The Finals best weapons tier list – our top guns in Season 5 ranked

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

If you play The Finals, you likely already have a favourite class and a weapon that goes along with it. But we all know that patches change things, buffing and nerfing guns, until you feel pressured to play the “best” one. With a tier list, ranked from S-tier down to D-tier, you can make snappy decisions based on weapon performance, which is where we come in.

The Finals guns tier list

You should often look for ways to complement your team’s composition and the map and mode you’re playing. Even in that equation, some weapons will perform better than others. Our Season 5 rankings have changed a bit compared to Season 4. Some weapons have received substantial buffs, while others have fallen out of fashion. So, here’s our latest tier list for Season 5, taking into account the 5.8.0 mid-season patch.

WeaponBuildTier
LH1 battle rifleLightS
XP-54 SMGLightS
Model 1887 shotgunMediumS
FAMAS burst rifleMediumS
SA1216 shotgunHeavyS
KS-23 shotgunHeavyS
M26 MatterLightA
M11 SMGLightA
FCAR assault rifleMediumA
AKM assault rifleMediumA
SHAK-50HeavyA
SH1900 shotgunLightB
Throwing KnivesLightB
SwordLightB
Recurve BowLightB
R.357 revolverMediumB
Lewis Gun LMGHeavyB
.50 AkimboHeavyB
V9S pistolLightC
93R auto pistolLightC
DaggerLightC
Pike-556 marksman rifleMediumC
Riot ShieldMediumC
Cerberus 12GAMediumC
FlamethrowerHeavyC
SledgehammerHeavyC
MGL32 grenade launcherHeavyC
M60 LMGHeavyC
SR-84 sniperLightD
CL-40 grenade launcherMediumD
Dual BladesMediumD
SpearHeavyD

Light build S-tier weapons

The Light build has a couple of S-tier weapons we recommend using.

LH1 Battle rifle

Arguably the best gun for the Light Build Contestants, the LH1 battle rifle is a great all-around weapon. With the Light Build’s squishiness, being able to fight from medium to long ranges provides an extra layer of security that many close-range weapons don’t afford. This is only fortified by the weapon’s great damage output, letting Lights stay lethal from nearly any range – even taking into account the slight nerfs in the mid-season patch.

XP-54 SMG

The ability to zoom around and spray enemies with firepower has been Light Build’s signature since The Finals’ inception. And no weapon fits the mould better than the XP-54 SMG, which is deservedly back at the top of the food chain. This weapon lets you run-and-gun with impunity, with great fast-firing damage at close and even medium range.

Medium build S-tier weapons

The Medium build has a few aces up their sleeves in Season 5. These two are easily S-tier.

Model 1887 shotgun

As far as this shotgun goes, it is a very good pick in many situations. It is the only shotty that Mediums can use and is surprisingly versatile. Thanks to its slow reload speed, you must time your shots well and have more patience, but each direct hit is both damaging and satisfying in equal measure.

FAMAS burst rifle

FAMAS has come on top of other rifle options for the Medium Build, thanks to its versatility, damage output, and stability. The combination of these stats edges it out only slightly above the AKM and FCAR, though they are great options too. Bringing a FAMAS lets you compete at long ranges, while easily being able to dominate at mid-range.

Heavy build S-tier weapons

The Heavy build loadouts see two shotgun options in the S-Tier. A sign of shotty meta?

SA1216 shotgun

What’s better than a normal shotgun? An automatic shotgun. The SA1216 has a generous mag size of 16 and considerable damage. This shotgun is one of the best to use as a Heavy, and it greatly outpaces its competition when it comes to shotguns – or most other weapons for Heavies for that matter. No enemy wants to come face-to-face with you bearing the SA1216.

KS-23 shotgun

The KS-23 is a great gun in its own right, just overshadowed by its automatic counterpart. One of the best features of the KS-23, besides its close-range potential, is its ability to completely shred structures. You can use it to open holes for your team without the need to resort to any other abilities.

About the Author

Jack Webb

Jack Webb is a guides writer for VideoGamer.

The Finals

  • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Action, First-Person Shooter, Shooter