Escape from Tarkov Ammo Tier List: All Ammo Types, Ranked

Escape from Tarkov by Battlestate Games is filled with different factors and limitations that affect all aspects of the title, whether that's armor, weapons, or ammunition. Escape from Tarkov players have to weigh up many aspects before completing tasks and trying to figure out scenarios they may find themselves within, constantly planning and making up for possible limitations. Unfortunately, Battlestate Games have completed an excellent job creating a realistic combat experience, knowing in real-life combat, warriors have to weigh up many aspects before entering battle to enter prepare and improve survival odds. 

One of those aspects is ammunition variants and ammo types, having players decide between many ammunition options per caliber before entering a raid, each being different from the other. Ultimately, causing mass confusion among players because we're not warriors, we're keyboard warriors, and fortunately, most of us haven't needed to know the differences between ammunition caliber. Escape from Tarkov developers Battlestate Games provide players with many options per caliber, having each ammo type damaging and affecting enemies in different ways, additionally, each ammo type can be more damaging than the other, and some are useless against different types of armor, forcing you to learn differences between good and bad ammo. 

Escape from Tarkov S-Tier Ammo

These are the calibers and ammunition types you want to be acquiring in most combat situations, these ammunitions will shred through level six armor, along with the hopes and dreams of your enemies:

• 12X70 - FLECHETTE BUCKSHOT
• 12X70 AP-20 ARMOR-PIERCING SLUG
• 23X75 "BARRIKADA" SLUG
• 19X19 PBP GHZ
• .45 ACP AP
• 9X21 BT GZH
• 5.7X28 SS190
• 5.7X28 SB193
• 4.6X30 AP SX 
• 9X39 BP GS
• 9X39 PAB-0 GS
• 9X39 SP-6 GS
• 9X39 SPP GS 
• .366 TKM AP-M
• 5.45X39 PPBS GS "IGOLNIK" 
• 5.45X39 BS GS
• 5.45X39 7N40
• 5.56X45 SSA AP
• 5.56X45 M995
• 5.56X45 M855A1
• 7.62X39 MAI AP
• 7.62X39 BP GHZ
• .300 BLK BLACKOUR AP
• 7.62X51 M993
• 7.62X51 M61
• 7.62X51 M62 TRACER 
• 7.62X51 M80
• 7.62X54R PS GZH
• 7.62X54R BT GZH
• 7.62X54R SNB GZH
• 7.62X54R BS GS
• 12.7X55 PS12B
• .338 LAPUA MAGNUM AP
• .338 LAPUA MAGNUM FMJ

This appears to be unrealistic due to the amount of ammunition based on the S-Tier category. However, this list has been created applying to the "books" of Escape from Tarkov. Each of these ammunition types can pierce through and kill any enemy wearing level six armor. 

The majority of these ammunition types will be unavailable from the flea market and players will have to either obtain the correct merchant level or find the items in-game on other enemy players, raiders, or rouge AI players within Escape from Tarkov. However, some of the above you will be able to obtain from the Flea market, they're likely to be incredibly expensive due to their high penetration of combat armor, furthermore bringing guaranteed death to all enemies. 

Escape from Tarkov A-Tier Ammo

These calibers and ammunition types will happily drop players with level five armor, level six-wearing players won't go down without a fight, therefore you might find yourself in extended fights against level six players. Although, after six or seven rounds to vital areas of the enemy body, they'll likely flop and remain cold. Here are the calibers and ammo types:

•  .338 LAPUA MAGNUM UCW
• 7.62X54R LPS GZH 
• .300 BLK BLACKOUT M62 TRACER
• 5.56X45 M856A1
• 5.45X39 BT GS
• 4.6X30 SUBSONIC SX
• 9X21 PS GZH
• 23X75 "SHRAPNEL-10" BUCKSHOT
• 23X75 "SHRAPNEL-25" BUCKSHOT
• 5.6MM BUCKSHOT
• 6.2MM BUCKSHOT
• 7.5MM BUCKSHOT
• 7.3MM BUCKSHOT
• 5.25MM BUCKSHOT
• 8.5MM MAGNUM BUCKSHOT
• 6.5MM EXPRESS BUCKSHOT
• 7MM BUCKSHOT

Many players will disagree with the decision to place the Buckshots into the A-tier category, however, they universally are rated 3 (out of 6) against damage on all armor categories, therefore meaning they'll damage level six armor as much as level one. Despite having a bad track record with players poorly optimizing their weapons, the Buckshots aren't too bad when running properly created shotguns for the right situations.

Escape from Tarkov B-Tier Ammo

These are the ammunitions and calibers that struggle against level six armor, will damage but not critically level five but destroy level four. B-tier ammunition will be the typical expectations of average players, something that gets the job done almost every raid, whilst not draining players' bank accounts:

• 12GA MAKESHIFT .50 BMG SLUG
• 9X19 AP 6.3
• .357 MAGNUM FMJ
• 5.7X28 SB193
• 9X39 SP-5 GS
• 5.45X39 BP GS
• 5.45X39 PP GS 
• 5.56X45 M855
• 7.62X39 PS GZH
• .300 BLK BLACKOUT BCP FMJ
• 7.62X51 BCP FMJ
• 7.62X51 TCW SP
• 7.62X54R T-46M GZH

Hopefully, we're recognizing these common ammo types, if you haven't seen any ammunition types you use, it might explain why you haven't survived a single raid. Anything below B-tier ammunition will not penetrate anything, you'll have trouble hunting the local Tarkov rabbit population with anything below B-tier (minor exaggeration). 

Escape from Tarkov C-Tier Ammo

Unfortunately, pal, we're venturing into dangerous territory, C-tier ammunition was designed to defeat lower-level armor and more typical players. These tiers of ammunition aren't recommended for anything other than headshots and facing level-four armor:

• .388 LAPUA MAGNUM TAC-X 
• 12.7X55 PS12 
• .300 BLK BLACKOUT V-MAX
• 7.62X39 T-45M1 GZH 
• 7.62X39 US GZH
• 5.56X45 FMJ
• 5.56X45 M856
• 5.45X39 PS GS
• .366 TKM EKO

These ammo types will get the job done ineffectively, it's not likely you'll hit immediate kill shots and retaliation is expected regularly. All these ammunition types are available from merchants and on the Flea market.

Escape from Tarkov D-Tier Ammo

These ammo types aren't going to get you killed, the AI scav population uses these ammunition types. These are the ammo types that will scruff up level five/six armor and possibly kill level four armor players after mag dumping or weakened health. D-tier ammunition is every level-two and three armor runner's worst nightmare, especially when not wearing a helmet. 

• 12GA RIP SLUG
• 12GA SUPERFORMANCE HP SLUG
• 12GA GRIZZLY 40 SLUG
• 12GA COPPER SABOT HP SLUG
• 12GA LEAD SLUG
• 12GA DUAL SABOT SLUG
• 12GA "POLEVA-3" SLUG
• 12GA FTX CUSTOM LITE SLUG
• 12GA "POLEVA-6U SLUG
• 9X18 PM PBM GZH
• 9X18 PM PSTM GZH
• 9X18 PM BZHT GHZ 
• 9X18 PM RG028 GZH
• 9X19 PST GZH 
• 9X19 T GZH
• .45 ACP MATCHA FMJ
• .45 ACP LASERMATCH FMJ
• ACP HYDRA-SHOK
• .357 MAGNUM JHP
• 5.7X28 SS197SR
• 5.7X28 R37X
• 5.7X28 SS198LF
• 5.7X28 R37F
• 4.6X30 ACTION SX 
• 5.45X39 T GS 
• 5.45X39 US GS
• 5.45X39 SP
• 5.45X39 PRS GS
• 5.45X39 HP
• 5.56X39 MK 318 MOD (SOST)
• 5.56X39 MK 318 MOD (RRLP)
• 5.56X39 HP
• 5.56X39 WARMAGEDDON
• 7.62X39 HP
• .300BLK BLACKOUT WHISPER
• 7.62X51 ULTRA NOSLER 
• 12.7X55 PS12A 

These ammunition types are deadly against anything below level four armor, if the player isn't wearing any armor or already sustains damage, these rounds will effectively get the job done. However, I wouldn't personally dare face level six/five armor players with these ammunition types due to having to mag dump to kill the enemy. All these ammo types will be readily available from the flea market or merchants on Escape from Tarkov.

Escape from Tarkov E-Tier Ammo

These are the ammunitions types that you tend to avoid, typically being forced to use them within scav runs or when it's cluttering up your stash. Please avoid these ammo types at all costs, they are mostly effective against low-level armor and defenseless players:

• .366 TKM FMJ
• .366 TKM GEKSA
• .357 MAGNUM HP
• .357 MAGNUM SOFT POINT
• 9X21 PE GZH
• 9X21 P GZH
• .45 ACP RIP
• 9X19 RIP
• 9X19 QUAKEMAKER
• 9X19 PSO GZH
• 9X19 LUGER CCI
• 7.62X25 PST GZH
• 7.62X25 TT PT GZH
• 7.62X25 TT P GL
• 7.62X25 TT AKBS
• 7.62X25 TT FMJ43
• 7.62X25 TT LRN
• 7.62X25 TT LRNPC
• 9X18 PM PST GZH
• 9X18 PM PPT GZH
• 9X18 PM PPE GZH
• 9X18 PM PRS GS
• 9X18 PM OSI GZH
• 9X18 PM P GZH
• 20GA "POLEVA-6U" SLUG
• 20GA STAR SLUG (flashbang slug, not for combat)
• 20GA "POLEVA-3" SLUG
• DEVASTATOR SLUG

As mentioned, avoid these ammunition types at all costs because they won't do you any favor on the battlefield. The only exception - use these at the beginning of wipes, nothing else!

Escape from Tarkov F-Tier Ammo

These ammo types are to be completely avoided within Escape from Tarkov, only use if you intend to kill strictly pistol runners or complete opportunists run (loot): 

• 9X18 PM PSV
• 9X18 PM SP7 GZH
• 9X18 PM SP8 GZH
• 23X75 "ZVEZDA" FLASHBANG ROUND

Apart from the flashbang round that won't kill players anyway, these other 9X18 rounds are awful and can't even kill players that are already practically at death's door. These ammunitions are almost equivalent to .22 caliber ammunitions, having to fire rounds upon rounds to kill enemies. As always, headshots (no or terrible helmet) and no armor (level-two armor too) will work with these ammunition types, but you never want to be caught using them! 

For more Escape From Tarkov news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or take a look at some of our Guides & Tutorials just below: