Metro 2033 Redux is 4A Games' 2014 rebuild of the 2010 original, moved onto the engine used for Metro: Last Light. It follows Artyom out of the VDNKh station and across a post-nuclear Moscow underground of 7 chapters and 27 levels, ending at the Ostankino Tower. The Redux version added two play styles: Spartan, which hands you enough ammunition to fight, and Survival, which starves you the way the 2010 original did. Military grade rounds are both the best ammunition in the game and the currency you buy everything with, which turns every trade into a decision about whether you would rather be rich or well armed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastard | S | Mutant waves in the War chapter levels, where accuracy matters less than volume | The improvised submachine gun of the Metro, cheap and available early. |
| Revolver | A | Stealth sections and any human camp you would rather take apart from distance | The most customisable weapon in the game, available with long or short barrels, long or short stocks, a silencer and a scope. |
| Duplet | A | Nosalis and lurkers at contact range, and nothing at all beyond ten metres | A break-action multi-barrel shotgun that unloads everything at once. |
| Volt Driver | B | Survival play styles where conventional rounds have run dry | An electric weapon originally from the Ranger Pack extras and included in Redux. |
| Shambler | B | Sustained close-quarters fighting where you cannot afford the Duplet's reload | A semi-automatic shotgun that trades the Duplet's single devastating burst for a usable rate of fire, and appears in a bayonet variant. |
S-Tier: Bastard
The improvised submachine gun of the Metro, cheap and available early. It jams and sprays at range but it is the most ammunition-efficient answer to a mutant rush once fitted with a stock.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Mutant waves in the War chapter levels, where accuracy matters less than volume |
| Key Mechanic | Gas mask filters and surface time |
| Recommended Role | Spartan style |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Bastard: Pairs naturally with Spartan style thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Revolver
The most customisable weapon in the game, available with long or short barrels, long or short stocks, a silencer and a scope. Built out with a long barrel, stock and scope it works as a quiet marksman rifle rather than a sidearm.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Stealth sections and any human camp you would rather take apart from distance |
| Key Mechanic | Military grade rounds as currency |
| Recommended Role | Survival style |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Revolver: Pairs naturally with Survival style thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Duplet
A break-action multi-barrel shotgun that unloads everything at once. Enormous close damage, then a reload long enough to get you killed if you fired at the wrong moment.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Nosalis and lurkers at contact range, and nothing at all beyond ten metres |
| Key Mechanic | Universal charger and light discipline |
| Recommended Role | Ranger Hardcore |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Duplet: Pairs naturally with Ranger Hardcore thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Volt Driver
An electric weapon originally from the Ranger Pack extras and included in Redux. It runs on charge rather than conventional ammunition, which makes it valuable in exactly the moments when your ammunition supply has failed.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Survival play styles where conventional rounds have run dry |
| Key Mechanic | Spartan and Survival play styles |
| Recommended Role | Silent stealth loadout |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Volt Driver: Pairs naturally with Silent stealth loadout thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Shambler
A semi-automatic shotgun that trades the Duplet's single devastating burst for a usable rate of fire, and appears in a bayonet variant. It is the more forgiving of the two shotguns for players who miss under pressure.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Sustained close-quarters fighting where you cannot afford the Duplet's reload |
| Key Mechanic | Moral points and the two endings |
| Recommended Role | Heavy assault loadout |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shambler: Pairs naturally with Heavy assault loadout 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 Exhibition
- Revolver → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Duplet → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Bastard → 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.
- Redux reorganised the original level list. There are 7 chapters across 27 levels, and several 2010 chapters were merged, so a walkthrough written for the 2010 release will name levels that no longer exist as separate loads.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Metro 2033 Redux Guides
- Metro 2033 Redux Metro 2033 Redux Overview
- Metro 2033 Redux Best Builds
- Metro 2033 Redux Tier List
- Metro 2033 Redux Walkthrough
- Metro 2033 Redux Beginner's Guide
- Metro 2033 Redux Tips & Tricks
- Metro 2033 Redux Combat Guide
- Metro 2033 Redux Boss Guide
- Metro 2033 Redux Maps & Locations
- Metro 2033 Redux Crafting Guide
- Metro 2033 Redux Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Metro 2033 Redux, check out these related guides:
- Counter-Strike 2 Weapons Guide: fps game with similar mechanics
- Apex Legends Weapons Guide: fps game with similar mechanics
- Rainbow Six Siege Weapons Guide: fps game with similar mechanics
