Prey (2017) is an immersive sim set aboard Talos I, a space station orbiting the Moon that's been overrun by shape-shifting alien organisms called Typhon. As Morgan Yu, you choose between human abilities and alien Typhon powers via Neuromods, fundamentally changing how you approach every encounter and puzzle. The entire station is an interconnected open world you can explore in any order, with multiple solutions to every obstacle. The GLOO Cannon alone enables dozens of creative approaches by creating platforms, blocking hazards, and immobilizing enemies.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOO Cannon | S | All builds | Fires expanding foam that immobilizes enemies, blocks hazards, and creates climbable platforms. |
| Q-Beam | A | Typhon Psionics, Combat Hybrid | Directed energy weapon that deals continuous damage in a beam. |
| Psychoscope | A | Typhon Psionics, Combat Hybrid | Head-mounted scanner that reveals Typhon weaknesses, hidden Mimics, and unlocks Typhon Neuromod abilities. |
| Shotgun | B | Human Only, Stealth Build | High damage per shot at close range. |
| Wrench | B | Engineer Build, Stealth Build | Your starting melee weapon. |
S-Tier: GLOO Cannon
Fires expanding foam that immobilizes enemies, blocks hazards, and creates climbable platforms. Immobilized enemies take bonus damage from all sources. Never leave home without it — it trivializes exploration and makes combat far safer.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | All builds |
| Key Mechanic | Neuromod skill trees |
| Recommended Role | Human Only Build |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using GLOO Cannon: Pairs naturally with Human Only Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Q-Beam
Directed energy weapon that deals continuous damage in a beam. Deals increasing damage the longer it stays on target, eventually causing enemies to explode. Uses Q-Beam Cells (3 shots per cell). Exceptional against Telepaths and Technopaths.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Typhon Psionics, Combat Hybrid |
| Key Mechanic | GLOO Cannon physics |
| Recommended Role | Typhon Psionics Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Q-Beam: Pairs naturally with Typhon Psionics Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Psychoscope
Head-mounted scanner that reveals Typhon weaknesses, hidden Mimics, and unlocks Typhon Neuromod abilities. Scanning a Typhon type to 100% reveals its abilities for purchase. Essential for any build that plans to use Typhon powers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Typhon Psionics, Combat Hybrid |
| Key Mechanic | Typhon mimicry |
| Recommended Role | Engineer Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Psychoscope: Pairs naturally with Engineer Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Shotgun
High damage per shot at close range. Two-shots basic Phantoms when fully upgraded. Ammo is craftable at Fabricators using Mineral material. The go-to weapon for Human-focused builds. Combat Focus (bullet time) + Shotgun is one of the strongest combos.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Human Only, Stealth Build |
| Key Mechanic | recycler economy |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Stealth Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Wrench
Your starting melee weapon. Deals low damage but costs no ammo. Upgraded with Neuromods it becomes viable against Mimics and weakened enemies. Sneak attack multiplier with the Wrench deals 5x damage. Zero-cost option for conserving ammo.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Engineer Build, Stealth Build |
| Key Mechanic | station exploration |
| Recommended Role | Combat Hybrid |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Wrench: Pairs naturally with Combat Hybrid thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Talos I Lobby
- Q-Beam → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Psychoscope → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- GLOO Cannon → 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.
- Scan every new Typhon type to 100% with the Psychoscope before killing it — you only unlock their Neuromod abilities through complete scans.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Prey Guides
- Prey Prey Overview
- Prey Best Builds
- Prey Tier List
- Prey Walkthrough
- Prey Beginner's Guide
- Prey Tips & Tricks
- Prey Combat Guide
- Prey Boss Guide
- Prey Maps & Locations
- Prey Crafting Guide
- Prey Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Prey, 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
