DICE launched Battlefield 2042 on 19 November 2021 with no class system at all, and Update 3.2 in January 2023 put Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon back in charge of every Specialist. Season 7, Turning Point, went live on 19 March 2024 with the Haven map and closed out the seasonal run. What remains is a 128 player sandbox with 14 Specialists and more than 17 maps, still maintained through events and Vault Drops rather than numbered seasons.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5A3 | S | Assault players who want one gun for every engagement distance | The default assault rifle and still one of the most forgiving. |
| PP-29 | A | Engineers and close quarters maps like Redacted | High capacity submachine gun with a large drum and a very fast time to kill inside 30 metres. |
| LCMG | A | Support players holding an objective or a choke | Light machine gun with a huge magazine and heavy sustained fire. |
| DM7 | B | Recon players who need to shoot back rather than only spot | Semi-automatic marksman rifle that rewards trigger discipline. |
| NTW-50 | B | Long range Recon and harassing air vehicles on open maps | Anti-materiel bolt-action rifle with enormous damage and slow handling. |
S-Tier: M5A3
The default assault rifle and still one of the most forgiving. Manageable recoil, ammo type swapping through the Plus menu and enough range to contest a mid-sized sector.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Assault players who want one gun for every engagement distance |
| Key Mechanic | Four classes across 14 Specialists |
| Recommended Role | Assault |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using M5A3: Pairs naturally with Assault thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: PP-29
High capacity submachine gun with a large drum and a very fast time to kill inside 30 metres. Falls apart at range, which is fine because Engineers rarely want that fight.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Engineers and close quarters maps like Redacted |
| Key Mechanic | 128 player Conquest |
| Recommended Role | Engineer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using PP-29: Pairs naturally with Engineer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: LCMG
Light machine gun with a huge magazine and heavy sustained fire. Suppresses a doorway indefinitely and pairs naturally with a bipod on a fixed angle.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Support players holding an objective or a choke |
| Key Mechanic | Call In vehicle and supply drops |
| Recommended Role | Support |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using LCMG: Pairs naturally with Support thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: DM7
Semi-automatic marksman rifle that rewards trigger discipline. Two or three fast taps at mid range beat most automatic weapons across open ground.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Recon players who need to shoot back rather than only spot |
| Key Mechanic | Plus system attachment swapping |
| Recommended Role | Recon |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using DM7: Pairs naturally with Recon thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: NTW-50
Anti-materiel bolt-action rifle with enormous damage and slow handling. It hurts helicopters and light vehicles as well as infantry, which no other sniper rifle does well.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Long range Recon and harassing air vehicles on open maps |
| Key Mechanic | Battlefield Portal custom rules |
| Recommended Role | Battlefield Portal legacy kits |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using NTW-50: Pairs naturally with Battlefield Portal legacy kits thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Orbital
- PP-29 → Your first real upgrade, available early
- LCMG → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- M5A3 → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Choose your Specialist by class role, not by gadget preference. Since Update 3.2 the class dictates your equipment slot, so a squad with four Assaults has no Repair Tool, no Defibrillator and no way to answer armour.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Battlefield 2042 Guides
- Battlefield 2042 Battlefield 2042 Overview
- Battlefield 2042 Best Builds
- Battlefield 2042 Tier List
- Battlefield 2042 Walkthrough
- Battlefield 2042 Beginner's Guide
- Battlefield 2042 Tips & Tricks
- Battlefield 2042 Combat Guide
- Battlefield 2042 Boss Guide
- Battlefield 2042 Maps & Locations
- Battlefield 2042 Crafting Guide
- Battlefield 2042 Classes & Characters
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