Gear That Brings Loot Home
Weapon Tier List
Combat in SAND runs on two lines: your player guns for boarding and looting, and your Trampler's mounted cannons for surviving the open dunes. Rankings below favor one question — can it get your loot home?
Player Weapons
| Tier | Weapon | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| S | 866/9 Rifle | The most well-rounded gun — stable in a normal run, adapts to most ranges and scenarios. |
| A | 1874 Petros (Scoped) | Best boarding gun in tight spaces; the dedicated long-range option. |
| A | Anti-Reactor Rifle | Strongest against machines / to suppress an enemy Trampler's reactor. |
| B | M82 Rifle | Mid-to-long range, ~150m, solid for holding a POI / overwatch. |
| B | Timed Bombs | Doors, legs and boarding routes — flexible utility. |
| B | EB "Bantam" Revolver | Reliable sidearm; enchanted melee can finish after armor break. |
| C | Blitz Pistol | Fine early, should be replaced; fastest charge, useful spray within ~50m. |
Boarding Favorites (Detail)
- Pepper Mill Shotgun — the go-to for close-quarters boarding: one charge fires 3 shells; heavy armor may need two. Reliably lethal up close, but always confirm the TTK against current EA balance.
- 1874 Scoped Petros Rifle — the only dedicated long-range player gun. Bullet quality affects range: standard ~250m, green ~270m, blue ~300m.
- M82 Rifle — 9mm lever rifle, mid-to-long to ~150m; the Aperture variant (6-round mag) can take a scope and suppressor.
Verify in-game: ammo-quality range figures and exact tier boundaries shift with the meta. Confirm against current patches before building a loadout around them.
Mounted Trampler Weapons
On the chassis side, community tier lists group frames and cannons roughly as:
| Tier | Chassis examples |
|---|---|
| S | Scout Walker (light/fast), Iron Colossus (heavy/armored) |
| A | Desert Hawk, Sand Stalker, Dune Fortress |
| B | Rust Viper, Scavenger Rig, War Caravan |
| C | Ore Hauler, Wreckage Crawler |
Meta leans toward mobility + offense, with Storm Dive dominating competitive play. Pair your cannon choice with the Trampler build archetypes.
Content note: SAND is in Early Access and weapon balance changes with patches — tier lists move fast. Figures reflect the EA launch window; re-check after updates and verify in-game before committing a build.