Facepunch Studios released Garry's Mod on November 29, 2006, built on Valve's Source engine and sold with no objectives at all in its base mode. By November 2024 it had sold 25.56 million copies, which makes it the best selling PC exclusive game ever released. Almost everything people actually play in it, from Trouble in Terrorist Town to DarkRP, is Lua written by the community rather than by Facepunch.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbox | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Trouble in Terrorist Town | A | Balanced | Best available |
| DarkRP | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Prop Hunt | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Murder | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Garry's Mod tier list.
A-Tier: Sandbox
Sandbox is a top-performing option in Garry's Mod.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Physics Gun | The blue gravity tool that grabs, moves, rotates and freezes props and ragdolls. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Physics Gun handling | Left click grabs a prop or ragdoll, the scroll wheel pushes it away or pulls it closer, and right click freezes it in place. |
How to Play Sandbox
Sandbox focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Physics Gun does the damage and Physics Gun handling keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Trouble in Terrorist Town
Trouble in Terrorist Town is a strong option in Garry's Mod.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Tool Gun | The multi mode tool that carries every constraint, construction, posing and render function. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Tool Gun categories | Tools sort into Constraints such as Weld, Rope, Axis, Ball Socket, Hydraulic, Motor, Muscle, Pulley, Slider and Winch, Construction such as Balloon, Thruster, Wheel, Hover Ball, Dynamite, Emitter, No Collide, Remover and Duplicator, plus Posing and Render groups. |
How to Play Trouble in Terrorist Town
Trouble in Terrorist Town focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Tool Gun with Tool Gun categories and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: DarkRP
DarkRP is a strong option in Garry's Mod.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Weld tool | A constraint that fuses one prop to another prop, a wall or an entity, with an adjustable breaking force so joints can be made to snap under load. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Lua gamemodes | A gamemode is a Lua folder that redefines rounds, roles, weapons and interface. |
How to Play DarkRP
DarkRP focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Lua gamemodes covers the gap Weld tool leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Prop Hunt
Prop Hunt is a specialized option in Garry's Mod.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Thruster tool | Attaches a numeric keypad controlled thruster to a prop or wall, with adjustable force and effect. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Steam Workshop addons | Workshop replaced the old Toybox system in version 13, so addons install by subscribing rather than by dropping files into the addons folder by hand. |
How to Play Prop Hunt
Prop Hunt focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Steam Workshop addons rather than raw numbers, and Thruster tool is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Murder
Murder is a specialized option in Garry's Mod.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Wiremod | The best known community addon, adding logic gates, sensors, screens, keypads and expression processors as Tool Gun modes. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Mounting other Source games | Garry's Mod pulls models and textures from other Source games you own on the same account. |
How to Play Murder
Murder focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Wiremod and Mounting other Source games pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Trouble in Terrorist Town: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Sandbox once you understand core mechanics and have access to Physics Gun
- Keep a DarkRP setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Murder for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Install and mount Counter-Strike: Source before you touch the Workshop. A large share of popular maps and addons reference its textures and models, and without it you get purple and black checkerboards plus floating ERROR text where props should be.
- Freeze props with right click as you place them. Unfrozen props drift, fall and knock the rest of your build apart, and pressing R unfreezes everything at once when you actually want it live.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Garry's Mod Guides
- Garry's Mod Garry's Mod Overview
- Garry's Mod Tier List
- Garry's Mod Walkthrough
- Garry's Mod Beginner's Guide
- Garry's Mod Tips & Tricks
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide
- Garry's Mod Combat Guide
- Garry's Mod Boss Guide
- Garry's Mod Maps & Locations
- Garry's Mod Crafting Guide
- Garry's Mod Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Garry's Mod, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Builds: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Builds: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Tabletop Simulator Builds: sandbox game with similar mechanics
