PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Guide: Weapon Tier List, Finding the Best Gear and More

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has swiftly become one of the most popular games on Twitch, with the Battle Royale-esque third-person shooter garnering a significant audience on the streaming site, unexpectedly becoming one of the most popular multiplayer games of the year so far.

However, with the game not exactly holding players’ hands when it comes to learning how to survive in an arena filled with up to 100 players vying for your blood, you’ll likely need more than a little help as you try to find your feet. As such, we’ve compiled this guide that will help you learn which weapons you’ll want to equip and where to find them, the location of the game’s vehicles, the stats afforded to you by equipping armor and much more.

Take a look through our comprehensive PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds guide below:

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds weapon tier list

Reddit user AnarchySwitch compiled a breakdown of the stats of each of Battlegrounds‘ weapons, providing a look at which firearms are the most powerful in each category. Though hit detection issues mean that some of these weapons might not get the job done as accurately as the below spreadsheet would lead you to believe, this at least provides players with an overview of how each gun in the game should perform:

Sniper Rifles

The AWM is, unsurprisingly, the most powerful sniper rifle in the game, but as it can only be picked up in supply drops it’s one of the more difficult weapons to get your hands. Incredibly high head shot damage means it can decimate low-ranked armor, while it also delivers a nasty blow to the body, too.

The M24 is the pick of the bunch from snipers you can find on the floor, with it still able to deal a one shot kill with most head shots. The Kar 98 is a competent runner-up, while the SKS may not boast as much firepower but does offer a higher rate of fire.

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Assault Rifles

Though sniper rifles are the most useful tool in battle given the frequency of long-range firefights, assault rifles are much more handy for players lacking the precision to pull off a well-timed head shot, and are the most powerful alternative as a result. The AKM and SCAR offer comparable stats, though the increased stability and power of the former make it the better option. The differences between the M16A4 and the M416 are negligible, though the former’s higher rate of fire give it a slight edge.

Submachine / Light Machine Guns

If you come across an Assault Rifle you’re going to want to drop your submachine / light machine gun immediately, but if you’re left in a pinch then you’re going to want to opt for one of these guns over a pistol. The M249 and Tommy Gun can only be found in supply drops, with the former offering decent power, a higher ammo round and a slightly higher rate of fire than an assault rifle, while the latter is less powerful but more competent at spraying bullets within a close range. When the circle decreases in size, both of these guns can also be useful when dealing with close-quarters gunfights, though generally speaking you’ll find yourself outmatched when going up against someone with an AR.

The UMP9 and UZI are both underwhelming options, and should only be picked up when a pistol is your only other option. The former offers slightly better stats overall, but both suffer from very poor range and low damage, putting you at a major disadvantage if you come up against a player carrying one of the game’s more proficient weapons. Head shots are also particularly useless with the UZI, which will see you being forced to make 3+ precise shots to the chrome in order to take down an opponent. Unless you have no other option, you’re going to want to avoid these two.

Shotguns

Shotguns have a limited amount of uses in Battlegrounds, given how the game is more ideally suited to long-range battles with its vast open areas and copious vantage points. While each shotgun in the game packs an almighty punch when up close and personal with an enemy, most of the time you’re going to be looking to pick people off from a distance, making these weapons only advantageous in very specific circumstances.

Shotguns can come in handy when playing on a solo server, as you’re much less likely to get flanked by an enemy’s teammates if you decide to run in for some close-quarters combat. They can be particularly useful if you’re camping out in a building and covering a door, as you’ll be able to blast away any enemies that walk through before they’ve even had the chance to take aim at you. However, given the increasing pace of Battlegrounds as the game progresses, you’ll not want to keep a shotgun as a primary weapon when you’re charging towards the safe circle, though it can be a difference maker when you’re in a shootout in an enclosed area. The S686 and S1897 offer almost identical stats aside from the former’s increased range and lower clip, but either of the three available options are reasonable choices to store in your second inventory slot.

Pistols

You’ll be looking to abandon the lowly pistol at the soonest available opportunity, but if you find yourself with few options then the R1895 is your best bit. Boasting nearly double the amount of power as the dismal P92, this revolver deals a significant amount of damage with a head shot, but is nonetheless overshadowed by the majority of the other weapons you’ll find on the field. But if you’re running low on ammo for your other weapons and you’re a steady shot, you can probably take down an enemy or two with this gun.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds weapon locations

Sosnovka Military Base

A successful trip to Sosnovka Military Base will see you swiftly kitted out with the best gear in the game, though navigating this typically highly populated area is difficult. Considering that Sosnovka has weapons, armor and even vehicles in abundance, you’ll see many rival players parachuting towards it at the start of most games. However, with great risk comes great reward, and by inspecting the base you’ll more than likely come away with a sniper rifle or assault rifle, not to mention some impressive armor to boot.

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Towards the east of the base you’ll find an enclosed military settlement, wherein you can typically find some high-end gear and, unlike the rest of the base, is rarely contested in the early stages of the game. Rather than parachuting towards the center of the base, you may want to aim for this region, with it also being in close proximity to the smaller bridge that can take you across to the main island. There are also a number of vehicle spawns between this area and Novorepnoye, allowing you to make a swift getaway when you’ve successfully looted the premises.

Georgopol

The second-best option for tons of loot in Battlegrounds is Georgopol, though venturing into this town also has its own risks. Situated on the coast, Georgopol will require some quick work on your behalf to gather supplies before venturing into a safer area, and the tall buildings make it a prime location for snipers to pick off those running around below them. Fortunately, the town has fewer players usually occupying it than the military base, so you may get the chance to snag yourself some impressive weapons and armor before any bullets are fired in your direction.

Lipovka

Lipovka is another excellent area for high-end gear, with the military bunker being a dramatically smaller area than both Sosnovka and Georgopol thus decreasing the chances of bumping into enemies. If you’re one of the first to swoop in then you can bag yourself some great equipment in the opening minutes of the game, with it routinely housing sniper rifles and their all-important scopes, and it’s situated in a decent position to get yourself to the center of the map, away from highly populated areas of the map. If you make a beeline for Lipovka from the plane then be on the lookout for other players parachuting down, as if they get to the bunker first then you’re better off counter your losses and venturing somewhere else.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds vehicle locations

Vehicles create a lot of noise and can draw unwanted attention to you and your squad, but they can also prove incredibly useful for scavenging, allowing you to quickly make your way to various areas before heading into the safe circle. There are various vehicle spawn points dotted around the map, but here are the locations that feature the most.

Novorepnoye

Novorepnoye has a whole bunch of vehicle spawn points tightly packed into a relatively small area, though it’s some distance away from any other meaningful locations outside of the military base, which is sure to have a few players running around kitted out in high-end weapons.

Rozhok

Rozhok is located right in the center of the map between two other settlements, with plenty of vehicle spawn points located along the main road that runs through it. As such it makes for the perfect destination to pick up some loot and then head on your travels, though as it’s an area that typically remains situated within the safe circle for an extended period of time, expect conflict if you stick around for too long.

Severny / Zharki

If your main goal is to obtain a vehicle with minimal fuss, both Severny and Zharki are good places to start. Located on the far north and north west of the map, these two settlements are rarely populated due to their position far away from its center, and each boast a reasonable amount of vehicle spawns. Parachute in, grab yourself a car and then take a drive to the various buildings that are scattered nearby for your loot.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds backpack and armor stats

Along with weapons, you can also pick up backpacks and armor that will help increase the amount of equipment you can carry, along with improving your defensive capabilities. Here are their stats:

Backpacks

• Level 1: +150 Capacity Increase
• Level 2: +200 Capacity Increase
• Level 3: +250 Capacity Increase

Vests

• Level 1: +50 Capacity Increase and +200 Armor Increase
• Level 2: +50 Capacity Increase and +220 Armor Increase
• Level 3: +50 Capacity Increase and +250 Armor Increase

Helmets

• Level 1: +80 Armor Increase
• Level 2: +150 Armor Increase
• Level 3: Defense Against One Shot Kills From the SKS and KAR98K

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds boosters

You can pick up various boosters during the game that help increase your health along with providing you with a speed buff. In Battlegrounds most boosters can only heal you up to 75%, though some can help fill a Boost Bar that helps you replenish your health over time along with granting increased movement speed. Keep an eye on the icons above the Boost Bar — the orange bar that appears above your health — to see which buffs you have unlocked. Here’s what each of these items do:

Bandages

These small health items help heal a minimal amount of your HP.

First Aid Kits

Heals you up to 75%.

Med Kits

The rarest and most useful booster in the game, the Med Kit heals you up to 100%.

Energy Drink

Can heal you above the 75% mark while also increased the Boost Bar by 40.

Painkillers

Like the Energy Drink, Painkillers can also heal the player above the 75% mark and raise the Boost Bar by 60.

Adrenaline Syringes

Only found during Supply Drops, Adrenaline Syringes completely fill your Boost Bar.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Screenshots