Best weapons & tier list: what to buy

Take the tutorial's free Pow Pow, claim the lobby's free SMG reward, and save for AK-47 if you want a 45,000-Gem rifle. Choose Shorty for a 5,000-Gem shotgun unlock. For late runs, Minigun is our pick for a high fire rate; Laser Cannon is our high-damage saving goal at 250,000 Gems.

Already using Shotgun? Its 1,250-Gem first upgrade is a better place to start than buying another early weapon: displayed DMG/S rises from 100 to 155.8.

Weapon tier list by role

S means our first choice for the listed job; A means a strong alternative. The shop's numbered tiers are shown separately. DMG/S and Fire Rate below are the shop's base values before upgrades.

Pick	Weapon	Best use	Shop tier	Base DMG/S	Fire Rate	Lobby unlock	Why choose it
S	Pow Pow	Free start	1	66.7	250	Free in tutorial	Free first upgrade reaches 87.5 DMG/S and leaves your Gems for later purchases.
S	SMG	Free lobby reward	2	180	600	Free reward; 25,000 Gems in shop	Claim the community reward before paying for an early SMG.
S	Shorty	Budget shotgun	1	80	60	5,000 Gems	Unlock plus first upgrade costs 5,450 Gems and reaches 108 DMG/S.
S	Shotgun	Upgrade an owned shotgun	2	100	50	—	Its first upgrade adds 55.8% displayed DMG/S for 1,250 Gems.
S	AK-47	Rifle saving goal	3	379.2	350	45,000 Gems	Stronger base damage than the early SMG choices without SCAR's 90,000-Gem commitment.
S	Minigun	High-rate heavy / late-run progression	4	605	1,100	—	Highest Fire Rate in the weapon stat table; the run progression button costs $2,500 cash.
S	Laser Cannon	High-damage late-game goal	4	700	600	250,000 Gems	Highest base DMG/S in the weapon stat table.
A	El Scorpio	Alternative SMG purchase	2	160	600	15,000 Gems	Try it if you prefer a different SMG after claiming the reward weapon.
A	SCAR	Higher-damage rifle	3	525	525	90,000 Gems	A rifle option between AK-47 and the Tier 4 saving goals.

Use the full weapon database for all 19 shop entries, filters and individual stat pages. ^[1].

Best free weapons: Pow Pow and reward SMG

Take Pow Pow and its first upgrade during the tutorial. The free upgrade raises DMG/S 66.7 → 87.5 and Damage 16 → 21. That upgraded DMG/S is already above Shorty's 80 base value, so there is no need to spend Gems just to replace the starter immediately.

1. Follow the tutorial's Weapons prompt and select Pow Pow.
2. Claim the FREE weapon offer, equip it and claim the FREE first upgrade.
3. Keep using it while deciding whether you want a shotgun, SMG or rifle next.

Pow Pow level two costs 750 Gems and raises DMG/S 87.5 → 94.5. Buy it if you are keeping Pow Pow; otherwise, put those Gems toward your next loadout. ^[1].

Claim the free SMG before buying an early SMG. Like the game, enable notifications and join the Gorilla Warfare Roblox group, then use the green tick on the lobby's purple gift box. The reward includes SMG and 1,000 Gems. Its shop base stats are 180 DMG/S and 600 Fire Rate. ^[2].

Best budget purchase: Shorty

Choose Shorty if you want a shotgun while keeping the purchase below 6,000 Gems. Budget 5,000 Gems to unlock it and 450 Gems for level one, for 5,450 Gems total.

Level one changes DMG/S 80 → 108, Damage 10 → 12 and Pellets 8 → 9. Claiming that upgrade alongside the unlock gives a more complete purchase than leaving it at base stats.

If you already own the separate Tier 2 Shotgun, upgrade that instead. Shotgun level one costs 1,250 Gems for 155.8 DMG/S; level two costs another 3,750 Gems and reaches 187 DMG/S. The first two upgrades cost 5,000 Gems, excluding the weapon unlock.

For a 10,000-Gem balance, use our spending guide to compare weapon upgrades with Survivor skills.

Best SMG and rifle purchases

Take the free reward SMG first, then save toward a rifle or improve your current loadout. SMG's regular shop unlock costs 25,000 Gems for 180 DMG/S and 600 Fire Rate. El Scorpio costs 15,000 Gems for 160 DMG/S and the same 600 Fire Rate. Once you have the reward SMG, El Scorpio is a purchase for a preferred weapon style rather than a higher base damage step.

AK-47 is our rifle saving goal at 45,000 Gems. Its 379.2 DMG/S makes it a substantial step above the early SMGs. Choose SCAR at 90,000 Gems when you want to commit more to a rifle: it has 525 DMG/S and 525 Fire Rate, versus AK-47's 379.2 and 350.

SCAR doubles the unlock price for about 38.4% more base DMG/S. We would save for AK-47 first, then decide whether to keep investing in rifles or move toward a heavy weapon. Compare AK-47 and SCAR. ^[1].

Best heavy weapons: Minigun or Laser Cannon

Minigun is our choice for players prioritizing a high rate of fire. Its base panel shows 605 DMG/S and 1,100 Fire Rate. During a run, plan for the $2,500 cash next-weapon purchase while retaining cash for health and abilities.

Laser Cannon is our late-game Gem goal for higher base damage. It costs 250,000 Gems and shows 700 DMG/S, which is 95 more than Minigun, or about 15.7% higher. Its Fire Rate is 600.

Already own Minigun? Its level-one upgrade costs 20,000 Gems and raises DMG/S to 646.3. Consider that upgrade before switching your entire Gem plan to Laser Cannon. Read the Minigun vs Laser Cannon decision guide for the full comparison and budget choices.

Buying and upgrade order

1. Claim free offers: tutorial Pow Pow, its first upgrade, Survivor's first Grenade upgrade and the lobby's SMG community reward.
2. Improve the weapon you use: prioritize Shotgun level one if owned, or unlock Shorty plus level one for a 5,450-Gem shotgun budget.
3. Choose one saving goal: AK-47 at 45,000 Gems for a rifle, or keep Gems for upgrades to the weapon and skills you use.
4. Plan run cash separately: Shotgun $150, Burst Rifle $750, then Minigun $2,500 are next-weapon buttons during a run.
5. Commit to a late loadout: compare an owned Minigun's upgrade with saving 250,000 Gems for Laser Cannon.

Open the shop's TRY control before buying a different weapon type. Use weapon upgrades for each level's cost and cash vs Gems for run spending.

Player questions

What is the best weapon in Survive a Million Monkeys?

Our high-damage late-game pick is Laser Cannon, with 700 base DMG/S and a 250,000-Gem unlock. Choose Minigun for its 1,100 Fire Rate and late-run cash progression, AK-47 for a 45,000-Gem rifle budget, or the free tutorial Pow Pow and reward SMG when starting.

What should I buy with 5,000 Gems?

If you already own Shotgun and use it, 5,000 Gems covers its first two upgrades. For a new shotgun unlock, Shorty costs 5,000 Gems; save another 450 for its first upgrade. Keep the tutorial's upgraded Pow Pow while saving if you prefer a rifle or SMG.

Should I buy a new weapon or upgrade my current one?

Upgrade a weapon you plan to keep using. Shotgun's first upgrade is a strong early option at 1,250 Gems for 55.8% more displayed DMG/S. Save for a new weapon when you want a different weapon type or a specific loadout goal.