Ready to dominate the cosmos? Whether you’re exploring over a thousand planets or facing hostile foes, Starfield offers a vast arsenal of weapons that can turn the tide of any battle. From the rapid-fire Equinox laser rifle to the devastating Experiment A-7 shotgun, discover the best weapons to equip on your journey through the stars on both PC and Xbox. Gear up, mod your guns, and prepare for interstellar combat like never before.
Unlike with Starfield’s best ships – where you’ll need to rank up the Piloting skill before you can even use them – there are no prerequisite skills you need before you can use the best weapons. That said, skills can help. You can can improve your efficiency with various weapons types by getting various skills in the Combat skill tree; in particular, many weapons benefit from investment in the Ballistics skill.
It’s worth bearing in mind that aside from the unique weapons listed here, most basic weapons can be improved by the addition of mods. You can also find pre-modded versions of basic weapons, many of which go toe to toe with the unique weapons we’ve listed here. But if you’re looking to track down a guaranteed reliable arsenal, here are the best weapons in Starfield.
The Best Weapons in Starfield
Starfield offers a diverse arsenal of weapons catering to various playstyles, with some standing out as the best choices for players. Notable top-tier weapons include the Experiment A-7 shotgun, prized for its high damage and extensive mod options, making it lethal against aliens during key missions. The Equinox laser rifle is favored for its high fire rate and accuracy, excelling at mid to long-range combat. Pistols like the XM-2311 and unique variants such as the Trickshot Magshot revolver and Deadeye revolver provide powerful, precise options for close to medium range. Additionally, weapons like Eternity’s Gate, a particle beam rifle, deliver high energy damage with unique effects, ideal for long-distance engagements. Early-game favorites such as the Coachman shotgun and Sidestar pistol also provide reliable firepower and customization potential. Overall, the best weapons combine high damage output, versatility, and modifiability to suit different combat scenarios in Starfield.
Many standard-issue guns in Starfield – like the Tombstone and Beowulf assault rifles – are effective, and are even more so when you find modded versions. But unique weapons are a cut above the rest, and comprise the majority of our recommendations. At a glance, here are the best weapons in Starfield:
- Sir Livingstone’s Pistol
- Magshot
- Experiment A-7
- Gallow’s Reach
- The Last Priest
- Big Bang
- Eternity’s Gate
Read on to see why we’ve narrowed these down as the best weapons in Starfield, and how you can get your hands on them.
Sir Livingstone’s Pistol
Sir Livingstone’s Pistol is a unique and powerful early-game weapon in Starfield, obtainable within the first hour of gameplay but only if the player has selected the Kid Stuff trait. After completing the main quest “One Small Step,” players can receive this pistol as a gift from their father during a visit to their parents’ home. The pistol comes pre-equipped with two special mods-a large magazine and high velocity-making it highly effective with decent physical damage, accuracy, and fire rate. While it can be customized with up to four mods, it remains a reliable sidearm for early to mid-game combat and holds significant value both as a collectible and a functional weapon.
Weapon type: Pistol
How to get it: Gift from parents
It may seem like an odd choice to kick off a list of the best weapons in Starfield with perhaps the most basic pistol you’ve ever seen, but this is an excellent choice for anyone who picks the Kid Stuff trait at the start of the game. After you’ve done a main mission or two – and once you’ve met your parents for the first time and told them you’re part of Constellation now – they will show up uninvited at The Lodge after Noel lets them in. Your dad will present Sir Livingstone’s Pistol to you as a gift.
There’s nothing too special about this gun, other than it being a very reliable sidearm that does a decent amount of damage while you’re still at a fairly low level – mostly because it’s equipped with a compensator, large magazine, and high-velocity ammo by default. It does use .45 caliber rounds, though, which aren’t the most frequent to stumble upon, so you may need to stock up at a vendor every now and then.
Magshot
The Magshot is a powerful ballistic pistol in Starfield, known for firing three projectiles per round using .43 MI Array ammo. It excels in short-range combat with decent accuracy despite its lower fire rate and range. Players can find the Magshot by defeating Ecliptic and Pirate enemies, looting weapon cases, or purchasing it from the Rowland Arms shop in Akila City. The weapon is highly customizable with up to six mod slots, allowing enhancements like depleted uranium rounds for armor penetration and laser sights for improved accuracy. Its damage scales with quality tiers, from common to advanced, making it a versatile choice for various combat scenarios.
Weapon type: Pistol
How to get it: Loot
By far the best basic pistol I’ve used in the game, the Magshot is essentially a futuristic revolver that can kill many common enemies with one shot. It is the definition of a hand cannon and, in lieu of Starfield not having many excellent long-range weapons, any Magshot pistol can essentially double as a rifle.
There is a unique version of the Magshot called Trickshot, which is acquired by looting a fallen mech during the United Colonies faction mission “War Relics.” The Trickshot’s special perk is that every fourth shot fires two bullets at once. If you can get the Trickshot, it’s definitely the best Magshot available, but any Magshot will be a worthy addition to your arsenal.
Experiment A-7
Experiment A-7 is a unique and powerful shotgun in Starfield, known for its high damage output and special perks. It is obtained during the main quest “Entangled” by persuading the character Ethan on the planet Freya III, making it a missable but highly sought-after weapon. The shotgun uses 15×25 CLL Shells and comes pre-equipped with six high-tier mods, including Flechette Rounds and a Reflex Sight, enhancing its damage and accuracy. Its standout feature is the “Exterminator” perk, which grants +30% damage against alien enemies, making it especially effective in combat against extraterrestrial foes. Due to its rarity and mod capacity, Experiment A-7 remains a top choice for close-range engagements throughout the game.
Weapon type: Shotgun
How to get it: Pass a persuasion check during the main mission “Entangled”
The Experiment A-7 shotgun is so good, it is a wonder that it’s so easy to acquire. Fairly late in the main story, you’ll play one of the most compelling missions in the entire game, “Entangled.” When you phase behind Ethan in his security office, you can ask him if he has any tools for dealing with the aliens. Pass a persuasion check and he will gift you Experiment A-7, the strongest shotgun I’ve had the pleasure of using.
This unique shotgun deals 131 damage and already comes with six out of eight mods installed, including a reflex sight, tactical stock, fully automatic firing, and flechette rounds. It also has the Exterminator perk, which deals 30% damage against aliens – a no-brainer given the context in which you receive the weapon – but don’t let that fool you, as this shotgun is more than suitable to deal with human foes too.
Gallow’s Reach
Gallow’s Reach is a rare unique variant of the Old Earth Assault Rifle in Starfield, notable for its high value and versatility. It uses 7.62mm ammunition and deals 16.5 physical damage, with a magazine size of 30 rounds and a fire rate of 150, making it effective at medium range. The weapon comes pre-equipped with five modifications, including an ergonomic grip, laser sight, muzzle brake, reflex sight, and armor-piercing rounds, enhancing accuracy, stability, and armor penetration. Additionally, it has the chance to inflict poison damage that slows targets, making it highly effective in combat. Players can obtain Gallow’s Reach during the main quest “No Sudden Moves” by looting Petrov’s room. Its combination of solid base stats and mod potential makes it a top choice for players seeking a powerful and adaptable rifle in both PC and Xbox versions of the game.
Weapon type: Rifle
How to get it: Loot from Captain Petrov’s vault on The Scow ship
There’s nothing better than a trusty AK-47. Gallow’s Reach is the unique version of the Old Earth Assault Rifle, which isn’t a bad weapon on its own, but the unique offering blows it out of the water. When you’re on The Scow during the main mission “No Sudden Moves,” you must get into Captain Petrov’s personal quarters. This is easily done after you steal the artifact and shoot Petrov enough to the point where he calls off his guards. Then you can wander round The Scow, looting anything you please. Gallow’s Reach is in Captain Petrov’s room, in a locked safe.
What makes Gallow’s Reach so good is the Poison perk. It “randomly deals poison damage and slows the target,” making it the top choice when dealing with high-level enemies that take more than just a couple of shots to go down. Additionally, it comes packed with five mods, including armor-piercing rounds, an ergonomic grip, and a reflex sight.
The Last Priest
The Last Priest is one of the best melee weapons in Starfield, known as a unique variant of the Va’ruun Painblade. It is a one-handed close-range weapon that randomly deals elemental damage, making it highly effective in combat. Players can obtain The Last Priest by progressing through the Constellation main quest line and siding with the Hunter during the “Unearthed” mission. Completing the side quest “Infinity’s End” by either assassinating Keeper Aquilus or convincing the Hunter that Aquilus is dead rewards the player with this powerful weapon. Its high base damage and elemental effects make it a top choice for melee-focused builds in the game.
Weapon type: Melee
How to get it: Complete the “Infinity’s End” side quest and carry out The Hunter’s orders
This can’t be a list of the best weapons without a melee option, so to that end, we have The Last Priest. This one isn’t available to everyone – you must side with The Hunter over The Emissary during “Unearthed,” which will give you the quest “Infinity’s End.” Without spoiling too much, The Hunter will ask you to do something. You can either do it. Or, you can not do it but pass a persuasion check with The Hunter afterward telling him you did do it. Either of these options will get you The Last Priest as a reward.
There’s not too much to say about The Last Priest other than the fact that it has high damage and the Elemental perk, which does a lot of heavy lifting. Elemental “randomly deals corrosive, radiation, poison, and incendiary damage,” for a real cocktail of fun. Perfect for anyone doing a melee-only playthrough.
[Ed. note: Spoilers follow for Starfield.]
Big Bang
The Big Bang is a powerful particle beam shotgun manufactured by CombaTech in Starfield, known for delivering a devastating combination of physical and energy damage. It features an 8-shot Heavy Particle Fuse magazine and can be modded with lethal Annihilator Rounds to quickly eliminate enemies. This weapon is highly effective in close quarters and benefits from multiple weapon skill perks, making it versatile against human, alien, and robotic foes. Players can obtain the Big Bang by defeating higher-level Pirates and Spacers in star systems level 20 and above, as well as from weapon cases, racks, and shops after reaching level 23. Its high damage output and modding potential make it one of the best shotguns in the game, capable of turning difficult combat encounters into manageable ones.
Weapon type: Particle beam shotgun
How to get it: Loot the forward operating base during the “Hostile Intelligence” mission
If you join up with the United Colonies faction, the “Hostile Intelligence” quest – which comes eight missions into the quest line – will send you to Londinium. It’s a fairly self-contained area. that just so happens to be full of Terrormorphs – widely held up as the toughest enemies in the game. At the start of the mission, you’ll be able to loot some of the heaviest ordinance in Starfield. In our testing, that includes Big Bang shotgun.
Look: This thing is powerful enough to take down Terrormorphs. If it can do that, it can do basically anything. Better yet, it deals both physical and energy damage, making it effective against pretty much all enemy types. Even though the Big Bang is fairly heavy for a shotgun, clocking in at 7kg, it’s worth it.
Eternity’s Gate
Eternity’s Gate is a legendary Particle Beam Rifle in Starfield, widely regarded as one of the best weapons in the game. It is a unique variant of the Va’ruun Inflictor and comes equipped with powerful perks like Skip Shot, Handloading, and Anti-Personnel, along with several useful mods such as a Long Barrel and Recon Laser Sight. Players can obtain Eternity’s Gate by making specific choices in the main questline, particularly by siding with the Hunter or neither faction during the “Unearthed” mission, which leads to a final boss fight where the weapon can be looted from the Emissary’s corpse. Its high energy damage, accuracy, and volatile rounds make it a formidable rifle for both long-range combat and critical hits.
Weapon type: Particle beam rifle
How to get it: Defeat The Emissary at the end of “Revelation”
Finally, we have arguably the best weapon in the entire game, Eternity’s Gate. Again, this one requires siding with The Hunter in “Unearthed,” and then, when you eventually make it to the standoff against The Emissary during the “Revelation” mission, you must defeat them. There is an option to end this peacefully by passing a persuasion check – which is the route I foolishly took the first time around – but doing so means that you won’t receive Eternity’s Gate, so bear that in mind.
Eternity’s Gate is a legendary particle beam rifle that has three perks and six mods, all of which combine to make this weapon a force to be reckoned with. Like the aforementioned Trickshot, the fourth shot of Eternity’s Gate fires two projectiles at once. In addition, the rifle has volatile rounds that pack a bigger punch (though they do have the chance to fail), and it does 10% damage against humans. It’s worth noting that siding with The Emissary and defeating The Hunter does offer a counterpart to Eternity’s Gate – a legendary laser rifle called Unmitigated Violence – but we found Eternity’s Gate to be slightly better.
Which weapon in Starfield offers the best balance of power and versatility
The weapon in Starfield that offers the best balance of power and versatility is widely considered to be the Va’ Ruun Inflictor particle beam rifle. It outperforms other top contenders like the Advanced Magshear in almost every category except fire rate, boasting higher DPS, accuracy, and range. Additionally, it benefits from the scoped weapons perk, which boosts damage by 50% when aiming down sights, making it a powerful and adaptable choice for various combat scenarios.
Other versatile options include the Equinox Laser Rifle, known for its high fire rate, accuracy, and range, making it effective at dropping enemies quickly before the clip empties, despite its smaller magazine size. For a more balanced shotgun option, the Pacifier shotgun stands out due to its lightweight titanium build and slug shots that deal significant damage at a distance, offering versatility in close to mid-range combat.
Finally, ballistic rifles in general are noted for their balanced damage, accuracy, and firing rate, making them reliable all-around weapons suitable for most situations, with the Peacekeeper being a customizable unique variant early in the game.
In summary, the Va’ Ruun Inflictor is the top pick for power and versatility, with the Equinox and Pacifier providing strong alternatives depending on your preferred combat style.
What weapon type in Starfield best balances damage and adaptability for different enemies
The weapon type in Starfield that best balances damage and adaptability for different enemies is the shotgun, particularly models like the Pacifier and Big Bang. Shotguns offer unrivaled stopping power and versatility due to their ability to deal both physical and energy damage, which helps drain enemy shields while also damaging health, making them effective against a wide range of foes.
Additionally, energy weapons like laser rifles (e.g., the Equinox) provide excellent accuracy, range, and fire rate, making them adaptable for various combat scenarios, especially against shielded enemies. Meanwhile, electromagnetic (EM) weapons excel against robotic and turret enemies by stunning them quickly, though they are less effective against humans.
In summary, shotguns stand out as the most balanced weapon type for overall damage and adaptability, with laser rifles and EM weapons serving specialized but effective roles depending on enemy type.
