Most modern games lean heavily into combat, pitting the player against a seemingly insurmountable enemy or up against armies of opponents. In these games, the tools of the trade can be anything from firearms to swords and shields, but no matter what, when facing off against intimidating enemies, players need look no further than the trusty weapon at their side.
2019 has been a particularly great year for gaming, with combat elevated to the highest it has ever been thanks to titles like Sekiro and Devil May Cry V pushing the limits of gripping combat. As a result, the weapons of 2019 have been some of the best that gaming has ever seen or, more importantly, had control of.
While the following make up 10 of the best weapons to grace gaming this year, there may be far too many skillfully crafted pieces of gear to give proper respect to each and every one. Other honorable mentions include the 725 Shotgun or M4A1 (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare), Mark 3 Lancer Assault Rifle (Gears 5), and Leviathan's Breath (Destiny 2). Each of these weapons are fantastic in their own right for their design and raw power in-game, as well as any other number of weapons, but those that follow simply stand above.
Devil Breaker (Devil May Cry V)
It would be impossible to talk about amazing weapons in gaming without at least giving a shout out to the Devil May Cry series. Then there's Devil May Cry V and Nero's brand new Devil Breaker, a mechanical twist on the Devil Bringer that the same character introduced in Devil May Cry IV.
The Devil Breaker itself is more of a weapon type in DMCV, but the versatility of Nero's prosthetic arm is exactly what makes the weapon so interesting to use. It has a sleek design that can be used to strike opponents both near and far, maneuver around the battlefield, or grapple onto structures and enemies. Essentially, the Devil Breaker is whatever the player needs it to be at the time, and helps create a level of customization rivaling previous games in the series.
Director's Gun (Control)
Control captivated audiences for a number of reasons, ranging from the Metroidvania level designs to the complex and surreal storyline. However, the Objects of Power are easily the most impactful creation from the game, with none standing above the Director's Gun that Jesse Faden wields through the concrete maze that is the Oldest House.
What makes the Director's Gun, also referred to as the Service Weapon, unique is its ability to transform and upgrade as the player continues to unlock its power and unravel the mystery wrapped around it and the Federal Bureau of Control. The multiple forms of the weapon allow for swift customization in combat and can even effect the structure of the Oldest House.
Eridian Fabricator (Borderlands 3)
There are far, far, far too many guns to count in Borderlands 3, and every new update to the Looter Shooter adds new weapon variants and Legendary guns to the game. However, one weapon, granted to the player for simply playing through the story, has clearly earned its place on this list for being capturing the genre of the game perfectly, in the form of a Loot Shooter.
The Eridian Fabricator isn't exactly the standard type of weapon, in that it doesn't fire projectiles meant to kill the player's enemies. No, instead this crazy gun grants a direct injection of endorphins by firing loot all over the ground, some of which even has a small chance of being useful.
Immovable Dharma (Monster Hunter World: Iceborne)
Monster Hunter World and the 2019 expansion Iceborne boast a massive list of weapons for players to craft and collect, but the gear that tends to drop from Elder Dragons is what usually fills up the highest tier lists. The weapons that come from the final boss fight of Iceborne are no exception to this rule, with the Greatsword known as the Immovable Dharma rising as one of the best of this weapon line.
With impressively high stats, including one of the highest dragon elements in the game, the Immovable Dharma is a worthy reward for defeating Shara Ishvalda. For players looking to brave the Guiding Lands after completing the main story, the Immovable Dharma is a welcome companion to defeat the powerful opponents that follow into Iceborne's endgame.
Lightsaber (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order)
The Lightsaber is in no way new to Star Wars, nor is it new in gaming in general, with the weapon and imitators cropping up in official Lucasarts material and other Sci-Fi epics paying cheek service to the iconic laser sword. However, the Lightsaber has never been better utilized in a Star Wars game before Fallen Order.
The way that Respawn approached combat with a Lightsaber is unlike any game that has come before it, and gives the most authentic feel of fighting with the Jedi's signature weapon. So in a way, this version of a Lightsaber is completely new thanks to the tight combat that makes the weapon the centerpiece.
Mastiff (Apex Legends)
Apex Legends came out of nowhere early this year and took the Battle Royale scene by storm, offering playable characters with personalities and specialized abilities. With the wide variety of characters to play as with differing abilities of differing effectiveness, the one thing that evens out the players is their access to weapons that come randomly generated on the battlefield.
Of these randomly generated guns, the Mastiff has risen to the top as the most sought after weapon in any match. The power of this legendary shotgun can easily turn the tide of any encounter for whoever happens to find it first, leading some teams to victory on the back of the weapon alone.
Mortal Blade (Sekiro)
From Software's flagship series Dark Souls has always offered a number of powerful weapons for the player to obtain on their journey, from chests and enemy drops to refining boss souls. The company's latest installment, Sekiro, does away with this method of loot and customization, choosing to only give the player the Kusabimaru at the beginning and never transitioning to a new weapon.
However, the player does find one other sword on the path to the end of the game, the Mortal Blade, specifically the Red Mortal Blade. This weapon doesn't offer much in the way of enhancing Sekiro's combat or gameplay mechanics, but its importance in the lore is what earns this shoutout. The Mortal Blade is the only weapon capable of killing or even damaging otherwise immortal beings, like the centipedes or Divine Dragon that the player must fight later in the game.
Poltergust G-00 (Luigi's Mansion 3)
The Poltergust G-00 is the latest in the line of ghost fighting vacuum cleaners, available in Luigi's Mansion 3. While simply being the newest version of the Poltergust might earn this piece of equipment a place on this list on its own, it's what the G-00 model can do to earn its namesake that really steps it above and beyond for the year.
Two major mechanics have been added to Luigi's Mansion 3 thanks to the Poltergust G-00, the ability to slam ghosts into the ground to weaken them and the ability to create the somehow edible Gooigi. Both of these new mechanics not only make the new Poltergust the best it has been, it also makes for one of the best experiences to release on the Switch this year.
Prismatic Hammer (The Outer Worlds)
There are a number of wacky weapons available in The Outer Worlds, from the Shrink Ray to the Gloop Gun, but few pack the impact of the Prismatic Hammer. With the ability to cycle through elements and send a shockwave to slam enemies from a distance, the Prismatic Hammer is easily one of the strongest weapons available in the game.
The Prismatic Hammer continues to grow stronger as well, as the player continues to increase their Science stat. Pumping points into Science can expand the weapon's available elements, granting it the power of five elemental statuses that can all be unleashed at once through a powerful sweeping attack.
Ultima Weapon (Kingdom Hearts 3)
After 14 years of waiting, Kingdom Hearts 3 finally arrived this year, and with it came a brand new hunt for the Ultima Weapon Keyblade, the strongest weapon in each game in the Kingdom Hearts series. This newest Ultima Weapon, who earns its name from a Final Fantasy trope, may be the best in the entire series, thanks to an impressive design, unstoppable drive form, and incredible shotlock.
To obtain the Ultima Weapon is a whole different story, but not unlike the hoops players have had to jump through to find its previous incarnations in previous games. However, Kingdom Hearts 3's Ultima Weapon is absolutely worth the trouble for fans who wish to take on the toughest challenges available in the game, like the Dark Inferno.