The arsenal of Escape From Tarkov is one of the most complete in FPS history. There is a weapon for almost every situation the game can put you in. Even further still, the customization of them allows every build of these weapons to be uniquely fitted to the play style of the PMC. The Assault Rifle is the bread and butter weapon class of Tarkov. Giving you the ability to engage opponents both close and far away; however, it is clear that some weapons perform this task far better than others.This article will give you an overall ranking of this class of weapon in Tarkov based on cost, performance, and ammo reliability.
As a reminder, all weapons in Tarkov can be greatly improved with certain modifications and attachments. Some have more options than others, and this is a vital factor in determining the viability of the rifles for this list.
The AKS-74U is a compact military assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, Tarkov’s most common caliber to find in raids. It is also available at a very early level from the Trader Prapor. The AK-74U is also a very common weapon in the wasteland of Tarkov, often found on Scavs and in weapon crates. This rifle is, without a doubt, very limited in how and where it can perform its best as an assault rifle. It lacks attachments to improve its performance, and often the best attachments are quite expensive and still can't handle the harsh recoil the 74U has.
My best recommendation for this weapon is to find an upgrade as soon as you can. Even though this weapon can go full auto, I can’t recommend using it on any target further than an arm's reach away due to the recoil being so bouncy. Another important factor is that the weapon is cheap to run. 5.45 is currently, as of Patch.12, a very inconsistent round, with even the most expensive round BS taking 4 to 5 body shots to bring down an unarmored target. The only real thing this weapon has going for it is the fact that 5.45 is cheap and everywhere.
The Vepr VPO 209 is a very unique civilian rifle in Tarkov. It is one of two weapons in the game to be chambered in 366 TKM. It is a large slug round that does tons of damage but lacks armor penetration. This rifle can also be equipped with a wide variety of modifications from the AK family that it is designed after. This rifle is semi-automatic and still, the recoil without modifications might be the hardest in the game. The 209 also struggles to hit moving targets at distances past 100 meters due to the 366 round's slow travel and accuracy over distance.
My recommendation for the VPO 209 is that it is a solid rifle to PvE with while you are at a lower level. As long as you can learn to become comfortable with the insane recoil this rifle has, it can be one of the hardest hitting weapons in the game on unarmored targets. Specifically, if you get your hands on the round AP 366, this rifle has the potential to one-shot any opponent in class 4 armor or below with a thorax shot. The VPO 209 is what the Tarkov community knows as a "Budget Rifle." It is inexpensive, hard-hitting, and causes no economic harm if lost.
The Vepr 136 is a civilian rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, another common rifle round found in the wasteland of Tarkov. This rifle is only semi-auto and though it looks almost identical to the 209, the round it fires is probably the premier round for most players in the Tarkov community. 7.62x39mm is another hard-hitting round, but it also has solid penetration values to match the damage. Many consider it to be the best round in Tarkov. The Vepr 136 also has access to all of the AKM family of attachments that can make this a peak fighting rifle for both PvE and PVP combat.
I would consider this to be every player's first big boy rifle in Tarkov if such a thing could exist. It is affordable, fires a round that can eliminate both PMC and Scavs alike, and is moddable to the teeth to allow it to fit the playstyle it needs to be used for. At long or close range, this weapon can get the job done and at a manageable price for rich and poor PMC’s alike. The only obvious problem with this weapon is the fact it lacks fully automatic fire, something reserved for the AKM later in this list.
The ADAR 2-15 is a civilian rifle made in Russia based on the AR-15. It fires 5.56x45mm, an uncommonly found round in Tarkov, unless purchased from the Trader Peacekeeper. This rifle can also only be used in semi-auto. It can be equipped with a wide variety of modifications from the AR-15 family of rifles, which can take this rifle from well below average to a very cost-efficient weapon for both PvE and PvP.
The ADAR is another rifle that I would consider your first step into the big boy weapons of Tarkov. It has solid performance for the price, and it does not cost an arm and a leg to modify it to get the best performance possible. The only drawbacks are the lack of full auto and, more importantly, 5.56x45mm, is a NATO caliber that is difficult to find in the middle of Russia. So often, you will need to bring a few stacks of spare ammunition to avoid running out. In general, 5.56x45mm is a much better performing round than the Russian equivalent, 5.45x39mm, with higher damage and armor penetration.
The SAG AK is another semi-auto rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm. This rifle is based on a more modern design of the AK platform. This makes the base stats of this rifle better than most other AK rifles in the game, but it does limit some of the options for the attachments that can improve the rifle. The real boon of this weapon, like a few others on this list, is the fact that you can purchase it and, for the most part, it is ready to fire with minimal modification required.
This rifle was only recently added to Tarkov, but early reviews are solid. It is another solid budget option for a PMC to consider and, though 5.45 being the caliber it is chambered in is a drawback, it has some of the smoothest recoil of the semi-auto options within Tarkov. This rifle is a razor and rewards precise shots on vital body parts like the head. Though it lacks full auto, it can perform well up close, but it really shines in mid-to long-range fights.
The HK 416A5 is a very distinct rifle in the space of Tarkov. A military rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm, this weapon has an option to go fully automatic. But unlike any other rifle on this list, the HK 416 without a doubt has the highest rate of fire at 850 rounds per minute. There aren't many weapons in Tarkov that can match the rate at which this rifle can fire lead down range.This weapon is also highly moddable, taking most AR-15 attachments and allowing it to achieve solid stats if your bank account can take it.
The greatest strength of the HK 416 is its fire rate; almost nothing matches it. That being said, that fire rate is also its greatest hindrance from being high on this list. Though 5.56 is a relatively softer recoiling round, 850 rpm might be too much pain coming out of the end of this rifle. Even when fully modded, recoil from this rifle can be some of the most difficult to control in the game, and running one of these rifles will cost you, in some cases, three times as much as the rifles listed above.The HK 416, while versatile at all engagement ranges, is the king of close range engagements. When it comes to the assault rifle class of weapons. The price though is too steep for me to put it any higher than here on the list.
The AK-74M is the modern rifle of the Russian military, chambered in 5.45x39mm. It has the option of full auto and has access to most attachments within the AK family of rifles. This is another common rifle found in Tarkov, so finding parts or ammunition is a breeze. In many ways, I consider this rifle to be the baseline of all weaponry in Tarkov. It is versatile and usable in almost any situation Tarkov can throw at you. It might not be the best rifle in Tarkov, but there is not any situation this rifle can’t be built for. The only real issue for this rifle is the caliber it is chambered in not being the strongest in PvP. Another is its older brother rifle, the AK-74N, getting access to better attachments, allowing it to outperform it when fully modified.
The AK-74N is the older brother to the AK-74M, created in the 1970’s. It is also chambered in 5.45x39mm. It has the option of full auto and access to all the attachments in the AK family of rifles. That detail is the reason it is placed above the AK-74M. In Escape from Tarkov, vertical recoil is the most vital stat in weapon performance in my opinion, and the lower it is, the softer a weapon will shoot, allowing you to stay on target more often. The AK-74N has access to a specific butstock that the 74M does not, which puts it slightly ahead and allows it to obtain a lower recoil. It might be an older rifle, but it performs better than many rifles on this list when fully modded.
I highly recommend this weapon even though the round it fires is not the best. It might be one of the most cost-effective weapons in Tarkov; it's versatile, cheap to modify, and most of all, it is consistent. Something that is rare to find in Tarkov is consistency. No raid is identical, so it is vital for your survival to make sure your weapon performs the same way all the time, and this rifle does that in both PvP and PvE situations.
The SA-58, or in other FPS shooters' known as the FAL, is an assault rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm, a very large and powerful round, one of the strongest in Tarkov. It can be fired in both semi-automatic and full auto and has a variety of expensive attachments and mods to improve its performance. More than the weapon, the round it fires is what carries the SA-58 high on the list. 7.62x51mm is a marksman rifle cartridge that can pierce through any armor level the game has to offer. Making this weapon a premier PvP weapon later in a Tarkov patch's life.
I recommend both a lot of practice and a huge bank account to make this rifle worth your time and money in Tarkov. Running this rifle constantly is an expensive endeavor, and even fully modded, the recoil of this rifle is still insanely high. One shot from this calibur or weapon can be fatal so spray and pray can be a viable strategy. It is best to use the SA-58 in medium to long ranges in most cases though.
The TX-15 DML is the last and best semi-auto only rifle on this list. It is chambered in 5.56x45mm and is a part of the AR-15 family of rifles and can take all of the attachments that that family of rifles has. It is an extremely precise rifle and, in many ways, feels more like a sniper rifle than an assault rifle. Though it lacks full auto as an option, it is such a smooth rifle to fire that rapidly firing it feels better to shoot than even a fully modded M4A1.
I recommend playing to this rifle's strengths because it comes at a very steep price from traders and is a very rare rifle to find in raids. It is a long range beast and excels in that engagement range. Though this weapon can fight in close range combat, I would avoid it due to the longer barrel and lack of full auto. The price tag and rarity are the only things that hold this rifle back from being higher on the list.
The ASh-12 is another rare rifle in Tarkov and it is the only one chambered in 12.7x55mm, which is the largest caliber round in Tarkov. This weapon has very limited modification options. Due to the round being as large and powerful as it is, the recoil for the ASh-12 is crazy high and, with limited modification choices, lowering it is impossible. This weapon can be fired in full auto and, unlike the SA-58, should only be used in very close combat. This weapon is used by the Scav Boss Glukhar and will drop any target in 1 to 3 shots regardless of where the target is hit.
This weapon is a fun and unique one within Tarkov. It is by no means meta and a go-to option due to its rarity and difficulty to obtain, but I recommend giving it a go, especially on maps like Factory and Customs. This weapon is a king in close-range combat, but trying to shoot anything further than 100 meters is extremely difficult due to how slow the round is.
The HK G36 is a classic German rifle created in the 90’s. It is chambered in 5.56x45mm and has the options of semi and full auto. With a third option of three-round burst, something no other weapon in this class has. This is another weapon that, once purchased, is, for the most part, ready to fire and needs minimal modding to reach its fullest potential. This is a very versatile system that can be used in all engagement ranges effectively and is not going to break the bank to get the most out of it. My major recommendation is modding the G36 and removing the built-in optics for something more usable. Though a good rifle in base stats, there are other 5.56 rifles that far outperform it one you spend a little money on modifications.
The SIG MCX is a unique, high-rate-of-fire assault rifle chambered in 300 Blackout and is the only weapon to be chambered in that round within the game. The MCX is another high rate of fire rifle similar to the HK 416, and though it runs many of the AR-15 attachments, its performance is more on par with its rarity and price. Though the 300 Blackout is a rare round and somewhat expensive, it performs almost identically to the 5.56x45 but with less overall recoil and more focus on flesh damage then armor penetration.
In many ways, the MCX performs like a submachine gun. So I recommend using it as if it were one. The high rate of fire makes it strongest up close and personal with enemies. 300 Blackout also travels slowly, so shooting at targets beyond 100 meters is difficult and not usually worth it. This rifle is a little pricey to buy considering its performance and how rare it is to find, which is what keeps it just outside the top 10.
Unlike every AK listed before on this list, the AK-101 is not chambered in a traditional Russian cartridge. The AK-101 is chambered in 5.56x45mm. Though this may seem like a small change, it massively improves the viability of the rifle for PvP conflict. Though more difficult to find, 5.56 is a far better round than 5.45 for PvP conflict. which, in many cases, is the type of conflict that you should be prepared to engage in. The AK-101 is very versatile, and though its fire rate will not outmatch any AR-15 platform that fires the same round, it fires smoothly and needs very little modding to reach that point. I would always recommend this AK model over any of the 5.45 models listed above as it has a better time to kill then them.
The DT-MDR 5.56x45 is chambered in 5.56x45mm. It is another rifle that once purchased requires minimal modification to perform at a high level. It can It can go semi-auto or full-auto. The MDR does lack a variety of modifications to improve its stats to compete with higher end rifles, but its base stats are solid enough to mostly make up for this.
This weapon is the perfect mix of price and performance on this list, and I cannot praise it enough. The MDR, though it does not have the highest fire rate, is comfortable to fire and is simple to modify for the many different situations Tarkov places you in. I recommend running this rifle if you are looking for a consistent and affordable rifle. It performs best in the medium to close-range engagements that take advantage of the condensed bullpup design.
The SCAR-L is another classic rifle seen in many FPS titles over the years, and like in many of those titles, it is a high performer in Escape from Tarkov as well. Chambered in 5.56x45mm, this rifle is another that, once found or purchased, is often just ready to go and will require minimal modifications to reach its maximum performance. Both the MDR and SCAR perform similar roles, but each excels in certain engagement ranges more than the other. I recommend the SCAR-L to be used in medium or long engagements to get the best performance out of the rifle; this is due to the longer barrel which gives it a softer recoil in comparison to the MDR.
The SCAR-H is the much bigger and more powerful brother of the SCAR-L. The SCAR-H is chambered in 7.62x51mm, giving it an even longer engagement distance while maintaining its lethal shot potential. It shares all the similar boons that the 5.56 variant shares. Using the full auto on this rifle is more manageable, unlike many of the other rifles listed before it that are chambered in 7.62x51. However, I recommend treating this rifle like the Marksman rifle it is and avoiding close-quarters combat if possible.The SCAR-H excels in long engagements of 100 meters plus. The only limiting factor for this rifle is magazine size, which is locked to 20 rounds, and in general, running 7.62x51mm is expensive. So if you get your hands on one of these puppies, do try to play it using its strengths and only use it up close if absolutely necessary.
The larger caliber 7.62x51 DT-MDR has been one of Tarkov’s strongest close quarter rifles since its addition a few years ago. It shares several of the boons that its 5.56 brother has, such as compact size, simple modifications, and cost. It is simply superior in terms of the rounds it fires, with its only limitations being the 20-round magazine size, ammunition cost, and rate of fire. Unlike the SCAR-H listed above, the DT-MDR 7.62x51 excels up close, so I highly recommend playing to that strength. This bad boy will smoke anyone within 50 feet, regardless of armor. It really is only beat out by rifles with better rates of fire and recoil stats. This rifle is a king of PvP in the later stages of a Tarkov wipe so getting comfortable using and playing against it should be a top priority for any player.
The AK-103 is a modernized AK chambered in 7.62x39mm and, like the AK-74M, is extremely versatile in that it can take most modifications from the AK family of rifles. This rifle is carried this high on the list mostly due to the fact that it shoots 7.62x39. This round is easy to find and is probably the most cost-effective round in Tarkov for PvP or PvE. This rifle, when fully modded, can fire this round comfortably and accurately over all engagement ranges. The AK-103 is my personal go-to weapon in most raids in Tarkov due to its versatility . It can be modded to cover all your bases, and you really cannot go wrong at the price point.
The only weakness of this caliber is the harsher recoil compared to that of 5.45 and 5.56. Due to this, the weapons tend to be more expensive than those of the smaller calibers. This rifle is consistent and reliable, and that is worth the little extra on the price tag in my opinion.
The M4A1, the staple of the US military, is without a doubt one of the top weapons in Tarkov, and not for the reasons you might think. It is chambered in 5.56x35mm and is not the hardest hitting weapon in the game, nor is it the fastest firing. The M4 is this high on the list mostly due to its versatility and how moddable it can be. The M4A1 can be crafted into your personal killing machine, to the point that no two PMC’s builds will be identical.. This is true as long as price is not a problem, the M4 might have the longest list of available attachment options making it extremely versatile.
I can recommend the use of the M4A1 at all stages of the game, though it performs best once you have access to the full assortment of attachments and mods. It is a jack of all trades within the assault rifle class. So all I can say is make sure to put the money into one if you're going to commit to using a M4 and craft it to fit your play style if you're looking to make the most of a M4A1.
The AKM was created in 1959 and is another very common rifle found in the battlegrounds of Tarkov. It is chambered in 7.62x39mm and has access to all the mods for the AK family of rifles. Many Tarkov veterans like myself like to refer to the AKM as "Old Reliable." This rifle has all the right check boxes to make it, in my opinion, the most cost effective in the game. The caliber is lethal in PvP and PvE, it is cheap to buy or find the rifle, and it can be molded to fit your situation because of the versatility in the modification options. The only drawback of the AKM is that a fully modified one can run a rather steep price tag in order to obtain the best performance.
I will always recommend the AKM, whether we are on day one of a fresh patch or day 400. The AKM always has a place in Tarkov and, like the M4, can be made to suit your play style as long as you put the money into the rifle to get the most out of it. Unlike the M4 though, even when you're strapped for cash, an unmodified AKM with a full magazine can easily dispatch a threat as you put a little practice into learning the harsher recoil.
The Mk47 "Mutant" is a recent addition to EFT that has taken the game by storm and is considered the meta weapon that all PMC’s desire to run. The Mutant is chambered in 7.62x39mm but has the ability to run all of the modifications from the AR-15 family of rifles with a select choice of AK related attachments as well. This weapon is considered the top weapon by players for several reasons, but in simple terms this rifle gives you the performance and versatility of an M4 while maintaining the firepower of an AK..
There is one major flaw with the mutant that keeps it out of number one for me.. Simply put it is going to cost you a small fortune to get one built through the traders, and finding one in a raid is more difficult than finding the lost city of Atlantis. If you do get your hands on a Mutant it also often feels like a requirement to run the best equipment to match the value of the rifle and that also makes using one a more expensive endeavor then others on this list. . The weapon is without a doubt the best-performing weapon in Tarkov on stats alone. Price is a factor though so unless you got unlimited cash running one of these consistently is just not practical.
The RD-704 is the latest and greatest addition to the AK family within Tarkov, just added in patch.12. This weapon is chambered in 7.62x39mm, and is another that requires minimal modding to reach its full potential after purchase, but unlike many of those other rifles, it has access to a wide variety of attachments that boost its potential. On a strictly statistical basis, it does not outperform the Mk47. The RD-704 is about half the price to purchase though, and is far easier to loot within raids . This rifle is almost certainly the best performing of all the AK’s in Escape From Tarkov..
Once you've obtained an RD-704, I recommend treating it like an M4 and fully committing to building it to fit in and around your play style. The weapon does require some investment to get the most out of its performance, but with how solid the base stats are on this rifle it only takes about half the investment so you can match the performance of some of the best Mk47 and AKM builds other players run.
Base Stats-
Vertical Recoil- 97
Ergonomics- 71.5
RPM- 600
Weapon Rating- 97/100
Escape from Tarkov is a very intricate game with hundreds of weapons, each with pros and cons. So, more importantly than just picking the best performing gun, is to also make sure your weapon plays around how you intend to play. Any of these rifles can help you get the most out of your time within raids, so it's vital you put yourself in a position to use a rifle to the best of its abilities. I can not tell you how many times I put myself in a terrible position where not even my fully built meta Mk47 could save me because I put the wrong scope on it or forgot to equip a laser for close range fights just to name a few examples. It’s often the little details that make or break a Tarkov raid; a pretty rifle is nowhere near as useful as a functional one. So pick and choose what assault rifles to run based on what you expect you’ll be doing not just because they have the best stats.
Forged in the Heat of the Southland's of Arizona. Sean was molded by the desert heat gaining a tolerance. Though still this regions heat does not match the fire for his love of those he calls family.
