DayZ is 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 the Arma franchise, DayZ is very popular for its gunplay and immersive aspects.

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In the game, players must build a base of operations, hunt, cook, and raid through the massive online map while surviving the harsh climate and 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 in DayZ players can get.

Updated on June 2, 2022, 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.

11 Mlock91

mlock day z

The Mlock91, or the Glock-9, is a fairly common pistol that can be found in numerous places in DayZ. It is a semi-auto weapon that provides above-average damage, great for new players or fresh spawns that add some survivability at the start. This weapon takes 9x19mm bullets and can hold up to 15 rounds in each magazine.

The Mlock91 can be found in military outposts and police stations and 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 of DayZ when 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.

10 Magnum

day z magnum

The Magnum is the staple big round handgun in DayZ. 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.

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This weapon can be found inside houses, farms, and garages scattered 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.

9 SGK 5

day z mp5

The SGK-5, or MP5, is a submachine gun (SMG) great for mid to long-range gunfights in DayZ’s PVP. This weapon has an excellent rate of fire and a sizable ammo magazine capacity. The SGK-5 can be found in military installations and sometimes police stations. It takes up 15 slots of inventory space but is well worth it.

The SGK-5 takes 9x19mm 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.

8 BK-43

day z double barrel shotgun

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 both shotgun shells and slug rounds, which makes it very versatile when scavenging for ammo.

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This weapon can be found in small towns and villages and 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.

7 USG 45

day z ump

The USG 45, or “UMP,” is another SMG in DayZ. This weapon is possibly the most versatile of its class, able to be highly customizable with different modifications. The UMP has a very high fire rate and takes .45 ACP rounds, and has a magazine capacity of 25.

Players can find this weapon inside military installations exclusively. It takes up 18 inventory slots. The USG 45 is effective at close to medium ranges and is reasonably quiet for an SMG. This weapon can also be attached to the shoulder.

6 KAS-74U

day z Ak74 rifle

The KAS-74U is a customizable model of the AK-47U in DayZ. This weapon provides the versatility of an SMG while having the damage and stopping power of an assault rifle. It can be found in military locations and shines in close to mid-range engagements.

The KAS-74U takes up 18 inventory slots and takes 5.45x39mm ammo, and holds 30 rounds in a magazine. This weapon is as trustworthy as a player's shadow when taking on the treacherous terrain of DayZ. 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.

5 SK-59

day z sk59 rifle

SK-59, or “66 SKS,” is a semi-automatic, high-powered rifle and a solid long-range weapon for players in DayZ. This weapon usually spawns in military installations, takes 7.62x39mm ammunition, and has a 10-round internal magazine.

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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.

4 M4 A1

day z m4 weapon

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 in high-tier military installations and takes 5.56mm ammo. It has multiple different magazine types, which will make scavenging a little easier on the player.

The accuracy and damage for mid to long-range fights are 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 while dodging 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.

3 MOSIN 91/30

day z mosin 91 rifle

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 in hunting locations, small or large towns, and villages scattered across the map.

The MOSIN takes 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.

2 KA-M

day z akm weapon

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 in military installations. It takes 7.62x39mm 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.

1 M79 Grenade Launcher

m79 grenade day z

Recently released in update 1.18, DayZ has finally received its first explosive weapon. The M79 Grenade Launcher comes as a welcomed surprise from all players. While accuracy varies with the weapon depending on the user, the damage and impact are top-notch. The M79 Grenade launcher most consistently can be found in abandoned military installations. The weapon takes 40mm projectiles in a single tube chamber.

The M79 has a variety of different types of ammo including Explosive, Gas, and smoke in several colors such as White, Red, Green, and Black. The projected use of the weapon other than giving a player or a group of zombies a bad day is to use during raids or in infected zones. No doubt the M79 grenade launcher is an excellent weapon to carry for defending your base against bandits or taking it to unsuspecting targets.

DayZ is available on PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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