The 15 Best Video Game Weapons of 2024

Combat is an important element of many games, and good or bad combat can make or break the overall experience. But what defines combat can lean very heavily on the available weapons, magic, and so forth. Sometimes the best weapons are those that can define a player build, sometimes it’s how they are rooted into the game’s narrative and lore, and other times it can be just that these weapons are pure fun. The best of the best can combine all three, but whatever mark they hit, 2024 in video games had plenty of masterful, fun, and lore-heavy weapons.

Narrowing it down is no easy feat, but looking at the combat, the sequences, and everything that defined various games in 2024, it’s easy to see which weapons punched above their weightclass. From Another Crab’s Treasure‘s handgun to STALKER 2‘s Gauss Gun, here are the best weapons of 2024 alphabetized by their associated video game.

Another Crab’s Treasure – The Handgun

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In the category of funny weapons, Another Crab’s Treasure might just take the cake. Aggro crab developers revealed the handgun ahead of its release, and many fans laughed about it then. They were almost certainly laughing when trying it out because there’s nothing funnier in a Soulslike game than somehow one-shotting a boss, at least once anyway. The absurdity of a working gun under the sea does wonders for Another Crab’s Treasure. Not to mention, Another Crab Treasure‘s handgun is a fantastic accessibility option, proving that an important aspect of accessibility in video games is making it fun. It’s almost like a cheat code.

Astro Bot – PS5 DualSense Controller

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Space Bully Nebulax is the final boss of Astro Bot, and the playable sequence in getting to Nebulax is tons of fun. Players will find themselves flying a PS5 DualSense controller and using it to shoot enemies in an epic space battle, supported and flanked by a variety of PlayStation hardware from over the years. The sheer nostalgia and fun of the moment is second to none, and using a PS5 DualSense controller as a weapon plays a huge part in that.

Black Myth: Wukong – Sun Wukong’s Staff

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The Jingubang Staff, also known as Sun Wukong’s staff, is one of the best weapons in Black Myth: Wukong. While it has a limited role in the main story, at least in terms of runtime, it’s absolutely an excellent upgrade to the protagonist’s bo staff. Its story significance, combined with its stats, make it a fun upgrade despite its late story arrival.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Jet Gun

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Over the years, Call of Duty has brought in numerous Wonder Weapons, although more than a handful have dropped the ball. Perhaps the most disappointing Wonder Weapon was Black Ops 2’s Jet Gun, which was notorious because it wasn’t found in the Mystery Box; instead, players would have to build it just for it to self-destruct later. Black Ops 6 brought back the Jet Gun and managed to redeem the entire weapon. It no longer explodes, can be used indefinitely with a simple recharge when used up, has an alternate fire mode, and can be pack-a-punched. It’s a redemption story in many ways, and the divide between 2012’s Jet Gun and 2024’s Jet Gun is huge, earning it this spot.

Diablo 4: Vessels of Hatred – Rod of Kepeleke

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The Spiritborn class is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws for Diablo 4: Vessels of Hatred, and its uniques are undeniably awesome. The appeal of the class is only further supplemented by all of its available builds. The Rod of Kepeleke is one of those uniques that truly defines any build it is part of. Players have to hit max level and farm the right spots, but the trade-off is a Unique that lets players cast Core Skills for free. There is a slight drawback, but the Rod’s secondary effect, especially in the right builds, makes said drawback practically nothing. Its role in Spiritborn Builds earns it this spot, plain and simple.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Mythal’s Light

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When it comes to lore and combat effectiveness, Mythal’s Light is second to none in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This weapon can be a Mageknife or Longsword, depending on Rook’s class, and is uniquely tied to some of the oldest lore in Dragon Age – that being Mythal’s relationship with Solas. The challenges in obtaining it come second to the reward itself, and Mythal’s Light is a mainstay in several of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s best Mage builds.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – Spear of the Impaler

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While Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is filled with fantastic weapons, few feel as rewarding to wield as the Spear of the Impaler. Messmer, more so than anything, is the flagship boss of the expansion, and he’s equally tough to boot. Defeating him and claiming the Spear of the Impaler is one of the best feelings in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Slipstream Saber

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The Buster Sword is the most iconic weapon in the Final Fantasy franchise, if not the entire gaming industry. It returns in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but players can also get several upgraded forms of it for Cloud. Its final upgrade, the Slipstream Saber, is purely a net positive across the board, and while it changes the look to some degree, it’s still the Buster Sword underneath it all. And wielding it in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s ending content really brings the power fantasy of the Buster Sword to life. ​​​​​​​

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail – Pictomancer’s Paint Brushes

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Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail introduced two new classes, the Viper and the Pictomancer, and it says something when the paintbrush-wielding Pictomancer stands tall. As a Magic DPS class, the Pictomancer’s raw damage, utility, and simplistic gameplay make it a go-to caster. Further proof of this is the number of Pictomancers seen in the Futures Rewritten (Ultimate) raid. Its novelty is supported by its effectiveness, making it and its paintbrushes an awesome addition to Final Fantasy 14 in 2024.​​​​​​​

Helldivers 2 – LAS-16 Sickle

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It may not be the ideal primary weapon to dive with if players want to punch holes into Terminids’ or Automatons’ heavy armor on Super Helldive Difficulty, but Helldivers 2’s LAS-16 Sickle has far fewer diminishing returns than other firearms of its ilk. As an energy-based heat weapon, this laser rifle fires in bursts that are sustained as long as players hold the trigger and overheats if held long enough. This results in players needing to manually reload; otherwise, players never need to reload if they can time their fire in short bursts and release before it overheats. Therefore, the LAS-16 Sickle rewards pinpoint precision and strategic timing with not having to run around looting ammunition—at least not nearly as much as many other primary weapons in Helldivers 2.​​​​​​​

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle – Indy’s Whip

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If nothing else, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle genuinely makes players feel like Dr. Jones—and one way it accomplishes this is Indy’s whip. While Indiana Jones and The Great Circle’s combat is inherently chaotic, the old reliably is the whip, which can be used to disarm opponents among other things. It doesn’t do the most “damage,” but it brings its fantasy to life effectively, can be used outside combat for adventuring, and really defines the overall experience.

Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Tri-Rod

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The Legend of Zelda created one of the most iconic weapons of all time in Link’s Master Sword, so much so many were curious if Zelda would wield it in Echoes of Wisdom before release. That is not the case, although there is a similar Swordfighter form, but the main combat component of Echoes of Wisdom is the Tri-Rod. And it’s a lot of fun. It’s not combat in the traditional sense; instead, players can create Echoes and monsters to fight and defend Zelda. Whether it’s dropping a box on an enemy’s head, drowning them in a water bubble, or simply summoning a stronger monster, the Tri-Rod is truly a creative gameplay mechanic for Echoes of Wisdom, in combat and exploration.​​​​​​​

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth – True Legendary Hero’s Bat

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Challenging someone and something as iconic as Kazuma Kiryu and his fists is a huge challenge, but RGG Studios accomplished just that when it first introduced Ichiban Kasuga and his lovely bat. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth retains everything that makes Ichiban and his bat so effective and iconic, and it’s likely all fans know the image. While players have to put in considerable effort to unlock it, upgrading Ichiban’s bat to the True Legendary Hero’s Bat combines both combat effectiveness and Ichiban’s world fantasy in unique and fun ways that make it well worth it.

Read Game Rant’s Metaphor: ReFantazio Review

While Archetypes may not be traditional “weapons,” they are a source of heroic magic that grants players unique skills and abilities. And in Metaphor: ReFantazio, there’s not a better or more lore-oriented Archetype than The Prince. Only available for Metaphor’s protagonist, The Prince can buff the entire party and deal tons of damage. For those who invest in all the Royal Archetypes too, The Prince can unlock a Secret Skill that is genuinely and appropriately broken.​​​​​​​

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Gauss Gun

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The Gauss Gun might as well be synonymous with the STALKER 2 franchise, and its role in STALKER 2 gameplay on those same strengths. It and the unique EM-1 are some of the best weapons in STALKER 2, meaning players should always keep an eye out for one. It’s a weapon that almost defines the franchise, and its spot on this list is as plain and simple as that.