Highlights
- Sniper rifles are essential for long-range combat in Pandora, choose wisely for max damage output.
- Lyuda, Headsplosion, and Monocle are top sniper rifle choices in Borderlands 3 for different purposes.
- Complex Root, Wedding Invitation, and Unseen Threat offer unique abilities and higher damage levels in-game.
The vast world of Pandora in Borderlands 3 is teeming with life and seemingly peaceful, aside from the thousands of Skags, Spiderants, Bandits, and Psychos that inhabit it, of course. On a planet like Pandora, survival of the fittest is the norm, so knowing every nook and cranny of the explorable world and having the right equipment is key to completing Borderlands 3.
The Unwritten Rules of Borderlands 3
Veterans of the franchise and other experienced members of Borderlands 3’s community have developed a set of traditional rules to play by.
When fighting off packs of enemies, it's very easy to be overwhelmed and surrounded by them, which is why sniper rifles are great for eliminating them at a distance. However, not all rifles are created equal. While exploring Pandora, players will have to choose their sniper rifles wisely to maximize damage output and take advantage of their builds. Here are the best sniper rifles in Borderlands 3.
The Stats tables below each sniper rifle only include one Level 60 M10 weapon variant, considered to be the best all around. However, there are many more available that might suit players better, depending on their play style, build, and character.
8 Lyuda
A Gatling Gun Disguised As A Sniper Rifle
Level | Variant | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | Nuclear Vicious | 5,447 | 86 | 7.61 | 4.3 | 16 |
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A sniper rifle with a rotating barrel is certainly odd, to say the least. But in Pandora, anything's possible. This weapon of mass destruction can obliterate any enemy in a matter of seconds, thanks to the speed at which it can fire.
Even with the Crit damage nerf it received during one of the several hotfixes the game has gone through, the Lyuda is still a force to be reckoned with. This legendary sniper rifle can occasionally be obtained through regular loot sources, but it's dropped much more often by Tremendous Rex during the final round of the Cistern of Slaughter.
For players who prefer an advantage against shields, higher weapon base damage, less accuracy reduction, and 1.1x more weapon zoom, the Storming Vicious variant is also a great choice.
7 Headsplosion
A Fan Favorite For Crowd Control
Level | Variant | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | Bloodsoaked | 12,810 | 95 | 1.12 | 3.1 | 6 |
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It's not uncommon for players to find themselves surrounded by large groups of enemies clumped together. And it's exactly in those situations where the Headsplosion sniper rifle truly shines. This legendary weapon has massive destructive potential and is ideal for crowd control.
Upon a successful critical hit, three additional rounds will ricochet, hitting any enemies surrounding the original target and doing a considerable amount of damage. The Headsplosion sniper rifle can be obtained through common loot sources, but it has an increased chance of being dropped by King Bobo in the Voracious Canopy.
6 Monocle
Absurdly High Crit Damage Multiplication
Level | Variant | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | Quickdraw | 7,426 | 99 | 1.06 | 2.8 | 6 |
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Surprisingly, the Monocle is the first sniper rifle on the list so far that actually behaves like one. This gun is a high-precision, long-range weapon that's ideal for dealing with enemies at a distance. Whether players are struggling with vicious packs of Skags or unsuspecting bandits hiding in their fortresses, the Monocle is always a fine choice.
This legendary sniper rifle can occasionally be obtained through regular loot sources but has an increased chance of being dropped by the Demoskaggon that lives in The Droughts. For players willing to sacrifice more base weapon damage in exchange for a higher critical hit damage bonus (+21%), the Deadeye variant is also an excellent choice.
5 Skullmasher
A Sniper Rifle With A Shotgun's Soul
Level | Variant | Damage | Accuracy | Hand | Reload Speed | Rate of Fire | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | Trick | 9,394 x 5 | 89 | 26 | 2.7 | 5.31 | 4 |
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Another fantastic option for crowd control, the Skullmasher sniper rifle works more like a shotgun than a high-precision weapon, which makes it harder to control the spread of the shots as they travel through the air. However, this legendary weapon still packs a huge punch and can easily one-shot strong enemies and even bosses with the right build at higher levels.
The Skullmasher can be obtained from virtually any suitable loot source but is much more likely to be dropped by Eista the Invincible at the Skittermaw Basin. Players who are willing to sacrifice a considerable amount of critical hit damage bonus, weapon accuracy, and zoom in exchange for no base damage reduction, should also try the Wicked variant of this sniper rifle.
4 Complex Root
Mathematically Devastating
Level | Prefix | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Mag | Element/Chance | Stats |
60 M10 | Sublime | 12,175 | 94 | 8.69 | 3.4 | 10 | 91% |
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Maliwan weapons manufacturers have never let players down when it comes to their products' design, and the Complex Root sniper rifle isn't the exception. This high-damage legendary sniper rifle fires two separate projectiles with different travel distances. Upon impact, additional projectiles spawn around the first point of contact, doing massive amounts of damage and creating a wide area of effect.
Like other legendary sniper rifles, Complex Root can be obtained through any suitable loot source but has an increased chance of being dropped by Lani Dixon in Ashfall Peaks.
The Expert variant of this sniper rifle is also an excellent choice for players willing to sacrifice some weapon charge speed, zoom, and reload speed Stats in exchange for additional effectiveness against Flesh and Shields.
The Best Maliwan Weapons in Borderlands History
Borderlands’ Maliwan weapons excel at applying elemental damage types and status effects, with a few weapons that go above and beyond.
3 Wedding Invitation
A Broken Hearts Day Special
Level | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Hand | Mag | Stats |
Minimum Level: 53 | 3,473 | 93 | 1.39 | 3.0 | 36 | 6 |
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Who doesn't love an overpowered sniper rifle that can be obtained during a game's special event? The Wedding Invitation Legendary sniper rifle can be obtained by shooting 100 hearts during the Broken Hearts Day event, which has been taking place every year since February 2021.
This weapon of mass destruction does incendiary damage to any targets it hits, and, as if that wasn't enough, it also returns bullets to the weapon's clip upon a successful critical hit. In other words, with enough accuracy, this sniper rifle offers the possibility of having unlimited ammo!
As opposed to other sniper rifles on this list, Wedding Invitation doesn't have additional variants, so players are stuck with the base Stats.
2 Unseen Threat
Ricochet Rampage
Level | Prefix | Damage | Accuracy | Rate of Fire | Reload Speed | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | Quickdraw | 24,588 | 96 | 1.33 | 2.7 | 4 |
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Landing a critical hit on an enemy is devastating enough, but having a sniper rifle that also adds ricochet to maximize damage is key to surviving the merciless Pandora. The Unseen Threat Legendary sniper rifle can be a great advantage when dealing with high-level enemies from a distance, as fewer shots will be required to take them down due to the added ricochet damage.
The Unseen Threat sniper rifle can be obtained from any suitable loot source but has an increased chance of being dropped by Amach in Cursehaven.
Players who are willing to sacrifice some weapon damage and accuracy bonuses in exchange for a 23% increase in critical hit damage should definitely check out the Trick variant as well.
1 Sand Hawk
High Damage, Massive Spread
Level | Prefix | Damage | Accuracy | Hand | Reload Speed | Rate of Fire | Mag | Stats |
60 M10 | High Capacity Relentless | 11,018 x 7 | 69 | 50 | 2.4 | 7.31 | 24 |
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The Sand Hawk sniper rifle is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. With eight deadly projectiles per shot that cover a wide range, it makes for a great weapon in close-quarter combat. This legendary sniper rifle can take down even the most resilient bosses with a few shots, making victory much more achievable.
The only downside to the Sand Hawk is that each shot consumes three rounds, which means players will have to be very careful with their ammo management. This sniper rifle can be obtained from the mission "Whoops" in Wurmwater.
For those focusing on critical hit damage, the High Capacity Tactical variant of this weapon might be a better choice, as it sacrifices many of the bonuses the High Capacity Relentless offers, but grants an additional 11% critical hit damage bonus.
Borderlands 3
- Platform(s)
- PC , Stadia , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PS4 , PS5 , Switch
- Released
- September 13, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
