Best Remnant 2 weapons and how to get them

What are the best Remnant 2 weapons? In Gunfire Games’ epic co-op shooter, your armaments come in the form of long guns, handguns, and melee weapons. And while that sounds quite limited, we can assure you it isn’t. There are over 80 weapons in the game, and our best Remnant 2 weapons guide will brush the mediocre armaments to one side to show you what you should be using in the heat of battle.

Whether you’re playing the RPG game on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S, in order to succeed in blasting through levels and taking on the Remnant 2 bosses, you’ll need some decent firepower with the best guns, or hack, slash, and smash through opponents with some lethal melee weapons. You might also want to use the best Remnant 2 mods and the best Remnant 2 mutators to further boost your offensive capabilities. Our expert rundown of the best Remnant 2 weapons comes courtesy of hours of play, 50 of which were put into our Remnant 2 review playthrough alone.

Best Remnant 2 weapons

The best Remnant 2 weapons are:

The 21 best Remnant 2 weapons are a real testament to Gunfire Games’ creative capacity. Whether you’re looking for something otherworldly or grounded in light surrealism, there’s a top-tier weapon to fit every fantasy in one of the best Soulslike games.

1. XMG57 Bonesaw

Starting off our Remnant 2 best weapons list, we’ve got what can only be described as the only long gun you’ll ever need for the next 15 hours, possibly more. It’s none other than the XMG57 Bonesaw, the Medic’s starting weapon. If you didn’t choose this class early on, then you can purchase this weapon for 1,000 Scrap anyhow, so it’s still really accessible despite just how strong it is.

Coincidentally, we consider the Medic to be one of the best Remnant 2 classes in the game due to its capabilities and this gear piece. Having such a strong weapon right away boosts its power even further.

With 150 rounds in the mag and an extra 150 in reserve, you’ll have tons of ammo that can pepper your opponents dead in their tracks. Likewise, when you add mods like Hotshot and mutators like Momentum or Deadly Calm, then you’ll have a rapid-fire beast. You can even pair it with the Gunslinger’s Prime Perk, Loaded, to never have to reload, as well as the great fire rate and damage boosts this class has.

Overall, it’s deadly and very easy to use in virtually all scenarios that will be thrown your way, no matter which class you play.

Just try not to get hit while you’re reloading. You could probably watch a movie on Netflix while waiting for it to reload.

2. Nightfall

The Nightfall can be crafted by using Cursed Dream Silks, a material that drops from the Nightweaver boss in Losomn. While its base stats aren’t anything to write home about, its unique mod, Dreamweaver, more than makes up for it.

When activated, the weapon gains infinite ammo, +35% rate of fire, and 10% lifesteal. And, yes, it also becomes fully automatic, while making you harder to hit while you’re moving. How’s that for being teleported to the shadow realm?

What this means for you is that you’ll be able to go all out on damage, with higher DPS, no wasted time reloading, and even self-healing. This last aspect is particularly important if you’re not playing as one of the strong self-sustain classes like Handler, Medic, or Alchemist.

3. Aphelion

Aphelion is an extremely cool-looking (although likely very unhygienic) weapon that can be yours by defeating the Sha’hala Guardian boss in N’erud. However, you do need to complete the alternate kill method, which involves getting the Override Pin.

This futuristic alien rifle has the Supernova mod, which creates a moving flare that burns everything it touches. Moreover, its basic shot, a crescent beam arc, can trigger an even bigger explosion. This makes it great for wiping out groups of enemies with ease, all while looking cool doing it.

Perhaps the only downside to getting this weapon is that the entirety of the N’erud biome becomes inaccessible due to storyline shenanigans. As such, you should only consider going for this once you’ve discovered everything in your playthrough (unless you want to reroll or try Adventure Mode).

4. Sagittarius

The Sagittarius longbow is a reward for completing all puzzles in the Cathedral of Omens in Yaesha. You can hold the trigger button longer to charge your shot, making it more powerful.

However, its unique mod, Starfall, is what sets it apart. It shoots an arrow that spawns a portal, raining down star fragments in an area. If you can manage to get enemies grouped together, or if you’re fighting in cramped spaces, then the projectiles can make quick work of them. This can also come in very handy during boss fights if the target is large or relatively stationary so you can land the devastating bombardment.

5. Chicago Typewriter

The Chicago Typewriter returns from the first game where it was a similarly powerful and popular weapon. This old-school Tommy Gun has a high rate of fire, and 80 bullets in the magazine, with an additional 240 to spare. Its classic high fire rate and ability to gun down enemies is just as good here, which is why it makes it into this list.

We recommend using the Chicago Typewriter up close and personal thanks to its high fire rate and magazine size, letting you dish out heavy damage without much need to focus on precision.

Our guide on how to open the Remnant 2 Ward 13 Portal will take you through how to get both the gun and the Leto Mark II Armor. Both of these can be added to your gear and loadout to craft a solid build.

6. Merciless

The Merciless can be obtained from the Corrupted Ravager boss in Remnant 2. Specifically, you need to let the Ravager eat the Doe before you kill it. Once the boss dies, you can exchange the material for this weapon.

Merciless’ flechette rounds cause bleeding damage if you continuously fire, adding great bonus damage any foe you fight. But, with the right equipment, you can make a full build around this weapon. For example, we recommend the Ravager’s Mark to deal more damage to bleeding targets and the Blood Tinged Ring to regenerate health when near bleeding enemies. If you’re not playing as a class like the Handler or the Medic that has strong self-healing, then this can be a great way to heal while also dealing massive damage.

Moreover, its unique mod, Bloodline, shoots a penetrating blast with a high critical hit chance. The projectile blasts also increase in damage the more enemies they pass through. Why’s this important? Well, it gives you an opportunity to line up a shot that will penetrate several enemies in one go to increase damage, especially if it ultimately lands in a boss for a devastating blow.

7. Crescent Moon

Few weapons are as deadly as the Crescent Moon. You can discover this if you hit Nimue with the Dreamcatcher while she’s sleeping, and you’ll be able to make use of its Moonlight Barrage mod.

While active, it improves your basic shots, charged shots, firing speed, and reload speed to be incredibly aggressive with this bow. Moreover, the enemies you hit will return the arrow, as well as restore a portion of your HP, so it gives classes with weaker self-sustain more options. Crescent Moon excels at mid-range, delivering massive damage. If you’re a fan of bows, this is one of the best bows in the entire game.

8. Crossbow

An old fan favorite from the first game returns, with similarly strong damage that makes wiping foes out very satisfying indeed. In Remnant 2, the Crossbow doesn’t have a unique mod, but it does strike a great balance between a high damaging bow and a rapid fire rifle. Sitting in the middle, the Crossbow is a great pick for taking out standard enemies with ease, especially if you can land precision hits.

Given it’s a less potent version of the variety of bow weapons, however, trading damage for rate of fire, we generally recommend you pick one of the bows for defeating bosses.

It can be yours by solving the Imperial Gardens puzzle, which has a dial device akin to what you’d encounter in The Lament Remnant 2 puzzle.

9. Alpha/Omega

Alpha/Omega is no doubt one of the best Remnant 2 weapons, but it can only be acquired at the end of the game. Specifically, the material that you need, the Forgotten Memory, drops from the campaign’s final boss. This means that it unfortunately won’t be accessible for a first playthrough.

Alpha/Omega is a pulse rifle, though you need to hold down the trigger button to shoot a burst of five energy bolts. Each hit also reduces the charge time, letting you amp up your DPS overtime during fights. This makes it a prime candidate for a great boss-destroying weapon.

This armament’s unique mod, Beta Ray, pays the bills (pun intended), as it creates brands on your targets. Reloading or swapping weapons detonates said brands and any opponents that die also refund ammo and mod power.

This leads to a unique playstyle involving applying brands to as many enemies as possible, reloading or switching weapons, watching those explosions, and getting a bit of mod power back so you can activate the ability once more. Because of this, it will take you some time to get used to it, but it’s a great supporting weapon to have by your side.

10. MP60-R

The MP60-R is a submachine gun obtained once you’ve unlocked Ford’s Safe in Ward 13. The container gives you a key that opens a cargo room where you’ll find this SMG.

It’s one of the few full-auto “handguns” (i.e. sidearms/small arms) that absolutely shreds in close-range combat. In fact, it pairs nicely with a weapon like the Alpha/Omega, as you can swap over to this deadly SMG. Just remember that its effective range and recoil really do mean it’s a close-range weapon; we don’t recommend you rely on it outside of point-blank range.

11. Sorrow

The Sorrow is a hand crossbow. It can be yours if you pick up the Tear of Kaeula, coincidentally one of the best rings in the game since it adds +2 Relic charges. If you don’t like its effects, you can visit Meidra, an NPC in Yaesha – Dappled Glade to exchange the ring for the Sorrow.

Sorrow’s unique mod, Eulogy, allows you to recall bolts from the enemies that you just shot. This does extra damage, while also restoring HP and ammo reserves. Much like the other HP regenerating weapons, this additional healing effect can come in clutch if you’re lacking other means of healing. Alongside that, it also does pretty great damage for a hand crossbow.

12. Cube Gun

With unlimited ammo and a mod that gives you a spongy shield, you can see why the Cube Gun would be considered one of the best Remnant 2 weapons on its concept alone. This handgun fires literal cubes of energy, hitting for decent damage – especially at close range. While it can overheat, the cubes will zip straight back to you after hitting a target, meaning you will never run out of ammo. The defensive capabilities of this weapon are also very handy, as its Cube Shield will provide you with a damage-deflecting wall that can absorb up to 500 points of damage once you activate it.

Whether you’re fighting cannon-fodder or a behemoth of a boss, we can’t recommend the Cube Gun enough simply due to its excellent damage, versatility, and even defensive capabilities. It also looks really cool, so that’s reason enough to use it.

To get the Cube Gun, take down the Labyrinth Sentinel boss, which will drop a Conflux Prism, one of the materials you need to craft the weapon. Once you’ve done that and also gathered seven Lumenite Crystals and 650 Scrap, go to McCabe, and you’ll be able to craft the Cube Gun with her.

13. Enigma

The Enigma is one of the best Remnant 2 weapons because of it’s unique behaviour. All you need to do is hold down the trigger, and it’ll cast a stream of electricity, frying nearby enemies. It’s great for robots, droids, and anything with a shield, too.

As for its unique mod, Chaos Driver, it allows you to create multiple rods on surfaces (i.e., the ground, walls, or enemies themselves). Tethered rods will then constantly shoot electricity. If you’ve played Destiny 2, then this is akin to having a temporary mini-Anarchy grenade launcher, or playing as Winston from Overwatch 2. If not, then you’ll have to take our word for it and add this weapon to your collection.

In practice, the Enigma is an absolute beast of a weapon against groups of enemies, chaining foes together with arcs of crackling lightning. However, it’s not the best for single-target damage, so we don’t recommend it against bosses unless there’s a lot of additional, weaker enemies in the way.

You can acquire the Enigma by heading to the shifting/changing portal in the Labyrinth. Wait for the destination to change to that of an empty sky, with a ledge further beyond. Pass through it as the view pans more to the right, and you’ll surprisingly fall just as a bridge begins to form. After eliminating a few enemies, you’ll find the Cipher Rod material, which lets you craft the Enigma.

14. Meridian

The Meridian is both a handgun and a pocket grenade launcher, with explosives that can either bounce off surfaces or go boom with a direct hit. Because of this, it’s one of the best Remnant 2 weapons to have in your secondary slot for when you need AoE damage against groups of enemies.

Given it’s explosive potential, be careful to note down yourself or your allies when playing in multiplayer co-op.

Oddly enough, the process to obtain it requires time to pass by: you need to wait for 90 minutes to elapse so that water fills up a secret room in the sewers.

15. Labyrinth Staff

The Labyrinth Staff is found in, you guessed it, the Labyrinth zone. Specifically, you’ll need to reach the area with the Shifting Portal. To your left, you’ll be able to drop down a set of platforms. This leads to a battle against a miniboss called Bastion. The reward itself is in the same chamber.

While the Labyrinth Staff doesn’t have a unique mod, hits with this weapon restore extra mod power. Moreover, a charged attack does an AoE shockwave in a small area, generating even more mod power for you. With a powerful mod of your preference slotted in, you can use the Labyrinth Staff to quickly regen these powerful effects. While it’s perhaps not the strongest weapon by itself, this unique mod charging playstyle is a blast that gives opportunities for devastating builds.

16. Red Doe Staff

The Red Doe Staff can be crafted by using the Doe’s Antler. This can be yours if you choose to defeat the Corrupted Ravager boss (i.e., you did not kill the Doe).

Its Lifeline effect causes your next charge attack to spawn a Spirit of the Doe, stampeding and bulldozing enemies in front of you, while also regenerating 10% HP for your team. If there’s one thing you’ll always need, it’s a bit of emergency healing. As you might have guessed, this stampeding doe spirit is great for dealing with standard enemies that are blocking your path, though it’s not as strong as other weapons when it comes to single-target encounters.

17. Atom Smasher

One of the best Remnant 2 weapons is the Atom Smasher, a future tech sledgehammer. It deals tremendous damage and has a fairly decent 11% stagger modifier. Additionally, its Accelerator mod increases the speed of all melee attacks once you do a charge attack.

While melee weapons can be a little tricky to use, especially against the majority of bosses, the Atom Smasher works remarkably well if you’re able to avoid taking damage. This is largely thanks to it’s unique melee attack speed mod so you can quickly get an attack in before preparing to dodge, or stay on the offensive for a little longer.

The Atom Smasher can be found in Terminus Station. You’ll have to delve deeper into the facility until you reach its underbelly. There, you’ll need to complete the train encounter, which involves eliminating dozens of robots within the time limit.

18. Assassin’s Dagger

The Assassin’s Dagger is for those who love to use bleed-focused builds, due to its Bloodthirst mod that increases damage against bleeding targets, with an extra boost for attacking from behind – just as an assassin would. Additionally, charge attacks will inflict moderate bleed over ten seconds, thereby getting the ball rolling.

Like the Merciless, another bleed weapon, you can’t go wrong pairing the Assassin’s Dagger with the Ravager’s Mark to deal even more damage to bleeding foes, and the Blood Tinged Ring to regenerate health when near bleeding enemies. Given it’s a melee weapon, this health regeneration is very welcome indeed.

To get it, you have to pick up the Assassin’s Dagger quest item, and then hand it over to Nimue to make the actual weapon. It’s just one of many secret Remnant 2 Nimue crafting items that you can discover in the game.

19. Star Shot

The Star Shot might only be a handgun, but it’s fast-moving plasma projectiles often outmatch most long guns. Unlocked by completing the Supply Ship event in N’erud, you’re going to want to get this gun as soon as you can as it’s blast to play with (pun intended). Since the explosion has no damage falloff, the Star Shot is capable of dealing damage at a surprisingly long range.

It’s main ability, Big Bang, spices things up even more by channelling all your mod energy into a single projectile that deals massive damage and even burns the target.

However, what makes the Star Shot really shine is pairing it with the right equipment. We recommend pairing it with the Detonation Trigger amulet to increase explosion damage by 25% and add even more burning. Next, you can add the likes of the Fire Stone ring, which increases fire damage by 10%, and the Blasting Cap ring, which increases explosive damage by 10% as well. This is the setup we used an it absolutely demolished standard enemies and even bosses.

20. Double Barrel

The Double Barrel might be considered a handgun because of its poor range, though it more than makes it for it with massive damage. With two barrels, the Double Barrel shotgun packs quite a punch if you can get up close enough to unleash its pellets.

We love pairing it with the Blood Draw mod to apply bleed and the Twisting Rounds mutator. With this setup, you’ll be able to take hefty chunks of out bosses’ healthbars with the devastating bleed effect, all while using the compact Double Barrel shotgun. Most of all though, this Double Barrel build made us feel like the Doom Slayer from Doom Eternal, chaining enemies and unleashing pure destruction with a shotgun.

If you’re struggling with the limited ammo size, then you could use the Extender mutator to increase magazine size and reload speed. Given how potent the Double Barrel is by default, this is almost as effective as the bleed setup.

You can get the Double Barrel in Losomn in the Morrow Parish, located inside a safe. You will have to complete the Head Doctor and the Iron Safe event before you can then enter the safe code 2971. However, the Double Barrel is also the starting equipment for the Alchemist, so this class gets one of the best Remnant 2 weapons right away.

21. Dreamcatcher

At a glance, you might not think much of the Dreamcatcher due to its low damage output and hokey Dreamwave mod. However, it’s actually one of the best Remnant 2 weapons. This is because it leads to many secrets, including the aforementioned Crescent Moon bow and the Invader class. Make sure you do at least one run that leads you to Morrow Sanatorium so you have a chance at obtaining it. You can learn more in our Remnant 2 Nightweaver quest and boss guide.

Yes, one of the best weapons in the game is prized primarily for its effectiveness outside of combat. However, despite low overall damage, the Dreamcatcher can be quite useful when up against a group of enemies due to its wide, sweeping attacks.

That covers every one of the best Remnant 2 weapons and guns you should be using in your playthrough. Remnant 2 is one of the best co-op games of recent times, and its varied arsenal of exciting weapons is a big reason why. For even more tips as you play, take a look at our Remnant 2 walkthrough article. Why stop there though? With our guide to the best Xbox controllers and best PS5 controllers, Remnant 2 will feel better than ever. If you’re struggling with aggravating boss, you might find yourself in need of a new controller anyhow.