Don't find yourself stranded without adequate defense. A pistol may help in a pinch, but an assault rifle will be necessary to scare off a dedicated pirate.

Armor is only one side of the equation when it comes to FPS gameplay. You need to be able to dish out as much damage as you can take, or maybe even a bit more. Assault rifles give you the perfect balance of damage and range versus weight and size, and with most armor in Star Citizen, you’ll be able to carry two at a time. In Star Citizen, you can blast your enemies with different damage types depending on which weapon you are using, and what fire mode you are using it with. This guide will help you determine which rifles are best for your play style.

There are 3 types of weapon damage in alpha 3.7. These are ballistic weapons, and laser/energy weapons, plasma weapons. Ballistic weapons maintain high damage per shot at close ranges which tapers off until eventually each shot is penalized per distance. Energy weapons do less damage per shot, but encounter less spread, recoil, ammo limitations, and are more effective at range. Plasma weapons exhibit the highest damage but suffer from more spread and very high weight.

Each of the following weapons contains multiple attachment slots. This will allow you to equip muzzle flash dampeners, silencers, stabilizers, tactical lasers, flashlights, and scopes to your weapon.

5. Kastak Arms Custodian Energy Rifle

The Custodian Energy Rifle accepts replaceable batteries as ammo, where most energy rifles are rechargeable.

The Custodian is a 35 Megawatt Laser weapon with a short form factor and a replaceable battery “magazine”. It uses two firing methods; a normal full auto stream of lasers, and a charged burst blitz style of fire for high damage. While the range is not particularly high on this weapon, it can make short work of a lightly armored foe in close quarters. The ammo battery is loaded from the top of the weapon, similar to the real-life P90.

Custodian Stats:

• Range: 30 meters
• Ammo Count: 60
• Damage Type: Energy
• RoF: 800 RPM
• Price: 2262-2706 aUEC

Why the Custodian is great:

• Great for close-quarters firefights.
• Energy weapons typically have a rechargeable battery which must be waited on when fired at a high rate. The Custodian can be immediately ready with a swapped battery to keep up with your rate of fire.
• Unfortunately, the swappable batteries also mean this energy weapon, unlike most, has a limited ammo capacity.

How to get the Custodian:

• This weapon is available in-game at the following major landing zones, which will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to: Live Fire Weapons - Port Olisar (starting location), Skutters - Grim Hex, Conscientious Objects - Levski, Cubby Blast - Area 18.
• This weapon is also available at the “Live Fire Weapons” weapons shop located at the following “Rest Stop” space stations, which are scattered around the solar system, and will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to: R&R CRU L5, R&R HUR L1, L3, L5, R&R ARC L1. 

Kastak Arms Custodian SMG Showcase

4. Gemini S71 Assault Rifle

The S71 assault rifle is well known for its long barrel, lending it improved accuracy at range.

The Gemini-made S71 assault rifle is one of the most ergonomically pleasing rifles in the game. Gemini prides itself not only on clean design, but also their dynamic weapon components, which can often be seen operating while the gun fires, or is at the ready state. The S71 is often used in a single shot fire mode for high accuracy with a punchy strong “clack” with every pull of the trigger.

S71 Stats:

• Range: 50 meters
• Ammo Count: 30
• Damage Type: Ballistic
• RoF: 300/900 RPM
• Price: 3981 aUEC

Why the S71 is great:

• The top ballistic assault rifle at range, with a scope attached by default.
• The smaller caliber round allows the weapon to stay on target with ease, compared to other ballistic weapons in its class.
• Being a ballistic weapon, this rifle has a distinct disadvantage versus typical energy weapons. You’ll need to remember to carry ammo magazines around with your wherever you go.

How to get the S71:

• This weapon is available in-game at the following major landing zones, which will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to Skutters - Grim Hex or CenterMass - Area 18.

Gemini S71 Assault Rifle Showcase

3. Kastak Arms Karna Plasma Rifle

There are so many moving parts on the Karna Plasma Rifle that you might think it was a transformer.

With 3 separate modes of fire, the Karna is a situationally diverse plasma beast. The high damage plasma rounds combined with the “Custodian-like” ability to swap out “magazines” to keep fire on target, means this weapon can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. It fires in burst, full auto, and a special charged “slug-shot” mode. The sleek appearance gives it a futuristic look only complemented by the method in which the body vents heat; by opening panels for a look at the internals of the weapon.

Karna Stats:

• Range: 50 meters
• Ammo Count: 30
• Damage Type: Plasma
• RoF: 500 RPM
• Price: 4700 aUEC

Why the Karna is great:

• High damage plasma rounds mean this weapon is great against heavy armor, but watch out for the heavy recoil.
• Thee further your target, the less damage your shots will do to them. Stay at a decent range for the highest effectiveness with the Karna.
• With great power, comes great weight. Not only will the weapons high weight have an effect on your stamina, but so will the extra ammo you will be forced to carry around.

How to get the Karna:

• This weapon is only available at one location in the game. That is the “Live Fire Weapons” weapons shop located at the R&R CRU L5 space station. You will need to use your quantum drive to fly there.

Kastak Arms Karna Plasma Rifle In Action

2. Klaus & Werner Gallant Energy Rifle

With a heavy industrial look, the Gallant Energy Rifle is imposing in any arsenal.

This selective fire, high-capacity, battery-operated energy rifle is one of the most dependable and effective rifles available in the game, giving it our second spot on the list of best assault rifles in Star Citizen Alpha 3.7. With a rechargeable battery system, you’ll need need to carry around extra ammo which can take up valuable space and slow you down. Despite its suggested range, this weapon can hold its own in a firefight well beyond what is listed and is the clear choice when considering a long-range assault rifle.

Gallant Stats:

• Range: 50 meters
• Ammo Count: 60
• Damage Type: Energy
• RoF: 450 RPM
• Price: 4650 aUEC

Why the Gallant is great:

• Great for close-quarters firefights.
• Energy weapons typically have a rechargeable battery which must be waited on when fired at a high rate. The Custodian can be immediately ready with a swapped battery to keep up with your rate of fire.
• Unfortunately, the swappable batteries also mean this energy weapon, unlike most, has a limited ammo capacity.

How to get the Gallant:

• This weapon is available in-game at the Conscientious Objects weapons shop located on Delamar at the landing zone, Levski. This will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to.
• This weapon is also available at the “Live Fire Weapons” weapons shop located at the following “Rest Stop” space stations, which are scattered around the solar system, and will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to: R&R CRU L1, L5, R&R HUR L1, L2, L3, L4, L5.

Klaus & Werner Gallant Energy Rifle Showcase

1. Behring P4-AR Ballistic Rifle

The P4-AR is a combat assault rifle with a lot of punch and customizability.

Behring’s classic P4-AR ballistic rifle is a short-bodied assault rifle with a collapsible stock and a shortened barrel. It is perfect for short quarters combat but holds its own in ranged combat with alternate firing methods. The weapon has a very standard look signifying a strong and unchanged past as the weapon has seen small tweaks to keep its near-perfect function. It is standard issue for the marines serving the United Empire of Earth.

P4-AR Stats:

• Range: 50 meters
• Ammo Count: 30
• Damage Type: Ballistic
• RoF: 550 RPM
• Price: 3397-3791 aUEC

Why the P4-AR is great:

• This weapon is particularly great at close-quarter fighting but excels at most ranges.
• The P4-AR is light and compact, making it easy to carry around without any hit on maneuverability and stamina.
• As a ballistic rifle, you will need to carry extra ammo with you, which can take up storage space.

How to get the P4-AR:

• This weapon is available in-game at the following major landing zones, which will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to: Live Fire Weapons - Port Olisar (starting location), Cubby Blast - Area 18.
• This weapon is also available at the “Live Fire Weapons” weapons shop located at the following “Rest Stop” space stations, which are scattered around the solar system, and will require you to use your quantum drive to travel to: R&R CRU L4, R&R HUR L2, L3, L4, L5, R&R ARC L1.

Behring P4-AR Ballistic Rifle Showcase

This is a graph depicting the damage to range relationship for our top 3 picks for the best assault rifle.

While all of these weapons are subject to change as the development of Star Citizen progresses. These general statistics will continuously provide a look at the fundamentals of assault rifles, and FPS combat overall. Additional ammo types will be added, as well as new weapon attachments, allowing for more versatility in your firefights. Despite these future additions, there are several main reasons to pick a specific weapon in the currently available game. And whether that reason is range, stability, fire rate, or ammo capacity, this list will provide a starting point for your journey into the assault rifles of Star Citizen Alpha 3.7.

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