15 Most Powerful Rifles in Games

Video games feature a huge variety of rifles, from incredibly powerful one-off weapons to futuristic railguns. These guns often deal massive damage, bend the rules of reality, or become the most effective choices in their games. When we talk about a gun’s ‘power,’ it can refer to how much damage it does, its ability to pierce armor, or special features that change how combat works. This list focuses on what the games themselves tell us about these weapons – things like in-game stats, how much ammo they use, how damage is calculated, and official descriptions.

Here are 15 powerful rifles—both ballistic and energy-based—that have been officially documented in their respective games or wikis as dealing massive damage or significantly changing battles. We’ve included references to the original game sources so you can see for yourself what makes each one so strong.

AWP — Counter-Strike series

The AWP is widely considered the most powerful weapon in the Counter-Strike series. It can eliminate an enemy with a single shot to any body part except the legs, even through protective armor. However, its strength is balanced by a slow firing rate due to its bolt-action mechanism. This information is consistently found in reliable guides and resources detailing weapon performance in the game.

The AWP sniper rifle significantly influences how players manage their money and plan strategies in each round. Players often combine it with powerful or rapid-firing secondary weapons to compensate for its slow firing rate. Its ability to instantly kill with a body shot (excluding legs) and its effect on a player’s finances are frequently highlighted when discussing the best weapons.

AWM — PUBG: Battlegrounds

The AWM in PUBG is a powerful sniper rifle only found in airdrops. It uses .300 Magnum ammunition and deals the most damage in the game, remaining highly effective up to 150 meters. While its damage decreases at longer ranges, it can still hit targets up to 679 meters away. Players often refer to it as a ‘monster’ due to its incredible power, as detailed on the game’s official wiki.

Sniper rifles, especially the AWM, are presented as weapons that deal a lot of damage but fire slowly, and are best used from very far away. This explains why the AWM is only found in care packages and has a limited amount of ammunition available.

Kraber .50-Cal Sniper — Apex Legends

The Kraber sniper rifle is only found in high-level supply drops and uses a special type of ammunition not found anywhere else. It always comes with its scope attached. These limitations are due to its incredible power – it can quickly eliminate even heavily armored opponents with accurate shots. Official Apex Legends resources confirm that the Kraber is exclusively available through supply drops, has a limited amount of ammo, and is designed to be a powerful weapon.

The details for each weapon also show its usual damage range and confirm it comes with a 6x to 10x scope. This explains why it’s only available as a rare find and is balanced based on how hard it is to get, instead of letting players customize it with attachments.

SRS99 Anti-Matériel Sniper Rifle — Halo series

The SRS99 is a powerful weapon in the Halo universe that fires large 14.5×114 mm rounds. It holds four rounds at a time and is officially described as a weapon designed to destroy materials and equipment. According to established Halo lore, the SRS99 was used centuries before the events of the games. The Halopedia website provides detailed information about the weapon’s different versions, specifications, and how it has been used throughout Halo history.

Other sources describe the weapon as partially automatic, using gas to operate, and particularly effective at long distances against armored enemies—details that help explain how it functions within the game’s combat scenarios.

Whisper of the Worm — Destiny 2

Whisper of the Worm is a powerful, exotic sniper rifle. Its special ability, called White Nail, increases its damage and automatically reloads the magazine after you hit three targets with precise shots. These features are well-documented in official Destiny resources.

The weapon was reintroduced in the 2024 ‘Into the Light’ update and can now be upgraded through crafting, as discovered by players. It remains a powerful, continuous-damage weapon for fighting bosses, and doesn’t require traditional reloading.

Gauss Rifle — Fallout 4

The Gauss Rifle in Fallout uses magnets to fire its projectiles, and when fully charged, it’s incredibly powerful. Official game resources detail how the weapon charges up and explain the many modifications – like improved capacitors and barrels – that can boost its damage and make it easier to handle.

Additional resources and community guides detail how the weapon works—specifically, holding the trigger to build up powerful, high-damage shots—which explains why it’s considered the most damaging ballistic weapon in Fallout 4.

M-98 Widow — Mass Effect series

As a Mass Effect fan, I’ve always loved the M-98 Widow. It’s basically a supercharged version of the Mantis rifle – you get a bigger punch with every shot and way more ammo. Seriously, it’s one of the most powerful sniper rifles in the whole series, and you can find all the details comparing it to the Mantis on the official wikis if you’re curious!

Descriptions of this item highlight that it’s built to destroy structures and heavily armored enemies within the game world, specifying its weight and how different groups use it in various missions.

Railgun — Quake series

The Railgun in Quake is known for being incredibly accurate, dealing massive damage with each shot, and having virtually unlimited range. It’s so powerful that, in some Quake games, a single Railgun shot can do more damage than a direct hit from a Rocket Launcher. Official game resources confirm its pinpoint accuracy, high damage output, and relatively slow firing rate.

As the game evolved, notes highlighted this weapon’s accuracy and effectiveness against less challenging foes, identifying it as a precise, powerful option. However, its slow reload speed was a key factor in keeping it balanced, a detail confirmed by both player feedback and official game information.

CSRX 300 — Rainbow Six Siege

As a Kali fan, I’m really impressed with her CSRX 300 rifle. It’s a bolt-action marksman rifle that packs a serious punch – those rounds can go right through multiple surfaces and even through enemies hiding behind cover! Plus, it’s got a scope that can switch between 5x and 12x magnification, which is super useful for different ranges. Combine that with her LV Explosive Lance, and she can really clear out gadgets and take down opponents hiding behind walls. It’s a deadly combo!

Stats pages show a weapon’s basic damage and how much ammo it holds. Operator pages detail how that weapon works with tools and fortified defenses, highlighting its strengths against strong barricades and at long distances.

Heavy Sniper Rifle — Fortnite

The Heavy Sniper Rifle in Fortnite is known for causing a lot of damage to both players and structures. In the past, especially with its rarer versions, it could even destroy wooden structures with a single shot, as detailed in official game information and historical records.

Players can find this weapon as ground loot, in chests, and from supply drops during certain seasons. While it’s powerful against structures and deals significant damage to players, it has a relatively slow reload speed to balance it out.

Accuracy International AXMC (.338 LM) — Escape from Tarkov

The AXMC in Escape from Tarkov is a .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifle designed with quick-change barrels and modularity in mind. The game’s official wiki details its available ammunition types, compatible parts, and how its bolt-action mechanism works.

Okay, so I’ve been digging into the .338 Lapua Magnum in Tarkov, and looking at the item descriptions for both the rounds and the AXMC rifle itself. It all explains why this combo is such a beast – it consistently deals some of the highest damage and has incredible penetration power when you load it with the right ammo. The details on the magazines and receiver really show why it’s a top-tier weapon.

Intervention (CheyTac M200 platform) — Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

In Call of Duty, the Intervention sniper rifle is designed for powerful, accurate shots. It’s a bolt-action weapon with a limited firing speed and a set time between each shot, making it best suited for players who prioritize precision. You can find detailed information about its exact timing and how it works on the official Call of Duty wiki.

Weapon details include how to unlock them and how they function in different games and updated versions, highlighting why they remain powerful choices for fighting from a distance throughout the series.

Anti-Materiel Rifle (.50 MG) — Fallout: New Vegas

In New Vegas, there’s a powerful .50 caliber anti-materiel rifle designed to destroy vehicles and heavily fortified targets. Game information describes its features, including a muzzle brake, which helps control the weapon’s significant recoil.

Records of ammunition show the .50 MG round is the biggest and priciest standard bullet in the game, justifying the rifle’s high damage and cost to acquire.

Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle (AR2) — Half-Life 2

The Pulse Rifle from Half-Life is an energy-based assault rifle that holds 30 shots. It has a standard firing mode and an alternate fire that launches a powerful dark energy orb, which can instantly destroy most enemies it hits.

As a player, I’ve noticed little details thanks to the community – things like how everyone calls it the ‘AR2’ and how much ammo you get. It really explains why that gun’s secondary fire feels like a guaranteed win against some of the tougher enemies. It’s not just a quick burst, it’s a finisher!

Longshot Sniper Rifle — Gears of War series

The Longshot is a powerful sniper rifle known for its very high damage, long range, and bolt-action mechanism. It has served as the standard, high-damage sniper weapon throughout multiple conflicts within the game’s universe. Details like magazine capacity, ammo type, and intended use can be found on official franchise wikis.

I’ve been reading up on this gun, and apparently it’s known for being super accurate. The in-game lore says the Coalition of Ordered Governments used it a ton during all their wars, which explains why it’s *always* the go-to precision rifle – it just makes sense now!

Share your pick for the most powerful rifle you’ve used in a game in the comments!

2025-10-06 05:17