Summary
AsGarena Free Firetakes its straightforward battle royale mechanics from genre superstars such asPlayerUnknown’s BattlegroundsandPUBG Mobile, it makes sense for the title to feature a unique slate of easily accessible weapons for players to use. After all, players need these armaments to secure victory in this fierce 50-player battle royale.
However, as with other games, certain weapons are just cut out to be better than the others, especially at the hands of a skilled player. Whichweapons are the best inGarena Free Fire’sdo-or-die battle royale?
Updated Jul 01, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With Naruto collaborating with Garena Free Fire last January, fans of the battle royale might be excited to find out what other franchise would grace its battlefield next. While the game has yet to tease its next collaboration, fans of Free Fire who want to dominate matches without wearing the Naruto collab’s exclusive items can still rain hell on their enemies with the right choice of weapons and gear.
Although the game does have its roster of superpower-toting characters, using the right weapons can secure victory even without relying too much on special abilities. Among must-try for Garena Free Fire players include a powerful shotgun-pistol, some of the game’s most potent sniper rifles, and a shotgun perfect for close-range engagements.
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Pistols ina battle royale likeFree Fireare generally regarded as a backup weapon - used only when players need to make a quick escape when facing enemies up close. With theM1873, players can now have a shotgun for a sidearm, making quick work of opponents as soon as they get in range.
Despite its 2-shot magazine and abysmal accuracy, the M1873’s immense firepower and damage can eliminate enemies who dare try to get up close and personal with players. Those who manage to secure the M1873 can secure more guaranteed offensive power without overtly relying on their primary firearm.
When To Use M1873
Players who like getting up close when fighting other players can switch to the M1873 for some one-two punch kills. This makes the M1873 especially great in the endgame where players often find themselves in tight spaces - rendering powerful long-ranged weapons practically much harder to use.
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As a Sniper in a battle royale likeFree Fire, it’s no surprise that theM82Bis immensely powerful at long range. Of course, its low Magazine count and rather slow reload speed means enemies can strike a counter-attack if players don’t strategically time their shots.
However, the M82B shines in its other benefits. Aside from being able to pierce through armor, the M82B can deal extra damage against vehicles and especially Gloo Walls - practically making most enemy defenses useless. Its default 8x Scope can allow players using the M82B to secure kills at an extreme distance, giving them the room to strike a second time and down an opponent as they scramble for cover.
When To Use M82B
Players who like using a more aggressive approach in combat can use the M82B to decimate enemy defenses, especially those who take advantage of heroes who make use of Gloo Walls to amplify their combat performance. Interrupting their Gloo Wall defense with the M82B’s destructive capabilities means giving them less time to regroup.
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Although advertised as a modified M14 with a pre-packaged scope and uses AR Ammo, theSKSis in itself more of a marksman rifle than a standard assault rifle. Its scope cannot be removed and players are therefore stuck with an AR they can technically convert into a sniper whenever they wish.
Thankfully, the SKS does perform decently in extremely long ranges. Its nature as “technically a DMR” doesn’t fail players when they need a long-ranged performer, as it can shoot at targets much further than ARs but still boasts the same damage, range, and general accuracy.
When To Use SKS
Players who want to pull off sniping stunts but maximize their inventory space would appreciate the SKS for needing AR Ammo. This means players can carry an SKS as a sniper and emergency AR while at the same time being able to use another AR like the AK or the Groza if they need backup firepower should they get overwhelmed in close-to-mid-range.
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While some fans might argue that the AK is a more versatile weapon inthe battle royale, there’s just something about the handling of theXM8that makes it more comfortable to use. Touted as a futuristic Sniper/AR hybrid, the XM8 comes with a decent rate of fire and a lack of recoil that can make it much easier to use in mid-to-long-ranged incursions. Its accompanying scope cannot be switched out but still offers decent coverage for much longer-ranged fights, allowing players to become snipers whenever they wish.
This dual-purpose nature of the XM8 can make it quite a decent endgame weapon, especially for players who like to switch playstyles on the fly. Knowing that the XM8 can be a reliable companion for both extreme long-range and mid-ranged fights can drastically boost the player’s survivability, especially since they can cover most of their coverage needs with just a single weapon.
When To Use XM8
When torn between the XM8, the AK, and even the Groza, the XM8 only stands out if players are confident about their aim at a distance. If they know the area well enough that they can find a decent vantage point to take out enemies from afar and still engage in a wilder gunfight, then the XM8 is a solid pick for its versatility. However, players uncomfortable with the XM8’s default scope would be much better off choosing an AK or an AR they’re more comfortable with.
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TheSPAS12remains one of the most popular Shotguns in any shooting game, and its existence inGarena Free Fireremains consistent in its performance in other FPS titles. As a Shotgun, the SPAS12 boasts high damage and a decent rate of fire with an obvious caveat in terms of accuracy, making it mostly a close-range weapon. In turn, players who want to finish off an enemy quickly can reliably use the SPAS12 to give opponents that killing blow.
Likewise, the SPAS12 serves as a nifty emergency weapon for players who end up having to fight multiple opponents up close that their AR or SMG can’t necessarily handle. Having the SPAS12 as a heavy-hitter when cornered can be a player’s best shot at survival, especially if they want to finish the job quickly to avoid getting the attention of other passers-by who might kill them as ganks.
When To Use SPAS12
Players who have a penchant for staying in buildings for cover and loot can have a great deal of fun using the SPAS12 to get the jump on enemies and eliminate them before they initiate a counter-attack. While definitely not the weapon to take for extreme distances, players who want a heavy-hitting Shotgun as they clear the interiors of buildings, structures, houses, and the like may be able to depend on the SPAS12 to get the job done without much trouble.
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Players who love Daryl Dixon inThe Walking Deadwill likely see aCrossbowinGarena Free Fireas a gateway into creating a badass unit that loves using an unconventional weapon instead of the standard AR. And for the most part, the Crossbow pulls this awesomeness with its interesting perk: killing with silence.
Picking up the Crossbow allows players to shoot at opponents without being detected, making this the perfect stealth weapon. Enemies not immediately recognizing where players could be can make the Crossbow the perfect ambush weapon - provided that players can reload in time to fire another lethal shot.
When To Use Crossbow
Despite the Crossbow’s decent damage and accuracy, its setback of having just a shot worth of magazine to use before having to reload can make it a challenging weapon to rely on throughout the match. The Crossbow is best used if players want to be back up to distract opponents while the rest of the team ambushes them from another direction. Likewise, a stealthy player can focus on getting into unconventional vantage points to get the jump on an opponent - especially in hot zones where enemies frequently fight and players want to become a third party and score ganks for easy loot.
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When players acquire theTreatment Gunin theirFree Firegameplay, the weapon transforms them into one of themost viable support units in a team. While the Treatment Gun can damage enemies in a traditional sense, its most useful feature comes in its ability to heal teammates.
The Treatment Gun comes with a special HUD that provides players with the ability to constantly heal allies until they have to recharge. Until then, the Treatment Gun can be used to deal damage - although not as much as other weapons, making it more of an emergency weapon than a go-to main weapon even for a heavy support playstyle.
When To Use Treatment Gun
The Treatment Gun can’t heal its user, making it more viable in team play. Due to its mediocre damage, players shouldn’t expect to kill a lot of enemies with the Treatment Gun. Moreover, the Treatment Gun has a nifty feature where using its scoped mode allows players to revive an ally from afar - although this is only available once per Treatment Gun.
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When it comes to a battle royale likeFree Firewhere players can encounter many enemies at once, knowing how to use an LMG like theM249can become a life-saver. Given its remarkable firepower and decent rate of fire, the M249 can decimate enemy squads quickly provided players learn how to control its recoil.
Due to its heavy firepower, it makes sense for the M249 to be only available in airdrops and therefore generally rarer compared to most other weapons in the game. Its strength in long distances does mean suffering a bit in terms of accuracy, which means players need to strategize their positions carefully or risk not only declaring themselves but also having enemies run them down with not a lot of opportunities to exit.
When To Use M249
Given the M249’s nature as an LMG retrieved via airdrops, players need to reserve it for emergencies. In instances where players need that extra dose of firepower - usually when surrounded or in the last legs of the fight - the M249 can be a decent deterrent to force enemies away, clear paths, or overwhelm them with the sheer threat of carnage. In instances where players obtain the M249, it’s best to pair it with a reliable secondary weapon or immediately switch to an enemy’s firearm if they’re within range.
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Players ofFPS titles and tactical shooter gamesmight already be familiar with theM4A1, especially with its iconic carry handle. As one of the OG firearms to appear in heavy-hitter FPS titles in gaming, it makes sense forFree Fireto also have the M4A1 as a beginner-friendly weapon.
Despite seemingly having average damage, the M4A1 makes up for this with its ease of handling and decent accuracy. The M4A1 is among the most maneuverable ARs in the game, especially at medium-to-long range. Should players have to choose between unfamiliar weapons and the M4A1, the latter is a reliable weapon that can likely get players out of sticky situations.
When To Use M4A1
When players acquire the M4A1, it’s advisable to use it as soon as possible. Despite its middling damage numbers, its reliability across most ranges should make it capable of holding its own against both long-ranged snipers and up-close shotguns. Thanks to its decent magazine size and firing rate, the M4A1 should be dishing out consistent damage numbers that should pepper through an enemy’s health quickly should players train their aim right.
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Compared to other Assault Rifles in the game, theFAMASis notable for its Burst Fire capabilities. Instead of dishing out damage full-auto, the Assault Rifle fires three bullets at a time, forcing players to recalibrate their firing patterns, especially during engagements.
However, players who manage to work their way around this burst firing pattern should see the FAMAS as a maneuverable weapon in mid-range. Its limited firing capability can be seen as an advantage, as this should train players to be more purposeful about their firing and mindful of their surroundings whenever the FAMAS takes a short break in between shots. Mastering this timing should give players enough room to make quick exits after every burst, giving a tactical flair to their experience.
When To Use FAMAS
Being a medium-range-leaning weapon with long-ranged capabilities, the burst-fire mode of the FAMAS is the main factor that determines its ideal approach to gameplay. The short break between bursts might seem unnoticeable to most combatants, but it can be jarring for users who aren’t accustomed to seemingly inconsistent fire. Given the burst-fire nature of the FAMAS, it’s ideal to practice burst-them-aim strategies - as in capitalizing on the break in between shots to recalibrate the weapon’s aim against moving foes. Alternatively, FAMAS users should consider making quick strafes to safe zones such as cover in between shots.
