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- Our best loadouts are the ACR 6.8, MP7, MK 20 SSR, M870, TAC-50, and RPK-74.
- Pick attachments based on the role you want to fill in-game and the faction you prefer.
The right loadout can make a drastic difference in Ubisoft’s arena shooter, even if two players opt for the same weapon. Differences in stats like aim-down-sights time and reload speed can determine the victor of a tense firefight. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best loadouts that play nice with all the factions in-game.
Our list of the best loadouts to build
Here are our best loadouts based on our time with XDefiant.
| Loadout | Weapons | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Assault | ACR 6.8 and M9 | Reliable all-rounder |
| SMG | MP7 and 686 Magnum | Speedy flanks |
| Marksman rifle | MK 20 SSR and 93R | Medium to long-range semi-auto combat |
| Shotgun | M870 and 93R | Close-quarters decimation |
| Sniper | TAC-50 and D50 | Long-range headshots |
| LMG | RPK-74 and 93R | Enduring firefights |
While picking a category can depend on your preferences, we’ve found that rapid-firing guns like assault rifles and SMGs are great if you’re just starting the game. Once you get a feel for how damage works, you can step it up to a sniper rifle or mow down foes with a shotgun. My personal pick is the slow but steady marksman rifle if you’ve got good accuracy. Read on for detailed loadouts with our top attachment recommendations.
Best Assault loadout – ACR 6.8 and M9
- Muzzle: Brake
- Barrel: Stabilizing
- Front Rail: Angled
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip
The ACR 6.8 came out on top in our best weapons shootout so it’s only fair that we cover the best attachments for this lethal assault rifle. While the gun has decent control, we bump this up further with the muzzle Brake attachment. We then add the Angled front rail and Stabilizing barrel to improve stability and recoil control at the cost of sprint-shoot time. The Quick Draw Grip balances this out by boosting your sprint-shoot time and reducing the time to aim, making you a nimble opponent. As for the magazine, the Quick Mag will let you reload 15% faster, letting you lay down constant fire on enemies. While some players might lean towards the reliable AK-47 and M4A1, we’re big fans of the ACR 6.8’s fast TTK (time to kill) and high damage output, especially with the right attachments.
And here’s what we’re using for the M9:
- Muzzle: Brake
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Fast Mag
- Rear Grip: Leather Wrapped
Best SMG loadout – MP7 and 686 Magnum
- Barrel: Barrel Extender
- Front Rail: Superlight
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
- Stock: Padded
While SMGs are solid options in XDefiant, they tend to be countered by marksman rifles and sniper rifles from a distance. While flanking them with a flashbang is the way to go, consider a Barrel Extender to give yourself a range boost. We’ve gone with the Superlight front rail to boost your ADS (aim down sights) time and movement speed, improving your mobility while lowering your recoil recovery a bit. This ethos of speed goes into our Quick Mag magazine choice as well, with 15% faster reloads. The Quick Draw rear grip evens out the sprint-shoot time drop from the Barrel Extender while improving the ADS time. To wrap it up, the Padded stock boosts ADS stability and flinch control in combat. While executive producer Mark Rubin prefers the P90, we think the MP7 is a solid pick over alternatives like the Vector and MP5A2.
And here’s what we’ve added to the 686 Magnum pistol:
- Barrel: Barrel Extender
- Optics: Red Dot Sight
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
Best Marksman rifle loadout – MK 20 SSR and 93R
- Muzzle: Barrel Extender
- Barrel: Chrome Lined
- Optics: 3.0x Scope
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Stock: Padded
While semi-auto marksman rifles might not be for everyone, their damage-per-shot is lethal at medium to long ranges. Among the ones in the game, the MK 20 SSR is a great pick with the right attachments. The Barrel Extender and 3.0x optics are a natural fit considering this weapon’s ambitions to succeed at mid-range firefights. As for the Chrome Lined barrel, this improves range further at the cost of ADS speed. To minimize the risk of getting caught mid-reload, opt for the Quick Mag’s 15% faster reload speeds. And finally, the Padded stock improves ADS stability. I had a great time using this loadout against enemies of all ranges. Just remember that missed shots here will cost you due to the MK 20 SSR’s semi-auto nature.
And here’s what we’re using for the fast-firing 93R:
- Muzzle: Muzzle Booster
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
Best Shotgun loadout – M870 and 93R
- Muzzle: Barrel Extender
- Barrel: Chrome Lined
- Front Rail: PEQ-15
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
- Stock: Padded
When it comes to close-quarters combat, you can’t go wrong with a shotgun as long as you land your shots. A Barrel Extender might be an uncommon sight here but it gives the M870 an extra kick against targets that aren’t right next to you. The Chrome Lined barrel is another step in this direction, with a range buff at the cost of movement and ADS speed. To account for this drawback, we opt for the Quick Draw rear grip’s boost to your ADS speed and sprint-shoot time. And the PEQ-15 front rail is a must-have because it helps with bullet spread, the core weakness of the shotgun category. Once more, we prefer the Padded grip as it improves ADS stability, a stat negatively affected by the Quick Draw grip.
And here’s what we’re using for our 93R sidearm:
- Muzzle: Barrel Extender
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Extended Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
Best Sniper loadout – TAC-50 and D50
- Barrel: Lightweight
- Optics: CQBSS 8x
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
- Stock: Reinforced
Despite the game’s fast pace, sniper rifles are still a viable weapon category. And if you’re proficient at delivering headshots, you’ll be able to swiftly turn the tide of a match. The default 12x scope is a nightmare against medium-range targets so we’re swapping it out for the CQBSS 8x scope. Unless you want to be caught like a sitting duck while reloading, opt for the Quick Mag to boost your reload speed by 15%. ADS time and sprint-shoot time buffs are essential, making the Quick Draw our rear grip attachment choice. The Lightweight barrel leans into this, with enhancements to ADS time and movement speed. Finally, we top it off with the Reinforced stock, bumping up our ADS flinch control and stability at the cost of ADS walking speed. This should keep you nimble enough while zipping in and out of your ADS to secure kills.
And here’s what we’ve added to the D50:
- Muzzle: Barrel Extender
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Lightweight Mag
- Rear Grip: Heavy Grip
Best LMG loadout – RPK-74 and 93R
- Barrel: Chrome Lined
- Front Rail: Superlight
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Quick Mag
- Rear Grip: Lightweight
While light machine guns can pack a punch, you should account for their reload speeds while designing their loadouts. That’s where the Quick Mag’s 15% faster reload comes in. Next, we add the Chrome Lined barrel to improve the gun’s range at the cost of movement and ADS speed. This is balanced by our Superlight front rail, enhancing ADS speed and movement while lowering recoil recovery. Once more, we counteract this drop with the Lightweight rear grip, buffing our recoil recovery and walking speed. While it comes down to personal preference, a Reflex or Holo sight is better than a 3.0x scope if you stick to close-range gunfights. This loadout should help account for the LMG’s reload time while enhancing your aiming speed and movement across all game modes.
And here’s how we modified the 93R:
- Muzzle: Barrel Extender
- Optics: Reflex
- Magazine: Extended Mag
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw
