The GTA Online best weapons to add to your loadout

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

If you add the GTA Online best weapons to your arsenal then you'll give yourself a competitive edge in combat, as there's always someone looking to start a shootout, whether you're on a mission or simply travelling the streets of Los Santos. With the best guns in your loadout you can hold your own against waves of enemy NPCs during missions, while also standing firm against the opponents you meet in multiplayer matches and other PvP activities in GTA Online. With so many armaments available it can feel like a struggle to stay on top of what's out there, so you can be confident that you have the most suitable gear to protect the assets of your criminal empire. Follow these suggestions for the best GTA Online weapons, and you'll build a solid loadout for the copious firefights ahead.

Where to buy weapons in GTA Online

Pop down to your local Ammu-Nation and you'll find a wide selection of weapons to choose from, though different weapons are unlocked at different levels so check out our guide on how to level up fast in GTA Online if you want to grab some fancy new guns that become available at higher ranks. Ammu-Nation also offers plenty of customization options for your weapons, including optics, attachments, and colorful skins, but these will cost some serious GTA$ to buy, resulting in you paying much more than the original value of the gun for just a few modifications.

You can also buy weapons at the GTA Online Gun Van now, which moves to a different location each day so you'll need to track it down before sampling the wares on offer. Although there's a smaller selection of items on offer, the illicit nature of this supply means that there are no rank or unlock restrictions in place, so it's definitely worth keeping an eye on their inventory to see if you can access some of the GTA Online best weapons early.

Best weapon loadouts for player vs player gunfights

While there isn’t a single ‘best loadout’ that’s unanimously agreed upon by the community, there are a number of favorites that are good to aim for if you don’t know where to start. This loadout is best for taking on other players, but can be effective for missions as well:

Mk II Heavy Revolver (Hollow Point rounds)
Combat MG Mk II
Special Carbine (Drum Magazine)
Heavy Sniper Mk II (Explosive Rounds)
Pump Shotgun Mk II (Explosive Rounds)
Sticky Bomb

Be aware that this is a deadly setup, so be careful when approaching missions that don’t want you to hurt anyone. The Combat MG and Special Carbine should be your main weapons, with the others filling in more specialized roles.

Sticky and Sinister

There are a number of handheld, throwable explosives across Los Santos – some are great for bum rushing a building, while others are more effective during races. The Sticky Bomb is widely considered to be one of the top explosives, effective in gunfights and during missions, even if some look at it as overpowered. They are unlocked after achieving rank 19, and need to be detonated after throwing.

Pistol Whipped

The AP Pistol, unlocked at rank 33, is one of the most consistent weapons in the game. It’s powerful, accurate, and great for drive-bys. It does have alternatives, but most players end up sticking with it due to how effective it is – it can even take out a car in a handful of shots, something no pistol should be able to do. It’s been changed a fair bit over the years, but is still considered reliable.

Bread and Butter

The assault rifle is usually the most reliable, general-purpose gun in online shooters, and GTA Online has plenty of assault rifle-like options that offer versatility, power, and ease of use. We recommend the Advanced Rifle, unlocked at rank 70, or the Special Carbine, unlocked at rank 1. The Advanced Rifle is less accurate but deadly at short to medium range, while the Special Carbine is better for headshots. You’ll be relying a lot on your assault rifle until you find the weapon that feels best to you, and that’s why the Special Carbine is so widely recommended.

Up and At Them

A final weapon that's worth shouting out is the Up-n-Atomizer, a futuristic blaster firing a beam of energy that sends people and vehicles flying upon impact. It doesn't deal massive damage, but is very useful for flinging enemies over drops or bouncing cars off the road. It also doesn't consume ammo, so although you need to briefly wait for it to recharge between shots you can basically use it an unlimited amount. You can no longer purchase the Up-n-Atomizer from Ammu-Nation, but if you have an Agency business with an Armory installed then you can still obtain it from there.