Combat is an important element of many games, and good or bad combat can make or break the overall experience. But what defines combat can lean very heavily on the available weapons, magic, and so forth. Sometimes the best weapons are those that can define a player build, sometimes it’s how they are rooted into the game’s narrative and lore, and other times it can be just that these weapons are pure fun. The best of the best can combine all three, but whatever mark they hit,2024 in video gameshad plenty of masterful, fun, and lore-heavy weapons.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Narrowing it down is no easy feat, but looking at the combat, the sequences, and everything that defined various games in 2024, it’s easy to see which weapons punched above their weightclass. FromAnother Crab’s Treasure’s handguntoSTALKER 2’s Gauss Gun, here are the best weapons of 2024alphabetized by their associated video game.
Another Crab’s Treasure - The Handgun
In the category of funny weapons,Another Crab’s Treasuremight just take the cake. Aggro crab developers revealed the handgun ahead of its release, and many fans laughed about it then. They were almost certainly laughing when trying it out because there’s nothing funnier in a Soulslike game than somehow one-shotting a boss, at least once anyway. The absurdity of a working gun under the sea does wonders forAnother Crab’s Treasure.Not to mention,Another Crab Treasure’s handgun is a fantastic accessibility option, proving that an important aspect of accessibility in video games is making it fun. It’s almost like a cheat code.
Astro Bot - PS5 DualSense Controller
Space Bully Nebulax isthe final boss ofAstro Bot, and the playable sequence in getting to Nebulax is tons of fun. Players will find themselves flying a PS5 DualSense controller and using it to shoot enemies in an epic space battle, supported and flanked by a variety of PlayStation hardware from over the years. The sheer nostalgia and fun of the moment is second to none, and using a PS5 DualSense controller as a weapon plays a huge part in that.
Black Myth: Wukong - Sun Wukong’s Staff
TheJingubang Staff, also known as Sun Wukong’s staff, is one of thebest weapons inBlack Myth: Wukong. While it has a limited role in the main story, at least in terms of runtime, it’s absolutely an excellent upgrade to the protagonist’s bo staff. Its story significance, combined with its stats, make it a fun upgrade despite its late story arrival.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Jet Gun
Over the years,Call of Dutyhas brought in numerous Wonder Weapons, although more than a handful have dropped the ball. Perhaps the most disappointing Wonder Weapon wasBlack Ops 2’s Jet Gun, which was notorious because it wasn’t found in the Mystery Box; instead, players would have to build it just for it to self-destruct later.Black Ops 6brought back the Jet Gunand managed to redeem the entire weapon. It no longer explodes, can be used indefinitely with a simple recharge when used up, has an alternate fire mode, and can be pack-a-punched. It’s a redemption story in many ways, and the divide between 2012’s Jet Gun and 2024’s Jet Gun is huge, earning it this spot.
Diablo 4: Vessels of Hatred - Rod of Kepeleke
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The Spiritborn class is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws forDiablo 4: Vessels of Hatred, and its uniques are undeniably awesome. The appeal of the class is only further supplemented by all of its available builds. The Rod of Kepeleke is one of those uniques that truly defines any build it is part of. Players have to hit max level and farm the right spots, but the trade-off is a Unique that lets players cast Core Skills for free. There is a slight drawback, but the Rod’s secondary effect, especially in the right builds, makes said drawback practically nothing. Itsrole in Spiritborn Buildsearns it this spot, plain and simple.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Mythal’s Light
When it comes to lore and combat effectiveness, Mythal’s Light is second to none inDragon Age: The Veilguard. This weapon can be a Mageknife or Longsword, depending on Rook’s class, and is uniquely tied to some of the oldest lore inDragon Age- that being Mythal’s relationship with Solas. The challenges in obtaining it come second to the reward itself, and Mythal’s Light is a mainstay in several ofDragon Age: The Veilguard’s best Mage builds.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - Spear of the Impaler
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WhileElden Ringand its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is filled with fantastic weapons, few feel as rewarding to wield as theSpear of the Impaler.Messmer, more so than anything, is the flagship boss of the expansion, and he’s equally tough to boot. Defeating him and claiming the Spear of the Impaler is one of the best feelings inShadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Slipstream Saber
The Buster Sword is the most iconic weapon in theFinal Fantasyfranchise, if not the entire gaming industry. It returns inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but players can also get several upgraded forms of it for Cloud. Its final upgrade, the Slipstream Saber, is purely a net positive across the board, and while it changes the look to some degree, it’s still the Buster Sword underneath it all. And wielding it inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s ending contentreally brings the power fantasy of the Buster Sword to life.
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail - Pictomancer’s Paint Brushes
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Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrailintroduced two new classes, the Viper and the Pictomancer, and it says something when the paintbrush-wielding Pictomancer stands tall. As a Magic DPS class, the Pictomancer’s raw damage, utility, and simplistic gameplay make it a go-to caster. Further proof of this is the number of Pictomancers seen in the Futures Rewritten (Ultimate) raid. Its novelty is supported by its effectiveness, making it and its paintbrushes an awesomeaddition toFinal Fantasy 14in 2024.
Helldivers 2 - LAS-16 Sickle
It may not be the ideal primary weapon to dive with if players want to punch holes into Terminids’ or Automatons’ heavy armor on Super Helldive Difficulty, butHelldivers 2’sLAS-16 Sicklehas far fewer diminishing returns than other firearms of its ilk. As an energy-based heat weapon, this laser rifle fires in bursts that are sustained as long as players hold the trigger and overheats if held long enough. This results in players needing to manually reload; otherwise, players never need to reload if they can time their fire in short bursts and release before it overheats. Therefore, the LAS-16 Sickle rewards pinpoint precision and strategic timing with not having to run around looting ammunition—at least not nearly as much as many otherprimary weapons inHelldivers 2.
