Bend Studio brought Days Gone to PC on 18 May 2021, two years after the PlayStation 4 release, with unlocked frame rates, a wider field of view and ultrawide support. Deacon St. John rides through post outbreak Oregon across six regions, from Cascade in the north down to Crater Lake, and his bike is the only transport he gets. Hordes are the reason to stay: the Old Sawmill horde alone packs roughly 500 Freakers into one moving mass, and there is no version of that fight you win by standing still.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drifter Crossbow | S | Silent ambush camp clears and any approach where waking a nearby horde would end the attempt. | An upgraded crossbow supplied through Iron Mike's camp, with better damage and accuracy than the starting version and access to explosive and poison bolts. |
| MWS | A | Marauder camps, Ripper outposts and general open world defence at medium range. | An assault rifle available early with a clear step up in stopping power over the starting weapons. |
| Chicago Chopper | A | Horde fights and any moment a crowd of Swarmers closes to under fifteen metres. | A drum fed submachine gun modelled on the Thompson, with one of the highest rates of fire and largest magazines in the game. |
| SMP9 | B | Emergency close quarters defence and clearing Newts in tight interiors. | A compact stockless submachine gun carried in the sidearm slot, firing fast with good accuracy but a limited magazine. |
| .50 BFG | B | Breakers, Ragers and picking off camp leaders before an assault starts. | A heavy sniper rifle that removes most enemies in a single hit, including armoured militia and larger Freakers. |
S-Tier: Drifter Crossbow
An upgraded crossbow supplied through Iron Mike's camp, with better damage and accuracy than the starting version and access to explosive and poison bolts. Bolts are recoverable from bodies, so it costs almost nothing to run.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Silent ambush camp clears and any approach where waking a nearby horde would end the attempt. |
| Key Mechanic | Bike fuel and durability |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Trapper |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Drifter Crossbow: Pairs naturally with Stealth Trapper thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: MWS
An assault rifle available early with a clear step up in stopping power over the starting weapons. Most human enemies, Rippers included, go down in two shots, which makes it the default primary for the first half of the story.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Marauder camps, Ripper outposts and general open world defence at medium range. |
| Key Mechanic | Camp Trust and credits |
| Recommended Role | Horde Runner |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using MWS: Pairs naturally with Horde Runner thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Chicago Chopper
A drum fed submachine gun modelled on the Thompson, with one of the highest rates of fire and largest magazines in the game. It is the standard horde weapon precisely because it does not need reloading every few seconds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Horde fights and any moment a crowd of Swarmers closes to under fifteen metres. |
| Key Mechanic | Freaker hordes |
| Recommended Role | Marksman Bounty Hunter |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Chicago Chopper: Pairs naturally with Marksman Bounty Hunter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: SMP9
A compact stockless submachine gun carried in the sidearm slot, firing fast with good accuracy but a limited magazine. It exists to give a rifle build a close range answer without giving up the primary slot.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Emergency close quarters defence and clearing Newts in tight interiors. |
| Key Mechanic | NERO checkpoints and injectors |
| Recommended Role | Melee Brawler |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using SMP9: Pairs naturally with Melee Brawler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: .50 BFG
A heavy sniper rifle that removes most enemies in a single hit, including armoured militia and larger Freakers. Ammunition is scarce and expensive, so it works as a specialist tool rather than a main weapon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Breakers, Ragers and picking off camp leaders before an assault starts. |
| Key Mechanic | Survival Vision and Focus |
| Recommended Role | Explosives Specialist |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using .50 BFG: Pairs naturally with Explosives Specialist 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 Cascade
- MWS → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Chicago Chopper → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Drifter Crossbow → 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.
- Fuel governs the early game more than ammunition does. Keep a can strapped to the bike, top up at every abandoned vehicle, and buy the larger tank upgrade before any cosmetic bike part.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Days Gone Guides
- Days Gone Days Gone Overview
- Days Gone Best Builds
- Days Gone Tier List
- Days Gone Walkthrough
- Days Gone Beginner's Guide
- Days Gone Tips & Tricks
- Days Gone Combat Guide
- Days Gone Boss Guide
- Days Gone Maps & Locations
- Days Gone Crafting Guide
- Days Gone Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Days Gone, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
