Weapons in Guts & Blackpowder gate behind class selection and Francs shop prices �?you cannot equip a Blunderbuss on Infantry or a tower musket on Seaman without modded servers. Tier rankings therefore include class synergy notes and mode context. Use this page alongside the class tier list and tier list overview so every Franc spent hits S-tier value first.
Overall Weapon Tier Rankings
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S | Musket, Heavy Sabre, Blunderbuss, Carbine, Lancaster Carbine (post-London) |
| A | Sabre, Pistol, Double Barrel Pistol, Navy Pistol, Hand Axe, Boarding Axe, Axe |
| B | Lance, Horse Artillery Pistol, Tower Musket, Crucifix line (Chaplain) |
| C | Rifle, Air Rifle, Stake (Chaplain melee) |
| D | Niche meme picks and un upgraded starter tools in late-game content |
S-Tier Weapons
Musket (Infantry default)
Bayonet attachment makes Musket the most flexible starter weapon �?volley at range, stab at melee, no shop purchase required. Slow reload keeps it below Carbine for Endless speedruns but S-tier for first clears and Objective reliability. Counter Cuirassiers with focused volleys; swap to Heavy Sabre when hordes breach. Full item stats on weapons item guide.
Heavy Sabre (Infantry / Officer shop)
Best melee DPS and reach in the game. Lets Infantry run Carbine or Blunderbuss primary without relying on bayonet mode. Side slash weaker than stab �?practice spacing from controls guides. First major Francs purchase for most accounts per shop guide.
Blunderbuss (Seaman)
Cone spread deletes Shamblers and softens Bombers at close range. Reload and range limits keep it from dominating PvP snipe lanes, but Endless and courtyard Objective fights cement S-tier. Upgrade path from Navy Pistol �?both ranked on this list.
Carbine & Lancaster Carbine (Infantry)
Faster reload than Musket with strong mid-range accuracy. Lancaster Carbine arrived in the London update as a versatile rifle �?excellent range, slower fire rate, Tier 15 progression unlock or premium currency skip. Best Infantry primary for veterans who mastered reload cancel movement.
A-Tier Weapons
Sabre �?Default melee for multiple classes; balanced but outclassed by Heavy Sabre once affordable.
Pistol / Double Barrel Pistol �?Officer and Infantry secondaries; Double Barrel bursts harder at close PvP.
Navy Pistol �?Seaman starter shotgun pistol; great until Blunderbuss Francs saved.
Hand Axe / Boarding Axe / Axe �?High damage melee with shove utility on Seaman and Sapper lines; Axe stuns key zombie types.
These remain competitive until S-tier shop items unlock �?see class-specific loadouts in build guides.
B-Tier Weapons
Lance �?Infantry charge specialist; narrow use on open maps.
Horse Artillery Pistol �?Niche Infantry sidearm for specific strats.
Tower Musket �?Defensive ranged option; slow handling.
Crucifix / Exorcism Crucifix �?Chaplain tools �?B-tier for damage, A-tier for infection utility (contextual bump on infection weeks per infection guide).
C-Tier and D-Tier Weapons
Rifle and Air Rifle �?High per-shot damage but glacial reload and no bayonet hurt teamplay. Situationally strong on tower defense angles; generally C-tier for pub meta. Stake �?Chaplain melee with low DPS. D-tier refers to running un upgraded starters in endgame Endless when shop alternatives exist �?not that base Musket is useless (it remains S-tier forever as a concept, but Heavy Sabre plus Carbine outscale it numerically).
Best Weapons by Class
| Class | Recommended Loadout | Tier context |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Carbine + Heavy Sabre | S-tier PvE and Endless. Musket viable until Francs ready. |
| Seaman | Blunderbuss + Boarding Axe | S-tier horde clear. See Seaman on class tier list. |
| Officer | Double Barrel Pistol + Heavy Sabre | A/S-tier PvP burst combo. |
| Sapper | Axe + barricade utilities | Melee B-tier; utility S-tier for team. |
| Surgeon | Sabre secondary for self-defense | Weapon tier secondary to bandages. |
| Chaplain | Crucifix + Blessing tools | Support B-tier, infection A-tier. |
| Musician | Sabre or pistol backup | Buffs matter more than weapon tier. |
Weapons by Game Mode
PvE Objective: Musket or Carbine plus Heavy Sabre for Infantry; Blunderbuss for Seaman hallway clears; Axe for Sapper when zombies breach wire.
Endless: Blunderbuss fastest Francs/hour; Carbine safe alternative; avoid Rifle unless static perch.
PvP Siege: Double Barrel Pistol, Horse Artillery Pistol, fast sabres �?prioritize TTK over horde spread.
Mode rankings mirror class advice on the class tier list.
Shop Priority Order
- Heavy Sabre (Infantry/Officer)
- Carbine or Lancaster Carbine (Infantry)
- Blunderbuss (Seaman)
- Double Barrel Pistol (Officer/Infantry PvP)
- Utilities from utilities guide
Farm Francs using farming strategies and verify purchases with the calculator. Check codes for future discount promos.
Zombie Type Counters
Runners �?Carbine headshots or Navy Pistol bursts. Bombers �?ranged Musket, avoid Blunderbuss face-tank. Zappers �?focused volleys, Heavy Sabre when armored. Cuirassiers �?coordinated rifle fire from multiple Infantry. Details cross-link item encyclopedia and zombie sections on the homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best weapon in Guts & Blackpowder?
Heavy Sabre for melee and Blunderbuss or Carbine for ranged depending on class. No single weapon fits all �?see class table above.
Should I buy Rifle or Carbine?
Carbine �?S-tier. Rifle is C-tier for slow reload and poor team flexibility.
Is Lancaster Carbine worth unlocking?
Yes for mid-long Infantry mains after London update. Strong range with manageable tradeoffs.
Which weapons pair with which classes?
Weapons are class-gated. Match picks using both this page and the class tier list.
How do I afford S-tier weapons fast?
Endless farming as Seaman or Infantry. Follow our Francs guide and Endless build.
Do weapons change tier in PvP?
Yes �?spread guns drop relative value; pistols and fast melee rise. See PvP section above and tier list hub.