Most of the information in the guide is outdated and I kinda don't care about it much. The game is mostly dead (although I truly respect the efforts of devs to revive it) and lacks purpose in mid to late game. Therefore, I don't see the point of putting my [precious] time into this guide. If you are a true fan of this game and want to update this guide on your own, I can give you editor rights for it (please write a comment about reaching out to me in this guide after sending me a friend request. I have too many pending friend requests to notice you myself).
Of course, everyone is still welcome to use this guide with discretion. It still has some useful information

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Greetings, fellow scavs, and welcome to my Ultimate Weapon Guide for Forever Winter!!! This guide is the product of countless hours of gameplay, testing, and a lot of hard work. My goal is to give you everything you need to know about the weapon system in Forever Winter. I tested and played with every weapon in the game and am ready to share my opinion on every single one of them. No weapon will be left untouched!

But this isn't just a collection of stats and opinions. I’ll also break down the best picks in each category and help you find your ultimate loadout by offering insight into each gun's pros, cons, and quirks. Whether you're a veteran scav or just starting out, you'll find useful tips to make the most out of the arsenal at your disposal.

Updated for 0.2.02

Even though almost nothing in terms of weaponry changed during all these months (head shot multiplier doesn't change the rankings in the guide whatsoever), I decided to polish the guide, due to its popularity. I added Acquisition sections for all highlighted weapons (the ones with big pictures) and some weapons which can only be obtained trough quests. Also, I deleted some no longer relevant information.

To-do: Ammunition section

If you just want a short answer to which guns are the best and don't care about everything else, I present to you a compact table with all meta guns in the game. To learn more about each weapon in this table, please find the necessary information in a dedicated section somewhere below.

Before diving into the main part of this guide, you should understand basic stats that each weapon has and how attachments work. This way, the rankings will make a lot more sense as you follow along.
If you don't want to read this wall of text, feel free to use this short summary of what you need to know:

• Lower stability = lower recoil
• Accuracy is good at its baseline and doesn't need much improvement
• There is no downsides to equipping any weapon mods
• Suppressors are must-have on any compatible gun
• Only barrels and gas tubes can increase weapon damage
  
  
  Stats
  First of all, before moding our piece we should understand how each stat affects gunplay.
  
  Here’s an example of what you’ll see in-game when selecting a random weapon:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Most of these traits are self-explanatory, but the four of them can use further clarification:
  
  • Weight: absolutely useless property. It doesn't affect anything, because you can't carry non-damaged weapons in your rig. For now, you can easily ignore this stat.
    
  • Recoil: it is always 1. This stat cannot be changed, but the actual recoil can be softened by lowering "Stability" value
    
  • Accuracy: The higher this number, the more point accurate your shots are—whether you’re hip-firing or aiming down sights ( i. e. a gun with ~90 accuracy will almost always hit dead center, while lower accuracy means more random spread).
    
  • Stability: Stability influences recoil directly and makes it much smoother.This stat is inverted, which means that you want stability to be as low as possible. In short, low stability = low recoil
  
  
  Weapon Modification
  First of all, there is no downsides to equiping weapon mods! Almost all of them only decrease stability when equipped and as I have already mentioned above, low stability = low recoil. Due to this, going forward I won't even mention it being changed. Secondly, there are two distinct categories for weapon modifications - attachments and weapon parts. We will start with attachments as they are easier to understand and don't have as much quirks as weapon parts do. Lastly, each gun has its own set of available modification slots, which will play a big part in how I rank every weapon in this guide.
  
  
  Attachments
  
  Attachments are universal modifications, which are shared among the majority weapons.
  In total there are 6 types of attachments:
  
  • Muzzle Devices - suppressors are must-have on every gun, which supports them. Never choose a compensator over a suppressor (compensator doesn't affect recoil)
    
    
  • Foregrips - they only affect recoil and accuracy
    
    
  • Flashlights - can be useful in pitch black parts of the map, but I find them very distractive in gunfights
    
    
  • Lasers - they only affect recoil and accuracy
    
    
  • Optics - pretty self-explanatory
    
    
  • Scopes - pretty self-explanatory
  
  Suppressor compatibility
  Also, I should mention that there is different suppressors for different weapon types. So, you have to buy them accordingly:
  
  
  ARs

  Suppresed muzzle device B,C,D

  Marksman Rifles / LMGs

  Suppresed muzzle device E,F

  SMGs and Pistols

  Suppresed muzzle device A
  
  Overall, suppressors and optics are worth your attention the most. Everything else only affects accuracy and recoil.
  
  
  Weapon Parts
  
  Weapon parts are more advanced than regular attachments. Firstly, they are unique to every weapon / weapon family and can only be bought after reaching a certain weapon lvl. Secondly, they usualy significantly influence weapon's base stats and can even unlock additional attachment slots.
  
  Let's review all of them:
  
  • Magazine - one of if not the most important weapon part. There is no downside to equipping an extended mag, so always go for the biggest mag available
    
    
  • Pistol Grip - only increases accuracy and lowers recoil
    
    
  • Upper Reciever - usualy, just increases accuracy, but sometimes can also add an optic slot, which is always welcome
    
    
  • Stock - only increases accuracy and lowers recoil
    
    
  • Barrel - one of only two weapon parts, which often increase weapon damage
    
    
  • Gas Tube - the second weapon part, which often increase weapon damage
    
    
  • Handguard - often unlocks laser and flashlight slots and also increases accuracy
    
    
  • Trigger - only increases accuracy and lowers recoil
  
  
  And that is it! Now you know everything about how weapon stats and modifications work. Let's dive into the main body of this guide!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, we can finally jump into the main part of this guide.
In this section, I’ll go over each weapon category in the game and highlight the best firearms in each one. All of the doo doo guns will be mentioned as well, but without much elaboration.

P.S.: I’m not using the in-game weapon classifications because they’re a bit vague.

Assault rifles are, without a doubt, the most versatile weapon category in any game. The Forever Winter is not an exception to this rule. I hope I don't have to explain why ARs are so good in general. I will only add that you will be using ARs a lot, due to their affordability and effectiveness.

RPK is the undisputed AR king of the wasteland. Not a single assault rifle comes even close to taking its crown. It’s got everything: a massive 95-round mag (there is also a 100 round mag, but it can only be found as ground loot), the highest damage in its class, manageable recoil, and a fair price tag. The RPK is hands down the best choice for almost any playstyle.

Note: AK and RPK have simultaneous lvl progression

There are only two rifles in the game, which can be classified as MRs, due to their .308 caliber and 175 default damage. Unfortunately for all marksman enjoyers, in Forever Winter they are complete trash. MRs have less damage than almost any AR with attachments equipped, making them a poor choice. Therefore, I won’t waste much of your time on these two guns and will only briefly explain why each one is bad.


If you still insist on playing with MRs, at least use SA58. It has more customization options compared to the other MRs, which makes it a bit more usable. That said, it’s still worse than an AK in almost every way.

Acquisition:


SA58 max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

SA58 Magazine B ( level 5 ) *
SA58 Barrel B ( level 3 ) *

Attachments:

ET EFX Optic
Foregrip A
Rail mounted laser B
Suppressed muzzle device E *

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference

Other marksman rifles are much worse than SA58. Here are a few super brief comments on them:

Everything you need to know about this gun is in its name - rsASS. With no available long barrels and no extended mags, its max damage is even lower than the SA58. Use it only for fun or roleplay.

SMGs are, as expected, a menace in close-range, shredding enemies with ease. However, they all lack in customization and can have a considerable price for both the weapon itself and its ammunition. I recommend only adding SMGs to your loadout once you’ve gotten used to the game’s mechanics and accumulated some cash (~400,000 credits)

With Spectre's insane damage of 200, enemies melt away in an instant. Its 50-round mag also helps keep spraying on targets without needing to reload as often. Plus, you can install a suppressor, which is a rare occurrence with SMGs. The only problem is that you can't install an optic. However, iron sights are decent, so they won't obstruct your vision as much. I would say Spectre M4 is the best SMG in the game, if you can afford its hefty price tag.


Acquisition:


Spectre M4 max stats:

Attachments Used in the Screenshot:

Rail mounted laser B
Suppressed muzzle device A *

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference

Note: fire mode can be switched by pressing F. The game doesn't show any indication of it, but it changes in this sequence - Semi > Auto > Burst

PP-19 is the only SMG, which you have to lvl up in order to unlock its full potential. But once you do, it becomes a dirt cheap killing machine. Suppressor, extended mag and optic what else do you need to dominate close range? The only downside is its low damage. However, it is to be expected for such a low price. All in all the PP-19 is the safest pick for your secondary.


Acquisition:


PP-19 Vityaz max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

PP-16 Vityaz Magazine B ( level 17) *
PP-16 Vityaz Trigger B ( level 13 )
PP-16 Vityaz Grip B ( level 1 )
PP-16 Vityaz Upper Reciever B ( level 15 ) *
PP-16 Vityaz Stock B ( level 11 )
PP-16 Vityaz Barrel B ( level 7 ) *
PP-16 Vityaz Handguard B ( level 5 )

Attachments:

Vtex V Optic
Foregrip M
Rail mounted laser B
Suppressed muzzle device A *

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference


Other SMGs are quite lackluster in comparison to the Spectre M4 and PP-16 Vityaz. Let's briefly run them down.

As cool as this gun looks and feels it falls short in comparison to Spectre M4. Its two main issues are the small 30-round mag and an even higher price tag than the Spectre. Moreover, don't get fooled by the Vector's barrel, it is not a suppressor and Vector is as loud as any other unsuppressed gun. In short, Vector is a total rip-off. Don't waste your money on it!


One of only two super rare weapons in the game. Currently, the only way to get PM-9 is to get lucky from a daily donation box drop. The chance is hilariously low (~0.34%). Making this weapon almost unobtainable.
Regarding the weapon itself, PM-9 is one of the better SMGs. It doesn't quite get to the power of Spectre M4, but easily surpasses PP-19 Vityaz in terms of viability. It has a 50-round mag, a suppressor, but no optic. To be honest, I don't recommend going through all of the difficulties in order to get it.


The P90 is decent overall, but its low damage is a major drawback. Absence of a suppressor doesn't help the situation either. It's one redeeming quality is the large 50-round default mag, but even then, I can’t recommend spending your hard-earned credits on this one.


The only quest exclusive SMG in the game. Sounds promising at first, but you get hit by the harsh reality as soon as you get it. Stats are just horrible. Damage is way to low for a small 20-round mag, which this SMG has. I recommend instantly selling this SMG for a quick 5000 profit.


There is not much to say about PPSH. Overall, a bad SMG with a good price. However, why would you take PPSH when you can take PP-16 for cheaper?


The worst SMG. No attachments, low damage, small mag, lowest price what else should I say?

Shotguns are, without a doubt, the kings of close-range combat. In comparison to SMGs, they trade off suppressors and some range in favor of devastating DPS at point-blank encounters. They can easily one-shot all light enemies in the torso and stun-lock most heavy units. When used effectively by an entire squad, even mechs can fall to the power of shotguns.
Unlike other weapon classes, shotguns don’t have a definitive "best" pick - each one has its own purpose.


One of the two auto shotguns in the game. Fast fire rate, devastating damage and 32-shell mag make this shotgun a menace to every human scaled unit in the game. It can delete brawlers, EODs and Hunter killers with ~6-7 shots, while keeping them fully stun-locked. It's a powerhouse of a weapon to say the least. However, such performance comes at a very noticeable price. 36000 credits for a single weapon is a big amount to pay, but if you are a filthy rich scav, this is the best shotgun your credits can buy.


Acquisition:


AA12 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

AA12 Shotgun Magazine B ( level 3 ) *
Muzzle Device B

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference


Essentially, the Eurasian counterpart to the AA12. Stats are almost the same. Everything said about AA12 applies here as well. The only major difference is that you can’t buy the USAS-12 from vendors. Instead, it’s found in gacha boxes or as quest rewards. Also, it has long barrel attachments, giving it a bit higher max damage. If you get USAS one way or another, you can either sell it for 50000 profit, or dominate the battlefield with it.


Acquisition:


USAS-12 max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

USAS-12 Shotgun Magazine C ( level 9 ) *
NSN Grip E ( ??? )
USAS-12 Shotgun Barrel C ( level 5 ) *

Attachments:

Muzzle Device B

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference


One of only two super rare weapons in the game. Currently, the only way to get Vepr-12 is to get lucky from a daily donation box drop. The chance is hilariously low (~0.34%). Making this weapon almost unobtainable.
Regarding the weapon itself, Vepr-12 is something in the middle of USAS-12 and AA12. It has a 25-shell drum mag and the same damage as AA12. Also, it is the only shotty with optics available. If you ask me, it is not worth the hustle to get this gun. But still, it is a cool gun to have, if you can get your hands on it.


Acquisition:


Vepr-12 max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

Vepr-12 Shotgun Magazine B ( level 7 ) *
Vepr-12 Shotgun Handguard C ( level 5 )

Attachments:

Spook Optic
Foregrip E
Rail Mounted Laser Sight B
Muzzle Device B

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference



The S12 is a pump-action shotgun that shares the same damage values as the USAS-12. It is much more affordable than AA12 or USAS, but lacks automatic fire mode and is limited by a relatively small mag. Nonetheless, S12 offers solid performance for its lower price. I can easily recommend it to any scav looking for a cheaper alternative to the AA12.


Acquisition:


S12 max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

S12 Shotgun Magazine C ( level 9 ) *
S12 Shotgun Barrel C ( level 5 ) *

Attachments:

Muzzle Device B

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference


This is a free shotgun with decent damage, but a low fire rate and small magazine. You can’t customize it, but since it’s free, there’s little to complain about. A perfect pick for cheap loadouts.


Acquisition:

I am going to be straightforward with this one. Pistols are horrible in this game. Unless you're completely broke, there's literally no reason to use them. In order to save my and your time, I’ll only cover one pistol that is actually worth your attention.


The G-L 19 stands out from the rest because it’s the only pistol in the game with an automatic fire mode and an extended 50-round magazine. Essentially, G-L can serve as a perfect substitute to an SMG. I suggest picking it up, if you main Scav Girl or want to save some money on your secondary.


G-L 19 max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

G-L 19 Magazine B ( level 5 ) *
G-L 19 Upper Receiver B ( level 3 ) *

Attachments:

Suppressed Muzzle Device A *

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference

Light Machine Guns have numerous issues in Forever Winter, primarily due to their restriction to only two characters—Mask Man and Bag Man. Additionally, their damage values aren't impressive, putting them far behind ARs in terms of viability. However, we can't forget about the fun factor and LMGs have plenty of it. Spraying 200 rounds without reloading is simply fun. So while they aren’t the most practical choice, they’re perfect for when you want to forget about reloading and just enjoy some pure chaos.


The SAW stands out as a fun LMG with plenty of customization options. Its 300-round extended magazine feels almost endless, often lasting entire missions without needing a reload. While it doesn’t offer the best damage, the sheer joy of spraying for long periods more than makes up for it. When the entire squad is armed with SAWs, you become the main boss of the game. I highly recommend trying it out for yourself.


Acquisition:



SAW max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

SAW Magazine B ( level 11 ) *
SAW Grip B ( level 13 )
SAW Barrel B ( level 3 ) *
SAW Stock B ( level 15 )
SAW Gas Tube B ( level 5 )
SAW Handguard C ( level 9 )

Attachments:

Rail Mounted Laser Sight A
Suppressed muzzle device B *

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference

Note: sub-barrel is purely cosmetic and doesn't have any functions

This LMG tries too much to be an AR. Even though it offers higher damage than the SAW, it still falls short compared to most ARs. Its 75-round mag detracts from the sense of endless firepower that defines the SAW. While it may be more practical than the SAW, it just doesn’t match the fun factor of having 200 rounds to play with. For those chasing the best stats, you’re better off picking up an RPK over this or any other LMG.

The M60 shares the same problems as the MG34, but also has no optics available. However, it is an iconic weapon we all know from movies. So, it is fun to play with it once or twice. Also, you can roleplay as Rambo!!!


One of only three super rare weapons in the game. Currently, the only way to get RPD is to pick up its destroyed variant from Euruskan units and go into a few raids with it (look up "Forever Winter how to repair weapons" for more information).
Regarding the weapon itself, RPD is quite underwhelming. It is an almost identical copy of MG34, but with higher max damage and no optics. It suffers from all the same problems as the MG34, which makes it pointless to use. I can't recommend going through all the difficulties in order to get it.

As it often is, snipers are very skill-based weapons. If you know how to land headshots, you can become the god sniper and a perfect assasin. However, if you struggle to land those crucial shots, you're better off sticking with a good old AR. It should be noted that, at least currently, headshot hitboxes are very inconsistent in Forever Winter and sometimes you have to aim right in the forehead to hit them.


Both of these are perhaps the most skillbased weapons in the entire game. They have a small magazine, no suppressor, and require impeccable positioning. Once you open fire, enemies will close in fast, so you have to make every shot count. However, what makes these weapons shine is their incredible damage output. For those who master it, NTW-20 and GM6 will reward you with unmatched sniper power.


Acquisition for GM6:


Acquisition for NTW-20:




NTW-20 max stats:

Attachments Used in the Screenshot:

Muzzle Device P





GM6 max stats:

Attachments Used in the Screenshot:

Vtex Spit 3x
Muzzle Device Q
Foregrip A
Rail Mounted Laser Sight A





SVD is the perfect early-mid game weapon for every sniper in the wasteland. It can one-shot headshot all light units in the game and has decent fire rate. The main downside is a 10-round mag, which requires high precision with most of your shots. Personally, I prefer RPK over SVD, but many scavs really enjoy SVD's sniper rifle aspect. I suggest trying it out yourself and seeing what will work for you personally.


Acquisition:


SVD max stats:

Parts Used in the Screenshot:

SVD Upper Assmbly F ( level 21 )
SVD Stock B ( level 3 )

Attachments:

Vtex Spit 3x *
Suppressed Muzzle Device E *
Foregrip A
Rail Mounted Laser Sight B

* Must-have mods that greatly boost effectiveness. The rest can be swapped based on your personal preference


5-round mag and 175 damage.........

Finally, we dive into the juicy stuff! These weapons are so powerful that most of them can only be obtained through quests. Unlike the previous categories, there’s no "best pick" here, as every gun in this category is excellent in its own way. Each weapon has unique strengths, and they all bring something valuable to the table.


Grenade launchers are the kryptonite of mechs, exos, and tanks. They are the only weapons that can quickly destroy super-heavy units. One key point is that all grenade launchers have the same damage numbers. Below is a handy table to show how many shots are needed to take down most super-heavy enemies:


Note: Some enemies, such as Toothy, Mother Courage, Euruska Robodog and Euruska Orgamech, are unkillable.


I think the name speaks for itself, so I will just explain what differentiates this GL from the others. It's the only grenade launcher that can be bought from a vendor (Europan). The price is high (93500 credits), but you know what you are paying for, so its hard to complain. Additionally, it has the largest magazine among all GLs.

Grenade Launcher's stats:


Note: Every GL shows damage of 1000, but the actual damage is closer to ~10000

Acquisition:




The XM25 is an Eurasian grenade launcher with the highest fire rate in its class. Although it only holds 4 rounds, that's enough to destroy a tank in mere seconds. The only drawback is that you have to earn this GL in Eurasian quests and can't just buy it.

XM25's stats:


Note: Every GL's stats show damage of 1000, but it is actually closer to ~10000

Acquisition:



In my opinion, the M79 Sawed-off is the best grenade launcher in the game. While M79 only holds a single round, this is fully compensated by its versatility, because it is categorized as a pistol and not a GL. Therefore, it can be utilized by characters, who can't use grenade launchers (Old Man, Scav Girl and Shaman). The only one, who cannot use M79 is Bag Man, but he can use all other GLs, so it doesn't make much of a difference for him. Additionally, The Europan quest to get this weapon (Aerial Scavenge) is hilariously easy - you just need to retrieve three Eurasian drone components.

P.S. all of the attachments only make M79 white and inconsiderably improve accuracy

M79's stats:


Note: Every GL's stats show damage of 1000, but it is actually closer to ~10000

Acquisition:




The most powerful siniper in the game. It one-shots all light units in the torso and makes short work of most heavier units. However, don't forget that 36M doesn't have a suppressor, so be cautious with your shots. Also, taking out tanks with an AntiTank is not easy. You need around ~19 shots per T90, so think twice before engaging. Overall, if you know how to position yourself, 36M will show all of its potential.

36M AntiTank's stats:


Acquisition:



Painless is the only heavy machine gun in the game and it is a force to be reckoned with. It can mow down human-sized enemies and even take on tanks and mechs. With its insane fire rate and high damage, it is the second-highest DPS weapon, right behind grenade launchers. Obviously, such a powerhouse cannot be bought from vendors and should be earned through quests (W.I.P). The only downside to this weapon is its exclusivity to Bag Man and Gunhead only.

Painless' stats:


Acquisition:

If you have made it this far, you most likely read at least some of this guide. I kindly ask you to share your opinion in the comments. This is my first time making a guide so maybe something is not explained well or is confusing or is structured poorly. Every bit of feedback helps me improve clarity of this guide, so don't hesitate to share your honest opinions!