All Weapons, Prices, and Availability
| Weapon | Type | First verified island | Base price | Base stat in Game8 table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass Knuckles | Melee | 1 | $24 | 5 damage |
| Knife | Melee | 1 | $45 | 16 damage |
| Pistol | Ranged | 2 | $50 | 25 damage, 10 ammo |
| Shotgun | Ranged | 2 | $150 | 3 damage, 2 ammo |
| Dynamite | Throwable | 2 | $25 | 200 damage |
| SMG | Ranged | 3 | $650 | 24 damage, 30 ammo |
| Sniper Rifle | Ranged | 4 | $3,800 | 200 damage, 5 ammo |
| Assault Rifle | Ranged | 5 | $20,000 | 40 damage, 30 ammo |
These are the base figures in Game8’s exported table and are corroborated for prices by Sportskeeda. They do not include upgrades, multiplayer scaling, bonuses, or patch changes. If the current game displays a different figure, preserve the table as source-dated information and mark the discrepancy [Pending verification] during an update.
Best Early Weapon
Knife is the best first serious purchase. It costs more than Brass Knuckles but has much higher listed base damage, and PC Gamer, Sportskeeda, and multiple playthroughs use it successfully against Spider Crab. Its slower swing encourages the correct two-or-three-hit stun-window strategy.
Brass Knuckles can speed ordinary early catches and can work in a coordinated group, but they are a weak solo answer to the first boss. Do not over-upgrade them if Knife is the immediate goal. The first boss guide explains why safe attack windows matter more than constant swinging.
Forest Weapons
Forest unlocks Pistol, Shotgun, and Dynamite. Pistol is the cheapest firearm and provides repeatable ranged damage. Shotgun costs more and has a small listed ammo capacity, while Dynamite provides area damage against the smaller piranhas around Giant Piranha.
The source recommendations conflict on whether Pistol or Shotgun is the best general Island 2 investment. Sportskeeda recommends Shotgun, while Games.gg favors Pistol for price-to-performance. Choose one based on the money already available rather than buying both at base level.
Dynamite is a utility rather than a primary weapon. It is useful when multiple small targets crowd the fight, but careless placement can hurt the player or waste money. Keep a firearm ready after the explosion.
SMG for Island 3
SMG is the most consistently recommended Pufferfish weapon. Its sustained fire supports movement while the boss rolls, expands, and leaves poison. Recoil control and ammunition upgrades improve its practical value more than purchasing another unupgraded gun.
GamesRadar recommends an extended magazine and Compensator for the Pufferfish fight, and IGN also emphasizes recoil control. Exact upgrade totals can vary by island and mode, so this page does not reproduce a universal max-cost table. Upgrade until the current island’s interface reports its limit or the next required purchase takes priority.
The SMG remains useful on Island 4 for ground targets and co-op sustained damage. Do not discard it immediately after buying a Sniper Rifle. The two weapons solve different ranges.
Sniper Rifle for Island 4
Sniper Rifle becomes available on Island 4 and is the clearest Albatross counter. The boss remains airborne, circles the island, and attacks from above, making range more important than rate of fire. Use buildings as cover, step out for a controlled shot, and reposition.
The listed $3,800 price makes it a deliberate purchase rather than an automatic first item on arrival. Buy Professional Lure first to access the local money pool, then save without relying on casino wins. The Island 4 guide keeps Tuna and weapon spending in the correct order.
In co-op, one Sniper Rifle player and one upgraded SMG player provide better coverage than everyone buying the same gun. The sniper tracks Albatross, while the SMG handles closer catches and continuous pressure. Role separation is an experiential tip supported by Games.gg and the multiplayer footage.
Assault Rifle for Volcano
Assault Rifle is the final listed firearm and costs $20,000. It is available on Volcano and is repeatedly recommended before the Bowhead Whale sequence. Scientific Lure fishing supplies the stronger ordinary catches needed to fund it.
Upgrade the rifle before transforming the whale if resources allow. The final fight includes burn or lava pressure, so a slow damage cycle creates more opportunities for failure. Video runs show under-upgraded attempts becoming prolonged, but their exact damage readouts are not treated as fixed facts.
Keep food and a backup plan rather than spending every coin on attachments. A maximized weapon does not prevent environmental damage or replace movement. The boss hub explains the final sequence and bait.
Upgrade Priority
Focus spending on the weapon that solves the current progression wall. A simple route is Knife, one Forest firearm, SMG, Sniper Rifle if needed for Albatross, and Assault Rifle. Skip or limit upgrades on a weapon that will be replaced immediately on the next island.
Prioritize usable damage and control before cosmetic or overlapping purchases. Recoil control is particularly valuable on SMG, range is inherent to Sniper Rifle, and sustained output defines Assault Rifle. Inventory slots and food can be just as important as another attachment during a boss run.
Solo and multiplayer costs may not always match according to one co-op source, so treat the base table as a reference rather than a complete upgrade budget. Check the current shop total before committing the rest of the team’s shared money.
Common Weapon Mistakes
Do not fight Spider Crab bare-handed simply because it is the first boss. Do not buy every Forest gun and leave none upgraded. Do not stand still with SMG against Pufferfish, and do not use a close-range-only plan against Albatross.
Recover dropped weapons after a death before replacing them. The transcripts show players losing track of knives and guns during chaotic fights, which turns one failure into unnecessary grinding. Fight on land and assign a teammate to secure equipment when possible.
Do not use video glitches, stuck bosses, or unexplained trick-shot bonuses as the basis for a loadout. They may be patch-dependent and are not required for progression. Standard weapon roles remain more reliable.
Related Guides
Use fish prices to fund the next purchase, all baits to avoid starting a fight early, and max players for co-op role planning. New players should return to the beginner guide before committing all Lighthouse income to equipment. Every purchase should solve the current island rather than an imagined future encounter.