Weapons Tier List for SCP retroBreach

Ranking the gun meta

SCP retroBreach arms Security, MTF, Chaos Insurgency, GOC, and lucky Class-D scavengers with a growing rifle and shotgun pool. This tier list ranks practical DPS, magazine comfort, and zone control—not lore coolness. Read it beside the weapons item guide, the SCP tier list, and the Tier List Hub.

Sandbox Engine added Saiga-12, FAMAS, HK416, XM8, AKM, AKS-74U, and Makarov into spawns, loadouts, and SCP-914 upgrade paths. Classics like Desert Eagle still matter as high-damage secondaries. Most guns now spawn with multiple reserve magazines (typically three, capping near four), so reload discipline beats spray panic.

S tier — take these every time

Saiga-12

The Saiga-12 owns close LCZ riots and armory door camps. Against Class-D clumps and SCP-173 peek wars in tight rooms, pellet volume ends fights before Desert Eagle users finish aiming. Pair it with a Level 2–3 keycard so you can rotate into better positions instead of reloading in the open. Weakness: long EZ sightlines where rifles out-range you.

FAMAS

FAMAS rewards burst control in mid-range HCZ halls. It bridges shotgun panic and DMR-style taps, shredding Chaos Insurgency rushes and peeling SCP-049 zombies before they reach melee. If your faction spawns with FAMAS, hold angles on checkpoints rather than dry-peeking SCP-096 rage lanes.

HK416

HK416 is the default “I win gunfights” carbine for MTF and Security stacks. Stable recoil, solid damage cadence, and ammo depth make it the safest primary when you must clear toward Gate B while watching for SCP-106 flanks. Upgrade rivals through SCP-914 only when Fine outcomes are understood—do not gamble your only rifle mid-chase.

A tier — excellent defaults

XM8

XM8 plays like a flexible assault option for players who rotate between LCZ loot runs and EZ defenses. It forgives mobile aim and works on console as well as mouse lobbies. Keep reserve mags topped; running dry in front of SCP-457 burn zones is a round-ender.

AKM

AKM hits hard and teaches pacing. Great for Chaos Insurgency escorts who need to delete Foundation watchers quickly. Higher recoil means you lose to HK416 users who counter-strafe cleanly—brace on corners and avoid full-mag sprays across open atriums.

B tier — role pieces

AKS-74U

The AKS-74U is a compact carbine for cramped maintenance tunnels and SCP-914 room fights. Ideal when you expect CQB but still want rifle reach. Outclassed by Saiga-12 in pure shotgun range and by FAMAS / HK416 in long duels—swap up when crates allow.

Desert Eagle

Desert Eagle remains the prestige pistol: heavy per-shot damage, punishing if you land head-level taps on fleeing Class-D or wounded MTF. Magazine size is small, so it is a finisher or Council Rescue sidearm fantasy—not your only answer to SCP-096. Carry it beside a real primary.

C tier — early or backup

Makarov

Makarov is a survival pistol. Grab it as Class-D or when your primary is empty, then sprint for an armory. It beats fists against a single Security guard if you surprise them; it does not beat coordinated MTF or any healthy S-tier SCP. Upgrade or replace at the first opportunity.

Other notables

Older pool guns (M4A1-style carbines, Beretta 93R, Mac-10, Kriss Vector, KS-23M, M249) still appear in balancing notes. M249-style support weapons may carry thinner reserves—treat them as lane denial tools, not lone-wolf run-and-gun kits. Always verify current damage numbers in-lobby after patches.

Faction loadout tips

• Class-D: Steal anything above Makarov; Saiga-12 turns riots into escapes.
• Foundation / Security: HK416 or FAMAS for disciplined recontainment.
• MTF: Prioritize rifles that hold Gate B and surface entries.
• Chaos Insurgency: AKM / XM8 for aggressive escorts; bring flash or frag utility when spawned.
• GOC: Expect anti-anomaly fights—volume fire and grenades over pistol flexing.

Serpent’s Hand players supporting anomalies should still respect human gun tiers; a misplaced FAMAS spray can grief an SCP-173 setup.

SCP-914 and loot priority

1. Secure a functional keycard before long upgrade sessions.
2. Feed low pistols into Fine / 1:1 paths when you understand local recipes.
3. Never leave Saiga-12 or HK416 on the floor for the enemy faction.
4. Watch for SCP-966 and SCP-106 while the machine runs—upgrade rooms are ambush magnets.
5. Exit LCZ before decontamination if your gun climb is “good enough.”

For visual stat comparisons, watch the embedded community breakdown on the weapons page (All Guns In RetroBreach & Their Stats) and then return here for tier judgment.

Combat habits that beat raw tier

Crosshair at head height in LCZ offices. Pre-aim door frames in HCZ. Save a magazine for retreat. Call SCP-096 face peeks before your teammate dies. If SCP-173 is present, one player watches while another reloads the Saiga-12. Tier lists amplify good habits; they do not replace them.

When humans lose despite S-tier guns, the failure is usually keycards, not DPS—link up with the Items Hub and Factions Hub to fix pathing and roles.

Revisit this page after Sandbox Engine gun patches, and keep the SCP tier list open so you know which anomalies your magazine depth actually threatens.