Snipers were one of the first weapons I experimented with after unlocking development in the game, as they were a good mix of useful and fun. Snipers in the older Metal Gear games were mostly situational; the later games let you use them for as long or as little as you wanted to. MGSV’s snipers feel great, and they’re all decent weapons as a whole, but this page will break down each one in order of weakest to strongest.
I will only be using the damage snipers, as the non-lethal reflect their lethal counterparts and are similar in stats, taking down enemies in a similar way. Also, I am going to use the highest offline grades and not the online ones, as those are end game items and come into play long after the main story.
7. Renov-ICKX SR ★5
The most basic and the first available sniper in the game.
The Renov-ICKX is the worst sniper but still a decent weapon as a ranged weapon. One of the worst things about the weapon is that every grade of the weapon doesn’t come with a suppressor; you need to customize it before fitting it with one. Beginners can get into the trap of wanting to have a silent sniper with the Renov, upgrading it throughout the game, and realizing deep into the game that they’ll be unable to get one.
The weapon is quite customizable, with everything but the magazine and underbarrel being able to be changed. It also has a slightly higher firing speed than the M2000. The Renov is the worst looking sniper as well; it looks frail and weak. The best upgrades it gets are High-accuracy Barrel [2], and Dot Sight 1 + 4x Variable Zoom Booster.
The Renov-ICKX Review
First Sniper: it’s the first sniper you get in the game
No suppressor: all grades don’t come with suppressors
Firing speed: the firing speed is slightly higher than the M2000
Zoom Booster: one of the only snipers with a 2-sight configuration
Stats:
- Damage: 2660
- Fire Rate: 80
- Impact Force: 600
- Effective Range: 126
- Grouping: 460
- Auto-aim: 108
- Penetration: thin metal
How to get the Renov ★5:
- The Renov is on the top of the sniper tree
- It doesn’t cost special resources
- It doesn’t need any blueprints
- Specialists are not needed up to highest tier
6. Bambetov SV ★5
The weakest overall of the semi-auto sniper rifles.
With the exception of the second anti-material rifle, there are three semi-auto snipers in the game, and the Bambetov is the weakest for several reasons. The biggest problem with it is the extremely low clip size, 8; and this is even up into the higher tiers. The snipers with smaller clip sizes usually have better damage and range; and the two snipers with bigger clip sizes have better bullet grouping as well.
The Bambetov does come with a suppressor in its second grade and has every customizable option, with the exception of Optics II. The upgrades are a bit weak, the most notable being the Laser Sight (U.S. 2), which doesn’t improve performance too much.
The Bambetov SV Review
Low clip size: all grades have a clip size of only 8
Customization: has good number of choices to change it
Weak upgrades: the upgrades of the highest grade aren’t that impressive
Range: has the second weakest sniper range
Stats:
- Damage: 2340
- Fire Rate: 180
- Impact Force: 600
- Effective Range: 95
- Grouping: 376
- Auto-aim: 140
- Penetration: thin metal
How to get Bambetov SV ★5:
- The Bambetov SV is around the middle of the sniper tree, starting at grade 3
- It costs a bit of metal during its last grade
- It doesn’t need any blueprints
- Specialists are not needed up to highest tier
5. AM MRS-71 ★7
A big improvement from the Bambetov.
The AM MSR-71 has the clip size of 20 in its first grade, a huge advantage over the 8 of the last sniper. The AM MSR-71 actually has fewer bullets on hand overall, but being able to fire 20 consecutive shots takes more advantage of the semi-auto playstyle. On top of that, it has a little more damage and a bunch more grouping, giving it stopping power.
This sniper also has the most customization of the other snipers on the list, with every single option being able to be changed. The biggest problem with this weapon is its low ammo; you can run out in a single firefight. There is a mag you can add for more ammo, but with the reduction of penetration; however, that’s a specific upgrade from the Gryzov assault rifle, and doesn’t get it on its own.
The AM MSR-71 ★7 review:
Highest grade: the MSR 71 has the highest offline grade of snipers
Customization: every aspect of the weapon can be upgraded
Low ammo: this weapon suffers from the amount of ammo you have normally
Damage: has the highest damage of the standard semi-auto snipers
Stats:
- Damage: 2700
- Fire Rate: 150
- Impact Force: 600
- Effective Range: 105
- Grouping: 480
- Auto-aim: 102
- Penetration: thin metal
How to get AM MSR-71 ★7:
- The AM MSR-71 is again around the middle of the sniper tree, starting at grade 3
- It also costs a bit of metal during its last grade and in the third grade
- It needs the [AM-MRS-71 RIFLE] Blueprint
- Specialists are not needed
4. AM MSR-73 ★6
The 73 version of the previous weapon solves its biggest problem, but with some sacrifice.
The -73 branch of the MSR has another clip, or 20 rounds, in its default grade. This lets you fire a third more than the earlier version. It also has a huge advantage in its grouping and auto aim. Everything else is a downgrade, so it's not that much better, just slightly.
A huge chunk of damage is reduced, and there is also a slightly lower range. It is less customizable, with one option being reduced, and has a lower overall offline grade. It also is the first weapon on this list that needs a specialist. It honestly just preference; do you take more careful shots with the 71, or do you like to have a few more tries with the 73 but that costs a bit more?
The AM MSR-73 ★6 review:
Customization: still has a very high amount of customization
Higher ammo: has the highest amount of default ammo for a sniper
Damage: has the least amount of damage for a sniper
Stats:
- Damage: 1800
- Fire Rate: 150
- Impact Force: 600
- Effective Range: 94.5
- Grouping: 596
- Auto-aim: 136
- Penetration: thin metal
How to get AM MSR-73 ★6:
- Develop the AM MSR-71 ★3-4 first
- Its first grade costs metal
- It doesn’t need a blueprint
- It needs a Gunsmith (Sniper Rifle) for its first grade
3. M2000-D ★6
On paper, it’s the second weakest, but in practice, one of the strongest.
Stats-wise, the M2000-D is nearly identical to the Renov, with a little more damage than the semi-auto snipers and a clip size of 5/20. It has the same penetration and impact, with a little less fire speed and a sliverless range. Everything points to this weapon as being on the same level as the Renov.
However, the M2000-D is the only sniper that can give you a medium durability suppressor, allowing you to customize it on the others. It also has the earliest suppressor at grade 3, with only two other snipers getting a suppressor much later on. If you want to have a stealthy sniper, with the exception of the anti-material rifles, it's highly recommended getting the M2000. The M2000-D is one of the most controllable snipers and smoothest to handle, which is not listed in the stats.
The M2000 ★5 review:
Suppressor: earliest suppressor, and later strongest suppressor
Low stats: has the lowest stats overall of the bunch, but only slightly to the renov
Controllable: easiest sniper to use in the field
Stats:
- Damage: 2660
- Fire Rate: 60
- Impact Force: 600
- Effective Range: 118
- Grouping: 499
- Auto-aim: 102
- Penetration: thin metal
How to get the M2000 ★5:
- The third sniper on the tree, starting on grade 2
- None of the grades need special materials
- It doesn’t need a blueprint
- It doesn’t need a specialist
2. Serval AMR-7 ★5
An anti-materiel rifle, its bullets breaching tanks and walls, killing most enemies in one shot.
The Serval AMR-7 can pierce everything breakable in the game, to the power of explosion tools and grenades. It has the most damage of any other weapon and one of the highest impact. And surprisingly, this weapon has the same amount of ammo as most snipers. Also, it’s semi-auto.
Its downsides are low customization, having only five parts that can be customized and most of them have two to three options. It’s also very loud and has the lower end of clip size, 5. But being able to blow up tanks and trucks with only a few shots more than makes up for that.
The Serval AMR-7 ★5 review:
Damage: one of the highest damage dealers of the game
Range: on the higher end of sniper ranges
Penetration: can destroy vehicles, watch towers, and go through certain walls
Ammo: has quite a bit of ammo for the punch it gives
Stats:
- Damage: 3120
- Fire Rate: 80
- Impact Force: 2200
- Effective Range: 115
- Grouping: 326
- Auto-aim: 100
- Penetration: thin concrete walls
How to get Serval AMR-7 ★5:
- Develop the Brennan LRS-46 ★4, on the bottom of the sniper tree
- All required weapons cost some metals
- It needs a [SERVAL AMR-7] Blueprint
- It needs a Gunsmith (Sniper Rifle)
1. Brennan LRS-46 ★6
What’s better than the most powerful weapon, the most powerful weapon with a suppressor.
As being the prerequisite of the last weapon on this list, you would believe that it would be weaker in most cases . And it’s true that both weapons have strengths and weaknesses. But the Brennan is just inches ahead of the Serval for a couple of key reasons. The first and most important is the suppressor. To be able to customize the Serval with the suppressor,you need to develop the Brennan first. Also, the clip size is twice the count at 10; which again needs to be customized on the Serval. But on top of all that, it has a little better damage, range, and grouping. I’ve based this list on offline grades, but the Brennan goes to the online grade of 10, while the Sevral only goes to the online grade of 8.
The downsides to this weapon compared to the Serval is a slightly slower firing speed and less auto aim. But spamming the button proves that it's very hard to see the difference, and with a sniper, you mostly won’t need the auto aim. And again, it has a suppressor; you can kill armored units in a few shots silently!
The Brennan LRS-46 ★6 review:
Damage: the highest damage sniper in the game
Range: the highest range sniper in the game
Penetration: again, can destroy vehicles, watch towers, and go through certain walls
Ammo: again, has quite a bit of ammo for the punch it gives
Suppressor: you can destroy vehicles and without giving away your position
Stats:
- Damage: 3250
- Fire Rate: 60
- Impact Force: 2200
- Effective Range: 139
- Grouping: 386
- Auto-aim: 32
- Penetration: thin concrete walls
How to get Brennan LRS-46 ★6:
- Second to last sniper on the tree, starting on grade 4
- The three grades need quite a bit of material
- Needs a [BRENNAN LRS-46] Blueprint
- It doesn’t need a specialist
