Rainbow Six Siege keeps evolving, and every season introduces new changes that define which guns dominate the meta. The most recent changes have introduced new loadouts, recoil adjustments, and attachment tweaks that have shifted long-standing favorites up or down the rankings.
This Rainbow Six Siege best weapons tier list will highlight every currently trending gun to help you choose the right weapon for your rank grin. Gun’s power isn’t just about stats - it’s about how efficiently it performs in real match situations across both attacker and defender roles.
This guide ranks the best primary weapons in Siege right now, combining both sides into a single competitive hierarchy. You’ll see which rifles, SMGs, and LMGs outperform the rest, why they earn their spots, and which attachments or playstyles make them shine.
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Best Rainbow Six Siege Weapons

As you can see, meta is currently dominated by ARs and SMGs. Let’s look at the table of the Best Rainbow Six Siege weapons closely and give each one a quick summary:
|
Tier |
Weapon |
Type |
Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
|
S |
AK-12 |
Assault Rifle |
Exceptional DPS, strong burst accuracy, top overall pick |
|
S |
MP7 |
SMG |
Unmatched close-range consistency, great mobility |
|
S |
R4-C |
Assault Rifle |
Meta staple with excellent control and reliability |
|
S |
C8-SFW |
Assault Rifle |
Flexible utility and high fire rate for close-quarters fights |
|
S |
ALDA 5.56 |
LMG |
Anchor powerhouse with monstrous magazine size |
|
A |
M4 |
Assault Rifle |
Well-balanced rifle, ideal for all skill levels and situations |
|
A |
AR33 |
Assault Rifle |
Consistent recoil, clean sight picture, strong at range |
|
A |
UZK50GI |
Hybrid Rifle |
Superb recoil control, very forgiving |
|
A |
Commando 9 |
Assault Rifle |
Fast ADS and smooth handling, versatile choice |
|
A |
V308 |
Assault Rifle |
Low recoil and precise accuracy at mid-range |
|
A |
MP5K |
SMG |
Great control and flexibility, solid anchor weapon |
|
B |
ARX200 |
Assault Rifle |
High damage, heavy recoil; rewarding for skilled players |
|
B |
F90 |
Assault Rifle |
Easy to use but slightly outclassed by top rifles |
|
B |
9x19VSN |
SMG |
Solid stats but limited impact in long-range fights |
|
B |
Vector .45 ACP |
SMG |
Devastating close-quarters spray, range-restricted |
|
B |
Type-89 |
Assault Rifle |
Good burst potential, small magazine limits sustained fire |
|
B |
SC3000K |
Assault Rifle |
Hard-hitting rifle requiring strong recoil discipline |
|
C |
PDW9 |
SMG |
High mag capacity but low per-shot power |
|
C |
Spear .308 |
Rifle |
Decent mid-range hybrid; overshadowed by stronger picks |
|
C |
Shotguns (general) |
- |
Powerful situationally, weak beyond close range |
|
D |
Generally weak primaries |
- |
Poor stats or heavy handling drawbacks; rarely viable |
This list is built based on the versatility and general popularity of the weapon. Now, let us examine each tier and its respective guns more in-depth:
S-Tier Weapons Explained
The S-Tier represents the current apex of Siege gunplay - the rifles and SMGs that dominate both ranked and competitive matches. What makes these guns R6 Siege's best weapons in 2025 is their versatility - good handling, recoil patterns, and the ability to deal respectable damage at any range.
AK-12

This gun still remains the gold standard for raw damage output and control potential. Its fire rate and solid headshot multiplier make it deadly in almost any scenario. When managed with burst fire and a vertical grip, the AK-12 melts defenders before they can react. It demands steady aim, but players who master it can secure round-deciding kills with ease.
Recommended setup: Muzzle brake, vertical grip, 1.5× optic.
MP7

Compact, controllable, and lethal. The MP7 remains one of the most R6 Siege optimal weapons due to its recoil stability and excellent time-to-kill up close. It’s ideal for roamers or anchors holding tight angles. Its high fire rate shreds even armored attackers, and its low recoil keeps aim true under pressure.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, laser sight, reflex optic.
R4-C

A workhorse rifle that incorporates everything Siege’s best weapons need - power, stability, and versatility. Its steady recoil pattern and responsive handling make it a favorite for fraggers who want predictable spray control. The R4-C’s fast ADS speed lets players win close fights without sacrificing mid-range consistency.
Recommended setup: Compensator, angled grip, holographic sight.
C8-SFW

Easily one of Rainbow 6 Siege’s best assault rifles. This weapon is designed for maximum flexibility in any situation. It offers a great balance of damage, rate of fire, and control, but its biggest advantage is adaptability - especially with its under-barrel shotgun option. You can breach and instantly swap to primary fire to eliminate enemies. It rewards creative entries and aggressive utility use.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, vertical grip, red-dot sight.
ALDA 5.56

The signature LMG for defending objectives. Its massive magazine (80 + rounds) and steady recoil make it perfect for holding lines or stalling pushes. You can pre-fire choke points without reloading for long stretches. While its weight reduces mobility, its sustained-fire potential can single-handedly deny a push.
Recommended setup: Extended barrel, vertical grip, 1.5× sight.
A-Tier Weapons Explained
A-tier guns are reliable, high-performing picks just shy of meta-defining dominance. They excel in most situations and are easier to master than S-tier counterparts.
M4

A strong contender for the best weapon in R6 Siege title. This universal AR is many players' favorite due to its balance of recoil control, damage, and ergonomics. It’s the “no-bad-maps” rifle that performs well everywhere. The M4 lacks the potential extremes of the AK-12 but feels smoother and safer in most firefights.
Recommended setup: Compensator, vertical grip, 1.5× or 2× sight.
AR33

Once underrated, now a solid A-tierer thanks to its precision and low recoil. It’s excellent for long angles and crossfires, trading a bit of raw DPS for better sustained accuracy.
Recommended setup: Muzzle brake, angled grip, 2.0× optic.
UZK50GI

This hybrid rifle-SMG excels at consistency. Its steady recoil makes it forgiving under pressure, and its manageable spray lets players focus less on the crosshair correction.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, vertical grip, reflex optic.
MP5K

One of the Rainbow Six Siege best SMGs, this gun is still a defender favorite. With controllable recoil and clean sights, it’s dependable in almost every scenario. Its effective range is slightly shorter than other rifles, but its stability compensates.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, vertical grip, reflex optic.
Commando 9

A lightweight rifle with snappy handling. Great for players who rely on quick peeks and repositioning. Its DPS is respectable, and its recoil control allows consistent headshot chains.
Recommended setup: Compensator, angled grip, 1.5× optic.
V308

Built for players who prize precision over chaos. It’s easy to control, allowing laser-accurate bursts at medium range. While it loses to the AK-12 or R4-C in raw output, its consistency in prolonged engagements makes it deadly.
Recommended setup: Muzzle brake, vertical grip, 2.0× sight.
B-Tier Weapons Explained
B-Tier guns are in a weird place in the R6 weapon meta - they are still solid but situational. They can still dominate in good players' hands or on certain maps, but they’re less forgiving and less versatile overall.
ARX200

Incredibly high per-shot damage balanced by noticeable recoil. Skilled players can make it look top-tier, but average players may struggle with control.
Recommended setup: Muzzle brake, vertical grip, 1.5× sight.
F90

An accessible, well-rounded rifle that does most things right but nothing exceptionally. Its ease of use makes it great for consistent support play, but not standout fragging.
Recommended setup: Compensator, vertical grip, red-dot sight.
9x19VSN

Reliable SMG for defenders, but limited in versatility and power compared to top picks. Works best in predictable short-range fights.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, laser sight.
Vector .45 ACP

A monster at close range thanks to its insane fire rate - but its recoil and damage drop-off make it ineffective at distance, placing it in the lower tiers of our Rainbow Six Siege gun tier list.
Recommended setup: Compensator, laser, reflex.
Type-89

Offers strong bursts but suffers from its tiny 20-round magazine. It forces accuracy and reload awareness, making it better for controlled bursts than extended sprays.
Recommended setup: Muzzle brake, angled grip, 1.5× sight.
SC3000K

A heavy-hitting rifle that feels incredible in the right hands. Recoil is sharp, but the damage payoff is huge.
Recommended setup: Compensator, vertical grip, 1.5× sight.
C-Tier Weapons Explained
C-Tier weapons have niche value. They may shine on specific operators or maps, but rarely outperform mainstream options.
PDW9

A fun SMG with a huge mag size that makes firing more forgiving, but low damage output and poor range scaling hold it back.
Recommended setup: Flash hider, laser sight.
Spear .308

A hybrid rifle with respectable stats, but its recoil and middling fire rate keep it behind elite picks. Still viable for utility-heavy operators who don’t rely on raw gun skill.
Recommended setup: Compensator, vertical grip.
Shotguns (in general)
Even the R6 Siege’s best shotguns struggle to compare with the ARs and SMGs when it comes to versatility. Shotguns in Siege serve specific tactical purposes - breaching, quick defense setups, or ambush kills - but they’re poor as primary dueling weapons. Great in organized teams for creating sightlines, yet risky solo.
Recommended setup: Laser sight, bullet spread control.
D-Tier Weapons
These are unincluded weapons that currently struggle to compete with the R6 Siege optimal weapons in ranked or competitive environments. They might have excessive recoil, low DPS, or limited sight options that make them inefficient. Examples include under-tuned shotguns, outdated rifles with poor attachment compatibility, or weapons tied to operators overshadowed by better loadouts.
They still work for casual fun, meme plays, or specialized tactics, but in serious play, they’re liabilities compared to top options.
How the Meta Shapes R6 Weapon Rankings
Weapon performance in Siege is about more than simply its raw stats. Each patch changes handling and attachments, and those subtle tweaks can shift the entire hierarchy of R6 Weapon Rankings.
-
Recoil adjustments in Y10 smoothed many rifles but left some SMGs feeling bouncy
-
Attachment reworks made the muzzle brake and compensator more distinct, pushing players toward specific builds.
-
Operator balancing influences weapon popularity - if a strong operator has a strong rifle, that gun naturally sees more play.
-
Sight options like 1.5× and 2.0× scopes still define long-angle dominance, giving certain weapons an edge over those locked to 1.0× sights.
Always check the patch notes for changes in these departments. Knowing these key principles will help you stay on top during early-season days when the meta is still not fully figured out.
R6 Meta Attachments Tips
Many of the weapons in our list rely heavily on the optimal attachment usage. Here are the general R6 meta attachments tips that will help you no matter what the current meta is:
-
Muzzle brake for semi-auto control, especially on burst-fire weapons.
-
Compensator for full-auto rifles like R4-C and SC3000K to reduce horizontal drift.
-
Vertical grip for recoil-heavy primaries; angled grip for players confident in control who want faster ADS.
-
Optics: 1.5× is the sweet spot for most players - clear view without tunnel vision. Reflex sights remain best for fast reactions in tight maps. and lasers boost hip-fire for close duels but reveal your position; use sparingly unless you roam aggressively.
Implementing these tips when building your guns lets you turn any weapon into a formidable tool, not only the meta ones. Try and play around with different attachment combinations to figure out what works best for you and your playstyle.
Conclusion
The Year 10 Season meta puts a spotlight on balanced rifles and controllable SMGs, and it’s reflected fully in our R6 Siege gun guide. While the AK-12, R4-C, MP7, C8-SFW, and ALDA 5.56 stand at the top, Siege remains a game where skill outweighs tier lists. A confident player with a B-tier gun will always outperform a rookie using the “best” weapon.
Mastering recoil, optimizing attachments, and understanding your operator’s role and best positioning will always matter more than raw weapon ranking.