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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor a flexible all-purpose pick, choose the Kalash; for melee, Pashtet is the strongest starting point; and for ammunition conservation, consider Electro. There is no objectively settled winner: published rankings disagree, and their recommendations are qualitative rather than the result of comparable weapon tests. This ranking covers the 12 weapons in KriticalKris’s 2023 guide, not every weapon-like ability or later DLC addition; it weighs versatility, resource cost, practical drawbacks, and the roles described in the available guides. Patch- and DLC-specific balance is not established here.
How this ranking works
The order below is an editorial judgment based on the available weapon descriptions, not a measured damage-per-second list. The source guides were published in 2023 and do not establish a shared difficulty, upgrade level, or controlled test method. Weapon performance can change with upgrades, and player preference matters. The ranking therefore favors dependable utility and reasonable resource use over raw power alone.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Atomic Heart (PS5) | $28.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Atomic Heart PS5 | $39.67 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Atomic Heart (PS5) | $37.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Atomic Heart (PS4) | $36.87 | Buy on Amazon |
Scope: the 12 weapons in KriticalKris’s all-weapons guide: Swede, MP, KS-23, Fox, Electro, Kalash, Snowball, Dominator, Pashtet, Fat Boy, Zvezdochka, and Railgun. Polymer Glove is a weapon-like power included in Pro Game Guides’ broader tier list, while Kuzmitch also appears in that list; neither is part of this 12-weapon ranking. Later DLC coverage is not verified.
Every Atomic Heart weapon, ranked
12. MP
MP sits at the bottom because the available guides place it near the low end of their overall rankings, and the available descriptions provide no standout role that offsets that placement. Pro Game Guides put it in D tier in its July 2023 list. That is a guide’s opinion, not a finding from a controlled comparison; upgrades and individual play style may change how useful it feels.
#1 Best Overall
- An utopian world, both mad and sublime
- Visceral, spectacular and unforgiving combat
- Blast giant machines and mutants using your multiple skills and advanced weapons
- Upgrade your arsenal and equipment
11. Snowball
Snowball is another weak choice in the available tier rankings: Pro Game Guides placed it in D overall and at the bottom of its separate melee list. The available guides do not identify a special advantage that would make it a first-choice weapon. Consider it if its feel suits you, rather than assuming it is competitive without investment.
10. Dominator
Dominator received a C tier from Pro Game Guides in 2023. The evidence available here does not support a precise damage or range comparison with other weapons, nor a universal use case that would justify ranking it higher. Treat its position as a cautious editorial placement, not a measured verdict.
9. Zvezdochka
Zvezdochka is a melee option with a stronger practical case than its C-tier overall placement might suggest. GamesRadar+ highlights it as a melee choice, but Pro Game Guides placed it in C overall and C in its melee list. It can make sense if you want a close-range weapon; the sources do not establish that it outperforms Pashtet after equivalent upgrades.
Rank #2
- Exclusive Physical Version Bonus DLC: Swede Weapon Skin and Electro Weapon Skin
- A utopian world, both mad and sublime
- Visceral, spectacular, and unforgiving combat
- Blast giant machines and mutants using your multiple skills and advanced weapons
- Upgrade your arsenal and equipment
8. Fox
Fox ranks in the middle-to-lower group: Pro Game Guides put it in B overall and B among melee weapons. Its melee guide notes that an upgrade can help restore energy, a useful benefit when balancing energy-based attacks. That upgrade dependence matters; the source does not establish how much energy it restores or compare the cost with other upgrades.
7. KS-23
KS-23 lands in the middle because it has a place in the weapon roster but the available material does not substantiate a standout advantage over the top picks. Pro Game Guides placed it in B tier. No comparable weapon damage figures are available here, so this is a broad tier judgment rather than a claim about its exact effectiveness against particular enemies.
6. Swede
Swede is a capable melee choice whose usefulness can improve substantially with upgrades, according to Pro Game Guides. That dependence keeps it below the leading options for a general ranking: an unupgraded Swede and an upgraded one should not be treated as equivalent. The guide placed it in A overall and A among melee weapons.
Rank #3
- An equally insane and grandiose utopian world
- Destroy gigantic machines and destroy mutants with your skills and advanced weapons
- Instinctively guided, spectacular and relentlessly tough battles
- In addition to the game, two weapon skin DLCs "Swede" + "Electro" are included
5. Fat Boy
Fat Boy offers high power, but GamesRadar+ points to a practical drawback: rockets are scarce, and its force can be excessive against ordinary enemies. That makes it more appealing when you value heavy impact than when you need a weapon for routine encounters. The source provides no quantified rocket drop rate or damage comparison, so its strengths should not be read as a guarantee of efficient use.
4. Railgun
Railgun reaches the top tier in Pro Game Guides’ July 2023 list, which supports placing it among the strongest options in this editorial ranking. The available material does not provide enough detail to compare its damage, energy use, range, or upgrade costs directly with Electro or Kalash. Its high placement is therefore a guide-backed tier judgment, not proof that it is best for every situation.
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Electro uses rechargeable energy rather than conventional ammunition, so it can be useful when ammunition is scarce. GamesRadar+ describes it as precise and energy-efficient, while noting limited per-shot damage and range. Those trade-offs make it a practical precision option, not a universal replacement for a firearm. Pro Game Guides placed it in S tier in its 2023 overall list.
Rank #4
- A utopian world as crazy as it is sublime
- Visceral and spectacular fights that leave no right to error
- Destroy machines and mutants using your advanced powers and weapons
- Upgrade your arsenal and equipment
2. Pashtet
Pashtet is the leading melee pick in this ranking. Pro Game Guides rated it S tier among melee weapons and praised its attack speed; Gamers Decide also describes it as a fast, strong melee option. If you prefer close-range combat, it has a clearer case than the other melee choices in the available guides. That still does not establish a tested advantage at matched upgrade levels.
1. Kalash
Kalash takes first for its broad usefulness. GamesRadar+ describes it as a flexible rifle for different situations, and Gamers Decide calls it reliable with a high rate of fire. Its drawbacks are recoil and ammunition consumption: Gamers Decide notes that controlled bursts help manage recoil, while GamesRadar+ warns that it can use ammunition quickly. Pro Game Guides placed it in A tier rather than S, which is a reminder that this top spot is an editorial choice based on versatility, not universal consensus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which weapon should you upgrade first?
Choose upgrades around the role you actually need rather than following the ranking as a rigid upgrade order. The available recommendations stress that upgrades can substantially change a weapon’s usefulness, but they do not provide comparable upgrade costs or test results across weapons.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- Want one adaptable firearm? Start with Kalash if you can manage its recoil and ammunition use.
- Need to conserve ammunition? Consider Electro for rechargeable-energy shots, while accounting for its lower per-shot damage and limited range.
- Prefer melee? Pashtet is the strongest-supported first choice in the available melee rankings; Swede is another option if you are prepared to invest in upgrades.
- Saving rockets for demanding encounters? Fat Boy’s high power may suit that role better than routine enemy clearing, given GamesRadar+’s warning about rocket scarcity and excess force against ordinary enemies.
Why weapon rankings disagree
Different lists reward different qualities. Pro Game Guides put Electro and Railgun in S overall, while Gamers Decide ranked Kalash first in its worst-to-best article. GamesRadar+ emphasizes complementary roles—Zvezdochka for melee, Electro for precise energy-based attacks, and Kalash as a flexible rifle—and notes Fat Boy’s high power alongside its ammunition drawback. These are not contradictions that can be settled by a single published statistic: the reviewed pages offer subjective tiers and qualitative descriptions, not matched damage, time-to-kill, or resource-efficiency tests. Reddit discussions also show differing player preferences, but anecdotes do not establish a community-wide consensus.
Quick Recap
Sources and limits
- Pro Game Guides: Atomic Heart Weapon Tier List (updated July 2, 2023).
- Pro Game Guides: Atomic Heart Melee Weapon Tier List (updated July 2, 2023).
- Gamers Decide: Atomic Heart Best Weapons (Ranked Worst To Best) (May 4, 2023).
- GamesRadar+: Atomic Heart weapons: best guns and melee weapons.
- KriticalKris: Atomic Heart All Weapons + Special Upgrades Guide (March 29, 2023).
- Pro Game Guides: Best upgrades for each weapon in Atomic Heart.
- Reddit, r/atomicheart: “What’s the ideal/best loadout for weapons?” and “Updated Weapons Tier List.” These are player discussions, not controlled evaluations.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
