Time: 2026-01-12
PUBG's 2026 weapon meta emphasizes TTK (time-to-kill), recoil control, and accessory synergy after recent balance patches that buffed DMRs while nerfing some AR long-range damage. Recent updates like Patch 36.1 refined mid-game viability for hybrid weapons, making versatile loadouts essential for high-rank and pro play. This tier list reflects current PC/console data from leaderboards and esports stats.
These guns top win rates and pick rates in 2026, offering unmatched consistency across ranges.
M416: The undisputed AR king—full attachments (comp, vertical grip, extended mag, stock) deliver laser-like mid-range control and 200-250ms TTK. Pro pick rate: 65%+.
AWM: Bolt-action sniper god; .300 Magnum one-shots Level 3 helmets at 300m+. Air drop priority #1 with 8x + suppressor.
Beryl M762 / Groza: High-DPS beasts (43 base damage) excel in CQC with 180ms TTK, but demand recoil mastery. Pair with vertical grips.
Vector / MG3: Vector shreds rooms (400 RPM post-nerf, extended mag essential); MG3 owns vehicle denial and suppression with infinite prone stability.
Strong performers with high availability—ideal primaries or secondaries for any drop.
AKM / Mini-14 / Kar98k / M24: AKM crushes close-range (44 damage); Mini-14's fast bullet velocity shines mid-range; Kar98k/M24 are ground-loot snipers with 1.2s ADS.
UMP45 / MP5K / P90: SMG trio for urban maps—UMP45's .45 ACP laser beam (500 RPM) dominates houses; P90 for mag-dump frenzy.
DP-28 / M249: LMGs for anchoring—DP-28 prone sprays mid-range reliably; M249 post-stock buff holds lanes forever.
DBS: Quad-pump shotgun terrorizes stairs/doorways with 4-shell bursts (one-tap potential).
Viable in niches but lack S/A versatility—grab if nothing better spawns nearby.
Kar98k (no airdrop) / Mosin / SKS / VSS: Kar98k remains iconic for no-scope flicks; SKS taps mid-range well with taps; VSS for stealth but weak damage.
S12K / S1897: Shotgun autos for hipfire chaos, but fragile beyond 15m.
Deagle / Skorpion: Deagle one-taps with skill; Skorpion for panic sprays.
Low stats or gimmicks—swap immediately for AR/SMG/DMR. Only for beach starts or ammo droughts.
C-Tier (Bizon, Win94, Crossbow, Sawed-Off, S686/O12): Bizon's helical mag gimmick underperforms; crossbow memes but slow projectiles; shotguns for 1v1 duels only.
D-Tier (P92, P1911, R1895, Sickle/Crowbar melee): Pistols for pistol rounds; melee for desperation. Zero competitive viability.
All-Purpose: M416 (AR) + Mini-14/Kar98k (DMR/Sniper) — Covers 0-400m seamlessly.
Aggro: Beryl/Groza + Vector/DBS — CQC blender for hot drops.
Resource-Light: AKM + SKS (7.62mm shared) — Sustainable no-dropout grind.