The best weapons to use in GTA Online

gta online You have an arsenal, but not all of them are worth using. like gta online As we head into 2026, it's important to be equipped with the best guns for PvE and PvP so you're always ready to fight hostile players or take on NPCs and other enemies during raids or missions.

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Beginner Tips for the Best Start in GTA Online (2026)

This beginner's guide to GTA Online will help you avoid being overwhelmed by the variety of activities you can enjoy in 2026 and beyond.

We have listed: best weapon gta online Across PvE and PvP in 2026 Describe the activity along with which attachments to use and which attachments are most effective. Check out the weapons below to make sure you have only the best weapons on your weapon wheel.

Best pistols in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Best AP Pistol Loadout

clip	extension clip
muzzle	suppressor

The AP pistol will become the primary pistol used in all engagements from stealth to vehicle combat. The AP pistol boasts a very high rate of fire, an impressive ammo capacity, and a silencer that is an essential part of the loadout. This gun isn't meant for PvP, but it's excellent for PvE activities that require quick headshots for stealth at all ranges.

Best Heavy Revolver Mk II Loadout

Ammunition Type	full metal jacket
range	small range
muzzle	compensator

The Heavy Revolver Mk II will be the best pistol for your loadout and is excellent for both PvE and PvP activities. This will be your weapon of choice when it comes to loud, as it can kill most enemies with a single shot to the chest and has the range to negate most damage reduction. However, the Heavy Revolver Mk II has a fairly slow rate of fire and fairly high recoil. We recommend the FMJ round, which can easily penetrate bulletproof glass and destroy a flying vehicle in just a few shots.

Best Assault Rifles in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Best Special Carbine Equipment

clip	drum magazine
muzzle	suppressor
knob	knob
range	large scope

The base variant of the Special Carbine, rather than the Mk II upgrade, has a significant advantage due to the attached drum magazine that can hold 100 rounds while ready to fire. This, combined with the special carbine's excellent recoil and fast damage output, makes it a great AR to use in PvE activities as well as mid-range PvP activities.

Best machine guns in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Best Combat MG Mk II Loadout

Ammunition Type	full metal jacket
grip	knob
range	large scope
muzzle of a gun	split end muzzle brake
barrel	heavy barrel

The Combat MG Mk II has several attachment upgrades over the base variant to make it even better. The base and upgraded models come complete with a very high rate of fire with virtually no recoil, allowing you to deal heavy damage and take out enemies at high speed in both PvE and PvP. Unique ammo types like FMJ allow you to fire bulletproof glass at Kurumas, Insurgents, and other PvP vehicles, making it easier to destroy behemoths.

Best sniper rifles in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Best Heavy Sniper Mk II Loadout

Ammunition Type	explosive bomb
range	zoom range
muzzle of a gun	suppressor
barrel	heavy barrel

The Heavy Sniper Mk II is great in its own right. Because it is the highest damage sniper rifle. gta online. However, Heavy Snipers can be upgraded with explosive rounds to make them unstoppable. Explosive rounds will destroy helicopters and other vehicles with one or two well-aimed shots, and hitting any player regardless of armor will see them swaying helplessly on the ground while you aim your killshot.

Best Marksman Rifle Mk II Equipment

Ammunition Type	armor piercing rounds
range	holographic sight
muzzle of a gun	suppressor
barrel	heavy barrel
grip	knob

The Marksman Rifle Mk II is especially suited for PvP combat thanks to its high rate of fire and ammunition capacity. The damage reduction is harsher than other sniper rifles, but the rate of fire means you can keep shooting and strafing without the Gripper being a problem. With the controller's holographic sights and auto-aim, no target will be left alive when you aim.

Best shotguns in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Best Assault Shotgun Loadouts

clip	extension clip
grip	knob
muzzle of a gun	suppressor

Assault shotguns are excellent for PvE drama, especially with the Drum Mag attachment, giving you a shotgun with a fire rate and ammo capacity like no other. The Assault Shotgun has the best DPS in the entire game and can blast out internal cleanups and close range combat with ease. However, damage decreases at 5m.

Best Pump Shotgun Mk II Loadout

Ammunition Type	explosive slug
range	mid range
muzzle of a gun	muzzle brake

The Pump Shotgun Mk II offers incredible utility in PvE and PvP if you have the Explosive Slug ammo type unlocked. Explosive slugs cause any vehicle you aim and shoot at to explode in just one shot. This becomes a short-range shotgun grenade launcher, useful for resurrecting enemy vehicles or for nearby players to safely attack vehicles.

Best Explosives in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

Homing Launcher: Good for locking down and destroying vehicles, but has poor locking strength.
Minigun/Widowmaker: Both have ridiculously high DPS thanks to their RPM.
Railgun: An accurate rifle that can destroy vehicles and other targets, but has a rather long reload time.
Compact Grenade Launcher: Perfect for motorcyclists who want to launch explosives while driving.
Grenade Launcher: A fast DPS that fires a variety of explosives from behind cover.
RPG: Take out stable targets with powerful but slow-firing rockets.
Stickybomb: Perfect for setting traps for fast-approaching players in vehicles, or leaving them behind a corner to explode oncoming players.

All of these explosive weapons can be used in Ammu-Nation and Gun Vans and have no associated attachments, so no loadouts are required.

Best Melee Weapons in GTA Online for PvE and PvP

The only melee weapon you need in GTA Online is a stone axe. As long as you keep refreshing your ability bar by performing more kills with the Stone Axe without switching to another weapon, the Stone Axe provides Trevor's unique ability to absorb more damage. If you need a stone axe, here's a guide on how to get it: