Roblox Game Guide
Phantom Forces Tier List
“Which gun should you actually grind for in each class?”
Last Updated: July 2026
Phantom Forces has been Roblox’s go-to tactical shooter for more than ten years, and with hundreds of possible loadouts across nine weapon classes, picking the right gun to unlock first actually matters.
The game just shipped an Independence Day 2026 update with eight new weapons and a full pass of rebalances, so the meta is genuinely moving right now, not sitting still.
Weapon opinions vary a lot between trackers, and sometimes even within the same one, so we pulled the clearest class-by-class breakdown available and flagged the spots where the picks disagree.
New to the game? Our Phantom Forces wiki covers the basics, and the Phantom Forces codes page lists anything currently redeemable.
Below is the full class-by-class tier board, a per-class cheat sheet, and the one weapon that can’t seem to agree on its own ranking.
The Quick Answer
S-tier picks by class: AUG A2 (Assault Rifle), Intervention (Sniper Rifle), Vector (SMG), and KS23M (Shotgun). If you just want a reliable Rank-0 starter while you save up for those, the M4A1 is the safest beginner pick in the game.
How Weapon Classes Work in Phantom Forces
Phantom Forces splits its arsenal into distinct classes rather than one flat gun list, and every rank below is really ranking a gun within its own lane.
1
Pick a loadout slot. Primary, Secondary, and Melee each unlock separately, so your Assault Rifle pick and your Sniper pick are two completely different grinds.
2
Unlock weapons with in-game rank. Every weapon has a rank requirement, from Rank 0 starters like the M4A1 up to late-game unlocks past Rank 200.
3
Attach and customize. Sights, grips, stocks, and barrels change a weapon’s real performance, so a low-tier gun with the right attachments can outperform a high-tier one used badly.
4
Check for a boost before grinding. The Phantom Forces codes page lists anything currently redeemable that speeds up unlocking new weapons.
Full Weapon Tier Board
Every tier below is tagged with the weapon’s class, since a gun’s rank only really means something compared to others in its own lane.
| Tier |
Weapon |
Class |
Why |
| S |
AUG A2 |
Assault Rifle |
750 RPM with a three-shot body kill at close-to-mid range, plus low recoil and clean handling that carries into long range. |
| S |
Intervention |
Sniper Rifle |
One-shot headshots at any range with a torso kill range that stretches well past where most gunfights actually happen. |
| S |
Vector |
SMG / PDW |
The fastest close-range time-to-kill in the whole game, built for rushing corners and tight corridors. |
| S |
KS23M |
Shotgun |
One-shots enemies at ranges where every other shotgun in the game barely scratches them. |
| A |
AK12 BR |
Battle Rifle |
Nearly zero recoil for a battle rifle, paired with a two-shot headshot kill that can outgun assault rifles at range. |
| A |
M16A4 |
Assault Rifle |
Burst-fire with a reliable three-shot kill for players who can land their bursts. |
| A |
HK416 |
Assault Rifle |
A strong all-rounder that gets even more flexible with a 300 Blackout ammo conversion. |
| A |
AWS |
Sniper Rifle |
Faster-firing than most bolt-actions with a strong torso kill range, good for aggressive sniping. |
| A |
SCAR HAMR |
Light Machine Gun |
A 150-round box magazine means you can hold a lane for a long time without reloading. |
| B |
AK17 |
Carbine |
Basically zero recoil, making it an easy carbine to control even for newer players. |
| B |
R700 (Remington 700) |
Sniper Rifle |
Cycles faster than the Intervention, though trackers disagree hard on exactly how good this one is (see the box below). |
| B |
Colt Mars |
SMG |
An unusual three-shot kill for an SMG, trading some fire rate for extra stopping power. |
| B |
SCAR-L |
Assault Rifle |
A reliable, low-drama baseline rifle that’s a solid pick while you’re still learning the game. |
| C |
BFG 50 |
Sniper Rifle |
The highest single-shot damage in the game, but a slow fire rate makes it punishing if you miss. |
| C |
MP5K |
SMG |
An early unlock that gets outclassed once you reach the SMGs above it. |
| C |
M60 |
Light Machine Gun |
The largest ammo pool in the game at 100 rounds per belt, but the recoil and handling hold it back. |
One safe pick per class, plus the beginner option that unlocks at Rank 0.
The R700 can’t agree with itself
Most weapons on this list land in roughly the same tier no matter which tracker you check, but the R700 (Remington 700) is a real exception, and the disagreement doesn’t even come from two different sites.
One dedicated tier-list article ranks it B-tier, behind the Intervention and AWS. A separate best-weapons article from the same tracker, updated more recently, calls it “the best bolt-action sniper rifle for most players” and ranks it in the top five overall.
Our best guess is that the more recent article reflects a balance change the tier-list piece hasn’t caught up to yet, so if you’re deciding between the two, lean toward the more recent read and treat the R700 as underrated rather than mediocre.
Tips for Picking Your Loadout
- Start with the M4A1 or another Rank-0 weapon in each class before grinding toward the S-tier picks, so you learn the game’s movement and recoil first.
- Match your Primary and Secondary to different ranges. A close-range SMG like the Vector pairs well with a long-range Secondary.
- Attachments matter as much as the base weapon. A well-attached B-tier gun can beat a poorly-attached S-tier one.
- Do not fully trust any single tracker, including this one. The R700 case above shows even one source can disagree with itself.
- Check back after big updates. The Independence Day 2026 patch alone added eight new weapons and rebalanced existing ones, so tier boards shift fast here.
- Check the Phantom Forces codes page before a big grind session in case anything is currently redeemable.
Phantom Forces Tier List FAQ
What is the best gun in Phantom Forces?
There is no single best gun since classes play very differently, but the S-tier pick in each lane is the AUG A2 (Assault Rifle), Intervention (Sniper Rifle), Vector (SMG), and KS23M (Shotgun).
What is the best beginner weapon in Phantom Forces?
The M4A1 is the safest beginner pick. It unlocks at Rank 0, has low recoil, and works at almost any range without punishing mistakes the way higher-skill weapons do.
Is the R700 good in Phantom Forces?
Trackers disagree on this one more than almost any other weapon. One rates it B-tier, while a more recently updated source from the same site ranks it in the top five overall. Treat it as underrated rather than weak.
Is Phantom Forces still updated in 2026?
Yes. The game shipped an Independence Day 2026 event on July 4 with eight new weapons across multiple classes, a weapon remodel, and a full balance pass, more than ten years after launch.
Does Phantom Forces have codes?
Check our Phantom Forces codes page for anything currently redeemable that can speed up unlocking new weapons.
Now build your loadout
Now you know the top pick in every weapon class and which one has trackers arguing with themselves. For the basics, read our Phantom Forces wiki. Grab anything redeemable on the Phantom Forces codes page, and check the Phantom Forces script page too. See you on the battlefield.