DayZis a hardcore survival MMORPG that places players in a post-apocalyptic world. Here, they must survive a zombie apocalypse with nothing but their wit and the supplies they can find lounging around. Having great success since its release, branching off from a stand-alone mod of theArmafranchise,DayZis verypopular for its gunplay and immersive aspects.
RELATED:Icarus Is Making Permadeath A Little Easier
In the game, players must build a base of operations, hunt, cook, and raid through the massive online map whilesurviving the harsh climateand avoiding the zombie plague. Players must also watch out for other players as the game features constant PVP situations and permadeath for all characters. It’s essential to have the proper arsenal to deal with living and undead threats, so to help players defend themselves, here are the best guns inDayZplayers can get.
Updated on June 14, 2025, by C.M Edwards:DayZ by Bohemia Interactive continues to succeed in the Zombie Survival genres amongst industry giants like World War Z and Back for Blood. The Game is constantly updated with new features, materials, and weapons for players to utilize how they see fit in base fortification or adding a little more bang for their buck. DayZ has also added a horde of quality of life changes like new optional character models for female characters, new places to explore like abandoned trains, and new hidden locations. Dedicated players are filling the servers with the addition of more content, DayZ continues to thrive as one of the best survival horror games on the market with a massive open-world map and a thousand different ways to approach the game.
11Mlock91
The Mlock91, or the Glock-9, is a fairly common pistol that can be found in numerous places inDayZ. It is a semi-auto weapon that provides above-average damage, great for new players orfresh spawns that add some survivabilityat the start. This weapontakes 9x19mm bullets and can hold up to 15 rounds in each magazine.
The Mlock91 can be found inmilitary outposts and police stationsand takes up six slots in the player’s inventory. It shines in close-quarter situations, for example, in instances where players are checking rooms for loot or come across an enemy unexpectedly. The damage and variety of the Glock-9 make it a valued asset in the harsh climate ofDayZwhen there could be danger just on the other side of a hill or around a corner. The Glock-9’s silenced capabilities and time to kill make it indispensable.
10Magnum
The Magnum is the staple big round handgun inDayZ. This weapon provides massive damage but lacks in ammo capacity compared to other handguns. The Magnum takes.357 ammo and has a 6-round capacity; anything at the opposite end of this barrel won’t get the chance to take a second shot if it’s aimed correctly.
RELATED:The Day Before Might Be An Odd Marriage Between TLOU, Dayz, and The Division
This weapon can be found insidehouses, farms, and garagesscattered across the map. The Magnum shines in close to mid-ranged situations, but be prepared to attract a lot of attention with the sound the weapon gives off. This weapon takes up four inventory slots.
9SGK 5
The SGK-5, or MP5, is a submachine gun (SMG) great for mid to long-range gunfights inDayZ’s PVP. This weapon has anexcellent rate of fire and a sizable ammo magazine capacity.The SGK-5 can be found inmilitary installations and sometimes police stations.It takes up 15 slots of inventory space but is well worth it.
The SGK-5 takes9x19mm ammunition and has a 30-round magazine capacity,making it very dependable in drawn-out fights. This weapon can also be attached to the shoulder for quick holstering and readying. The SGK 5 is a much-used weapon when multiple enemies are within mid-range, being more useful than a rifle in that situation. The penetration of the SGK along with its time to kill are also adequate, but there are better options out there for players willing to rick it.
8BK-43
The BK-43 is an old-fashioned double-barrel shotgun. This weapon possesses impressive stopping power and two anvil shots full of damage. In addition, the BK-43 can fire bothshotgun shells and slug rounds,which makes it very versatile when scavenging for ammo.
RELATED:Best Permadeath Games
This weapon can be found insmall towns and villagesand takes up 27 inventory slots. Players can also attach this weapon to the shoulder, having it ready for close contact engagements. However, they should be aware of its loudness, which can do more harm than good.
7USG 45
The USG 45, or “UMP,” is another SMG inDayZ.This weapon is possibly the most versatile of its class, able to be highly customizable with different modifications. The UMP has avery high fire rateand takes .45 ACP rounds, and has a magazine capacity of 25.
Players can find this weapon insidemilitary installationsexclusively. It takes up 18 inventory slots. The USG 45 is effective atclose to medium rangesand is reasonably quiet for an SMG. This weapon can also be attached to the shoulder.
6KAS-74U
The KAS-74U is a customizable model of the AK-47U inDayZ. This weapon provides the versatility of an SMG while having the damage and stopping power of an assault rifle. It can be found inmilitary locationsand shines in close to mid-range engagements.
The KAS-74U takes up 18 inventory slots and takes5.45x39mm ammo, and holds 30 roundsin a magazine. This weapon is as trustworthy as a player’s shadow when taking on the treacherous terrain ofDayZ. The fire rate of the weapon and its high damage will have zombies and players alike scrambling for their lives. While the KAS-74U can’t take any optics, many players prefer it to other weapons along the lines of SMGs. However, the recoil of this weapon is not for those who prefer controllable ADS abilities as it takes some getting used to.
5SK-59
SK-59, or “66 SKS,” is a semi-automatic, high-powered rifle and a solid long-range weapon for players inDayZ. This weapon usuallyspawns in military installations, takes 7.62x39mm ammunition, and has a 10-round internal magazine.
RELATED:RUST: Tips For New Players
While the rate of fire for this weapon is low, the damage and kill potential make it incredibly worth it. The SK-59 takes up 27 inventory slots and is best used at ranged engagements, utilizing a solid pair of Iron-sights as visual aids.
4M4 A1
The M4 A1 assault rifle is a solid weapon, great for all play styles, and makes for a dependable, efficient damage dealer. This weapon only spawns inhigh-tier military installationsand takes5.56mm ammo.It has multiple different magazine types, which will make scavenging a little easier on the player.
The accuracy and damage formid to long-range fightsare above average for this weapon, and its sound levels are reasonable. The M4 takes up 27 inventory slots and is a must-have if able to be located which is difficult whiledodging the zombie plague. M4 A1 is also able to utilize various configurations which makes it a great weapon for players to tune for their direct needs. One of the most dependable weapons in the game can’t be a waste of space when taking on zombies or enemy players looking for an easy score.
3MOSIN 91/30
The MOSIN 91/30 is a high-powered, long-range sniper rifle that utilizes an internal magazine like the SK-59. This weapon usually spawns inhunting locations, small or large towns, and villagesscattered across the map.
The MOSINtakes 7.62x54mmR ammo and holds 5 rounds,able to deal a considerable amount of damage per shot. It exceeds expectations at long ranges, taking out targets before they know what hit them. This weapon takes up 30 inventory slots and can be attached to the shoulder. TheMOSIN is a perfect fit for a loadout trying to hit all the right spots in terms of range and close-quarters combat. Accompanied by an SMG or a shotgun and players will be fully prepared for the dangerous life of surviving the zombie apocalypse. The weapon does its best aimed at anything downrange, one shot does -500 damage which could decide a duel or clear out any neer-do-wells.
2KA-M
The KA-M is an AK-47 variant with high power, but average accuracy that worsens at mid to long ranges. This weapon usually spawns inmilitary installations.It takes7.62x39mm ammunition and has a 30-round and 75-round magazine variant,which will have enemy players and zombies alike being knocked down like dominos.
The KA-M takes up 24 inventory slots. It features both a semi and full auto trigger system, which helps preserve ammo and hit everything in a wide arc in front of the player. The only drawback is that this weapon is loud and can be a detriment to stealth play styles,bringing horrors down on the player. The KA-M excels at tearing armor to shreds that will have incoming threats scrambling for cover as just a few shots could knock them out without any issue at a surprisingly reasonable range of five hundred and seventy-six meters.
