The Complete Edition bundles Grand Theft Auto IV with both episodes, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, into one Steam entry. The March 2020 update stripped out Games for Windows Live and the original multiplayer, added Steam achievements and moved DRM onto the Rockstar Games Launcher. Three campaigns overlap in the same Liberty City: Niko Bellic's 88 missions, Johnny Klebitz's 22 and Luis Lopez's 26, and all three converge on the same diamond deal from different sides.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Pistol | S | Early missions and any fight where you cannot carry a rifle | The heavy sidearm, effectively a Desert Eagle, with enough stopping power to end most fights in one or two hits. |
| Carbine Rifle | A | The bulk of the 88 story missions once free aim is enabled | The M4 style rifle and the best all purpose weapon in Niko's campaign, accurate enough for headshots at range and controllable in bursts. |
| Combat Shotgun | A | Indoor shootouts and clearing rooms quickly | The semi automatic shotgun, devastating in interiors and useless past a few metres. |
| Grenade Launcher | B | Johnny's gang wars and clearing grouped enemies | Exclusive to The Lost and Damned, with a lobbed arc that takes practice and enough damage to end a gang war in two shots. |
| Sticky Bombs | B | Luis missions with vehicle targets and ambush setups | Introduced in The Ballad of Gay Tony, thrown explosives that adhere to surfaces and vehicles and detonate on command. |
S-Tier: Combat Pistol
The heavy sidearm, effectively a Desert Eagle, with enough stopping power to end most fights in one or two hits. It stays useful the entire game because it is accurate at ranges where the Micro SMG sprays.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Early missions and any fight where you cannot carry a rifle |
| Key Mechanic | Euphoria ragdoll physics |
| Recommended Role | Niko Bellic |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Combat Pistol: Pairs naturally with Niko Bellic thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Carbine Rifle
The M4 style rifle and the best all purpose weapon in Niko's campaign, accurate enough for headshots at range and controllable in bursts. Little Jacob sells it at a discount once his friendship is high enough.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | The bulk of the 88 story missions once free aim is enabled |
| Key Mechanic | Friend like percentage and favours |
| Recommended Role | Johnny Klebitz |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Carbine Rifle: Pairs naturally with Johnny Klebitz thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Combat Shotgun
The semi automatic shotgun, devastating in interiors and useless past a few metres. It is the correct answer to the several missions that funnel you through apartment corridors and stairwells.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Indoor shootouts and clearing rooms quickly |
| Key Mechanic | Branching story choices |
| Recommended Role | Luis Lopez |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Combat Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Luis Lopez thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Grenade Launcher
Exclusive to The Lost and Damned, with a lobbed arc that takes practice and enough damage to end a gang war in two shots. Aim short and let the bounce carry it rather than trying to hit directly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Johnny's gang wars and clearing grouped enemies |
| Key Mechanic | Cover shooting and free aim |
| Recommended Role | The Lost MC gang wars |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Grenade Launcher: Pairs naturally with The Lost MC gang wars thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Sticky Bombs
Introduced in The Ballad of Gay Tony, thrown explosives that adhere to surfaces and vehicles and detonate on command. Attaching one to a target's car before a chase begins removes the chase entirely.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Luis missions with vehicle targets and ambush setups |
| Key Mechanic | Wanted level search circle |
| Recommended Role | Drug wars and club management |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sticky Bombs: Pairs naturally with Drug wars and club management 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 Broker
- Carbine Rifle → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Combat Shotgun → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Combat Pistol → 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.
- Turn on free aim in the settings before the third mission. Auto aim locks onto the torso and most enemies take four or five body shots, whereas a free aimed headshot ends the fight immediately and saves the ammunition you would otherwise run dry on.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Guides
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Overview
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Best Builds
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Tier List
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Walkthrough
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Beginner's Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Tips & Tricks
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Combat Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Boss Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Maps & Locations
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Crafting Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Classes & Characters
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