Rivals Weapons Tier List: Every Gun Ranked S–D (Verified)

Rivals (stylized RIVALS) is the competitive Roblox FPS from Nosniy Games, released on June 28, 2024. With 53 weapons across three rarities — Standard, Prime, and Contraband — plus 5 gamemode-exclusive guns, the arsenal is deep but finite. This tier list ranks only weapons that actually ship in the game, using verified stats and roles. If you want the beginner-friendly short version, start with our best weapons for beginners guide, and read how to play Rivals for the core loop.

How We Rank Rivals Weapons

Rivals has no single damage number that decides a gun's value. Instead we rank by rarity tier, role coverage, and how a weapon performs inside a real loadout of four slots: Primary, Secondary, Melee, and Utility. Contraband guns sit at the top because they are rare, expensive, and usually best-in-slot. Prime guns are strong picks that cost a chunk of Keys. Standard guns are the free or cheap backbone every player owns.

Because skill matters more than unlocks in Rivals, a tier is a recommendation, not a hard rule. A great player wins with the free Assault Rifle; a new player still loses with a Minigun if they cannot control the spread. Read each tier as 'how much this gun helps once you can use it'.

S Tier — Contraband Best-in-Slot

S Tier is the Contraband rarity. Permafrost is the headline: a 600-Key freeze weapon that exists in both the Primary and Utility slots, locking enemies in place for easy follow-ups. The Sniper (75 Keys, 150 crit damage, 4 mag) is the longest-range delete button in the game. The Minigun (450 Keys) is raw suppressive fire that walls off angles.

These guns are expensive for a reason. They define late-game loadouts and appear in almost every best loadout tier list we build. If you are saving Keys, these are the targets.

A Tier — Prime Power Picks

A Tier is Prime rarity and a few standout Standards that punch up. The Energy Rifle brings consistent hitscan pressure. The RPG (25 Keys, 50 splash) and Grenade Launcher (425 Keys) give you explosive area control from the Primary or Utility slot. The Paintball Gun (475 Keys) is a high-Key prestige pick with strong crowd control. The Katana (45 Keys) is the premier melee, deflecting hitscan shots.

A Tier weapons are the ones you unlock after the free starters stop carrying you. They cover the gaps a Standard kit leaves open.

B Tier — Standard Workhorses

B Tier is the Standard rarity that most players use daily. The Assault Rifle is free, does 12 body / 15 crit, and carries a 20-round mag — the best all-rounder in the game. The Shotgun (20 Keys, ~80 point-blank) is a close-quarters monster. The Bow (15 Keys) rewards charge shots and grants a double jump. The Uzi (20 Keys) is a cheap, mobile secondary.

These guns are not weak; they are the foundation. Most of your early wins come from a tuned Standard loadout plus good movement from the rivals movement guide.

C Tier — Situational and Tech

C Tier is for weapons that are fun or niche but rarely best. The Crossbow is a slow, high-skill primary. The Slingshot is a utility-pick secondary. Fists are free and grant a double jump, making them a movement melee rather than a kill tool. The Energy Pistols (infinite ammo, 100% accuracy) are a safe secondary for new players who miss a lot.

None of these are bad; they are just narrower than the tiers above. Pick them when your mode and map reward the specific trick they offer.

What a Real Rivals Tier List Never Includes

A trustworthy Rivals tier list only ranks the 53 weapons plus the 5 gamemode-exclusive guns. It never invents new ones. Watch for lists that rank a 'Heavy Sniper', a 'Pulse AR', a 'Freeze Ray', a 'Chainsaw', a 'Battle Axe', or 'cyber armor' — none of those exist. The only freeze weapon is Permafrost, and the only sniper-class gun is the Sniper.

If a tier list shows a gun you cannot find in the Shop or on the official weapons list, assume the whole list is padded with fake entries.

Building From the Tiers

Start with one S or A primary, pair a reliable secondary, add a melee that fits your plan, and finish with a utility that covers your weakness. Then learn the maps and the aim habits that actually win rounds. The tier list tells you which guns are strong; the guides tell you how to use them.

When Update 22 lands around September 5, 2026 with new weapons, we will re-run every tier using the same verified method, not hype.

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 weapon in Rivals?

The Sniper (150 crit), Minigun, and Contraband Permafrost sit at the top of the weapon tier list. For new players the free Assault Rifle is the best all-rounder because it works at most ranges and costs nothing.

How many weapons are in Rivals?

There are 53 weapons total across Standard, Prime, and Contraband rarities, plus 5 weapons exclusive to specific gamemodes. Every weapon on this list is verified to exist in the game.

Are there fake weapons in some Rivals tier lists?

Yes. Some tier lists rank guns that do not exist, including Heavy Sniper, Pulse AR, Freeze Ray, Chainsaw, Battle Axe, and cyber armor. This wiki never lists those.

Do weapon tiers change with updates?

They can. New weapons and balance changes shift the meta. We re-verify tiers whenever a major update ships, such as Update 22 scheduled for about September 5, 2026.

More Rivals Wiki Pages

• Best Primary Weapons in Rivals
• Best Secondary Weapons in Rivals
• Best Melee Weapons in Rivals
• Best Utility Weapons in Rivals
• Rivals Sniper Tier List
• Rivals Shotgun Tier List
• Assault Rifle Guide
• Permafrost Guide
• Best Loadout Tier List
• Rivals Maps Tier List
• Rivals Modes Tier List