Fallout 76 was released in 2018 and presents a slightly different gameplay experience from other games in the Fallout series. This is primarily due to the fact that this is a multiplayer live service game. Competitive PvP is a huge part of Fallout 76. Despite a rocky launch, it has matured into a fun game, with a committed player base.

Related
Fallout 76: 5 Worst Power Armor, Ranked

While every Power Armor in Fallout 76 serves a vital role in survival, a few models fail to impress.

As with all Fallout games, weapons are a big part of Fallout 76. Moreso actually, seeing as this is a PvP-enabled title. There is a wide range of both melee and ranged weapons available to players. However, some of them are absolutely terrible and are a waste of crafting materials and ammo.

7 Radium Rifle

Useful Radiation Damage

Radium Rifle In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 37
  • Accuracy: 82
  • Range: 347

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 10
  • Circuitry: 6
  • Nuclear Material: 5
  • Screw: 15
  • Spring: 13
  • Steel: 29
  • Wood: 12

The Radium Rifle isn’t terrible, it is actually a pretty good weapon in its own right. However, most players will struggle to find the materials to craft this weapon until later game stages, by which time they will have no doubt found something better to use.

Related
Fallout 76: 9 Best Ways To Maximize Carry Weight

Players have several options when it comes to maximizing carry weight in Fallout 76. These examples are some of the best.

The nice thing about the Radium Rifle is that it has a radiation damage effect, which can be very useful against some enemies. If it wasn’t for the ludicrous crafting requirements, this rifle would not have been on this list.

6 Hunting Rifle

Oh Dear No Dear

Hunting Rifle In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 130
  • Accuracy: 109
  • Range: 797

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 2
  • Gear: 1
  • Oil: 1
  • Screw: 7
  • Spring: 2
  • Steel: 7
  • Wood: 3

Hunting anything other than radroaches in Fallout 76 with this weapon is pretty pointless, and it certainly will not take down a larger game quickly enough. Yes, it has good accuracy, but don’t miss it, as this is a single-shot-only rifle.

The real problem with the Hunting Rifle is that it doesn’t come equipped with a stock or a scope as standard. Until these two mods can be crafted and added to the rifle, it is completely useless. However, once it has been modded it is not completely awful, but there are much better alternatives.

5 10mm Submachine Gun

A Real Ammo Eater

10mm Submachine Gun In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 36
  • Accuracy: 56
  • Range: 252

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 2
  • Aluminum: 3
  • Gear: 3
  • Oil: 2
  • Screw: 4
  • Spring: 2
  • Steel: 23

Stats-wise, it is apparent that this Fallout 76 weapon is best suited to the spray-and-pray style of gunplay. With its low damage, accuracy, and range, the 10mm Submachine Gun is best used indoors, as a kind of hall sweeper weapon.

Related
Fallout 76: 13 Rarest Apparel Items And How To Get Them

From the BOS Jumpsuit to the Leather Coat, these are the rarest apparel items in Fallout 76.

The real problem with the 10mm Submachine Gun is the fact it consumes ammo at a ridiculous rate, although this is generally expected with an SMG. But as this is a fairly early-game weapon, it is practically impossible for the player to find or craft enough ammo to keep this gun firing.

4 Double-Barrel Shotgun

A Shotgun In Name Only

Double-Barrel Shotgun In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 165
  • Accuracy: 44
  • Range: 264

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 4
  • Gear: 3
  • Oil: 4
  • Screw: 7
  • Steel: 16
  • Wood: 7

Think of shotguns in every other game, what are the definitive features? High damage? Close range? This is the general form that shotguns take in both games and in real life. So does the Double-Barrel Shotgun in Fallout 76 not follow the same premise?

The damage on this shotgun is incredibly low for a close-quarters weapon firing shotgun shells. Accuracy is low, which is to be expected from a shotgun in Fallout 76. But the range is long, crazily so for a shotgun with such a wide spread of shot. A better option than crafting and carrying this shotgun is to go for the Pipe Revolver.

3 Pipe Rifle

The Worst Of All Rifles

Pipe Rifle In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 27
  • Accuracy: 70
  • Range: 671

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 1
  • Gear: 1
  • Oil: 1
  • Screw: 2
  • Spring: 1
  • Steel: 11

The Pipe Rifle is almost completely useless. When comparing the stats to the Pipe Pistol, the Pipe Rifle simply has a little bit extra accuracy and range. There really is no point carrying a Pipe Rifle if the player has already crafted a Pipe Pistol, except for the fact that they use different ammo.

The crafting costs are very low with the Pipe Rifle, and it is likely new players will experiment with one, before throwing it away as soon as they have anything that is in any way an improvement. Put simply, this weapon is awful.

2 Pipe Revolver

An Upgrade Over The Pipe Pistol But Still Terrible

Pipe Revolver In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 60
  • Accuracy: 60
  • Range: 84

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 8
  • Gear: 10
  • Oil: 8
  • Screw: 10
  • Steel: 21

First of all, it must be said that the range stat is not a typo. The Pipe Revolver really does have the ridiculously low optimal range of 64. Had this weapon kept similar stats to the Pipe Pistol in respect of range, it wouldn’t be so terrible. But as it is, this pistol is useless as anything else than a short-range sidearm.

Related
Fallout 76: 10 Things You Missed In Whitespring

The Whitespring is a popular area in Fallout 76 for several reasons — there's also a lot more to it than meets the eye. Here are the essential facts.

The crafting requirements are crazy as well for such a terrible weapon. The only real use for this weapon in Fallout 76 is as a backup sidearm, that the player can switch to and finish off enemies that are almost dead and have closed into melee range.

1 Pipe Pistol

The Worst Ranged Weapon Of All

Pipe Pistol In Fallout 76

Stats:

  • Damage: 35
  • Accuracy: 62
  • Range: 683

Crafting requirements:

  • Adhesive: 1
  • Gear: 1
  • Oil: 1
  • Screw: 2
  • Spring: 1
  • Steel: 11

The Pipe Pistol is simply terrible on all fronts but one. The only thing it has going for it is the incredibly low crafting requirements. Most players of Fallout 76 will end up using the Pipe Pistol or the rifle variant for at least a short time in the early game stage.

The only slightly good thing about the Pipe Pistol is that it has a pretty good range for a pistol. But with its single-shot capacity and low damage, engaging enemies at range is really the only option with this terrible weapon.

fallout 76
Fallout 76

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , Xbox One
Released
November 14, 2018
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
Action , RPG