Before You Take Aim, Check Out the Best Weapons in Hunt: Showdown
Hunt: Showdown may be considered a niche game by some, but its community is dedicated and skilled. Every hunter, by virtue of experience, will find their gun. You don’t find it in the literal sense, of course, you unlock it by leveling up. You may pick up the guns of players you’ve killed during a match, too, which you can keep but can't sell.
What I’m talking about is the gun that will carry them through the good times and the bad times, Ol’ Reliable. For me, that was the Sparks LRR, which I only discovered after prestiging for the first time. It may take you less time, and you may need to prestige twice. It depends on how many guns you try and for how many matches you try them.
To help you find your Ol’ Reliable, I’ve made you a handy list. Here I will detail the top ten best weapons, currently available with update 4.0, comparing raw stats as well as practical use from my many, many hours of grinding it out in Stillwater Bayou and Lawson Delta. Hopefully, this list will serve as a useful resource for amateurs and manhunters alike.
10. The Romero 77 Hatchet
See The Romero 77 Hatchet in action.
Wait, HOLD UP! Before you click off the article, hear me out on this one. I’m sure that for many the presence of any Romero 77 variant on this list would be considered an act of treason, but the Hatchet is a special case. The Hatchet is cheapand reliable in an up-close-and-personal situation, and has the all the practicality of a standard melee weapon. Imagine if the machete, a favourite among players, could shoot. You’ve got the Romero 77 Hatchet.
There is a lot to like about the Romero Hatchet. It has all the close range power of a hand cannon combined with all the practicality of a melee weapon. Imagine this, you roll up on a compound, quietly taking out a zombie with a single clean blow to the head. You creep inside, entering a building and making your way to a clue. Suddenly, you hear two enemy players approaching. They burst through the door opposite to you, and you blast one immediately. He goes down, and as his buddy panics and flees you run him down with the Hatchet and smite him with a heavy blow to the back.
It makes for a great plan B weapon in a pinch but serves equally well as the main event if you play to its strengths. Don't get caught in the open, always make sure you’ve reloaded and have some appreciation for stealth. Stick to these rules and the Romero Hatchet will never let you down. For comparison with other weapons, here is the full stat list:
- Capacity - 1/10
- Cost - $29
- Category - Medium Weapon
- Range - 10
- Damage - 72
- Control - 30
- Rate of Fire - 10
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 32
- Stealth - 20
- Heavy Melee - 48
- Ammunition Type - Shotgun
- Damage Type - Rending
- Melee Damage Type - Rending
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Rending
As for acquiring the Romero Hatchet, you have to be level 27. Not a great feat once you’ve prestiged a couple of times, but it can be daunting if you’re new to Hunt. When you reach it, you will be surprised at how it fills a spaceyou didn’t even know was there.
9. The Caldwell Conversion Uppercut
Checkout the “Big Iron”
The Caldwell Conversion Uppercut is a bite-sized version of everything you need. It combines the powerful damage of the long rifle ammo with the speed, manoeuvrability, and most importantly, the small weapon category you get from a pistol. That means you can carry this bear-killing monster as a sidearm along with a rifle or shotgun. The long ammo gets around the short range of the pistol quite well, but don't expect to outperform the Mosin.
This is another one I recently learned to appreciate. I had always counted it out as being too expensive and not really practical but the truth is that this gun is best suited for CQB PVP and best utilized by accurate players, or those psychos who have the fanning trait. It excels at close range where a Sparks LRR or a Mosin-Nagant would fail and does almost the exact same damage without the annoying drop off.
This is the kind of gun whose power is unforgettable when it works. I have used this in conjunction with the Sparks; one - because it boosts my total ammo pool for long ammo, and two - so that I have a hard-hitting option that I can use at close AND medium range. I have been utterly wasted by it dozens of times, and after dropping some fools at point blank in seconds, I get why it's so popular.
- Capacity - 6/9
- Cost - $275
- Category - Small Weapon
- Range - 40
- Damage - 42
- Control - 30
- Rate of Fire - 50
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 20
- Stealth - 20
- Heavy Melee - 30
- Ammunition Type - Long
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
To get access to the Uppercut, you need to be level 44 and have the necessary funds. While the price is a bit steep, thankfully the beta days of $100 bonuses are no more.Now players get $1000 dollar bonuses, so while the price is inconvenient it shouldn't be out of reach for a level 55 player.
8. The Cavalry Saber
Watch the fury of the Cavalry Saber.
The Cavalry Saber is a terrifying thing to have coming at you at full speed. Any player who has run out of ammo and seen a crazy, melee wielding hunter suddenly charge out from behind cover with his saber raised knows this feeling all too well. The Cavalry Saber is the machete’s big brother and it is capable of piercing damage, which causes bleeding and can also pierce through multiple hitboxes. This makes it less important where you hit the enemy when you strike, so long as you aim precisely enough to actually hit the enemy.
The Cavalry Saber has a stronger heavy attack, with much better reach than the machete, but at the cost of attack area. You have to learn how to be precise when you use this melee weapon. If you do, you will be rewarded with considerable skill at using the best melee weapon in the game. The Saber is a one shot kill to anything but the Armored, which requires three hits, and the Meathead, which requires six. Hunters may need one or two depending on where you hit them and where their health is at.
Now, let's dive into the stats:
- Cost - $28
- Category - Small Weapon
- Melee - 30
- Heavy Melee - 64
- Melee Damage Type - Rending
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Piercing
7. The Nagant M1895 Silencer
The Nagant Silencer was the first silenced weapon introduced into Huntand isthe most practical weapon in the game. As you may have already guessed, the Nagant Silenced is a silenced gun, meaning that to even think you can heard it you have to be within a couple dozen feet of someone whose firing it. Despite this obvious advantage, this gun has had a spotty history up to this point.
This weapon has seen three distinct phases of use. When it first came onto the scene, it was one of the most practical options in general. It could dispatch mobs and be used to get silent headshots in equal measure. Then its popularity waned as new weapons and weapon mechanics were introduced. Specifically, the new way distance affects the damage of different ammo types made this gun far less practical as a PVP weapon than it once was.
However, a new kind of hunter has revived this gun’s use, and subsequently its practical application. It is much more common than it used to be for a solo or duo to enter a match, kill a few dozen mobs, and skedaddle. With the Nagant Silenced you can kill zombies, hives, and hellhounds easily and quietly. This also affords the player an opportunity to work on their accuracy while they rack up some XP.
Now, we’ll look at the stats, so you can get a better technical picture of this weapon:
- Capacity - 7/21
- Cost - $58
- Category - Small Weapon
- Range - 30
- Damage - 22
- Control - 70
- Rate of Fire - 60
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 20
- Stealth - 70
- Heavy Melee - 30
- Ammunition Type - Compact
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
In order to use this gun, you have to be rank 28. This puts it right after the Romero 77 Hatchet in the leveling system. The Hatchet and the Nagant Silenced actually make for a good pairing, as the Hatchet will allow you to take out armoreds, which the Nagant Silenced can’t do. The only drawback is that you’d have two extremely close range weapons.
6. The Nagant M1895 Officer
Watch the Nagant M18595 Officer here.
The Nagant Officer is everything the Nagant Silencer isn't. It’s a loud, fast, double action revolver meant to clear house at close range and suppress at medium range. The main benefit is its high rate of fire, which makes it an excellent sidearm for those who like to get up close and assault a position. The only drawback is the 6 round cylinder, but this gun works better as an ambush weapon, meant to be used in one or two goes and then set aside until you're safe to reload it.
The Nagant Officer packs a punch for its size. Its DPS is much better than comparable weapons because of the fire rate, and it retains the controllability of the regular Nagant M1895. As an added bonus, it can be aimed down its sights for greater improved accuracy and due to the lack of recoil, it’s common for experienced hunters to get headshots at medium range with this gun.
With the stat list, you can get a good gauge on how this compares to the Silenced:
- Capacity - 7/21
- Cost - $26
- Category - Small Weapon
- Range - 30
- Damage - 26
- Control - 70
- Rate of Fire - 70
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 20
- Stealth - 30
- Heavy Melee - 30
- Ammunition Type - Compact
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
The Nagant Officer is available at level 10, making it readily accessible to new players. Now that the game saves your first hunter until level 15, there is no need to worry about permadeath, and you can feel free to try out as many guns as you have available to you. This is one I would recommend you get good with.
5. Nagant M1895 Officer Carbine
BOOM! Headshot.
The Nagant M1895 Officer Carbine takes everything the Nagant Officer does, and stretches the range out to mid-long range. It is essentially the fire rate of a Nagant Officer with a better range and, perhaps more importantly, better control. The recoil is so manageable that this carbine makes getting headshots at medium and mid-long range like child's play.
It also has a better melee attack, and is still just as capable as the Nagant Officer at close range bar point blank. Players have truly been raving about this gun since its release. If you want to get headshots on easy mode, pick up the Nagant Officer Carbine ASAP. Now we’ll give you the stats, so you can see how the sister gun compares:
- Capacity - 7/21
- Cost - $36
- Category - Large Weapon
- Range - 30
- Damage - 26
- Control - 70
- Rate of Fire - 70
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 24
- Stealth - 30
- Heavy Melee - 36
- Ammunition Type - Compact
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
This gun isn't available until level 17, putting you just a couple levels past the 15 level safety. This gun will definitely make your life a lot easier if you’re just starting out, provided you get good with it. For skeptical veterans, give this one a try. I promise you won't be disappointed.
4. The Winfield 1873
This is my rifle -
Every player will get to know the Winfield well. It is the first rifle the player has access to, although technically they only have access to the Winfield 1873C variant. The Winfield has numerous variants, and the best among them far and away is the Winfield 1873 (the standard pattern of the Winfield).
With a full fifteen round internal magazine and a great balance between controllability and rate of fire, the Winfield 1873 is nearly unmatched by comparable guns for its damage output. As a plus, it is also super cheap. A skilled player will be able to make use of this gun out to considerable ranges and still be lethal. New players will find it to be the best weapon in their arsenal when they unlock it for the first time. Looking at the stats, it's not hard to see why:
- Capacity - 15+1/22
- Cost - $78
- Category - Large Weapon
- Range - 50
- Damage - 38
- Control - 70
- Rate of Fire - 60
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 24
- Stealth - 30
- Heavy Melee - 36
- Ammunition Type - Compact
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
The standard Winfield 1873 becomes available at level 14, one level before you lose your immunity from permadeath. This allows you to try it out for a couple of matches in order to get a feel for it and eventually incorporate it into your loadouts regularly.
3. The Caldwell Conversion Chain Pistol
See the Caldwell Conversion Chain Pistol unload here.
This one gives us an interesting little view into the metagame. The Chain Pistol is essentially just the standard Caldwell Conversion with a big belt of ammo. Now, throw in the "fanning"trait and it's a whole new ball game. The Chain Pistol goes from being an oversized version of one of the worst guns in the game to objectively, the best automatic weapon in the game. I’m looking at you, Mosin Avtomat.
So you might be thinking, “where does the meta come in?” Right about now. Well, in order to use the Chain Pistol the way it’sintended.your hunter has to have the fanning trait. You may be able to buy a hunter that comes with the trait randomly if you are a higher level, or you can grind out a hunter without the trait with the intention of giving it to him when he is leveled up.
This creates an interesting dynamic, wherein you have to build a loadout that will get you the trait that will allow you to get the loadout you really want, the one that hasthe Chain Pistol and fanning trait. Therefore, it is a good idea to replace the Chain Pistol slot with something like a hand cannon or a Nagant Officer in order to get a feel for how that slot will play when you get the Chain Pistol. You also have to balance that with what you’re comfortable with. If you are better with melee weapons than with hand cannons or the Nagant Officer, you may want to equip a melee weapon when building your future Chain Pistol Loadout.
Ultimately, some may find the Chain Pistol more trouble than its worth. Its saved my life God knows how many times. Anyway, here are the stats, so judge for yourself:
- Capacity - 17/24 (the max amount of ammo you can take maybe increased by taking another gun that uses the same ammo type, like for instance the Winfield 1873)
- Cost - $33
- Category - Small Weapon
- Range - 30
- Damage - 30
- Control - 50
- Rate of Fire - 50 (before fanning)
- Reload Speed - 30
- Melee - 20
- Stealth - 30
- Heavy Melee - 30
- Ammunition Type - Compact
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
Sadly, the Chain Pistol isn't unlocked until level 32. This puts it outside the range of newbies for quite a while, unless they dedicate to the grind. For experienced players who are prestiging, it can feel like a march to the Chain Pistol sometimes, but it almost always feels faster the second time around.
2. The Crown & King Auto-5
Bow down to The Crown & King Auto-5.
The Crown & King Auto-5 is the peak shotgun in the game, as of update 4.0. This is nonnegotiable. It has everything you wantfrom the Spectre 1882 without any of the flaws. It has basically the same range and damage as the Spectre, it has a higher rate of fire, and it can be reloaded without expelling a shell. That last one is significant because, as any shotgun fans will tell you, that expelled shell was the difference between winning and losing a firefight.
The Auto-5 flew under my radar for a long time. I had heard from an arbitrary source that it was garbage, and just never gave it the time of day. That was a mistake. The Auto-5 is far and away one of the deadliest close range weapons in the game, surpassing the Chain Pistol in the hands of an experienced player and jumping leaps and bounds over any melee weapon in a PVP fight.
The major issue many players have with it, I believe, is the cost. It’s an expensive piece of equipment and can be a drag in open combat. This is where metagame may come in handy again, because if you built a loadout to eventually have the quartermastertrait;you could have something a little bit more powerful and ranged backing this, which beatswhat the small weapon category has to offer.
In any case, the Auto-5 boasts some impressive stats:
- Capacity - 4+1/6
- Cost - $466
- Category - Large Weapon
- Range - 25
- Damage - 64
- Control - 40
- Rate of Fire - 70
- Reload Speed - 40
- Melee - 24
- Stealth - 20
- Heavy Melee - 36
- Ammunition Type - Shotgun
- Damage Type - Rending
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
Unfortunately, the Auto-5 has an extremely steep XP wall. You only unlock it at level 92, though, if it's any consolation by that level you shouldn't really have a problem buying it. Once you’re prestiged, if you grew attached to this gun like I did, you’ll find that nothing scratches the Auto-5 itch just right, and you’ll always long for it to be back in your hands again.
1. The Mosin-Nagant M1891
The Mosin-Nagant M1891 is the cream of the crop.
Are you surprised? Maybe you thought it was going to be your favorite gun, or maybe you thought it would be mine (the Sparks, hehe). The Mosin trumps everything else. It has accuracy and damage at great range, it has a bayonet variant for close quarters fighting, and it has some good complimentary perks. Yep, if there’s one gun you want to get really good with, it should be the Mosin.
The Mosin can reach out and touch just about anyone you can physically see during a match, provided your aim is good enough and have luck on your side. Even better, it can still do some noticeable damage at longer ranges. The best part of allis that you can perform follow-up shots, and with the iron sharpshootertrait, you can do this seamlesslywithout needing to exit ironsights mode.
When combined with something like the Uppercut, your ammo pool is increased sufficiently to let you dominate the battlefield near and far. The stats speak for themselves:
- Capacity - 5/10
- Cost - $450
- Category - Large Weapon
- Range - 70
- Damage - 46
- Control - 40
- Rate of Fire - 40
- Reload Speed - 60
- Melee - 24
- Stealth - 20
- Heavy Melee - 36
- Ammunition Type - Long
- Melee Damage Type - Blunt
- Heavy Melee Damage Type - Blunt
Compared to the Auto-5, the Mosin is a lot less difficult to unlock, sitting pretty at level 67. While it would be epic to zoom up to level 67 like Sonic the Hedgehog, new players will have to face the daunting challenge of reaching that height through grit and gristle. The Mosin is an important and joyful milestone for experienced players, as it marks their ever increasing ascension to the next prestige tier.
There you have it, the top ten best weapons in Hunt: Showdown and how to get them. Was there something you didn’t agree with? Something we missed? Then 1v1 me at Lawson Delta and we’ll decide it there! Hopefully, new and old players alike have found something new and useful here. Happy hunting!
