{"id":211289,"date":"2025-09-28T15:23:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T15:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vg247.com\/?p=789517"},"modified":"2025-09-28T15:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T15:23:33","slug":"returnal-weapons-what-are-the-best-weapons-for-your-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/returnal-weapons-what-are-the-best-weapons-for-your-run\/","title":{"rendered":"Returnal Weapons | What are the best weapons for your run?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When every mistake has the potential to send you back to square one, having the right gear in your arsenal is vital.<\/span> <\/p>\n

So while all of Returnal’s weapons<\/strong> have their merits, it pays to know which are the most powerful before you even pick them up. <\/p>\n

To help you make the tough choices when it comes to the best weapons in Returnal, we’ve created a running list of every gun, weapon trait, and alt fire we’ve seen – along with some meta commentary on how each item performs. <\/p>\n

While they might soon be patched, a few of the weapons you can find in Returnal feel significantly more powerful than the others – especially when it comes to dealing with the game’s huge boss fights. <\/p>\n

Here’s what we thought, and for more Returnal tips check out our full page here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Returnal Weapons – What are the best weapons for your run?<\/h3>\n

There are a few things to consider outside of raw power when it comes to choosing the best gun for you in Returnal. <\/p>\n

First up is the tiny bar in the bottom left of the screen. This is the Weapon Proficiency meter. <\/p>\n

As you defeat enemies this bar will fill up, and when it ticks over, will raise to a new level. <\/p>\n

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When you find a weapon in Returnal, it will have a number on the right: it’s Weapon Proficiency level. This roughly maps to the power of the weapon in relation to the enemies you’re coming up against, so you always want to be wielding a gun that at least matches or exceeds your Proficiency level. <\/p>\n

Second is the traits the weapon has. These are the list of powers underneath the main picture of the weapon when you find it. <\/p>\n

You can have up to 4 traits on a weapon and they aren’t reset when you die. Using a weapon to defeat enemies raises the progress towards acquiring a trait, so the more you use a weapon, the more powerful it gets whenever you find it again. <\/p>\n

If you find yourself liking lots of different weapons, consider swapping often to raise and unlock new traits across a wide variety of ordnance. <\/p>\n

Third is the alt fire, which is the word immediately underneath the picture of the weapon when you find it. <\/p>\n

This is the special attack that fires when you fully hold down the left trigger before you shoot. It looks like any alt fire can appear on any weapon, so don’t feel like you have to fish for a particular gun to get the one you like. <\/p>\n

Alt fire attacks can be extremely powerful, and hit multiple enemies across a wide range. <\/p>\n

Returnal Weapon List<\/h4>\n