Best GTA 5 Online Weapons by Class (2025)

Ready to bring chaos to Los Santos? Well, you must equip the best weapons to do so in GTA 5 Online. Luckily, you won’t have to go through all the weapons in the game to find the best ones. In this guide, we have compiled the best guns in GTA 5 Online and story mode, along with their weapon locations. We have also mentioned the gun classes so that you stay prepared for the PVP matchups.

Best Guns in GTA 5 Online (with Class)

In GTA 5 and GTA Online, there are a total of eight weapon classes. Each class has plenty of guns you can choose from. However, selecting the right weapon always takes a lot of time. So, while you plan your next heist, we went through all the GTA 5 Online weapons to pick the best from each class. Here is a list of all the best GTA 5 Online guns you must try:

• Assault Rifle – Advanced Rifle
• Handgun – Marksman Pistol
• Heavy – Minigun
• Machine Gun – Assault SMG
• Sniper Rifle – Heavy Sniper
• Shotgun – Assault Shotgun
• Throwable – Sticky Bombs
• Melee – Machete

While looking for a gun from the list is easy, you must know more about them before purchasing. Especially, GTA Online is known to run low on cash quickly. While most GTA 5 Online weapons are available in known locations, some of these guns are only available in the Gun Van, which rotates daily. Below, we have mentioned all the best GTA Online guns in detail, their weapon locations, along with some alternatives from their class.

1. Advanced Rifle

• Price: $14,250 (GTA Online)/ $3,500 (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Assault Rifle
• Unlocked after: Rank 70 (GTA Online)/ The Big Score (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

Assault rifles are the guns that most players use in GTA 5 or Online due to their best fire rate. However, some of the ARs are point-blank garbage compared to the best. Well, we suggest you go for the Advanced Rifle. It takes rank 70 to unlock the weapon, but it is very cheap, so you won’t have to struggle to grab one.

2. Marksman Pistol

• Price: $4,350 (GTA Online/ GTA 5 Enhanced)
• Weapon class: Handgun
• Unlocked after: Rank 1 (GTA Online)/ Mr. Richards (GTA 5 Enhanced)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

While most handguns are secondary in GTA 5 Online, the Marksman Pistol defies all odds. This sawed-off lookalike deals massive damage to heavily armored enemies. Well, only if you are okay with a one-bullet capacity. If you like shooting enemies while driving cars, you should go with the AP Pistol.

3. Minigun

• Price: $50,000 (GTA Online)/ $15,000 (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Heavy Weapon
• Unlocked after: Rank 120 (GTA Online)/ The Paleto Score (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

With up to 9999 rounds of ammo, the Minigun is your favorite wingman in GTA Online. Wreck chaos on NPCs, enemies, or even vehicles. The Minigun will do the job in seconds. Although it unlocks later in the game, it is worth grinding for the rolling barrage.

4. Assault SMG

• Price: $12,550 (GTA Online)/ Free (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Machine Gun
• Unlocked after: Rank 29 (GTA Online)/ Social Club sign-up (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

Concerned about your cash flow? Sign up with the Rockstar Social Club and get the free Assault SMG. While most SMGs offer higher fire rates, this one is overall balanced. Plus, it is quite easy to obtain. If you love a higher fire rate, Combat PDW and Micro SMG are solid options too.

5. Heavy Sniper

• Price: $38,150 (GTA Online)/ $9,500 (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Sniper Rifle
• Unlocked after: Rank 90 (GTA Online)/ Three’s Company (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

If you are all about that long-range action, then there are a few sniper options in GTA 5. However, we suggest you go with the Heavy Sniper just for its raw damage and massive range. The GTA Online heavy sniper is known to destroy even the most powerful of enemies. Furthermore, it’s also very affordable. So you can guy this gun and forget about all your future sniping needs.

6. Assault Shotgun

• Price: $10,000 (GTA Online)/ $1,500 (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Shotgun
• Unlocked after: Rank 37 (GTA Online)/ Blitz Play (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

If you prefer close combat, a shotgun is the ideal weapon in GTA 5 Online. While the Assault Shotgun won’t give you the full pump action, we love it because of its extra fire rate coupled with solid damage. So, make this armament your best GTA Online weapon purchase.

6. Sticky Bombs

• Price: $600 (GTA Online)/ $400 (GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Throwable
• Unlocked after: Rank 19 (GTA Online)/ Friends Reunited (GTA 5)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

GTA 4 DLC The Ballad of Gay Tony gave us a taste of explosions by introducing the throwable Sticky Bombs. There is absolutely no GTA Online player who hasn’t caused absolute mayhem using the sticky bombs. If you want a similar experience, then grab this amazing GTA 5 weapon. However, if you prefer more instant action, I would suggest the Grenade or Molotov, especially in PVP.

7. Machete

• Price: $8,900 (GTA Online/ GTA 5)
• Weapon class: Melee
• Unlocked after: Nervous Ron (GTA 5 Enhanced Version)
• Weapon location: Ammu-Nation (GTA 5 & GTA Online), Agency Armory (GTA Online), and Gun Van (GTA Online)

The Machete reminds me of Vice City. No, not the GTA 6 one, the one from the original Vice City game where we would slice the NPCs down and see the blood come out like from a can of juice. Well, you can experience that with the new GTA 5 Enhanced update. Just complete the Nervous Ron quest and get the best melee weapon in GTA 5 Online.

Best Guns in GTA 5 Story Mode

While most of the guns available in GTA Online already exist in the GTA 5 story mode, some can be hard to obtain or use. Do not worry; below is a short and simple list of the best weapons in GTA 5 story mode that you can use to complete your campaign. We have also mentioned the mission you must complete, with the price of each of the best GTA 5 guns and their weapon locations.

• AP Pistol: Complete the ‘Three’s Company’ mission and purchase for $1000 from the Ammu-Nation.
• Grenade Launcher: Complete the ‘Trevor Phillips Industries’ main mission and purchase for $8,100 from the Ammu-Nation.
• Special Carbine: Complete the ‘Jewel Store Job’ mission and purchase for $14,750 from the Ammu-Nation.
• Minigun: Complete the ‘Paleto Score’ mission and purchase for $15,000 from the Ammu-Nation.
• Rocket Launcher: Complete the ‘Blitz Play’ mission and purchase for $6,500 from the Ammu-Nation.
• Stun Gun: Purchase for $100 from the Ammu-Nation before the ‘Monkey Business’ main mission.

That ends our list of the best GTA 5 Online guns. Which gun are you using the most to complete your quests in Lost Santos? Do tell us in the comments below.