Pick your guns by their ammo before their damage numbers. Two weapons on the same cartridge share one stack of rounds, so every round you find feeds both of them.
Type
Bows
Compound Bow
The strongest bow. Extra components make it more precise and quicker to shoot than the other bows, and it still runs on plain Wooden Arrows.
- Type
- Bow
- Damage per shot
- 150
- Magazine size
- -
- Durability
- 320
- Ammunition
- Wooden Arrow
Simple Bow
A step up from the Crude Bow, with a faster draw and a more refined build. It takes the same Wooden Arrows, so moving up costs you nothing in ammo.
- Type
- Bow
- Damage per shot
- 120
- Magazine size
- -
- Durability
- 320
- Ammunition
- Wooden Arrow
Crude Bow
The weakest bow, and an easy one to craft early. Like every bow, it fires one arrow at a time.
- Type
- Bow
- Damage per shot
- 60
- Magazine size
- -
- Durability
- 200
- Ammunition
- Wooden Arrow
Type
Automatic firearms
GB-11
A fully automatic assault rifle that fires heavy rounds and stays accurate while doing it.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 120
- Magazine size
- 20
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 7.62x51mm Ammo
ARG-5
A fully automatic assault rifle that combines high damage with excellent accuracy, so the shots you land count.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 105
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 5.56x45mm Ammo
AR-53
A fully automatic assault rifle known for its fast rate of fire. A good fit if you like to hold the trigger and keep the pressure on.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 90
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 5.56x45mm Ammo
Kobra-2115
A fully automatic assault rifle with moderate recoil, which keeps it controllable when you hold the trigger.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 75
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 7.62x39mm Ammo
SUR V4
A fully automatic assault rifle A reliable, fully automatic assault rifle.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 75
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 5.56x45mm Ammo
Buria
A fully automatic assault rifle that fires suppressed, which makes it the quieter way to carry a rifle.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 65
- Magazine size
- 20
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 9x39mm Ammo
CKR-94
A compact, well-balanced assault rifle on full auto, built for fights at close quarters.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 60
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 7.62x39mm Ammo
GRN-DZ
A fully automatic assault rifle in a compact frame.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 60
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 9x39mm Ammo
DZ-1k
A fully automatic submachine gun with an unusually deep magazine, so you can fire long strings before you reload.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 39
- Magazine size
- 57
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
PDW-9
A fully automatic submachine gun that fires fast and shoots accurately.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 36
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
SG9
A makeshift fully automatic submachine gun, meant for defending yourself up close.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 30
- Magazine size
- 15
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
SMJ-45
A fully automatic submachine gun with balanced damage and no standout weakness.
- Type
- Automatic
- Damage per shot
- 30
- Magazine size
- 25
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- .45ACP Ammo
Type
Semi-automatic firearms
SW-54 Volkodav
A semi-automatic marksman rifle (DMR) built for precise shots at range.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 200
- Magazine size
- 10
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 7.62x54mmR Ammo
BR-14
A semi-automatic marksman rifle (DMR) that puts a lot of damage into each shot.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 180
- Magazine size
- 20
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 7.62x51mm Ammo
TR-22 Rudi
A common, dependable semi-automatic marksman rifle (DMR).
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 105
- Magazine size
- 30
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 5.56x45mm Ammo
Viater
A top-tier semi-automatic assault rifle.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 80
- Magazine size
- 10
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 9x39mm Ammo
SAS-70 “Zozulia”
A basic double-barreled shotgun for fights that aren't too rough.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 75
- Magazine size
- 2
- Durability
- 600
- Ammunition
- 12 Gauge Ammo
Patriot A7
A semi-automatic pistol that hits hard for a sidearm.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 60
- Magazine size
- 8
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- .45ACP Ammo
JPistol MK2
A semi-automatic pistol, a straightforward sidearm.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 51
- Magazine size
- 17
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
Anetti 19
A semi-automatic pistol with a dependable magazine, a steady sidearm.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 48
- Magazine size
- 15
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
PU-12 Stratos
A semi-automatic shotgun that can fire in quick succession.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 45
- Magazine size
- 8
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 12 Gauge Ammo
IZG
A semi-automatic pistol you can craft yourself, for when nothing better is on hand.
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Damage per shot
- 40
- Magazine size
- 8
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 9x19mm Ammo
Type
Bolt-action rifles
BA-37
A bolt-action sniper rifle built for precise shots from far away. You cycle it by hand, so make each shot count.
- Type
- Bolt-action
- Damage per shot
- 270
- Magazine size
- 5
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 7.62x51mm Ammo
Mrozny 91
A bolt-action sniper rifle with solid long-range accuracy. Every shot is a deliberate one.
- Type
- Bolt-action
- Damage per shot
- 210
- Magazine size
- 5
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 7.62x54mmR Ammo
Type
Flare gun
Flare Gun
A single-shot signaling tool, not a combat weapon. Don't build a loadout around it.
- Type
- Flare gun
- Damage per shot
- 45
- Magazine size
- -
- Durability
- 400
- Ammunition
- 12ga Flare Ammo
The Weapon Types in Permafrost and How Each One Fights
Bows fire Wooden Arrows, and no gun in the game uses that ammo, so a bow never competes with your rifles for rounds. The Crude Bow hits weakest, the Compound Bow hits hardest and the Simple Bow sits between them. Moving up the bow line costs you nothing in ammo, since they all fire the same arrows.
Automatic firearms keep firing while you hold the trigger, and most of the group are assault rifles. The ARG-5 pairs high damage with excellent accuracy, the GB-11 fires heavy rounds and stays steady doing it, and the CKR-94 is the compact pick for fights at close quarters. The Buria fires suppressed, which makes it the quieter way to carry a rifle. The DZ-1k, PDW-9, SG9 and SMJ-45 are submachine guns, and the DZ-1k's deep magazine lets you fire long strings before you reload.
Semi-automatic firearms fire once per trigger pull, and the group runs from pistols to shotguns to marksman rifles. The Anetti 19, IZG, JPistol MK2 and Patriot A7 are the pistols. The Patriot A7 hits hardest of them, and the IZG is the one you can craft yourself, for when nothing better is on hand. The PU-12 Stratos and SAS-70 “Zozulia” are the shotguns, the BR-14, SW-54 Volkodav and TR-22 Rudi are the marksman rifles, and the Viater is an assault rifle that fires semi-automatic.
Bolt-action rifles are the sniper picks. The BA-37 and Mrozny 91 both hit hard at range, and you work the bolt by hand after every shot, so each one is a deliberate choice.
The Flare Gun is a single-shot signaling tool, not a combat weapon. Leave it out of your loadout planning.
Which Permafrost Weapons Share Ammo
Each weapon takes exactly one kind of ammo, and all but the Flare Gun share it with at least one other weapon.
| Ammunition | Weapons that use it |
|---|---|
| Wooden Arrow | Crude Bow, Simple Bow, Compound Bow |
| 9x19mm Ammo | Anetti 19, DZ-1k, IZG, JPistol MK2, PDW-9, SG9 |
| .45ACP Ammo | Patriot A7, SMJ-45 |
| 12 Gauge Ammo | PU-12 Stratos, SAS-70 “Zozulia” |
| 12ga Flare Ammo | Flare Gun |
| 5.56x45mm Ammo | AR-53, ARG-5, SUR V4, TR-22 Rudi |
| 7.62x39mm Ammo | CKR-94, Kobra-2115 |
| 7.62x51mm Ammo | BA-37, BR-14, GB-11 |
| 7.62x54mmR Ammo | Mrozny 91, SW-54 Volkodav |
| 9x39mm Ammo | Buria, GRN-DZ, Viater |
A 9x19mm pistol and a 9x19mm submachine gun run off the same rounds, so the Anetti 19 and SG9 make an easy pair. The ARG-5 and TR-22 Rudi both take 5.56x45mm, which gives you a high-damage assault rifle and a marksman rifle on one stack. The Mrozny 91 and SW-54 Volkodav share 7.62x54mmR, so one stack covers a bolt-action sniper and a semi-automatic marksman rifle.
Damage, Magazine Size and Durability: What Each Number Tells You
Damage per shot is how hard one hit lands. Magazine size is how many shots you get before a reload. Multiply the two and you see what a full magazine can deliver, which is the quickest way to tell a heavy hitter with a small magazine from a lighter gun that keeps firing. Bows and the Flare Gun have no magazine, so there's nothing to multiply.
Durability wears down as you use a weapon, and a gun with low durability needs repairs sooner. Firearms repair with Weapon Parts and bows repair with Wood, so carry those materials before you head out.
Weapon Mistakes That Cost You in Permafrost
- Choosing by damage alone. A hard hitter with a small magazine runs dry fast. The SAS-70 “Zozulia” is a double-barreled shotgun with a tiny magazine, and the bolt-action rifles take their time between shots. Pair either one with a gun that keeps firing.
- Collecting guns that need different ammo. Each extra cartridge is another stack to find, carry and keep stocked. When you have a choice, take the gun that uses the ammo already in your pack.
- Going into a fight unrepaired. Carry the repair materials for your main weapon before you head out. Finding out you're out of them in the middle of a fight is the worst time to learn it.
FAQ
How do you make Wooden Arrows in Permafrost?
Craft them from Wood by hand, with no bench needed. Each craft makes a batch of arrows, so a little Wood goes a long way with a bow.
Can you recycle weapons in Permafrost?
Yes. Recycling a firearm returns Weapon Parts, and recycling a bow returns Wood. A gun you've stopped using is worth breaking down for the parts.