This Enter the Gungeon tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Marine | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | The Pilot | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | The Convict | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | The Hunter | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | The Robot | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
The Marine (A-Tier)
The Marine is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Marine Sidearm. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
The Pilot (A-Tier)
The Pilot is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: A.W.P.. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
The Convict (A-Tier)
The Convict is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Patriot. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
The Hunter (A-Tier)
The Hunter is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Vulcan Cannon. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
The Robot (A-Tier)
The Robot is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Black Hole Gun. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Sidearm | Early floors and any moment when your good gun has run out of ammo. | The Marine's starting pistol and the strongest of the four default sidearms, with infinite ammo and enough damage to carry a full floor if nothing better drops. |
| A.W.P. | Boss fights and any run where you have picked up a frost related item. | A bolt action sniper rifle with a tiny magazine and heavy single shot damage, awkward on trash and excellent on bosses. |
| Patriot | Late floor bosses where sustained damage matters more than mobility. | A heavy rotary gun with high sustained output, one of the strongest raw damage guns in the game and a reliable boss killer. |
| Vulcan Cannon | Packed rooms on the Hollow and the Forge where enemy count is the problem. | A spin up minigun with an enormous ammo pool and a wide spray, built to delete crowded rooms rather than snipe. |
| Black Hole Gun | Emergency clears in boss phases where blanks have already been spent. | Fires a singularity that pulls in enemy bullets and enemies alike, briefly turning a bullet hell pattern into an empty room. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Marine Sidearm: The Marine's starting pistol and the strongest of the four default sidearms, with infinite ammo and enough damage to carry a full floor if nothing better drops. It is why the Marine is the standard first pick for a new player.
A.W.P.: A bolt action sniper rifle with a tiny magazine and heavy single shot damage, awkward on trash and excellent on bosses. It anchors several named item pairings, including Arctic Warfare with frost items, which adds freezing and a 62.5 percent damage increase.
Patriot: A heavy rotary gun with high sustained output, one of the strongest raw damage guns in the game and a reliable boss killer. It also forms the Gunderlord pairing with Ice Breaker, which connects its shots with electricity.
Vulcan Cannon: A spin up minigun with an enormous ammo pool and a wide spray, built to delete crowded rooms rather than snipe. The spin up delay means you have to commit before the room becomes dangerous rather than after.
Black Hole Gun: Fires a singularity that pulls in enemy bullets and enemies alike, briefly turning a bullet hell pattern into an empty room. Ammo is scarce, so it works as a second blank rather than as a primary weapon.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Enter the Gungeon centers on Dodge roll invulnerability and blanks and Item combinations the game highlights in blue. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- The Marine with Marine Sidearm is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Curse and Coolness hidden stats builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- The Convict remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- The Pilot is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Patriot offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure The Robot builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | The Marine | Marine Sidearm | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | The Pilot | A.W.P. | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | The Convict | Patriot | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | The Hunter | Vulcan Cannon | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | The Robot | Black Hole Gun | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Enter the Gungeon Guides
- Enter the Gungeon Enter the Gungeon Overview
- Enter the Gungeon Best Builds
- Enter the Gungeon Walkthrough
- Enter the Gungeon Beginner's Guide
- Enter the Gungeon Tips & Tricks
- Enter the Gungeon Weapons Guide
- Enter the Gungeon Combat Guide
- Enter the Gungeon Boss Guide
- Enter the Gungeon Maps & Locations
- Enter the Gungeon Crafting Guide
- Enter the Gungeon Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Enter the Gungeon, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
