Fallout 76: Best Automatic Weapons, Ranked

To survive in the wastelands of Appalachia in Fallout 76’s post-apocalyptic setting, players must make crucial decisions while fighting Super Mutants, Raiders, hordes of Ghouls, and other players. As such, gamers need to know about Fallout 76‘s best automatic weapons.

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Some automatic weapons are very easy to come by in the game, but that does not mean they are the best to have. To be a trailblazer, players must have the very best of Fallout 76’s automatic weapons to beat the odds of survival.

Updated April 25, 2024 by Benjamin Joe: Since this article was written, Fallout 76 has received a couple of updates that have introduced, buffed, and nerfed various automatic weapons in the game. Also, due to the release of the popular Fallout TV show, new players are taking to the ruins of post-war Appalachia for the first time.

In fact, the game has hit new records for player count since the show’s release. While some automatic weapons have always been among the best weapons in Fallout 76, there are a few newcomers that players choose to arm themselves with.

10 Gauss Minigun

An Expensive Weapon To Use, But Very Powerful And Fun

Looking for a heavy gun that will decimate a horde of enemies with a single strike? The Gauss minigun is the perfect “guy” for the job. Regardless of the playstyle or gameplay, the minigun’s rapid-fire shots will tear through health bars and ammo, blasting even foes miles away. What’s more, players can upgrade it to maximize the damage area.

Also, the rifle features a charging principle. The more a gamer holds the trigger, the more lethal and charged the weapon is for strikes, as it increases the weapon’s damage output. To craft this weapon, players will need to purchase the plan from Mortimer for 750 Gold Bullion. Players can then craft the weapon, and they may receive the weapon as a drop from an event or enemy.

9 Radium Rifle

Take Down Enemies With Irradiated Bullets

The Radium Rifle is exactly what it sounds like. It is a rifle that fires radioactive bullets. So, not only do players do a decent amount of damage with this weapon, but they also do extra damage with radiation.

This weapon can’t be used until a player hits level 40. Players can find the plan for this weapon by searching enemy bodies and containers and completing quests. There is also a chance for vendors to have this weapon plan in their inventory.

The fast fire rate of this gun, coupled with its radiation damage, makes it one of the best automatic weapons out there for taking down enemies, both big and small.

8 Elder’s Mark

A Very Powerful Sub Machine Gun

The Elder’s Mark was introduced into Fallout 76 with the Once in a Blue Moon update. Players have a chance at getting this weapon by completing the event, Beasts of Burden. It comes as a legendary weapon with the following effects attached.

• Furious
• Faster Fire Rate
• Faster Reload Speed

This weapon can be rolled by players. This means that the legendary effects aren’t stuck to this weapon. They can be changed. With a little bit of luck and a lot of legendary modules, it is possible for players to get an Elder’s Mark with incredible legendary effects.

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The standard version can still be pretty effective against most enemies. It can be used by players level 15 and up, making it very popular among newer players.

7 Holy Fire

Toast Enemies With A Flamer

Similar to the last entry, this weapon was added in with the Once in a Blue Moon update. Players have the chance of being awarded this weapon upon completing the Beasts of Burden event. It does slightly more damage than a standard flamer, and it comes with the following effects attached to it.

• Vampire’s
• Faster Fire Rate
• Breaks 50% Slower

Just like the Elder’s Mark, this weapon’s legendary effects can be rerolled, which gives players the chance to get an even better version of the Holy Fire. The level requirements are slightly higher than the previous entry. Players can only start using the Holy Fire after hitting level 30.

6 Enclave Plasma Gun (Rifle)

Hard To Get The Mods, But A Great Automatic Weapon

The Enclave Plasma Gun is slightly more powerful than the regular plasma gun. And, with the right mods, this weapon can take out anything that gets in its way. It has a couple of different automatic mod attachments, including a flamer mod. However, these mods can be tricky to get hold of. Players can either try their luck at the Watoga vendors, with the vendor in Berkley Springs, or by buying mods from other players.

The gun itself can’t be crafted, nor can most of the mods. Players can buy Enclave Plasma Guns from MODUS in the Whitespring Bunker. This weapon is very popular among high-level players due to its high damage and fast-firing ability. Also, with the right combination of legendary effects, an Enclave Plasma Gun can be very valuable.

5 Tesla Rifle

One Of The Best Energy Weapons in The Game

Looking for a workhorse automatic Fallout 76 weapon that can clear dozens of enemies easily? The Tesla rifle is the best bet. It is an excellent choice for tagging multiple enemies at the same time. While each chained attack is 35% less lethal than the previous one, players will get a lot more XP when using this weapon than with any other weapon in the game.

When using a Tesla rifle, players should always opt for the automatic mod. When equipped with the automatic mod, this weapon can plow through lots of enemies simultaneously.

To be able to craft this energy weapon, players can sometimes find the BOS vendor bot selling it inside the Whitespring Mall. However, the player may need to server-hop a few times to get it. There is also a chance for players to get this plan by looting and completing missions and quests around Appalachia.

4 Handmade Rifle

An Overall Great Weapon

While it may not seem like it, the handmade rifle is one of the best automatic weapons in Fallout 76 for various reasons. It features unlimited mod options and impressive damage capabilities.

Blend that with perks like Commando and it becomes a true beast. To use it, the player must be at least level 15. Also, at first, it might not be able to do much, but if the player can get a good legendary roll on it, then the handmade rifle becomes an incredible weapon.

Players can also access it as a drop after fighting various enemies throughout Appalachia. Also, players can receive this weapon as a reward for completing events, expeditions, and daily challenges.

3 Auto Axe

The Best Automatic Melee Weapon In The Game

There are a few automatic melee weapons in Fallout 76, but the Auto Axe is by far the best one. The weapon itself is untradable. To learn how to craft the Auto Axe, the plan needs to be purchased from Guisepee in the Whitespring Refuge for 500 Stamps. While 500 Stamps is a lot of Stamps, it is worth the grind as it really is one of the best automatic weapons in Fallout 76.

Due to its incredibly fast swing speed, this weapon can slice up enemies in no time. And when it is used with the right combination of perks, mods, and legendary effects, the Auto Axe can take on bosses with ease.

2 The Fixer

Great Damage, Not Too Much Recoil

The Fixer is a popular weapon among new players and veteran players alike. It is a sturdy weapon with good all-round stats. When the right perks, mods, and effects are applied to it, it becomes one of the best automatic weapons in the game.

The ammo for this weapon is cheap and relatively easy to find, and it can be used by players from level 20 and up. The plan to craft The Fixer used to be one of the most expensive plans in the game. Previously, it was only obtainable by completing the Encrypted event. Upon completing this event, players are given a small chance to get the plan as a reward.

Luckily, that has since changed. With the Wild Appalachia update, players now have a chance of getting this weapon plan when opening a Mutated Package. Mutated Packages are given to players for completing a mutated event.

1 Railway Rifle

An Unstoppable Killing Machine

When it comes to automatic weapons in Fallout 76, the Railway Rifle stands head and shoulders above the rest. While it can be used as a single-shot gun, it is almost always better to keep it as an automatic weapon.

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Fallout 76: Which Legendary Weapons Are Worth Keeping?

With the wide variety of legendary weapons in Fallout 76, here’s a guide to which ones players should hold onto.

With the right legendary perks, the Railway Rifle is the highest-value weapon in the game. While it has a lot of recoil and not a particularly large ammo capacity, having a Railway Rifle with the Quad and 25% Vat Reduction legendary effects makes this gun the best automatic weapon in all of Fallout 76.

Players can get their hand on the Railway Rifle pretty easily. Several vendor bots regularly sell Railway Rifles. As for the plan, it can be obtained by searching things like containers and killing enemies everywhere except for the forest region.

Fallout 76

Released

November 14, 2018