortion Distortion
Scythe Scythe
Energy Rifle Energy Rifle
B
Energy Pistols Energy Pistols
Exogun Exogun
Burst Rifle Burst Rifle
Bow Bow
Crossbow Crossbow
Shorty Shorty
Battle Axe Battle Axe
Medkit Medkit
C
RPG RPG
Flamethrower Flamethrower
Grenade Launcher Grenade Launcher
Knife Knife
Grappler Grappler
Spear Spear
Chainsaw Chainsaw
D
Freeze Ray Freeze Ray
Smoke Grenade Smoke Grenade
Fists Fists
Trowel Trowel
Download this tier list as an image

Weapon icons from the Rivals community wiki

How we rank

We rank weapons on consistent damage at the ranges most fights happen, on how forgiving they are when your aim is off, and on the utility their ability adds to a team. Melee and utilities are judged against their slot, not against primaries. All three sources agree on the top of the list; the lower tiers reflect the two most recent rankings when the sources disagree.

Tier by tier

S Tier, the meta

  • Assault Rifle: Free, works at every range, most consistent damage
  • Sniper: Bigger hitbox made one-shot headshots reliable
  • Permafrost: Two-round burst with slow into freeze lockdown
  • Paintball Gun: Faster projectiles now melt enemies up close

A Tier, excellent

  • Shotgun: Damage buff turned it into a real corridor threat
  • Minigun: Shreds anyone holding an angle, slow to move
  • Uzi: Best general sidearm since the spread fix
  • Katana: Fast melee with bullet deflect, top flanking tool
  • Revolver: High damage cleanup shots at mid range
  • Distortion: Vortex ability is the best objective control in the game
  • Scythe: Omnidirectional dash for aggressive rushes
  • Energy Rifle: Unique charge playstyle that rewards experience

B Tier, solid

  • Energy Pistols: Steady damage per second in the secondary slot
  • Exogun: Area damage that rivals some primaries
  • Burst Rifle: Still viable, slower reload after the nerf
  • Bow: Rewards patient players who lead long shots
  • Crossbow: Strong single-target damage if you predict well
  • Shorty: Quick secondary that punishes overextensions
  • Battle Axe: Heavy melee hits, slow if you whiff
  • Medkit: Self-sustain that enables aggressive plays

C Tier, situational

  • RPG: Big splash damage, slow and easy to read
  • Flamethrower: Burn damage up close, easily kited
  • Grenade Launcher: Indirect fire that good players sidestep
  • Knife: Backstab kills instantly, everything else is weak
  • Grappler: High skill ceiling, rarely worth the slot
  • Spear: Fun movement tricks, situational damage
  • Chainsaw: Slow and easily countered by any ranged player

D Tier, skip

  • Freeze Ray: Inconsistent freeze, Permafrost does it better
  • Smoke Grenade: Little value in fast-paced rounds
  • Fists: Free movement bonus, minimal damage
  • Trowel: Rarely changes a fight

Playing Rivals right now? Grab the freebies too: our Rivals codes page is checked daily, with every working code and what it pays out.

Rivals tier list FAQ

What is the best weapon in Rivals right now?

The Assault Rifle is the best overall weapon because it is free and consistent at every range. If you want a purchase, Permafrost gives you the strongest lockdown, and the Sniper is the best pick for open maps since its hitbox buff.

Is the Shotgun good after the Summer Update?

Yes. The damage and critical hit buffs made it a real threat in corridors and on chokepoints, which is why it moved up to A tier. It still loses at mid range, so pair it with a strong secondary.

What is the best melee weapon in Rivals?

The Katana is the best melee pick because it is fast, deflects bullets and enables dash-cancel aggression. The Scythe is close behind for players who prefer mobility over deflect.

Why is the Minigun not in S tier?

The Minigun deals excellent sustained damage, but its movement penalty and spin-up time make it easy to flank. It shines when holding a position and struggles the moment you have to rotate.