This Garry's Mod 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 | Sandbox | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Trouble in Terrorist Town | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | DarkRP | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Prop Hunt | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Murder | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
Sandbox (A-Tier)
Sandbox is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Physics Gun. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Trouble in Terrorist Town (A-Tier)
Trouble in Terrorist Town is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Tool Gun. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
DarkRP (A-Tier)
DarkRP is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Weld tool. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Prop Hunt (A-Tier)
Prop Hunt is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Thruster tool. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Murder (A-Tier)
Murder is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Wiremod. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Gun | Every build, every ragdoll pose, and rescuing anything that has fallen through the world. | The blue gravity tool that grabs, moves, rotates and freezes props and ragdolls. |
| Tool Gun | Turning a pile of frozen props into an actual machine. | The multi mode tool that carries every constraint, construction, posing and render function. |
| Weld tool | Building any chassis or frame before thrusters, wheels or balloons are attached. | 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. |
| Thruster tool | Rockets, hovercraft and anything that needs directional force on a key press. | Attaches a numeric keypad controlled thruster to a prop or wall, with adjustable force and effect. |
| Wiremod | Automated machines, working vehicles with instruments, and anything that needs to react rather than just move. | The best known community addon, adding logic gates, sensors, screens, keypads and expression processors as Tool Gun modes. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Physics Gun: The blue gravity tool that grabs, moves, rotates and freezes props and ragdolls. Left click grabs, scroll adjusts distance, right click freezes and R unfreezes everything at once.
Tool Gun: The multi mode tool that carries every constraint, construction, posing and render function. Hold Q, pick the mode from the spawn menu, then left click the target props in order.
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.
Thruster tool: Attaches a numeric keypad controlled thruster to a prop or wall, with adjustable force and effect. Paired with Weld it is the basis of most flying contraptions.
Wiremod: The best known community addon, adding logic gates, sensors, screens, keypads and expression processors as Tool Gun modes. It is required content on most build servers.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Garry's Mod centers on Physics Gun handling and Tool Gun categories. 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:
- Sandbox with Physics Gun is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Lua gamemodes builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- DarkRP remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Trouble in Terrorist Town is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Weld tool offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Murder builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Sandbox | Physics Gun | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Trouble in Terrorist Town | Tool Gun | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | DarkRP | Weld tool | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Prop Hunt | Thruster tool | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Murder | Wiremod | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Garry's Mod Guides
- Garry's Mod Garry's Mod Overview
- Garry's Mod Best Builds
- 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 Tier List: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Tier List: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Tabletop Simulator Tier List: sandbox game with similar mechanics
