S‑tier: weapons you build your loadout around
R‑99
R‑99 is again one of the best guns in the game. It has:
- extremely high rate of fire and top‑tier close‑range time‑to‑kill;
- great hipfire for sliding and wall‑climbing fights;
- strong synergy with movement legends who like to full‑send (Octane, Horizon, Wraith).
With the Breach rework pushing more tight interior skirmishes around Hardlight Mesh and enclosed control points, the R‑99’s ability to delete one enemy in under a second is priceless.
C.A.R. SMG
C.A.R. stays insane because it accepts both Light and Heavy ammo, making it much easier to keep fed in late‑game.
Key strengths:
- close‑range DPS comparable to the R‑99;
- more manageable recoil and better mid‑range performance;
- flexible ammo options so you can run Heavy main (Flatline/Nemesis) and still never run dry.
For many high‑level players, C.A.R. is the single best all‑round SMG this season.
R‑301
Even after countless seasons, R‑301 remains the gold standard AR.
Why it’s S‑tier again:
- minimal recoil, extremely easy to control;
- consistent damage at mid‑range, especially with 2x–3x optics;
- strong hipfire for close‑range backup if your SMG is dry.
In Season 28, where some marksmen got hit and poke is weaker, being able to reliably beam at 30–60 meters without committing to a sniper is huge.
HAVOC (with Turbocharger)
The big winner of Breach is the HAVOC.
Changes that pushed it up:
- Turbocharger is easier and cheaper to unlock in the crafting system, so more players actually run it.
- With Turbo, HAVOC has one of the best close‑to‑mid TTKs in the game - it absolutely shreds armor if you control the recoil.
It does require:
- good tracking and recoil management;
- awareness of heat and spin‑up if you ever have to shoot without Turbo.
In the right hands, though, HAVOC rivals or outperforms the Flatline and even melts faster than some SMGs.
G7 Scout (Care Package)
The G7 Scout got moved into Care Package and buffed for the role.
Package version perks:
- increased damage and fire rate;
- built‑in Double Tap and better optics;
- insane poke and finishing power at mid‑long range.
It’s not always available, but when you get it, treat it like a hybrid between an AR and a sniper that can safely farm damage and crack multiple teams in end zone.
Kraber
Nothing really changed: Kraber is still Kraber.
- one‑shot headshot potential;
- huge threat zone whenever someone has it.
Limited ammo and rarity keeps it from dominating every match, but in terms of raw power it clearly belongs at the top.
A‑tier: very strong, just a bit more situational
VK‑47 Flatline
Flatline has slightly higher recoil and slower handling than the R‑301, but it pays you back with bigger damage per bullet and great hipfire.
Use it if:
- you can control its pattern with 1x/2x optics;
- you prefer aggressive mid‑range pushes, not just safe poke.
In Breach’s tighter zones, it’s one of the best guns for crashing a team that’s stuck behind Hardlight Mesh.
Nemesis
Nemesis remains a top‑tier energy AR with burst behavior.
Strengths:
- strong burst damage, rewarding short exposure peeks;
- decent hipfire and excellent mid‑range pressure;
- pairs extremely well with SMGs in close range.
Even with tuning passes, its burst TTK is scary, especially if you’re good at pre‑charging before swinging.
Volt SMG
Volt is the more precision‑focused SMG:
- smoother recoil than R‑99;
- better damage stick at 20-40 meters;
- slightly lower raw DPS up close but easier beams.
Volt is ideal if you don’t like R‑99 spray and want a gun that lets you cleanly one‑clip people at mid‑range.
Prowler
Prowler is a monster in the hands of players who can consistently land bursts.
- hipfire is excellent;
- burst damage punishes anyone peeking short angles;
- works great as a close‑range second slot to an AR.
It’s less forgiving than a full‑auto SMG, so it lands in A tier rather than S, but in tight Breach tunnels it’s terrifying.
Devotion
Devotion benefits from the same environment as HAVOC: close‑range chaos and easier energy ammo management.
- With Turbocharger it spits bullets at absurd speed;
- Without Turbo it’s still strong if you pre‑fire around corners;
- Magazine size and DPS make it ideal for team‑wipe moments when multiple enemies swing.
It’s just harder to handle and slower to start, so you don’t always see it over ARs and SMGs.
Peacekeeper, Mastiff, EVA-8
Shotguns as a class are better this season.
Common buffs include:
- tighter pellet spread;
- tweak to pellet damage;
- better handling with hop‑ups (Dual Shell, Double Tap, etc.).
Peacekeeper is the king of high‑burst peek shots around doors and corners; Mastiff is more forgiving in frantic brawls; EVA‑8 has the best sustained DPS if you track well. All three are A‑tier backups if you can consistently get within 5–10 meters.
Sentinel and Wingman
Despite general nerfs to marksmen, Sentinel and Wingman remain strong skill weapons.
- Sentinel:
- powerful body and headshot damage;
- charge mechanic still allows huge armor breaking;
- better when you like to hold power positions and punish peeks.
- Wingman:
- high mobility and ADS strafing;
- works well with ADS movement tech;
- rewards headshot accuracy with brutal TTK.
They’re not as brainless as spamming an AR, but for confident aimers they absolutely earn A tier.
B‑tier: playable and sometimes great, but not meta staples
Hemlok
Hemlok sits in a strange middle spot:
- burst mode is okay, but overshadowed by Nemesis;
- full‑auto is usable but not best‑in‑slot at any range.
It’s fine if you find it early, but most players will swap to Flatline, Nemesis or 301 as soon as they can.
Alternator
Alternator is the “comfort SMG”:
- easy recoil and decent hipfire;
- solid but not explosive DPS.
It’s a good early‑game weapon and fine in casuals, but in ranked its slower TTK makes it worse than R‑99/C.A.R./Volt in most fights.
Spitfire
Spitfire got pushed out of the spotlight by Devotion and better ARs.
Pros:
- massive mag size;
- forgiving spray, good for suppression.
Cons:
- lower DPS;
- clunkier movement and slower ADS.
Used mostly as entry spray for new players or if you’re playing very safe anchor roles.
Triple Take, Longbow
Even though Triple Take remains flexible and Longbow is a classic sniper, overall long‑range poke is weaker this season due to weapon tuning and the Breach map structure.
They’re fine if:
- you’re playing support on open maps;
- your squad wants a dedicated long-range gun.
But often, carrying a strong AR plus a shotgun/SMG is more responsive to how fights actually play out in Season 28.
EVA‑8, Mozambique, RE‑45
These are all usable and can clutch fights, especially Mozambique with hammerpoint or RE‑45 as a quick sidearm, but:
- their ceiling is lower than Peacekeeper/Mastiff;
- they’re usually placeholders until you find better weapons.
C‑tier: niche or clearly outclassed
Rampage
Rampage once dominated poke, but now:
- charge mechanics feel clunky;
- damage and impact are outclassed by better ARs and Devotion at most ranges.
It can still work for defensive hold comps, but it’s not recommended in serious ranked play.
L‑STAR
L‑STAR continues to struggle:
- awkward recoil pattern and projectiles;
- worse feel and damage consistency than Devotion or ARs.
Good only if you’re forced to pick it up early and haven’t found anything else.
30‑30 Repeater and Charge Rifle
Both got hit by balancing changes that specifically targeted frustrating long‑range play.
- 30‑30: slower fire rate/nerfed damage makes it weaker as a spammable mid‑range gun.
- Charge Rifle: still annoying, but less efficient for farming damage; hard to justify over G7 (if CP) or a solid AR.
You can still meme with them, but they don’t line up with this season’s aggressive, close‑range meta.
Practical loadout advice for Season 28
Because Breach and current balance push fights into short and mid‑range, the strongest loadouts follow a simple pattern: one beam gun + one brawl gun.
Good examples:
- R‑301 or Flatline + Peacekeeper / Mastiff - classic competitive setup: stable beams and reliable door‑peek one‑pumps.
- R‑99 or C.A.R. + Nemesis / HAVOC - ultra‑aggressive duos that delete people at any range under ~60 meters if you control recoil.
- Devotion or HAVOC + Volt / Prowler - high‑risk, high‑DPS loadouts for confident players and coordinated squads.