Top Weapons and Guns to Use in Fallout 76
If you haven’t visited Appalachia in a while, welcome back. Fallout 76 in 2025 is far from the same game it was at launch: regular updates, new regions like Skyline Valley, balance patches, reworking of the legendary system – all these have shaken up the weapon meta.
Good old guns like The Fixer are still in action, but there are now plenty of other interesting options. This guide only contains what is worth carrying in your backpack. Without fluff and unnecessary theory, let’s figure out the best weapon in Fallout 76 and where to get it.
Top 10 Best Guns in Fallout 76 Right Now
If you skip low-level content and gear, there are several must-haves among the hundreds of weapons, especially if you want to assemble a unique build or collection. Here is a fresh Fallout 76 weapon list based on our experience and ideas of the Fallout gaming community:
| Gun | Type | Features | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauss Shotgun | Shotgun | Highest damage at close range, ability to charge shots, synergy with VATS, and shotgun perks | Purchase from Minutemen after Steel Dawn quests or exchange with merchants for gold bars |
| The Fixer | General-purpose rifle (semi-auto) | Buff to stealth, high damage, flexible modifications, excellent compatibility with VATS | Drops from the quest “Cryptid Hunt” or bought from players |
| Plasma Caster | Energy-heavy weapon | Very high damage to single targets, especially in “Prime Receiver” mode | From the merchant Regs for 750 gold after completing the Wastelanders quests |
| The Dragon | Antique rifle, ballistic weapon | Insane one-shot damage. Four barrels at once, perfect for PvE | Rare drop in places like Thunder Mountain, Garrahan HQ |
| Tesla Rifle | Energy rifle | Chain damage. Damages multiple targets at once, a must-have for events | From merchants in Watoga or Whitespring Station, sometimes drops from legendary enemies |
| Handmade Rifle (Shattered Grounds) | Automatic rifle | High rate of fire, explosive ammo, works well with Junkie or Bloodied build | Double-Crossed Wires quest in Skyline Valley |
| Fallout 76 Auto Grenade Launcher | Explosive heavy weapon | Crazy AoE damage, easy legendary farming | Random drop after level 40, including events |
| Fallout 76 Perfect Storm | Submachine gun | Burn damage, fast shooting, cheap ammo | Reward for early quests in Morgantown (Mission: Cold Case) |
| V63 Shock Baton | Lightning melee weapon | A great alternative to standard batons, it increases the chance of disorienting | “Housekeeping for Hire” quest in Skyline Valley |
| Alien Blaster | Plasma pistol | Unique ammo, light, fast, looks canon | Secret locations like Sugar Grove, in containers in Savage Divide |
Best Rifles in Fallout 76
Rifles remain the backbone of most builds and Fallout 76 best weapons. Consistent damage, VATS support, accuracy – everything you need for PvE. Especially if the build is made on Rifleman/Commando or Stealth Sniper.
Top 3 rifles:
- The Fixer – one of the Fallout 76 best rifle weapons as an all-purpose choice, especially with legendaries like Bloodied + 25% Faster Fire Rate
- Handmade Rifle (Shattered Grounds) – for aggressive gameplay and clearing groups
- The Dragon – not often used, but still with crazy alpha damage
If you like to play from cover, use stealth and VATS — rifles are your choice, although some are not easy to get, especially if you are a solo player. Veterans of the game probably have several pieces and are sometimes ready to share, but this does not always happen (sometimes the community is very toxic, as you know).
Best Pistols and Sidearms in Fallout 76
Pistols and sidearms are often underestimated, but they are quite handy. Although this is not the basis of the build, it’s useful to keep one in your arsenal, especially if it is:
- Fast stealth adventures;
- Close combat;
- Forays for resources (have a low weight and do not take up much space).
Among all the options, the best guns in Fallout 76 of this type are:
- Perfect Storm. The best starting SMG, due to the Burn modifier and generally easy availability (even at low levels).
- Alien Blaster. Good for critical damage builds and VATS, but you can not get it right away.
- Western Revolver. If you managed to find it with the right legendaries, it can be a powerful critical weapon.
If you are a beginner, Perfect Storm can get you through the main story content and locations. Of course, only with the right build.
Best Heavy Weapons in Fallout 76
Heavy weapons are the choice of those who prefer to destroy everything around them, without bothering with stealth or saving ammo. These weapons perform best when paired with Power Armor, which reduces damage to you, increases endurance, and makes it possible to carry more “heavy iron”. Here is a list of the top heavy guns in the current meta:
- Auto Grenade Launcher
A great option if you want amazing area damage, a fast rate of fire, and easily destroys groups of mobs. Especially effective in Daily Ops and events like Radiation Rumble. You can roll legendaries with “Explosive” or “25% faster fire rate” to increase the damage to absurd levels. Auto Grenade launcher Fallout 76 combined with a build on Heavy Gunner + Power Armor + Demolition Expert.
- Gatling Plasma
A powerful energy weapon that deals colossal damage. With the Prime Receiver mod — an absolute machine for PvE and bosses. Powered by nuclear batteries, which are relatively easy to farm. Blueprints can be purchased from Regs for gold after completing the Wastelanders chain.
- Minigun (with Shredder mod)
An unconventional, but cool melee build. Damage is done without consuming ammo — if you activate the Shredder mod, you can simply mow through enemies. Surprisingly effective in PvP, especially if the enemy is not ready for close combat.
Using heavy weapons is a berserker-style choice. They’re not that accurate, but they require good protection and an understanding of when and where to use them.
Where to Find the Best Weapons in Fallout 76
Okay, how to get weapons in Fallout 76? In truth, there are several ways to acquire them: quests, trades, events, and hidden locations. Here are the main methods:
- World Events
Radiation Rumble, Scorched Earth, and Eviction Notice are the best places to farm legendary weapons. 1-3★ Weapons often drop, and there is always a chance to find a unique copy. Farm with Legendary Core and Modules to later craft the desired combination on the workbench.
- Gold Bullion Vendors
After completing Wastelanders and Steel Dawn, Regs, Samuel, Mortimer, and Minerva are unlocked. Regs is the main supplier of rare weapons: Plasma Caster, Gauss Shotgun, and Gauss Minigun. And don’t forget to follow the rotation at Minerva — she often sells blueprints of all Fallout 76 weapons (almost) at a lower price.
- Skyline Valley and New Quests
The Skyline Valley update added a ton of new weapons and quests. For example, the Shattered Grounds Handmade Rifle — for the Double-Crossed Wires quest, or the V63 Shock Baton — for the Housekeeping for Hire quest. These quests are linear and not too difficult, but they give you the best gun in Fallout 76.
- Legendary enemies
The most consistent way to get a cool gun is to hunt 3★ legendary mobs in zones like Cranberry Bog, Savage Divide, and Daily Ops.
Some guns, like the Alien Blaster, can be found in hidden places — Sugar Grove, Top of the World, and West Tek. For these (and other) cases, use the Fallout 76 Interactive Map to find rare loot points.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, Fallout 76 is almost a different genre. It’s not just what weapon you have that matters here, but how you mod it, whether you’ve unlocked the right Fallout 76 weapon plans, and when you use it.
Here’s what works:
- The Fixer is the best all-rounder, and it hasn’t changed for three years.
- Plasma Caster is the leader in single-shot damage, especially in tough PvE missions.
- Gauss Shotgun and Auto Grenade Launcher are the best weapons in Fallout 76 for clearing crowds.
- Tesla Rifle is irreplaceable in events with a bunch of mobs.
If you’re a beginner, start with Perfect Storm and then move on to Fixer or Handmade Rifle. If you run around in Power Armor, take the Gatling Plasma or the Grenade Launcher. They remain top-tier for endgame PvE efficiency.
Don’t forget: there’s no such thing as too much damage, but damage without a build is a waste of time, even with Fallout 76’s best guns. Always adjust your build to the weapon you choose, be it Rifleman, Heavy Gunner, or Stealth Commando.
And yes, if you’re building a collection of all Fallout 76 weapon types, take everything that looks cool. Because in Fallout 76, style is the answer to everything.
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Author:
Michael Peters Site Editor at askboosters.com |
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Michael Peters is a video game enthusiast who demystifies the complexities of the games in reviews. He is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in the gaming industry. He writes more about games, boosting, and leveling services. Michael leverages his in-depth gaming knowledge to provide valuable information to video gamers.
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