Best Utility Weapons in Rivals (Ranked)
Rivals utility slot ranked: Permafrost, RPG, Distortion, Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, and Exogun — roles and best use.
Best Utility Weapons in Rivals (Ranked)
The Utility slot is your wildcard. In Rivals the verified utility weapons are Permafrost, RPG, Distortion, Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, and Exogun. These are not your main damage — they are the tools that win rounds through freeze, explosion, and disruption.
S Tier Utility
Permafrost is the king of utility: it freezes enemies in place, and because it also appears in the Primary slot you can double up on freeze if you want. A frozen enemy is a free kill for your team. The RPG and Grenade Launcher bring explosive area denial that clears corners and punishes groups.
If you only unlock one utility, make it Permafrost — the freeze is unique and game-changing.
A Tier Utility
The Flamethrower (400 Keys) is area denial in close quarters; light a corridor and nobody walks through. The Distortion (vortex) warps positioning, pulling or pushing fights in your favor. The Exogun is a flexible energy tool for poke and control.
These shine on maps with tight lanes (Onyx, Bridge, Docks) where area control decides rounds.
Utility by Mode
1v1: a single strong utility like Permafrost or RPG. 2v2 and 3v3: Flamethrower or Grenade Launcher for team fights. 5v5: Distortion or Exogun for group disruption.
See the rivals modes tier list for how utility value changes with team size.
Pairing Utility With Primary
If your primary is already explosive (RPG, Grenade Launcher), your utility should cover a different job — freeze with Permafrost or deny with Flamethrower. If your primary is a Sniper, Permafrost utility lets you lock a target before the shot.
The best-loadout tier list builds full kits that avoid overlapping roles.
Cost and Unlock
Utility guns are pricey: Flamethrower 400 Keys, Grenade Launcher 425 Keys, and Permafrost 600 Keys as a Contraband. Save from tasks and contracts — how to get keys covers the fastest routes.
Because they are expensive, pick the one that fits your main mode before spreading Keys thin.
Common Mistakes
Do not treat utility as a primary — you will lose damage races. Do not stack two explosives and leave yourself with no freeze or deflection. And do not sleep on Permafrost just because it is expensive; the freeze is the best team utility in the game.
For movement synergy, pair utility with the rivals movement guide habits so you can reposition while your denial zone does the work.
A Warning About Fake Weapon Tier Lists
Before you trust any Rivals tier list, check the gun names. Several popular "tier lists" rank weapons that do not exist in the game. Rivals has 53 weapons plus 5 gamemode-exclusive weapons, and that is the entire arsenal.
These weapons are fabricated and are NOT in Rivals: Heavy Sniper, Pulse AR, Freeze Ray, Chainsaw, Battle Axe, cyber armor. If a list ranks a "Heavy Sniper", a "Pulse AR", a "Freeze Ray", a "Chainsaw", a "Battle Axe", or "cyber armor", treat the whole list as unreliable. Every weapon on this wiki is verified to ship in Rivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best utility in Rivals?
Permafrost is the best utility because it freezes enemies, and it also exists in the Primary slot. RPG and Grenade Launcher are top picks for explosive area denial.
How much does Permafrost cost?
Permafrost is a Contraband weapon costing 600 Keys. It freezes enemies and can be run in either the Primary or Utility slot.
Is the Flamethrower good in Rivals?
Yes on tight maps. The Flamethrower (400 Keys) denies corridors and close spaces, making it strong on Onyx, Bridge, and Docks.
What does the Distortion do?
The Distortion is a vortex utility that warps enemy positioning, pulling or pushing fights in your favor during team modes.
More Rivals Wiki Pages
Related Guides
Assault Rifle Guide (Rivals)
The free Rivals Assault Rifle: 12 body / 15 crit, 20 mag, why it is the best starter and how to use it at every rank.
Best Loadout Tier List in Rivals
Full 4-slot Rivals loadouts ranked S–D for 1v1, 2v2, and 5v5, built only from verified weapons.
Best Melee Weapons in Rivals (Ranked)
Rivals melee weapons ranked: Knife, Katana, Gunblade, Daggers, Scythe, and Fists — verified costs, backstab, and hitscan deflection.
Best Primary Weapons in Rivals (Tier List + Stats)
Ranked primary weapons in Rivals: Assault Rifle, Sniper, Shotgun, Burst Rifle, Minigun, Bow, RPG, and more, with verified costs and roles.