Grand Theft Auto 5: Most Powerful Weapons, Ranked (2024)

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a super fun game, but anyone who has played it will know it's not easy to finish matches or go up against other players without the best GTA 5 weapons. Not all weapons are created equal, and players don't want to waste any of their hard-earned money on a weapon that isn't great.

As a result, most players would want to do proper research when it comes to the most effective weapons in the game. Some firearms can take some time to down enemies, while others are so powerful that most enemies won't even stand a chance before their life is snuffed out in seconds. There are so many guns in GTA 5 that making this decision can be tough, but it'll take a bit of experience playing this game before players find it second nature to pick the strongest weapon in their arsenal and rain hellfire upon their foes.

Updated on July 5th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Despite the many years that have passed since its release, it's a testament to Grand Theft Auto 5's technical excellence that many people consider it to be one of the best video games around to this day, with GTA Online making this game relevant long past its prime. With Grand Theft Auto 6 around the corner, fans can't wait to check out the latest chapter in a series known for its biting satire, amazing action set-pieces, and a wealth of memorable characters that will stick with fans long after they're finished. Players who want to revisit the latest game in the series to prepare for the launch of GTA 6 will love using the best guns in GTA 5 to wreak havoc, and a few more of those guns have been added to this list in it latest update.

31 Firework Launcher

A Limited-Time Novelty Weapon That's Better For Lighting Up The Los Santos Sky Than Attacking Enemies

The Fireworks Launcher is one of the most unique weapons in Grand Theft Auto 5. Most people would assume that any contraption that looks like an RPG would be damaging, but the fact that this heavy weapon shoots fireworks instead of rockets is a notable change to keep in mind.

This means that most enemies wouldn't even be incapacitated unless they are directly hit with the full force of a firework. Without any major explosives to speak of, most vehicles will be safe from any damage if this weapon is aimed at them. The residual fire is the only thing that can accomplish this, which isn't something players can rely on in a dangerous situation. If players want to bamboozle their enemies, then the Fireworks Launcher is a good way to go, but no one should expect anything more from this weird weapon.

30 Molotov co*cktail

A Fiery Concoction Of Death That Is Deadly With The Proper Aim

The Molotov co*cktail is not something to be trifled with. This throwable weapon takes no prisoners and will easily burn most enemies to a crisp who are unlucky enough to be hit with the full force of this fiery concoction. However, this item is only usable against human enemies, with most vehicles and the lot being largely unaffected if a Molotov is chucked at them with reckless abandon.

The Molotov co*cktail is one of the few weapons that can't be stocked at Ammu-Nation. Instead, players must find this throwable weapon in various corners of the game map, slowly stocking up in the hopes of using it against a group of enemies that need to be taught a lesson.

29 Stun Gun

A Unique Non-Deadly Firearm

Most people would be surprised at the idea of seeing the Stun Gun on this list. It deals no damage whatsoever and can only incapacitate enemies at short range, which isn't great given the wealth of better short-range weapons in Grand Theft Auto 5.

However, the Stun Gun is a great weapon to take down enemies in a single shot. It takes a while to recharge, so players should make sure that their aim is good with this weapon.

28 Marksman Pistol

A Deadly One-Shot Weapon

Most of the pistols in Grand Theft Auto 5 are way more effective than most people would expect, with the Marksman Pistol being a great example of the same. Sure, the fire rate may be slow, but players who are prudent about getting to cover and measure their shots can take out enemies in a single hit with this weapon.

The retro look of this weapon makes it pretty fun to wield, even if some people will understandably not be impressed by its weaker aspects. The Marksman Pistol is a powerful weapon in the right hands, but may not sit well with players who love to spray and pray instead of measuring their shots.

27 SMG

A Classic GTA Weapon With A High Fire Rate And Decent Damage

Long-time fans of the Grand Theft Auto series are well-aware of the SMG's legacy. This drive-by weapon is available fairly early on in most games in the series, and does decent damage to enemies unlucky enough to stand in the player's way. As one would expect, this weapon is a blast to use in Grand Theft Auto 5 as wel,l and is available from the very start of the game after players complete "Franklin and Lamar".

It may not be the outright best gun in GTA 5, but the fact that this weapon is quite malleable and serves players well regardless of the scenario they find themselves in makes the SMG one of the most reliable firearms to have in the early game. Players may eventually replace this weapon with other guns that are arguably better, but the SMG will always be a comfort zone for those who want to mow down enemies with the might of an automatic weapon.

26 Heavy Pistol

A Slow But Reliable Firearm

While most people may just pull out bigger weapons that pack more of a punch in combat, the effectiveness of a pistol like this should never be underestimated. This is especially true in the case of a Heavy Pistol, which hits like a truck and can be used to mow down waves of enemies with relative ease.

The high damage of this weapon makes it pretty fun to use in combat, even if players may feel that the pistol's fire rate is a bit too slow to warrant a full-frontal assault. Still, picking off enemies at mid-range from cover is pretty engaging in its own right.

25 Grenade

A Classic Throwable Explosive That Players Can Use To Dish Out Some Serious Damage

A classic throwable weapon that needs no introduction, it's easy to see why a Grenade will be such a huge help in battle. If a group of enemies is giving players a tough time, then all they need to do is aim a Grenade and watch the bodies fly away as their foes are squashed in no time. The Grenade hits like a truck and takes no prisoners, ensuring that enemies are punished for trying to gang up against the player. A good aim is necessary to ensure that this explosive's effectiveness is maximized.

While other advanced throwing weapons give players more control over what they're doing, the simple allure of a Grenade is something that deserves praise. It's a classic that players can always rely on if they're low on funds and want to blow things up with reckless abandon.

24 Shrewsbury MG

A Machine Gun That Pumps Enemies Full Of Lead

Players who want to use one of the best guns in GTA 5 to absolutely mow down their opponents in style will love the Shrewsbury MG. This weapon hits like a truck and will pump most foes full of lead before they have any time to react. The fact that this weapon is unlocked after one of the most cinematic heists in the game makes it even sweeter to acquire.

As one would expect from a fully-automatic machine gun, the Shrewsbury MG will tear through enemies and ammunition in no time. It may not be as powerful as some of the other machine guns in GTA 5, but it still does a great job of letting players enjoy a power fantasy as they use this weapon to make quick work of their foes.

23 Sawed-Off Shotgun

A Blast To Use (Literally)

The Sawed-Off Shotgun is one of the most fun weapons to use in the game. Blasting enemies at close range never fails to be entertaining with this weapon.

The weapon doesn't have many drawbacks, although there are so many better shotguns in the game that this variant becomes obsolete over time. However, until players have access to better weapons in the game, they'll have to make do with this weapon instead.

22 Assault SMG

Mow Down Waves Of Enemies With Ease

The Assault SMG is easily one of the best long-range weapons in the game. With good aim, players will be able to take down most enemies with a few shots.

That being said, the weapon does suffer from being an SMG that can't be used in drive-bys due to its bulky nature. It's a shame...but this is a small price that players will be willing to pay to enjoy the immense power of this weapon.

21 Carbine Rifle

Strike Fear In The Hearts Of Any Enemy

The Carbine Rifle is one of the best weapons in Grand Theft Auto 5 by a country mile. The stopping power and accuracy of this gun are in a class of their own, with its fire rate being amazing.

That being said, some players might have so much fun spraying this weapon on their enemies that their ammo clip will dwindle before they even realize it. This less-than-ideal ammo capacity is the only drawback in an otherwise amazing weapon.

20 Combat PDW

Rewards Players Who Aim Carefully

Out of all the light machine guns in Grand Theft Auto 5, the Combat PDW has the lowest fire rate of the bunch. As a result, it becomes hard to use this weapon in extremely intense firefights due to its low damage output.

However, players who aim their weapons carefully will have a great time with this weapon. That being said, switching out to a different LMG later on in the game is highly recommended.

19 Micro SMG

A Trustworthy Weapon That Can Also Be Used While Driving

The Micro SMG is a submachine gun that has been in the Grand Theft Auto series for several games now and is a popular game for people to carry with them. With the extended magazine purchased, the Micro SMG can hold 30 rounds, which is a step up from the 16 rounds that it could hold when it was initially purchased.

Even though the Micro SMG has one of the lowest magazine capacities when the player first picks it up, the fact that the extended magazine doubles makes it a lot easier to manage without having to worry about constantly reloading. This is the only SMG available for use while driving, making it a pretty good choice for when players are on the go.

18 Marksman Rifle

An Incredibly High Rate Of Fire And Low Recoil

While the damage of the Vom Feuer Marksman Rifle doesn't hold up to some of the other rifles in GTA 5, the incredibly high rate of fire and light recoil more than make up for the need to put a few extra bullets in a player's target to take them out.

The Marksman Rifle is available fairly early in the game at Ammu-Nation for only $15,750, and Red Dead Online introduced the upgraded Marksman Rifle Mk II that upped the damage to further improve the ranking of the weapon.

17 Bullpup Rifle

Compensates For Low Accuracy With High Damage And Fire Rate

The Bullpup Rifle is one of the best guns in GTA 5. The high damage and rate of fire make up for the weapon's mediocre accuracy, although attachments can help cover up this weakness too. However, the biggest reason why most players won't use this weapon in the game all that often is because it's unlocked pretty late into the campaign.

In fact, it's only after completing the final heist mission that players unlock the Bullpup Rifle. Unless they are willing to mess about in the post-game or have left a bunch of Side Missions left incomplete, there won't be too many opportunities for players to enjoy the superiority of this weapon that is arguably one of GTA 5's best guns.

16 Rocket Launcher

As Powerful As They Come

Sometimes, the simplest weapons are the ones that end up being the most effective. Such is the case with the Rocket Launcher, which gets the job done in style if players want to destroy a group of enemies or a particularly annoying vehicle.

That being said, players should be aware of the fact that this weapon isn't the most powerful demolition firearm around. While it may be spectacular in its own way, the rocket launcher can be a bit too rudimentary for most people's tastes... especially when they check out some of the more engaging explosive firearms in the game.

15 Grenade Launcher

Blasts Most Enemies To Smithereens

The Grenade Launcher is another example of a weapon that doesn't need to be complicated, given how much fun it is to use. The explosives lobbed from this weapon can decimate enemies in a flash, and it helps that the weapon can hold a bunch of grenades that can be shot out rapidly before it needs to be reloaded.

There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a grenade arc perfectly before hitting the target and taking it out in a satisfying manner. Shooting in this game is genuinely a ton of fun, and it's easy to see why so many players love messing around with one of the best weapons in GTA 5.

14 Proximity Mine

A Player's Best Friend

The Proximity Mine had the potential to be one of the best explosive weapons in the game. Not only does it allow players to set traps, but it also lets them get away safely from the explosion and see the satisfying fireworks that ensue.

However, the worst part about this weapon is that players can only carry five explosives at a time, severely limiting its use cases. Given how chaotic firefights can become in Grand Theft Auto 5, it's easy to see why many people feel that five explosives simply don't cut it.

13 Compact Grenade Launcher

The Quick Reload Makes It Very Valuable

The Compact Grenade Launcher is a weapon in Grand Theft Auto Online that was added as part of the game's Bikers update. Even though this weapon only holds a single grenade, meaning that it has to be reloaded after every single shot, it actually reloads quickly. That means that it's not going to take too long between shots, and this weapon is powerful enough to take out more intense enemies like armored cars.

The Compact Grenade Launcher may not be the weapon for every job that players are going to be on when they hit the streets of Los Santos, but the fact that it's powerful enough to take out vehicles or large groups of enemies in a single shot makes it a good choice for many tasks.

12 Heavy Revolver Mk II

Powerful, Fast, And Can Shoot Different Ammunition

The Heavy Revolver Mk II is a weapon that was introduced into Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the Doomsday Heist update. This weapon will set the player back a total of $99,000 as a conversion at the Weapon Workshop, but it's well worth the slightly hefty price tag.

This weapon does more damage than the regular Heavy Revolver, and it's able to shoot faster than that one as well, meaning that it's a step up from the Heavy Revolver. Another bonus for this weapon is the fact that it's able to use several types of ammo like incendiary rounds, tracer rounds, and hollow-point rounds, just to name just a few.