Starship Troopers: Extermination is a 16-player co-op FPS where you fight waves of Arachnid bugs on hostile alien planets, build fortifications, and extract before being overwhelmed. Based on the cult classic film franchise, it captures the desperate, outnumbered feeling of infantry combat against an alien swarm. The base building mid-mission creates a unique loop where you gather resources, construct walls and bunkers, then defend against increasingly massive bug assaults. The game left Early Access in late 2024 with five classes, multiple maps, and the full extraction gameplay loop.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morita Mk1 Rifle | S | Hunter, Operator | The standard assault rifle with balanced accuracy, fire rate, and damage. |
| Morita Mk3 SAW | A | Bastion | Belt-fed light machine gun with 200 rounds and sustained fire capability. |
| TW-102s Sniper | A | Sniper | Bolt-action sniper rifle dealing the highest per-shot damage. |
| Chi-Hong Grenade Launcher | B | Demolisher | Six-round grenade launcher that deals heavy AoE explosive damage. |
| Morita Hawkeye | B | Sniper (backup), general use | Designated marksman rifle bridging the gap between assault rifle and sniper. |
S-Tier: Morita Mk1 Rifle
The standard assault rifle with balanced accuracy, fire rate, and damage. Reliable in all situations and the default weapon for most classes. 30-round magazine with manageable recoil.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Hunter, Operator |
| Key Mechanic | base building |
| Recommended Role | Hunter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Morita Mk1 Rifle: Pairs naturally with Hunter thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Morita Mk3 SAW
Belt-fed light machine gun with 200 rounds and sustained fire capability. Accuracy decreases during sustained fire but the volume of bullets compensates against dense swarms. Best deployed in Siege Mode for maximum effectiveness.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Bastion |
| Key Mechanic | horde defense |
| Recommended Role | Bastion |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Morita Mk3 SAW: Pairs naturally with Bastion thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: TW-102s Sniper
Bolt-action sniper rifle dealing the highest per-shot damage. One-shots Warriors at any range and two-shots Gunners. Slow fire rate makes it poor against swarms but essential for picking off ranged threats.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Sniper |
| Key Mechanic | class roles |
| Recommended Role | Operator |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using TW-102s Sniper: Pairs naturally with Operator thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Chi-Hong Grenade Launcher
Six-round grenade launcher that deals heavy AoE explosive damage. Strips Tanker armor plating and staggers Tigers mid-charge. Limited ammo means you must save it for heavy targets rather than wasting on Warriors.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Demolisher |
| Key Mechanic | extraction gameplay |
| Recommended Role | Demolisher |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Chi-Hong Grenade Launcher: Pairs naturally with Demolisher thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Morita Hawkeye
Designated marksman rifle bridging the gap between assault rifle and sniper. Semi-automatic with a 2x scope, effective at medium range against Gunners without sacrificing close-range capability. Good backup weapon for Snipers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Sniper (backup), general use |
| Key Mechanic | bug types |
| Recommended Role | Sniper |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Morita Hawkeye: Pairs naturally with Sniper thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Valaka
- Morita Mk3 SAW → Your first real upgrade, available early
- TW-102s Sniper → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Morita Mk1 Rifle → 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.
- Always have at least one Hunter in your squad. Without someone closing bug holes, waves never stop escalating regardless of how many bugs you kill.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Starship Troopers: Extermination Guides
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Starship Troopers: Extermination Overview
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Best Builds
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Tier List
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Walkthrough
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Beginner's Guide
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Tips & Tricks
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Combat Guide
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Boss Guide
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Maps & Locations
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Crafting Guide
- Starship Troopers: Extermination Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- Apex Legends Weapons Guide — fps game with similar mechanics
- Rainbow Six Siege Weapons Guide — fps game with similar mechanics
