PUBG Best Assault Rifles (From Worst To Best)

Updated:

29 May 2023

Introduction

Assault rifles are selective-fire rifles that are designed for versatility in both close- and mid-range combat situations.

Submachine guns excel at low ranges due to their high rate of fire and ease of handling, but it becomes harder to maintain firepower at medium to long ranges. Sniper rifles are ideal for accurately hitting the opponent from afar, yet they obviously fail to be of any help in close quarters combat.

Assault rifles fill this gap and provide the necessary versatility to maintain firepower at any range. Most armies across the globe had replaced sniper rifles and submachine guns with assault rifles by the end of the 20th century.

In order to find the right pick for you, it is useful to look at hit damage, handling, rate of fire, versatility, and bullet speed.

Criteria for ranking assault rifles

To come up with a ranking, the following main criteria were taken into account: hit damage and handling.

Hit damage is the primary indicator. Even though weapons with higher hit damage are harder to control, they are still subject to basic physics; they have an impact, literally.

Handling, as the secondary indicator, is heavily dependent on you as a player. Are you comfortable with taming jumpy weapons, or do you rather prefer stability? However, over time you will get used to the recoil and improve your handling.

Note that the Groza is quite hard to handle yet still ranks #1 on this list. This is because once you get a grip on this assault rifle, it becomes a force to be reckoned with.

Honorable mentions: not included in the list are the Mk47 Mutant and M16A4, since neither of them have a full-auto mode and are thus only usable in burst or single-fire mode. They are only suited for more advanced players.

Let’s move on to the actual list.

Ranking

7. G36C / K2 / QBZ95 / SCAR-L

Common stats:

Hit damage: 41
Ammo type: 5.56 mm
Rate of fire: n/a
Bullet speed: ~870 m/s

These four 5.56 mm assault rifles pretty much share the same stats, which is why they are taken together in one rank. None of these weapons can attach the tactical stock, and except for the K2, all three assault rifles can be equipped with a foregrip.

In general, 5.56 mm assault rifles are easier to control than their 7.62 mm classmates. Thus, it is advisable to start off using this caliber if you are new to PUBG. All weapons have a high bullet speed, which means that accuracy still persists at longer ranges. Ideal for beginners.

Bottom line:

Once fully equipped, all weapons are fairly easy to handle.
All weapons almost share the same bullet speed, which increases long-range accuracy.

How to get the weapons:

The SCAR-L can be found everywhere. The G36C is Vikendi-only, the QBZ is Sanhok-only, the K2 is-Taego only.

6. ACE32

ACE32 stats

Hit damage: 43
Ammo type: 7.62 mm
Rate of fire: 680 rounds / min
Bullet speed: 720 m/s

This Israeli assault rifle is also known as the ‘Galil’. Everybody who is familiar with killing an awful lot of zombies in Call of Duty’s Cinema of the Dead knows the Galil very well. It has been in service since 2008.

If you have trouble handling the strong recoil of 7.62 mm weapons in PUBG, you might want to consider trying the ACE32 first. There are all attachment points available, including the tactical stock, which is very helpful to mitigate recoil.

This makes the ACE32 easily handleable for beginners and a real choice with respect to other assault rifles of the 7.62 mm caliber. To relieve some of the stress of mastering the 7.62 mm recoil, developers have introduced this weapon.

Bottom line:

Great handling, since you can use all attachments.

How to get the ACE32:

It spawns everywhere.

5. AKM

AKM stats

Hit damage: 47
Ammo type: 7.62 mm
Rate of fire: 600 rounds / min
Bullet speed: 715 m/s

The AKM is the successor to the notorious AK-47 Kalashnikov, arguably one of the most popular assault rifles in the history of mankind. Deployed since 1959, the AKM has been widely adopted all over the globe to this day.

From a Western point of view, one can say that it is mostly used by terrorists. Counter-Strike players agree, and Rambo too. In PUBG, the AKM, together with the Groza, has the highest hit damage of any assault rifle with autofire.

There are no attachments, except the compensator, to counter the strong recoil. This is why you either want to switch to single-shot mode at medium range or shoot short bursts on full auto. However, when using the AKM at low range, you always switch to full auto. This obviously applies to hip-firing as well.

After all, it is one of the strongest weapons in the game but also one of the hardest to control. This is why many players prefer to use the Beryl M672 or ACE32 instead. However, if you want to quickly bring down opponents wearing level 3 armor, the AKM is an effective weapon of choice.

Bottom line:

Superior hit damage, only effective with a compensator.

How to get the AKM:

Can be found everywhere.

4. M416

M416 Stats

Hit damage: 40
Ammo type: 5.56mm
Rate of fire: 700 - 800 rounds/min
Bullet speed: 880 m/s

When in doubt, pick up the M416. It is an assault rifle designed by the German gunmaker Heckler & Koch. The original trading name is HK416; apparently, due to copyright issues, it is referred to as M416.

However, the weapon is well liked for its handling and versatility. It is the most stable weapon to use besides the AUG A3, and you can shoot accurately at longer distances due to its high bullet speed. Since the weapon also comes with a high rate of fire, its usage also pays off in close-quarters combat.

Many professional players in PUBG Esports choose this weapon over other 5.56 mm assault rifles.

Bottom line:

Usage is advantageous at any range; high flexibility.
Maximum number of attachments; adds to high flexibility.
High stability on full autofire, even at long ranges.

How to get the M416:

Spawns everywhere, across all maps.

3. Beryl M672

Beryl M762 Stats

Hit damage: 44
Ammo type: 7.62mm
Rate of fire: 750 rounds/min
Bullet speed: 740 m/s

The Polish assault rifle Beryl M672 is considered to be one of the best weapons in PUBG. It is very popular among professional players, who prefer 7.62 mm over 5.56 mm. Its rate of fire is slightly behind that of the Groza, yet the Beryl is easier to handle since you can attach a foregrip.

Actually, equipped with a compensator and a foregrip, the Beryl is relatively handleable, considering it is a 7.62 mm weapon.

Especially in close-quarters combat, you will quickly realize the enormous potential to suddenly end the round for your opponents. The weapon is well suited for hip-firing within 5 meters.

Bottom line:

A high rate of fire combined with high damage is a lethal combination.

How to get the Beryl M672:

Find it anywhere on the map.

2. AUG A3

AUG A3 Stats

Hit damage: 41
Ammo type: 5.56mm
Rate of fire: 680-750 rounds/min
Bullet speed: 940 m/s

Up until just recently, the AUG A3 used to be a drop-only weapon. For a reason: easier to handle than the M416; high accuracy at long ranges due to high bullet speed. Now you can find the bullpup assault rifle everywhere on the map, and the AUG A3 has dominated the kill feed ever since.

Yes, you read correctly: the weapon is easier to handle than the M416 if both weapons are fully equipped with a compensator and a foregrip. This makes it an ideal weapon for beginners. The rate of fire is slightly lower than the M416; this adds to the stability but decreases performance at lower ranges. However, the AUG A3 has recently been downgraded in terms of handling.

Bottom line:

Exceptional handling; same level as the M416.
Exceptional bullet speed; maintaining accuracy at long ranges.

How to get the AUG A3:

You can find it everywhere, across all maps.

1. Groza

Groza stats

Hit damage: 47
Ammo type: 7.62 mm
Rate of fire: 750 rounds/min
Bullet speed: 715 m/s

The Groza is a Russian bullpup assault rifle, which means that the cartridge chamber is located behind the trigger grip. This allows for a standard barrel length with a more compact design. The Famas, QBZ95, and AUG A3 are all bullpup assault rifles as well. The label ‘Grosa’ means thunderstorm. It is not particularly hard to find out why.

Feel like Zeus, the weather god, when he comes upon the world with shattering hail and storms. Nevertheless, feeling like God is part of a larger problem that does not belong to PUBG.

The Groza has one of the highest rates of fireout of all assault rifles in PUBG, resulting in hard-to-control handling. Even though you cannot add any stabilizing attachments, it is still advised to master this weapon. The fast rate of fire coupled with the 7.62 mm caliber is the deadliest combination you can get.

Bottom line:

Highest rate of fire; excels in low- to mid-range combat.
High hit damage; advantageous in regard to the high rate of fire.

How to get the Groza:

Can only be found in airdrops, secret rooms, lab camps, or pillar boxes.

Honorable mentions

Famas

Famas stats:

Hit damage: 39
Ammo type: 5.56 mm
Rate of fire: 900 rounds / min
Bullet speed: n/a

Say hello to the latest weapon in the lethal PUBG family. The FAMAS is a French bullpup assault rifle that has been in service since 1978. It is colloquially called ‘Clairon’ because it resembles the shape of the brass instrument bugle.

Again, it is the latest weapon in the arsenal of PUBG and has been added to enrich the variety of 5.56 mm weapons. With a staggering rate of 900 rounds per minute, this assault rifle is a new force on the battleground.

Time will tell how the community accepts this assault rifle.

Bottom line:

Enormous rate of fire, which will reign in close- to mid-range combat.

How to get the Famas:

Can only be found in airdrops, secret rooms, lab camps, or pillar boxes.

M16A4

M16A4 stats

Hit damage: 43
Ammo type: 5.56 mm
Bullet speed: 900 m/s

The M16A4 is a burst-fire assault rifle, originally developed during the Vietnam War. As is the case with the AK47, the M16 is one of the most famous weapons in the world, sometimes being perceived as arch-rivals to each other. Cold war.

The M16A4 has an incredible bullet speed, which makes it a viable weapon for long-range combat. Of course, it is advisable to use a compensator to manage the recoil. Overall, the weapon is fairly easy to handle at long ranges but comes with a major downside.

You are only able to switch between single shots and bursts, whereas the latter is three quick shots in a single burst. There is no full-auto mode. Due to this fact, the weapon is better suited for advanced players. It is ideal for mid- to long-range combat.

Bottom line:

Highest hit damage for a 5.56 mm assault rifle; therefore very effective in this regard.
High bullet speed; what adds to the long-range capability.

How to get the M16A4:

Can be found everywhere.

Mk47 Mutant

Mk47 Mutant stats

Hit damage: 49
Ammo type: 7.62 mm.
Bullet speed: 780 m/s

Another variant of the Russian Kalashnikov? Nope. This weapon was developed and built in the U.S. in 2015. In PUBG, the Mk47 is in fact the strongest assault rifle in terms of damage dealt per shot. It has a higher muzzle velocity than the other rifles of that caliber.

The Mk47 Mutant comes with a small magazine. It is unthinkable to use that weapon without an extended magazine. The other limiting factor is the missing full auto mode. You can switch between single shots and bursts only. Once again, this is a disadvantage for close-quarter combat.

All in all, this weapon is suitable for mid- to long-range combat, similar to the M16A4. Once fully equipped, the Mutant is handleable. But don’t let anybody come close; this bad boy needs distance.

Bottom line:

Highest hit damage of all assault rifles; which speaks for itself.
High bullet speed; suitable for long-range combat.
All attachment points are available; which greatly reduces recoil.

How to get the Mk47 Mutant:

Spawns everywhere.

Tips for using assault rifles effectively

There are some general tips for using assault rifles:

Always strive to find extended quick-draw magazines.
A compensator greatly reduces recoil, which makes it easier to handle the weapon.
At longer distances, shoot in small bursts to be more effective.
When using a 3x scope or higher, use the crafted sight for close-quarter combat.
Make use of the lean function to decrease your attack surface while shooting from a cover.
The heavy tactical stock reduces the recoil even further, yet slows the time to zoom in your scope (ADS).

Conclusion

Assault rifles are at the very core of PUBG. The versatility is high, as you can cover any necessary range on the battleground. Especially at low- to mid-ranges towards the end of the game.

Higher-damage weapons are harder to control but worth mastering in the long run. Always seek to equip all available attachments to make it easier for you.

Practice is the key. Let's go!