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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For most players, the P416 is the best all-around assault rifle in Far Cry 3: it is fully automatic and, compared with the ACE, is described as more accurate, longer-ranged, and faster-firing. Pick the ACE if damage per shot matters more to you. For stealth, consider the suppressible F1 earlier in the game or the late-game Bushman.
Which assault rifle should you choose?
There is no single best rifle for every playstyle. The comparisons available are qualitative guide descriptions, not a universal ranking based on independent performance tests. Choose by the tradeoff you care about most:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Far Cry 3 Classic Edition (Xbox One) | $27.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Far Cry 3 Ost | Buy on Amazon | |
| 3 |
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Far Cry 3 (Renewed) | $11.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Far Cry Compilation | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- P416: the most flexible choice for full-auto use, with a Marksman sight option for longer-range shots.
- ACE: the choice for the highest damage per round among the assault rifles, according to Prima Games.
- F1: a suppressor-capable option for stealth, with three-round bursts instead of full-auto fire.
- MS16: a suppressible precision rifle if you prefer single shots.
- Bushman: a late-game suppressed P416 variant for players who have met its tower requirement.
How the main rifles compare
| Rifle | Best suited to | Guide-described strengths | Tradeoffs and availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| P416 | Flexible full-auto use | Prima Games describes it as full-auto and says it has better accuracy, range, and rate of fire than the ACE. It can use a Marksman sight. | Prima says it becomes available for purchase after “Three Blind Mice,” when the South Island opens. IMFDB says the standard rifle does not take a suppressor in single-player. |
| ACE | Higher damage per shot | Prima Games describes it as delivering more pure damage per round than any other assault rifle. | It gives up the P416’s stated advantages in accuracy, range, and rate of fire. It becomes available for purchase after “Three Blind Mice,” according to Prima Games. |
| F1 | Earlier suppressed play | Can use a sound suppressor and has optic and magazine options, according to Prima Games. | Fires in three-round bursts rather than full-auto; Prima calls it a solid midgame choice. |
| MS16 | Precision and single-shot firing | Prima Games describes it as having strong stats and a suppressor option. | Single-shot only, so it is not a substitute for full-auto fire. |
| AK-47 | Simple full-auto use earlier on | Prima Games says it hits harder per round than the STG or F1. | IMFDB says it has no single-player attachments. |
| Bushman | Late-game suppressed full-auto | IMFDB describes it as a suppressed signature P416 variant with boosted accuracy and damage. | IMFDB says it unlocks after all 18 radio jamming towers are deactivated. Prima Games says signature weapons still cost money. |
Why the P416 is the best all-around pick
The P416 combines full-auto fire with the balance of accuracy, range, and rate of fire that Prima Games says puts it ahead of the ACE in those areas. Its Marksman sight option adds flexibility for more deliberate, longer-range shots. That makes it the clearest recommendation if you want one rifle to handle varied encounters rather than maximize a single stat.
Its main limitation for stealth is that the standard P416 cannot take a suppressor in single-player, according to the secondary reference IMFDB. If keeping shots quiet is central to your approach, use a different rifle or work toward the Bushman.
#1 Best Overall
- Far Cry 3 Classic Edition has been updated to run smoothly on modern platforms Encounter a diverse and realistic cast of characters, including one of Far Cry's most notorious villains: Vaas Montenegro
- Use an arsenal of weapons and explosives to run gun-first into the action, take down nearby adversaries with your blade or snipe unsuspecting enemies from a distance
- Explore an island playground as stunningly beautiful as it is diverse - from mountain ranges to swampy grasslands and white sandy beaches. Fight your way through the island's towns, temples, river ports and more.
When the ACE is a better choice
Choose the ACE if you value damage per round above the P416’s stated advantages in accuracy, range, and rate of fire. That is a straightforward tradeoff, not proof that the ACE is universally stronger: the right choice depends on how you engage enemies and whether you prefer heavier individual shots or the P416’s faster, more flexible full-auto handling.
Stealth and precision alternatives
F1: suppressor option with burst fire
The F1 can take a sound suppressor and offers optics and magazine options. Its defining tradeoff is its three-round-burst firing mode. It is a practical option if you want suppressed rifle fire before pursuing the late-game Bushman, but it will not provide continuous full-auto fire.
Rank #2
MS16: suppressible single-shot precision
The MS16 is the fit for players who prefer controlled, individual shots. Prima Games describes it as having strong stats and a suppressor option, but it fires single shots; do not choose it expecting the handling of an automatic assault rifle.
Bushman: late-game suppressed P416 variant
IMFDB identifies the Bushman as a suppressed signature variant of the P416 and says it has boosted accuracy and damage. The same source says it unlocks after all 18 radio jamming towers are deactivated. This is distinct from the standard P416’s purchase availability after “Three Blind Mice”; the two weapons do not share the same stated unlock route.
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Rank #3
When the rifles become available
Prima Games says most normal weapons become available without purchase as radio towers are disabled. The P416 and ACE are listed as purchasable after “Three Blind Mice,” when the player reaches the South Island. Signature weapons work differently: Prima says they require associated tasks and still cost money. For the Bushman’s specific tower requirement, IMFDB states that all 18 radio jamming towers must be deactivated.
That progression means your best choice can change as you advance. Before reaching the South Island, use an available rifle that suits your immediate needs; the F1 is a relevant suppressor-capable option, while the AK-47 is a simple full-auto alternative. Once the P416 and ACE are available, choose between flexibility and damage per round.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Far Cry 2: 85 Metascore. You are forced to make deals with corrupt warlords on both sides of the conflict in order to hunt down your mark - The Jackal. Game includes SP and MP campaigns, and is a digital remaster of the original release with all patches.
- Far Cry 3: 90 Metascore. Experience the #1 Rated Shooter of 2012* This is where you find yourself caught in conflict between warlords and rebels, where your only escape is through drugs or the muzzle of a gun. Game includes SP campaign, MP, and co-op.
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon - Spike TV's VGX 2013 Best DLC winner. The year is 2007. It is the future. You are Sergeant Rex Colt: Mark IV Cyber Commando. Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear war, which erupted in the '90s. Game includes single-player campaign.
- Based on Metacritic as of 12/18/2012
- Far Cry 2: 85 Metascore. You are forced to make deals with corrupt warlords on both sides of the conflict in order to hunt down your mark - The Jackal. Game includes SP and MP campaigns, and is a digital remaster of the original release with all patches.
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