The Forever Winter: All in One Weapon Guide

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.

I have plenty of ideas on how I can make this guide even better. If you find this guide helpful and want to see it evolve further, don’t forget to like and favorite this guide! Your support ensures I keep making this the best weapon guidebook for every scav out there..

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:

1. There is no way to reduce weapon recoil
2. Stability doesn’t affect anything
3. Accuracy is good at its baseline and doesn’t need much improvement
4. Suppressors are must-have on any compatible gun
5. Only barrels and gas tubes can increase weapon damage
6. Every other attachment except suppressors, barrels, gas tubes, extended mags and optics is near useless and is used mostly for cosmetic purposes

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. There is currently no way to alter gun recoil pattern (vertical grips, compensators, and barrels don’t make a difference whatsoever)
• 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: This one’s a bit of a mystery. It might refer to horizontal recoil or weapon sway, but honestly, I haven’t noticed any difference when tweaking it.

There are a LOT of attachment types, which seems scary at first. However, at a closer look only five actually deserve any attention. Everything else only affects accuracy, and most guns already have decent accuracy without mods.

So, which five attachments are worth your time?

Suppressor compatibility
Lastly, I should mention that there is different suppressors for different weapon types. So, you have to buy them accordingly:

And that is it! Everything else only increases accuracy, while decreasing stability. As I mentioned before stability doesn’t change anything and accuracy is decent at its base value. Thus, you can either save your money and don’t buy anything except named mods or choose the ones which look the coolest and make your piece look pretty 😉

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.

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.

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 in Forever Winter you will be using ARs a lot, due to their affordability and effectiveness.

Here is what you all came here for – the list of the best ARs in the game:

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, 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.

P.S. I know RPK is technicaly a LMG, but in game it is considered an AR

RPK max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:
Kala magazine H *
Kala grip C
Kala upper assembly B *
Kala stock E
Kala gas tube D *
Kala handguard F
ET EFX Optic
Foregrip A
Rail mounted laser sight B
Suppressed muzzle device B, C or D *

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

RPK’s little brother. The biggest advantages of the AK is its low price and the ability to use free SURPLUS ammo. By combining the two we get a dirt cheap, but extremely powerful weapon, which is not inferior to any more expensive rifle except RPK of course.

AK max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:
Kala magazine H *
Kala grip D
Kala upper assembly B *
Kala stock D
Kala gas tube E *
Kala handguard F
Vtex V Optic
Foregrip M
Rail mounted laser sight B
Suppressed muzzle device B, C or D *

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

While the RPK and AK are top-tier, the rest of the ARs in the game are generally worse in one way or another. That said, they’re still fun to use, so here’s a brief rundown of each one:+

Due to high similarity I have put these two together. Overall, they’re just an expencive AK, but without the ability to use SURPLUS ammo or equip the 95-round drum mag. Therefore, from a practical point of view there is no reason to choose them over
a good old AK. However, if you can spare a bit more money and don’t want to run meta RPK, you can easily choose them and be effective in the warzone. Just don’t forget to slap on a suppressor and a big mag 😉

Note: M4A1 modules can be found as ground loot, while G36’s modules can’t

SCAR is technicaly not an AR, but a heavy rifle in this game. It comes with a set of disadvantages like a tiny 8-round default mag, absence of available suppressors and character restriction. Also, even though SCAR is chambered in 50 cal (idk why), RPK still has higher damage than it. Nevertheless, SCAR is a fun gun and feels very powerful to wield, due to a non-suppressed barrel. Perfect weapon to have some fun with your friends and try to kill as many enemies as you can before an EXO one shots all of you.

The M16 is one of the more unique guns in Forever Winter. It’s probably the most level-dependent weapon in the game. Early on, you can’t even attach a scope – you’re forced to use a completely default M16. As you level up, you unlock more and more options to customize. However, as interesting as this concept is, it never gives you a much needed damage boost and you are stuck with underwhelming 150 damage. Low damage makes this gun inferior to just about every other gun. I can’t recommend it to anyone until it gets a well-deserved buff.

An absolute joke of a weapon. Not only does it cost as much as an AK it has literally zero attachment slots. As a result you are stuck with a completely default gun without any added perks. Only good point about TKB is the ability to use SURPLUS ammo, nothing else.
There is not a single reason to buy this atrocity of a weapon. Can’t recommend it to anyone except just for experiment purposes

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.

SA58 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

SA58 Magazine B *
SA58 Barrel B *
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.

Spectre M4 max stats:

Mods 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.

PP-19 Vityaz max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:
PP-16 Vityaz magazine B *
PP-16 Vityaz Trigger B
PP-16 Vityaz grip B
PP-16 Vityaz upper assembly B *
PP-16 Vityaz stock B
PP-16 Vityaz barrel B *
PP-16 Vityaz handguard B
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

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

AA12 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

AA12 Shotgun Magazine B *
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.

USAS-12 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

USAS-12 Shotgun Magazine C *
NSN Grip E
USAS-12 Shotgun Barrel C *
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.

S12 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

S12 Shotgun Magazine C *
S12 Shotgun Barrel C *
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.

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:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

G-L 19 Magazine B *
G-L 19 Upper Assembly B *
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 200-round default 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.

SAW max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

SAW Magazine B *
SAW Barrel B *
Suppressed muzzle device B *

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

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!!!

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.

NTW is perhaps the most skillbased weapon in the entire game. It has a small magazine, no suppressor, and requires impeccable positioning. Once you open fire, enemies will close in fast, so you have to make every shot count. However, what makes this weapon shine is its incredible damage output. For those who master it, the NTW-20 will reward you with unmatched sniper power.

Note: you cannot buy this gun from vendors. It’s rewarded for completeon of a Europan quest (W.I.P.)

NTW-20 max stats:

Mods Used in the Screenshot:

Muzzle Device P

Unfortunately, the SVD doesn’t live up to its reputation. While it offers a 10-round mag and a suppressor, its damage output of only 300 feels underwhelming for a sniper rifle. Considering the difficulty and precision required to play as a sniper, the payoff just isn’t worth it. I wouldn’t recommend this rifle unless you’re a dedicated sniper fan.

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, 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 ~7000

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 ~7000

In my opinion, the M79 Sawed-off is the best grenade launcher in the game, because it can be used by any character. While it only holds a single round, this is fully compensated by its versatility. The Europan quest to get this weapon (Aerial Scavenge) is hilariously easy – you just need to retrieve three Eurasian drone components.

P.S.: There is currently a bug with all GLs, which stops them from gaining xp from kills. This means that you will only get 1 xp per shot that you directly land on the target without any additional xp for killing the target itself. Therefore, it is almost impossible to lvl up any GL. The M79 suffers the most from this bug, because on contrary to other GLs it actually has a lot of unlockable parts available.

M79’s stats:

Note: Every GL’s stats show damage of 1000, but it is actually closer to ~7000

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:

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 only.

Painless’ stats:

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!