Summary
Ubisoft’sXDefiantis shaping up to be a solid, free-to-play first-person shooter for gamers to dive into and try out for themselves. Featuring avariety of different Factions to play as, along with a solid option of competitive modes,XDefianthas a lot to offer for players looking to dive into a fresh FPS.
Thoughthe Primary weapons ofXDefiantare the most used guns in the game’s extensive roster, Secondary weapons provide players with a quick swap option to cover them during hectic gunfights. There are currently six Secondary weapons inXDefiant, four of which can be unlocked through completing challenges, and one which can be acquired through the Battle Pass. Though which one players ultimately use is largely down to personal preference, some are definitely better than others. Here isevery Secondary weapon inXDefiant, ranked!
Updated on July 6th, 2024, by Nathan Round:After a successful lauch that saw massive player counts and a raplidly-developing word-of-mouth reputation, XDefiant’s first full season has officially kicked off. Season 1 brings the GSK Faction into XDefiant, along with a brand-new Secondary weapon, further expanding on the game’s small but mighty arsenal of Secondary Weapons. This list has been updated to include the Sawed-Off Shotgun, the latest Secondary Weapon added to XDefiant, and ranks it against all the other Secondary weapons in the game.
24 to 15 (10m to 50m)
400 RPM
150 ms
0.9 m/s
4%
TheM9is the default Secondary weapon players will have access to immediately. It is a decent option to keep gamers covered in situations where their Primary weapon is out of action. Of all the Secondaries available, the M9 sports the highest fire rate andthe largest magazine to boot. Unfortunately, despite leading the way in fire rate, the M9 is arguably the least viable Pistol in the game.
The M9’s overall damage fails to hold a candle against other weapons in the Handgun category. This sidearmtakes roughly five shots to the upper torso to kill an opponentfrom 5 to 15 meters, requiring anextra sixth round to deal withthe Phantom Faction. Though the fast fire rate does attempt to bridge the gap in TTK between other options, it sits at the bottom in terms of overall DPS.
30 to 18 (10m to 50m)
335 RPM
TheM1911is relatively similar to the M9 in overall stats. From 10 meters, this Pistol takes the same number of shots to kill opponents as the M9 butsports a smaller magazine by default— enough to turn some players away from choosing the M1911 over the M9. However, at certain distances, theM1911 boasts a higher overall TTK.
At 5 meters, the M1911takes one bullet less than the M9 to kill both Phantoms and other factions, making it a better option from this distance. Additionally, the M1911maintains this advantage from 25 meters to 50 meters, giving it the edge at most ranges. However, it does fall behind the M9 in fire rate, which may be a detriment for players who do not have a fast trigger finger.
45 to 24 (10m to 50m)
200 RPM
In terms of overall damage per shot, theD50is an upgrade from both the M9 and the M1911, taking around three shots to kill most opponents up to 10 meters. This weapon is also one of the few options (including the 686 Magnum) that can dispatch Phantoms in the same number of shots as otherFaction members like Libertadand Echelon. The D50 alsotakes two shots to the head to killat the same distance, making it an ideal choice for quickly dispatching players with accuracy.
The D50 alsoboasts a far better damage range than the previous two options, making it slightly more versatile for all ranges. Unfortunately,this weapon does lose its ability to three-shot at 15 meters and beyond, however. While this might not sound bad compared to the M9 and the M1911, there is another option that retains a higher DPS from a distance.
48 to 34 (10m to 60m)
150 RPM
14%
The686 Magnumisremarkably similar to the D50 in terms of stats, though it does sport one less bullet in its chamber. In terms of damage, this option is almost identical to the former, still taking three shots to the torso, along with two shots to the head, to kill most opponents. However, the 686 Magnum has one neat feature that puts it in front of the D50.
Unlike the D50, the 686 Magnum retains its ability tothree-shot opponents to the torso up to 50 meters. This grants it a greater advantage for engaging players at the 15-meter mark, an area in which the D50’s damage range falls off slightly. The only major caveat of the 686 Magnum is its slightly slower fire rate, which can put it behind the D50 at close range for players who have a faster trigger finger.
13 to 7 (8m to 50m)
300 RPM
19%
TheSawed-Off Shotgunis a unique case in the roster of weapons inXDefiant, as it is currently the only Shotgun players can use as a Secondary. This weapon is relatively similar to the Double-Barrel Shotgun, having a magazine capacity of two shells anddealing massive damage up close, but boasting less range.
Much like its sibling, the Sawed-Off Shotgun has the potential toone-shot all Faction members, except Phantoms, but only retains the ability to do so at around the 8-meter range. From 10 meters out, the Sawed-Off Shotgun is a reliable two-shot weapon, but only if all the pellets in each shot find their mark, which is a hard thing to guarantee. The high damage potential of this weapon makes itone of the more dominant close-range support weapons, excellent for quickly switching to during times when players are unable to reload their Primary weapon, but its limited range means that it’s hard to recommend it above more versatile Seconday weapon choices.
17 to 13 (10m to 50m)
350 RPM
Finally, there is the93R,XDefiant’sonly burst-fire Secondary option. Though the damage stats of the 93R may not look as impressive compared to both the D50 and the 686 Magnum, they don’t necessarily factor in the potential damage when all three bullets in a burst hit their mark – a surprisingly high damage potential.
From 5 to 10 meters, the 93R takes two full-burst hits to kill at the upper torso, and three shots from 15 to 20 meters. Though an extra shot is required to finish off Phantoms, this Pistol’s DPS is firmly ahead of all other options up to 15 meters, a range at which Sidearms are typically used. The fire rate is also quite fast, marking it as the best Secondary option to swap to, especially if players find themselvesrunning a good Assault Rifle.
