Surviving relentless zombie waves demands fire discipline, strategic movement, and superior firepower. Pinpointing the Those Who Remain best weapons is the difference between extracting cleanly with massive payouts and being overrun on wave nine. Without adequate penetration, high-capacity magazines, and favorable ammo economy, even skilled survivors quickly run dry when swarms crowd choke points.
Mastering the Those Who Remain best weapons enables you to solo free-run maps, tear down bloated threats, and anchor defensive positions across Classic, Hardcore, and Endless modes. Drawing from community weapon polls, damage testing, and high-wave survivor reports, this guide breaks down top-performing firearms across every tier, their concrete statistics, and the exact upgrade sequence you should follow from level 1 to level 150.
Primary Weapon Tier Rankings and Statistics
Choosing a primary weapon requires evaluating raw damage, penetration value, reload duration, and ammo pickup efficiency. Weapons that fail to collect adequate ammunition per crate rapidly deplete your reserves during extended waves.
Community consensus places high-capacity belt-fed machine guns at the pinnacle of survivability, with specialized assault rifles serving as agile alternatives for free-running survivors.
| Weapon | Class | Unlock Level | Magazine / Belt Size | Penetration | Ammo Pickup | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG42 | Machine Gun | Level 150 | 75 rounds | 6 | 75 rounds | Unmatched 1,200 RPM fire rate and 50 base damage |
| M60 | Machine Gun | Late Game | 100 rounds | 4 | 100 rounds | Unmatched 1:1 ammo box efficiency; massive 100-round belt |
| Mk18 | Assault Rifle | Late Game | 30 rounds | 4 | 30 rounds | Higher damage than M60, rapid reload, optic sight |
| RPK | Light Machine Gun | Mid Game | 40 rounds | High | 40 rounds | Red dot sight, upgraded AK penetration, free-run mobility |
| LWRC IC PSD | Carbine | Mid Game | 60 rounds | Moderate | Drum capacity | 60-round drum, high fire rate, lower recoil than AK-47 |
| AK-47 | Assault Rifle | Level 38 | 30 rounds | Moderate | 30 rounds | Heavy bullet punch, reliable mid-game clearing |
| SKO Shorty | Shotgun | Level 33 | Mag-fed | Low | 10 rounds | Rapid semi-automatic cycle rate, detachable magazine |
| SAP 6 | Shotgun | Level 20 | 6+1 rounds | Low | Moderate | Tight pellet spread, detachable box magazine |
| Flamethrower | Heavy / Special | Varies | Continuous | N/A | High efficiency | Grants flat +3 to +13 XP and cash bonus per tick |
When evaluating the Those Who Remain best weapons in the primary category, raw DPS must be balanced against reload safety windows. A gun dealing tremendous burst damage will get you killed if you are caught flat-footed during a seven-second reload animation.
Top Heavy Hitters: Why Machine Guns Reign Supreme
Machine guns form the meta baseline for late-game play. Players consistently highlight that the gap between rifles and general-purpose machine guns widens dramatically as wave counters scale upward. Examining why machine guns dominate the Those Who Remain best weapons roster reveals a combination of immense reserve pools, bullet penetration, and sustained suppressive capability.
MG42: The Ultimate Late-Game Meat Grinder
Unlocked at level 150, the MG42 stands as the most devastating primary weapon in the armory. Community weapon reviews cite its blisteringly high cycle rate of 1,200 rounds per minute—double the rate of the M60.
- Base Damage & Penetration: Approximately 50 damage per shot paired with a class-leading penetration value of 6, punching clean through stacked enemy files.
- Capacity & Reserves: Fed from a 75-round belt with 225 spare rounds, yielding 300 total rounds ready for deployment.
- Handling Characteristics: Features clean, unobtrusive iron sights, though sustained fully automatic fire produces heavy vertical recoil.
- Reload Duration: Roughly 7 seconds standard, reducible to approximately 5 seconds when running the Brisk perk.
Survivor experience indicates that tap-firing the MG42 preserves accuracy at range, while full-auto bursts instantly shred choke points in Hardcore and Endless modes.
M60: The Uncontested King of Ammo Economy
Before unlocking the MG42, the M60 is widely regarded as the most reliable primary weapon for team camping and objective defense. It functions as an unyielding wall against massive hordes.
- Sustained Firepower: Features a 100-round belt with 100 rounds in reserve, giving survivors 200 total rounds.
- Flawless Ammo Yield: Yields a full 100 rounds per ammo box pickup. While standard rifles like the AK-47 only receive 30 rounds, the M60 restores half its total capacity in a single pickup.
- Recoil & Sights: Displays surprisingly low, predictable recoil even during extended automatic fire, offset slightly by a boxy rectangular sight picture.
- Damage Profile: Deals approximately 40 damage with a penetration rating of 4.
The primary weakness of the M60 lies in its lengthy 6.5 to 7-second reload window. Players caught reloading without teammate cover or defensive deployables risk taking heavy swarm damage.
Mk18 vs. M60: Agility Versus Capacity
For survivors who prefer mobile hit-and-run tactics over static camping, the late-game Mk18 offers an intriguing alternative to the heavy M60.
Community testing shows the Mk18 actually deals slightly more single-bullet damage than the M60 while matching its penetration rating of 4. Equipped with a clean red dot optic, the Mk18 provides superior target acquisition and significantly snappier reloads.
However, its standard 30-round magazine and 150-round total reserve require frequent reloads, making it far more ammo-hungry than the M60.
Mid-Game Workhorses and Early-Game Shotguns
Navigating the early and middle tiers requires balancing weapon cost against clearing capability. You do not need to wait until level 150 to access reliable horde clearers.
The Shotgun Tier: SAP 6 and SKO Shorty
Early survival hinges on high single-shot damage to conserve scarce ammo.
- SAP 6 (Level 20): Community polls frequently cite the SAP 6 as the premier early-game firearm. Utilizing a 6+1 box magazine rather than a slow tube-loading mechanism, it pairs high pellet damage with a relatively tight spread, making it ideal for clearing early Classic waves.
- SKO Shorty (Level 33): The SKO Shorty trades pump action for semi-automatic fire. Boasting the fastest fire rate among shotguns, it clears emergency breaches instantly. However, players note its loose pellet spread and meager 10-round ammo pickup efficiency make it drop off in effectiveness as waves stretch past round 10.
Mid-Tier Rifles: AK-47, RPK, and LWRC IC PSD
Transitioning into mid-game waves requires automatic weapons capable of penetrating multiple ranks.
- AK-47 (Level 38): A rugged baseline weapon chambered in a heavier caliber than early carbines. It provides punchy headshot damage and 30-round pickups, though small iron sights and high vertical climb demand controlled burst fire.
- RPK: Acting as a direct upgrade to the AK-47, the RPK adds a 40-round magazine, enhanced bullet penetration, higher base damage, and a red dot sight. Despite heavier recoil and slower reloads, community runners favor it as the premier mid-game gun for solo looping.
- LWRC IC PSD: Derived from the M4 platform, this weapon introduces a massive 60-round drum magazine. Delivering lower recoil and higher cycle rates than the AK-47, it serves as a flexible all-rounder capable of handling standard Classic and introductory Hardcore waves.
Best Secondary Weapons for Tight Spots
Carrying a reliable secondary is essential for staying alive during weapon dry-fires or tactical repositioning. Switching to a sidearm is significantly faster than enduring a six-second machine gun reload. Rounding out your loadout with the Those Who Remain best weapons for sidearms gives you an immediate emergency bailout option.
M320 Grenade Launcher
Widely acclaimed across community guides as the most potent secondary in the game, the M320 fires high-explosive rounds capable of obliterating tightly packed clusters. Survivor reports emphasize reserving M320 rounds strictly for emergency extractions or when trapped against geometry by sprinting hordes.
High-Impact Pistols and Machine Pistols
For sustained backup fire, secondary sidearms fall into two primary roles:
- Desert Eagle: Demands a steep rank and cash investment, but delivers devastating single-target stopping power, dropping heavy infected in minimal shots.
- TEC-9 and Micro Uzi: Machine pistols offering rapid burst delivery. The extended 50-round drum variant of the Uzi provides exceptional spray capacity when clearing an escape route.
- Super Shorty: A compact shotgun secondary favored by early-game survivors to finish off close-range targets without spending primary ammunition.
Optimal Weapon Progression Route
To reach late-game viability without wasting cash on underperforming sidegrades, veteran speedrunners utilize a strictly optimized purchase order. Progressing systematically ensures you possess the firepower needed for each tier jump.
- Mossberg 500: Acquire this starter shotgun immediately. Use it to headshot basic civilian infected and bloaters during early waves while stockpiling funds.
- AK-47 (Level 38): Purchase once unlocked to gain full-automatic capability, improved wave clearing, and stable 30-round ammo crate yields.
- RPK: Upgrade from the AK-47 to secure the 40-round capacity, increased bullet penetration, and integrated optic necessary for solo free-running.
- M60: Buy as soon as late-game funds permit. The M60 transitions you into endless wave holding thanks to its 100-round belt and 100-round crate returns.
- MG42 (Level 150): Complete the final progression milestone. The MG42 provides unmatched 1,200 RPM clearing power to handle maximum-difficulty waves.
Securing the Those Who Remain best weapons throughout your leveling journey prevents unnecessary deaths and maximizes round completion payouts.
Specialized Loadouts for Endless Mode and Level Grinding
Surviving Endless mode to farm cash and experience requires tailored equipment synergies. A popular strategy documented by high-level players pairs the Flamethrower with heavy area-denial equipment on maps like Market.
The Flamethrower and Barbed Wire Strategy
The Flamethrower functions differently from conventional ballistic weaponry. Rather than relying on headshot multipliers, it applies persistent damage ticks across entire clusters.
- Economy Boost: Player testing demonstrates that the Flamethrower grants a unique bonus ranging between +3 and +13 XP and cash per damage tick, vastly out-earning traditional headshot bonuses.
- Defensive Choke Stacking: Position four barbed wire obstacles across primary window spawn points. The wire slows incoming infected while dealing passive damage.
- Perk Synergy: Equip Playmaker (extra clap bomb), Wire to Fire (two additional barbed wire pieces), and Carpenter (accelerated building speed) to fortify defensive perimeters before waves commence.
- Backup Firepower: Pair the Flamethrower with the M320 secondary to eliminate rogue infected that slip past your wire perimeter.
Survivor guides note that running this setup on a private Endless server can net upwards of 600,000 cash and 300,000 XP across 25 waves, providing the resources needed to afford top-tier armory purchases. To check developer patch notes and track server updates, review the official Those Who Remain Roblox page hosted by Peak Development Studios.
Leveraging the Those Who Remain best weapons for high-wave endless runs guarantees consistent survival while minimizing unnecessary risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the absolute Those Who Remain best weapons for wave clearing?
The top weapons for wave clearing are the MG42 and the M60. The MG42 delivers the highest DPS in the game with a 1,200 RPM fire rate, 50 damage, and 6 penetration. The M60 serves as the most reliable workhorse, featuring a 100-round belt and unmatched ammo economy with 100 rounds returned per supply pickup.
Why is ammo pickup efficiency so critical in Those Who Remain?
Ammo pickups replenish ammunition based on weapon-specific formulas rather than universal pool totals. Rifles like the AK-47 only receive 30 rounds per crate, while the M60 collects a full 100 rounds. Weapons with poor pickup rates, such as the SKO Shorty or Mosin Nagant, quickly run dry during high-density waves, leaving survivors defenseless.
Is the MG42 worth buying if I already own the M60?
For standard Classic mode, the M60 provides more than enough firepower to clear wave 10. However, if you regularly run Hardcore mode, Endless mode, or struggle with fast horde clear at choke points, the MG42 is well worth the purchase due to its doubled fire rate and superior penetration.
Which secondary weapon should I pair with a machine gun primary?
The M320 grenade launcher is widely considered the ideal secondary pairing. Because machine guns like the M60 and MG42 suffer from long 6.5 to 7-second reload animations, the M320 provides instant explosive crowd clearance to escape when trapped in corners.