The Front: 10 Best Weapons Tier List for PvE and PvP Combat

The Front throws a long catalogue of guns, bows and melee tools at you, and not every option is worth the materials it costs. This guide cuts the list down to the ten weapons that actually pull their weight, with required levels, crafting costs and base stats for each one.

How the Ranking Works

No single weapon is best in every situation. A loud sniper that wins a duel in the open desert can also get you killed in a stealth raid. Treat the ranking below as a guide for the average scenario: solo PvE, occasional ambushes, the odd skirmish with another squad. Mix and match according to the job.

10. Iron Axe

The Iron Axe is the upgrade your early game has been waiting for. It hits noticeably harder than the Stone Axe, costs only basic materials and sometimes drops directly off enemies, so even players who refuse to craft can stumble into one. Damage is modest, but as a first real melee weapon it punches well above its tier.

Required Level: N/A

Crafting Ingredients: 8x Iron Ingot, 4x Rope

Base Stats

• Physical Damage: 26.9

9. "Militiaman" Bolt Rifle

Once the map opens up and roaming hostiles start to bite, ranged options become a priority. The Militiaman is a slow bolt action rifle with respectable punch per shot. Fire rate is sluggish, but a careful player can pick off threats long before they close the gap.

Required Level: 26

Crafting Ingredients: 10x Machine Part, 5x Polymer, 10x Iron Ingot

Base Stats

• Damage: 107
• Rate of Fire: 11
• Range: 150
• Accuracy: 79
• Control: 85

8. "Dark Warrior" Assault Rifle

The Dark Warrior sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Militiaman. Damage per bullet is lower, but the magazine empties fast and the rest of the stat line is balanced, so you can use it for close-quarters fights and mid-range exchanges alike. A solid all-rounder once you reach Level 32.

Required Level: 32

Crafting Ingredients: 10x Steel Ingot, 5x Polymer, 6x Machine Part

Base Stats

• Damage: 62
• Rate of Fire: 180
• Range: 75
• Accuracy: 48
• Control: 65

7. "Stryker" Auto Shotgun

Midgame loadouts get a serious upgrade with the Stryker. Unlike a pump shotgun, holding the trigger keeps the shells flying, and the explosive damage at short range can shred a wave of attackers in seconds. It is a strong pick for defending the Spacetime Beacon while waiting on a supply drop, or for any chokepoint fight where enemies must funnel through you.

Required Level: 44

Crafting Ingredients: 9x Tungsten Sheet, 8x Polymer, 6x Advanced Components

Base Stats

• Damage: 261
• Rate of Fire: 74
• Range: 15
• Accuracy: 28
• Control: 42

6. Alloy Bow

Loud guns are great until every NPC in a half kilometre radius comes looking for you. The Alloy Bow trades raw damage for silence, which makes it the cleanest stealth option in the game. A headshot from a hidden position can drop a target without alerting a single neighbour, and at mid range the accuracy is good enough to make that practical.

Required Level: 52

Crafting Ingredients: 25x Titanium Ingot, 15x Polymer, 2x Synthetic Fiber

Base Stats

• Damage: 34
• Rate of Fire: 61
• Range: 40
• Accuracy: 49
• Control: 37

5. "Whisperer" SMG

The Whisperer is not the heavy hitter you take to a boss fight, but it earns its spot as a backup. Damage per round is on the low side for its tier, however the fire rate and excellent control make it very forgiving in panic moments. Keep it in the second slot for when your primary clicks empty.

Required Level: 53

Crafting Ingredients: 4x Titanium Sheet, 7x Polymer, 4x Advanced Components, 25x Ether Shard

Base Stats

• Damage: 38
• Rate of Fire: 163
• Range: 50
• Accuracy: 40
• Control: 70

4. "Annihilator" Sniper Rifle

The Annihilator is the long arm of the law for late game scouts. Massive damage, two hundred range, and high accuracy let you delete an enemy from a ridge before they realise you exist. The catch is noise: the report is loud enough that other players on a PvP server can roughly triangulate your position. Move after the shot.

Required Level: 57

Crafting Ingredients: 15x Titanium Sheet, 15x Synthetic Fiber, 5x Advanced Components, 31x Ether Shard

Base Stats

• Damage: 312
• Rate of Fire: 23
• Range: 200
• Accuracy: 85
• Control: 75

3. "Sunstorm" Gatling Gun

The Sunstorm is what you bring when subtlety is not on the menu. A single magazine holds 100 rifle rounds, which a held trigger turns into a wall of lead in about a minute. Control is poor, so spray patterns are wide, but anything caught inside that cone is in serious trouble. You need Level 60, currently the cap, to wield it.

Required Level: 60

Crafting Ingredients: 25x Titanium Sheet, 5x Refined Chip, 12x Synthetic Fiber, 57x Ether Shard

Base Stats

• Damage: 85
• Rate of Fire: 242
• Range: 110
• Accuracy: 20
• Control: 40

2. "Infiltrator" Missile Launcher

The Infiltrator is the heaviest single shot weapon in the game. One missile is enough to flatten NPCs, players or structures, so it doubles as a base raider. Want to ruin a rival's brewing operation in one click? Aim at their Fermenter and pull the trigger.

The downsides are reload speed, which is glacial, and ammo, which is rare. Make every shot count, or visit the admin console if you want to skip the scavenger hunt.

Required Level: 59

Crafting Ingredients: 8x Titanium Sheet, 12x Polymer, 4x Advanced Components, 5x Refined Sheet

Base Stats

• Damage: 1,538
• Rate of Fire: 6
• Range: 600
• Accuracy: 90
• Control: 60

1. "Berserker" Grenade Launcher

The Berserker takes the top spot because it combines burst damage with usability. Stats are strong across the board, ammunition is reasonable to craft, and the required level is well below the cap, so you can wield it long before you finish the grind. Most players will retire other options once this one hits the workbench.

Required Level: 49

Crafting Ingredients: 14x Steel Ingot, 2x Polymer, 4x Machine Part

Base Stats

• Damage: 386
• Rate of Fire: 27
• Range: 70
• Accuracy: 40
• Control: 37

Final Thoughts

Levels and crafting costs in The Front shape your loadout more than personal preference. Climb through the Iron Axe and Militiaman in the early hours, transition into the Dark Warrior and Stryker for the middle game, then pick your endgame flavour: silent kills with the Alloy Bow, sniping with the Annihilator, sustained suppression with the Sunstorm, or the explosive finale that is the Berserker. Keep two or three of these in rotation and very few encounters will catch you unequipped.