Best Dead Rails weapons: Electrocutioner (100 damage, one-shots everything), Rifle (45 damage, reliable), Shotgun (60 damage spread, devastating close range), and Bolt-Action Rifle (55 damage, great at range) dominate S-tier.
I've used every weapon in Dead Rails. Some are zombie-shredding machines. Others are glorified paperweights.
How Weapons Work
Weapons in Dead Rails fall into five categories:
- Melee - No ammo, close range
- Ranged - Guns requiring ammo
- Turrets - Stationary defenses
- Explosives - Area damage
- Utility - Special purpose items
You find weapons by looting buildings, buying from stores, or killing outlaws.
S-Tier Weapons (Best)
Electrocutioner
Type: Special Ranged | Damage: 100
The highest damage weapon in the game. One-shots everything except bosses. The only downside is rarity - you won't find this often.
Where to find: Rare loot, Gunsmith (expensive)
Rifle
Type: Rifle | Damage: 45
The most reliable ranged weapon. Good damage, decent fire rate, common ammo. If you find a Rifle, keep it.
Where to find: Buildings, Gunsmith, Outlaw drops
Shotgun
Type: Shotgun | Damage: 60 (spread)
Devastating at close range. Two-shots most zombies. The spread means you can hit multiple enemies. Essential for train defense.
Where to find: Buildings, Gunsmith, Outlaw camps
Bolt-Action Rifle
Type: Rifle | Damage: 55
Higher damage than the standard Rifle but slower fire rate. Excellent for picking off enemies at range before they reach the train.
Where to find: Rare loot, Gunsmith
A-Tier Weapons (Great)
Navy Revolver
Type: Pistol | Damage: 30
Upgraded revolver with better damage and accuracy. Reliable sidearm that carries you through mid-game.
Where to find: Gunsmith, rare loot
Double Barrel Shotgun
Type: Shotgun | Damage: 70 (spread)
Two quick shots of massive damage. The reload is slow, but those two shots can clear a doorway of zombies.
Where to find: Rare loot, Gunsmith
Turret
Type: Turret | Damage: Varies
Set it up and let it shoot for you. Turrets are insane for train defense - they never miss and never run out of ammo (until destroyed).
Where to find: Gunsmith (expensive), rare loot
Holy Water
Type: Utility | Damage: High vs undead
Destroys vampires and deals heavy damage to zombies. Essential for vampire-heavy runs. Priest class starts with 2.
Where to find: Churches, Priest class, rare loot
Crossbow
Type: Special | Damage: 40
Silent kills that don't attract more zombies. Bolts can be recovered from bodies. Great for stealth looting.
Where to find: Buildings, Gunsmith
B-Tier Weapons (Good)
Revolver
Type: Pistol | Damage: 25
The starter ranged weapon for Cowboy class. Reliable, common ammo, gets the job done. You'll eventually upgrade, but it's solid early game.
Where to find: Common loot, Gunsmith, Cowboy class
Sawed-Off Shotgun
Type: Shotgun | Damage: 50 (spread)
Compact shotgun with less range but faster handling. Good for tight spaces inside the train.
Where to find: Buildings, Gunsmith
Mauser C96
Type: Pistol | Damage: 28
Semi-automatic pistol with a larger magazine. Good fire rate compensates for lower damage per shot.
Where to find: Rare loot, Gunsmith
Molotov
Type: Explosive | Damage: Fire DOT
Area denial and crowd control. Throw into a zombie horde and watch them burn. Arsonist class starts with 4.
Where to find: Buildings, stores, Arsonist class
Dynamite
Type: Explosive | Damage: 80 (AOE)
Massive area damage but dangerous to use. Can damage you and teammates. Best thrown from the train at approaching hordes.
Where to find: Mining areas, stores
Pickaxe
Type: Melee | Damage: 35
Slow but powerful melee option. Miner class weapon that doubles for mining ores. Better than the shovel.
Where to find: Mining areas, Miner class
Tomahawk
Type: Melee | Damage: 35
Same stats as pickaxe but throwable. You can retrieve it after throwing. Versatile melee option.
Where to find: Buildings, stores
C-Tier Weapons (Situational)
Flintlock Pistol
Type: Pistol | Damage: 35
High damage but single shot with long reload. One good hit, then you're vulnerable. Not worth it when better options exist.
Where to find: Rare loot
Blunderbuss
Type: Shotgun | Damage: 55 (wide spread)
Ancient shotgun with massive spread. Hits everything in front of you but damage per pellet is low. Novelty weapon.
Where to find: Rare loot
Springfield Rifle
Type: Rifle | Damage: 40
Slower than the standard Rifle with similar damage. No reason to use this over the regular Rifle.
Where to find: Buildings, stores
Sword
Type: Melee | Damage: 30
Knight class weapon. Decent reach but mediocre damage. The Knight's armor is more valuable than the sword.
Where to find: Knight class, rare loot
Firework Gun
Type: Special | Damage: 25
Shoots fireworks that... distract enemies? More of a meme weapon than a practical choice.
Where to find: Rare loot, events
D-Tier Weapons (Avoid)
Shovel
Type: Melee | Damage: 20
The default weapon everyone starts with. Replace it as soon as possible. Only use when you have literally nothing else.
Where to find: Starting weapon
Fists
Type: Melee | Damage: 10
You will die. Only use fists if you've somehow lost every other weapon and want to go out swinging.
Where to find: Always available (unfortunately)
Crucifix
Type: Utility | Damage: 0
Wards off vampires but deals no damage. Situational utility item, not a weapon. Priest class starts with 2.
Where to find: Churches, Priest class
Weapon Categories Ranked
Best Weapon Type by Situation
| Situation | Best Weapon Type |
|---|---|
| Train Defense | Shotgun, Turret |
| Looting Towns | Rifle, Crossbow |
| Boss Fights | Electrocutioner, Rifle |
| Zombie Hordes | Shotgun, Molotov |
| Vampires | Holy Water, Shotgun |
| Werewolves | Rifle, Shotgun |
| Ammo Conservation | Melee, Crossbow |
Ammo Efficiency Ranking
- Crossbow - Recoverable bolts
- Rifle - Common ammo, good damage
- Revolver - Common ammo, decent damage
- Shotgun - Shells are rarer but worth it
- Electrocutioner - Rare ammo but one-shots
Weapon Loadout Recommendations
Early Game Loadout
- Primary: Revolver or Rifle
- Secondary: Shovel or Pickaxe
- Utility: Bandages
Mid Game Loadout
- Primary: Rifle or Shotgun
- Secondary: Revolver (backup)
- Melee: Tomahawk or Pickaxe
- Utility: Molotov, Bandages
Late Game Loadout
- Primary: Electrocutioner or Bolt-Action
- Secondary: Shotgun
- Melee: Vampire Knife (if Vampire class)
- Utility: Holy Water, Dynamite
Budget Loadout (No Store Purchases)
- Primary: Whatever Rifle you find
- Secondary: Revolver from Cowboy class
- Melee: Pickaxe from Miner class
- Utility: Looted Molotovs
Where to Find Weapons
Common Locations
- Abandoned Buildings - Random weapons
- Outlaw Camps - Good guns, ammo
- General Store - Basic weapons, ammo
- Gunsmith - Best weapons (expensive)
Rare Locations
- Banks - High-value loot
- Sheriff's Office - Confiscated weapons
- Boss Drops - Unique items
More Dead Rails Content
- Dead Rails Codes - All working codes
- Dead Rails Guide - Beginner's survival guide
- Dead Rails Class Tier List - Best classes ranked
