Rainbow Six Siege: The 20 Most Powerful Weapons, Ranked (2024)

There are quite a few different weapons in Rainbow Six Siege, and until players become experienced with this game, it's going to be pretty tough to tell which weapon is good and which needs to be left behind. The huge skill gap in Siege is partly the reason for this. No matter how good a player's weapon may be, other players are just going to be winning gunfights against them because of their knowledge of the game. That doesn't mean that the weapons absent on this list can't be perfectly effective, of course. But in a scenario where everything is even, weapons on this list are likely to win out against weapons that aren't.

These weapons are not just ranked by their possible damage output, but also by their ease of use. It doesn't matter if a weapon has incredible damage per second if it's nearly impossible to keep its shots on target. With the best guns in Rainbow Six Siege, players can decimate their opponents in no time flat.

Updated on July 26th, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: It's not bragging to say that Rainbow Six Siege is one of the most customizable hero shooters out there, as players always have alternative options for a single hero's weapons and secondary gadgets. So, while the main ability of each hero is important, it is crucial to pick up a suitable weapon for each individual's play style.

Since Year 8, a lot has changed in Rainbow Six Siege, especially in terms of weapons. Earlier in Year 9, Ubisoft brought back the ACOG scope to most weapons that used to have it in the early days of the game. So, it is safe to say that the weapon meta has been shaken up significantly, and the LMG meta is long gone. With that in mind, this list has been updated to better suit the current meta of Rainbow Six Siege.

20 SC3000K (Zero)

High Damage And High Rate Of Fire In Spite Of Harsh Recoil

An assault rifle with some serious firepower, no one should be sleeping on the SC3000K. Spraying this bad boy in a room full of hostiles is a recipe for a bloodbath. Just make sure to keep an eye on the weapon's remaining ammo before going in guns-blazing.

It might not be as rapid as some of the other assault rifles on this list, but its impressive damage more than makes up for this. It's a great weapon that players can use to mount pressure on their opposition... but players should keep in mind that being a one-man army with any weapon in Siege isn't recommended, especially since players can be dropped in record time if they get overwhelmed by the opposition.

19 SMG-11 (Smoke, Mute, And Amaru)

The Best Secondary Weapon Ever

The SMG-11 is the best secondary weapon to ever exist in Rainbow Six Siege, especially for defenders. While shotguns are quite useful in defensive scenarios, players must sacrifice their primary slot for a shotgun without bringing anything good for mid-range and long-range gunfights.

SMG-11 perfectly fills in that gap. Thanks to the recoil system upgrade, it is now easier to control SMG-11 than before, though players still need to kill with burst fire, as the weapon doesn't have enough ammo in the reserve. The combination of an SMG-11 and a shotgun is the deadliest arsenal players can ever face in an attacking round, as their opponent holds two powerful weapons for both close-range and long-range battles.

18 Six12 SD (Lesion And Nokk)

The Best Shotgun For Roamers

Thanks to the shotgun overhaul in Rainbow Six Siege, one of the weakest weapons in the game has turned into a solid run-and-gun weapon. Even now, Six12 SD doesn't get the love it deserves, but that is mostly due to an old assumption that players think Six12 SD doesn't deal enough damage.

Its magazine-based bullet entry makes Six12 SD the best shotgun for roamers. Players are no longer required to toss in their bullets one by one, and that's a much-needed feature for roamers. Some may say SPAS-12 has the same feature too, but how could anyone turn a blind eye to 20 more damage units per shot with the Six12 SD?

17 552 Commando (IQ And Grim)

The Best Weapon To Train Horizontal Recoil Control

Monika "IQ" Weiss is a powerful attacking operator that players are surely going to have a blast with. This is mainly due to her powerful assault rifle, the 552 Commando, which is now shared with Grim too. Although the recoil may be a bit much to deal with at first, those who get the hang of it will find the 552 Commando to be a reliable weapon.

Featuring three firing modes, the 552 Commando is a highly versatile firearm. It feels great to use, and victory is almost guaranteed with players who know the ins and outs of this weapon. On PC, recoil can be even more manageable as long as players adjust their aim accordingly, turning this firearm into a dealer of death that most opponents will give a wide berth.

16 556XI (Thermite And Osa)

A Solid AR For Newcomers

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Thermite and Osa are recipients of this brilliant Swiss assault rifle. Its great damage and decent stopping power make it a great weapon in any situation. As long as players adapt the proper tactics, the 556XI should drop most foes like flies in the blink of an eye. The weapon's relatively low recoil ensures a more precise shot, especially when aiming at enemies from mid-range.

It can fire using both Automatic and Semi-Automatic modes, giving players more options when it comes to engaging the enemy. Given how malleable players need to be to deal with the dynamic nature of the firefights in Rainbow Six Siege, it's easy to see why so many players love this weapon.

15 Type-89 (Hibana)

An Excellent DPS Held Back By Intense Horizontal Recoil

Introduced in the Operation Red Crow expansion pack, the Type-89 is a reliable gun wielded by Hibana that will help players in a tight spot during matches... although it certainly has its drawbacks that can turn any situation into an unfavorable one in a heartbeat.

While the fire rate and high damage of this weapon are certainly a boon, the criminally small magazine size means that players can quickly find themselves out of ammo in a firefight, which can spell doom for their fate in the match. This problem can be curbed if players rely on their teammates and make their shots count, which is the norm that should be followed in any round of Siege as is. Even if they adapt to the small magazine size, it will take players some time to control that crazy horizontal recoil.

14 R4-C (Ash)

The Best Run-And-Gun AR

Another weapon that's received a nerf (though this nerf is much less recent), the R4-C is an incredible weapon, especially knowing that it has retained its ACOG. Ash's primary role as an entry fragger requires her to have a pretty stellar weapon, and the R4-C more than fills that role.

It has a nice fire rate and manageable recoil. Because Ash typically moves around the map with some serious speed, having a consistent weapon like the R4-C that allows players to run and gun with ease is perfect. Of course, players shouldn't throw caution to the wind, since there's nothing more humiliating than trying to treat Rainbow Six Siege like they would in a game of Call of Duty... only to be gunned down in a comical manner.

13 MP5 (Doc, Rook, And Melusi)

A Solid SMG For Newcomers

One of the weapons on Defense with access to the ACOG, the MP5 isn't only useful because of its zoom; it's a very good weapon in its own right. While the argument can certainly be made for using the P90, especially if players plan on using that weapon entirely at close range, the MP5 beats it in all-around performance.

The MP5 has some great stability and a very nice rate of fire, making it easy to get headshots at any range, thanks in part to that ACOG. It's easily one of the most satisfying weapons to use in the game and a favorite of many Siege fans.

12 MP7 (Bandit, Fenrir, And Zero)

A Solid Choice For Recoil Masters

One of the greatest SMGs in the game by a country mile, the MP7 boasts a massive rate of fire that makes it an ideal weapon to decimate enemies in close quarters.

Keep in mind that the recoil of the MP7 is massive, making it quite hard to fire in long bursts and hit enemies that are further away. However, players who manage to take these detriments into account will find themselves enjoying one of the most fun weapons in the entire game. Ripping through an enemy with the high fire rate of this brilliant SMG never gets old, no matter how frequently players might use this weapon.

11 9x19VSN (Kapkan And Azami)

A Perfect Upgrade Over The MP5 Among SMGs

Another weapon that has absolutely ludicrous stability, the 9x19VSN available to both the Lord himself, Tachanka, Kapkan, and Azami, is a great weapon capable of crazy amounts of destruction. This weapon has a somewhat lackluster damage-per-second, but because of its ability to keep all its shots on target (and because the Spetsnaz have access to some really great open scopes), the 9x19VSN is one of the easiest weapons to use.

Players who are just getting into Rainbow Six Siege will find it pretty easy to get into the game while using this weapon. While players can move on to bigger and better weapons later on, there's nothing wrong with learning the ropes while using a more forgiving weapon like the 9x19VSN.

10 AK-12 (Fuze And Ace)

Incredible DPS In Exchange For Recoil Mastery

The AK-12 has long been, statistically, the best weapon in the game, and that's by a pretty decent margin, too. When this weapon only belonged to Fuze, it had a pretty manageable recoil, but when the weapon was shared with Ace, one of the most highly-picked operators in Siege, Ubisoft had to mess around with the recoil pattern.

While the AK-12 is still as powerful as before, players cannot easily control its recoil if they don't train enough with this assault rifle. While players wish this recoil change was never applied, it is probably the best way to hold Ace back from being the most overpowered operator in Siege.

9 416-C Carbine (Jaeger)

The Best Defender AR

This weapon is absolutely nuts, and it's insane to think that this weapon used to be equipped with an ACOG, too. Jager's 416-C Carbine has a pretty solid damage-per-bullet and rate of fire, but as with some of the high-recoil assault rifles, it's not easy to control this weapon.

Not many defenders have access to an AR in Rainbow Six Siege, and there are indeed some good reasons behind that. Using an AR as a defender should be costly to balance, and players will feel that cost in the harsh vertical recoil of 416-C Carbine.

8 M4 (Maverick)

A Significant Upgrade Over The AR33 But With Harder To Control Recoil

Maverick's M4 is, flat-out, an absolute machine. Maverick's utility creates a lot of situations where players will be in a gunfight with a very small angle to see through, so it's definitely necessary for him to have a weapon that stays pretty stable.

The M4 is not only great in that regard, but it also has a very good damage-per-shot and rate of fire, exceeding the middle of the pack in both regards. While his utility may not be the best for every scenario, his weaponry makes him a great option for a fragger.

7 AR33 (Thatcher And Flores)

The Best AR To Start With

In the not much older versions of Rainbow Six Siege, scopes and damage rates were two major factors in distinguishing assault rifles and SMGs. The former is now gone, and the only thing that makes assault rifles superior is the higher damage dealt with each bullet.

The AR33, however, does not only benefit from a higher damage rate. It is also one of the easiest attacker weapons to control when it comes to the recoil. Few attacker weapons come with a 700+ rate of fire while having a small vertical recoil, and AR33 checks both boxes. It is one of the best weapons to begin with in Siege, and it comes with two of the most useful operators as well.

6 ARX200 (Nomad And Iana)

Works Best For Sharpshooters Who Don't Waste Many Bullets

There's clearly a trend of assault rifles boasting the highest damage and usability in the game. After all, these weapons are good from both short and medium ranges, and most Rainbow Six Siege encounters happen within such confines anyway.

The ARX200 makes for another great assault rifle in the vast line of weapons available for the game. This weapon made its debut through the Operation Wind Bastion expansion pack, with both Nomad and Iana being able to use this powerful weapon. It's another valuable addition to a string of impressive weaponry in the game, and players will love using these Operators to wreak havoc against their enemies.

5 C7E (Jackal)

The Most Underrated AR In Siege

While Jackal may not necessarily be an Operator that anybody gets to play very often due to his relatively high ban rate in lower skill levels, if the stars align, and he's actually available to snag for a match, his C7E is a fantastic choice to bring along with him. The C7E is just a consistent weapon with a good fire rate and easy-to-predict recoil.

Many times, Jackal is going to come upon enemies who are expecting his presence, since he's been scanning their footsteps, so he needs to be able to win those 50/50 gunfights consistently. The C7E helps immensely in that regard, though Jackal's low pick rate doesn't let many players feel the power of this hidden gem.

4 C8-SFW (Buck)

Suitable For Experienced Players With Solid Recoil Control

Another assault rifle with devastating attack power is the C8-SFW. Most people love playing as Buck since they can make use of this amazing weapon to rain hellfire down upon their enemies. A quick burst is all it takes to take most enemies down, although players should still be slightly wary while using this weapon.

Missing a target can lead to dire consequences for the player, making it important to strategize and choose their targets wisely while engaging with the enemy. Players should be glad that Operation Black Ice introduced a bunch of great weapons, including this absolute gem. They are great additions to a game that is already jam-packed with content across the board.

3 ACS12 (Alibi, Maestro, And Azami)

A Devastating DMR In Shotgun Clothing

Rainbow Six Siege categorizes ACS12 as a slug shotgun, but it operates more like a marksman rifle thanks to its incredibly long effective range. In fact, if players don't look at the weapon's description, they may think it's a marksman rifle when using it.

With a damage rate of 69, ACS12 goes toe to toe with the 417 marksman rifle, but guess what? The former has a larger magazine and a fire rate of 300, while 417 is a single-shot weapon. Still, players can use magnified scopes on the ACS12, which is the reason why it feels like a marksman rifle more than anything else. This weapon is great for campers and angle-holders, which is why Maestro players love to use it now over the Alda LMG.

2 Commando 9 (Mozzie)

The Most Accurate AR For Defenders

The Commando 9 is one of the most reliable weapons in Rainbow Six Siege for newcomers and veterans alike. It is best for newcomers, as its recoil can be tamed quite easily with the slightest of training. Even after changing the recoil system for all weapons, the Commando 9 still remains the most accurate AR for defenders, thanks to its slight vertical recoil.

For veterans, however, recoil might not be the most important factor to consider. Surprisingly, the Commando 9 still comes out on top in the rest of the statistics as well. The only downside of this weapon is the fact that it is only available for Mozzie, and it's hard to complain about that, as the Commando 9 can easily make every other operator overpowered.

1 AR-15.50 (Maverick And Tubarao)

The Most Reliable Marksman Rifle In Siege

It's been a while since Rainbow Six Siege was stuck with a marksman rifle meta and, like it or not, these weapons pay off pretty well for both defensive and offensive sides. Unless players have a very unique tactic in mind, marksman rifles will give them a significant advantage in gunfights. Land two upper-body shots and the enemy is already down.

The AR-15.50, however, is the best marksman rifle when it comes to statistics and recoil. Some may think recoil doesn't matter much with marksman rifles, but it does, especially when horizontal recoil is involved. The AR-15.50 only has vertical recoil, possesses the second-highest damage rate among all marksman rifles, and comes with a decent ADS time and all the best scopes. It's a combination that's hard to beat.

Rainbow Six: Siege

Shooter

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Amazon Luna , Stadia , PC

Released

December 1, 2015

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher(s)

Ubisoft

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