Best Weapon Loadouts For PVP In GTA Online

Key Takeaways

• Customizing loadouts with the best weapons is crucial in GTA Online PVP duels.
• Players should focus on earning the best weapons for different scenarios to outplay opponents.
• Specific loadouts cater to different combat situations, such as 1v1, long-range, or vehicle takedowns.

Grand Theft Auto Online is known for its explosive lobbies. Los Santos is a hostile place, and griefers lurk around every corner. In GTA Online, seasoned players learn the best ways to attack rival players or defend themselves from them, but for players with less experience, it can be daunting learning the best tools for the job. Still, for most gamers, a shootout with another player outweighs the thrill of fighting the game’s AI.

GTA Online has had many additions to its weapons collection since its launch in 2013. There are dozens of weapons to choose from in each category, and some are suited for specific situations. Players who own properties with a weapons locker can customize their loadouts so that only the best weapons show up, and it’s recommended that players do this so they can get to the best weapons faster. The last thing a player needs is to get clipped while cycling through dozens of weapons. Every second matters in a PVP duel, so customizing the weapon wheel is a pro strategy to swap weapons faster. As a rule of thumb, these are the best weapons loadouts in each situation.

1 Stock Weapons Loadout

An Ammu-Nation Loadout For Those Without Access To Mk2 Weapons

• Pistol slot: AP Pistol
• SMG slot: MG
• Rifle slot: Special Carbine
• Sniper slot: Marksman Rifle
• Shotgun slot: Assault Shotgun
• Throwable slot: Grenades
• Heavy slot: RPG

Some of the best weapons in Grand Theft Auto Online require players to have access to a weapons workshop and a bunker. This loadout is specifically aimed at players who only have access to Ammu-nation weapons and don’t have access to Mk2 weapons or ammo types.

A few weapons in this loadout still require the player to rank up, but this will happen quickly after running some relevant content. To rank up faster, focus on the Weekly Double Money and XP events. Keep an eye on GTA Online Weekly Events, as these are great timewasters when boredom sets in.

The AP Pistol is a fine automatic pistol that’s perfect in a number of situations. The Marksman Rifle is a powerful sniper rifle for quick headshots, and the RPG and Grenade Launcher are ideal heavy weapons for any situation.

About Mk2 Weapons
: These are a special unlockable class of weapons that can be unlocked by owning a property with a weapons workshop. This can be accessed inside the arcade, MOC, Avenger, Terrorbyte, or Bunker. The Freakshop also has a free weapons workshop for upgrading weapons. Certain Mk2 weapons can only be unlocked by doing research at the Bunker. Mk2 weapons give players access to new lethal ammo types.

2 1V1 Combat Loadout

For Those One On One Challenges

• Pistol slot: Revolver Mk2
• SMG slot: Combat MG Mk2 with extended mag (regular ammo)
• Rifle slot: Special Carbine Mk2
• Sniper slot: Marksman Rifle
• Shotgun slot: Pump Shotgun Mk2
• Throwable slot: Sticky Bomb
• Heavy slot: Homing Launcher

Players wanting to genuinely play missions, run businesses, or customize their cars often find themselves at the opposite end of a griefer. There are some players in GTA Online lobbies who just enjoy getting into sweaty 1v1 rivalries, and Rockstar encourages this with their built-in score system.

In lobbies, respect is earned on the battlefield. Many times, players have forced griefers to move on to a new target just by demonstrating a stronger skillset. This starts with having the perfect loadout for the situation.

A popular 1v1 location is at the Los Santos Airport. This location provides a nice battlefield for short and long-range warfare. When in a 1v1 here, the Marksman rifle is superb for making quick and precise long-range shots, and it carries more rounds than the Heavy Sniper Mk2.

In the pistol slot, the Revolver Mk2 provides the best impact for a pistol at close or medium range. Just know that it has a long reload time, so it’s important to make those shots hit.

If a rifle is preferred, the Special Carbine works. The Special Carbine can be purchased without having access to any workshop. However, once the option becomes available to own a Special Carbine Mk2, this weapon should become the default pick for any situation. The Special Carbine Mk2 is the perfect blend of firepower and accuracy.

Once the battle progresses to throwables and heavy weapons, all chaos has taken over. Players cannot go wrong with either the Sticky Bomb or the Grenades in the throwable slot. For the heavy slot, the Homing Launcher or Grenade Launcher is suitable for a one-on-one. The Homing Launcher allows players to fire a missile faster than the typical RPG, as long as they don’t actually lock on to something.

3 Long Distance Tactical Loadout

Ideal For Long-Range Lobby Fights Or PVP Missions

• Pistol slot: AP Pistol
• SMG slot: Combat MG Mk2 with extended mag (regular ammo)
• Rifle slot: Special Carbine Mk2 with drum mag
• Shotgun slot: Assault Shotgun
• Sniper slot: Heavy Sniper Mk2
• Throwable slot: Proximity Mines
• Heavy slot: RPG

When facing more than one player in an objective-based scenario, a more tactical loadout is required. The Combat MG Mk2 is simply the best weapon in the SMG/LMG slot. With an extended mag, players can get up to 200 bullets in a single mag. Just remember to stick with the original ammo, because Mk2 ammo reduces the bullet capacity.

Similarly, a Special Carbine with Mk2 with a drum magazine gives up to 100 bullets per slot, giving enough uptime to take down an opposing player. Only armor can save opponents from a well-placed shot from a Heavy Sniper Mk2.

The Assault Shotgun is a beast. It’s a fully automatic shotgun, with a longer range than the Pump Shotgun. While the Pump Shotgun is a fine weapon in its own right, the Assault Shotgun is more practical when faced with multiple opponents because it contains up to 32 shells in a single mag.

Proximity Mines are great when players need to camp in a specific location. Players can plop them down where rivals are likely to sneak up, catching an unsuspecting player by surprise when they’re blown up.

The Heavy slot is interchangeable and is based on player preference most of the time. For long-range, players won’t go wrong with the RPG. The Grenade Launcher can also come in handy when a rival attempts to run down the player in a vehicle.

4 Land And Air Vehicle Takedown Loadout

A Loadout For Contesting Players In Vehicles

• Pistol slot: AP Pistol
• SMG slot: Tactical SMG
• Rifle slot: Special Carbine Mk2
• Shotgun slot: Pump Shotgun Mk2 with explosive rounds
• Sniper slot: Heavy Sniper Mk2 with explosive rounds
• Throwable slot: Sticky Bomb
• Heavy slot: Railgun

For many years, the AP Pistol was the best drive-by weapon in the game. That was until the San Andreas Mercenaries update launched in 2023, which brought the Tactical SMG with it. The Tactical SMG now takes the crown as the best drive-by weapon in the game, but because the AP Pistol and the Tactical SMG use different slots, players can keep both in their loadout. With the AP Pistol’s precision and fire rate, on-foot players can easily clip the driver of a moving vehicle through the windshield.

In a high-speed chase, throwing a Sticky Bomb out the window and onto a rival’s car is a game changer. They can also be tossed onto helicopters or aircraft if they dare get low enough.

When players aren’t behind the wheel, a Pump Shotgun Mk2 with explosive rounds can blow up a regular car in seconds. The Assault Shotgun is an appropriate substitute for players without access to a weapons workshop. Just be careful of armored vehicles.

Likewise, a Heavy Sniper Mk2 with explosive rounds makes a devastating anti-aircraft weapon.

Once again, the Heavy slot is based on preference, but the Railgun is a weapon that not enough players use, and it’s a satisfying way to blow up vehicles at a distance. An RPG is great against ground vehicles or aircraft. The Compact Grenade Launcher is a hidden gem that is usable when on a motorcycle or boat.

5 Best In Slot Loadout

The Best Weapons In Each Slot For PVP

• Melee slot: Stone Hatchet
• Pistol slot: Revolver Mk2 with incendiary rounds
• SMG slot: Combat MG Mk2 with extended mag (regular ammo)
• Rifle slot: Special Carbine Mk2 with drum mag (regular ammo)
• Shotgun slot: Assault Shotgun
• Sniper slot: Heavy Sniper Mk2 with explosive ammo and extended mag
• Throwable slot: Sticky Bomb
• Heavy slot: Homing Launcher

This loadout is well-rounded for any situation. If, for any reason, players just want one weapon in each slot, this is the most optimized PVP loadout to go with.

Players will be able to swap between the Combat MG Mk2, the Special Carbine Mk2, and the Heavy Sniper Mk2 when fighting at long range. And when the action gets closer, the Revolver Mk2 and the Assault Shotgun will both stop opponents in their tracks. Remember to aim above the belt.

The Stone Hatchet is a special axe that players must hunt down in the treasure hunt quest. Unlocking this axe will give the player Trevor’s rage ability after each kill. This ability makes players temporarily do more damage while taking less damage. This makes it the best melee weapon in GTA Online period, so players should always carry it with them.

The Sticky Bomb is ideal whether the player is on foot or behind the wheel. The Homing Launcher’s quick-fire rate makes it useful for medium-ranged targets, and its lock-on feature makes it great for those annoying aircraft targets. This loadout has everything needed to shut down a lobby griefer.