Crow’s Eye
- Pros – Hitscan. Above average range. High aim assist.
- Neutral – Average stability.
- Cons – Very low reload speed. Low mag size.
Recommended Perks:
- Linear Compensator
- Hand Loaded, Fitted Stock
- High Caliber Rounds/Quickdraw, Lightweight, Snapshot
- Rangefinder, Zen Moment, Crowd Control, Reactive Reload, Hot Swap, Battle Runner
For this archetype, even though the damage per bullet is higher, the slower RoF means it’s harder to compete with the other sidearms. However, due to the sidearm changes that came with Rise of Iron, this is one of the best sidearms out there because Linear Compensator allows it to kill with four body shots. The recoil is also noticeably easier to deal with than that of the higher RoF archetypes since there’s more time to settle between shots.
[divider]
Teacup Tempest
- Pros – Hitscan. High range and aim assist.
- Cons – Very low stability and mag size. Low reload speed.
Best Vendor Perks:
- SureShot IS
- Zen Moment
- High Caliber Rounds
- Reactive Reload
Recommended Perks:
- SureShot IS/TrueSight IS
- Zen Moment, Crowd Control, Feeding Frenzy
- High Caliber Rounds, Fitted Stock, Hand Loaded
- Rangefinder, Hidden Hand, Hot Swap, Reactive Reload
This sidearm has poor recoil and a low mag size, but the range and aim assist are high, so it’s slightly worse than Crow’s Eye. With this sidearm, you’re stuck with the slowest times-to-kill.
SureShot and TrueSight are almost always my two most recommended sight options because they boost aim assist and stability by modest amounts.
In the last column I like Rangefinder the most, just to stretch that optimal damage distance, but honestly all of the perks are solid. Hidden Hand can boost the already high aim assist, Hot Swap helps you maintain accuracy for a few seconds after drawing the weapon, and Reactive Reload is another way to boost damage. The vendor version has a very respectable roll!
[divider]
Queen’s Choice
- Pros – Very high range and reload speed. High stability and mag size.
- Neutral – Average aim assist.
- Cons – Not hitscan.
Recommended Perks:
- Linear Compensator, Aggressive Ballistics
- Rangefinder/Zen Moment, Crowd Control, Reactive Reload
- High Caliber Rounds/Quickdraw, Hand Loaded, Snapshot
- Feeding Frenzy, Hot Swap, Battle Runner
Not only is it not hitscan, but you’ll also need Aggressive Ballistics to up the damage enough to consistently kill with four body shots. This means that you’re trading range, stability, and aim assist for the four-shot potential on high armor targets. Linear Comp is still the best option, since the impact increase will allow you to kill mid armor targets with four body shots, but you won’t lose as much aim assist, and you’ll actually gain range.
In column three, you can choose between any of these perks and see good effects, but High Caliber Rounds is perfect because of the extra flinch. If you got Rangefinder, Hand Loaded isn’t needed here, but it can help if you get Zen Moment instead.
[divider]
The Wormwood
- Pros – Hitscan. High stability. Above average aim assist.
- Cons – Below average range and reload speed. Low mag size.
Best Vendor Perks:
- TrueSight IS
- High Caliber Rounds/Quickdraw
- Hand Loaded or Zen Moment
- Hidden Hand
Recommended Perks:
- SureShot IS/TrueSight IS
- High Caliber Rounds/Quickdraw, Lightweight
- Hand Loaded, Fitted Stock, Zen Moment
- Rangefinder/Hidden Hand, Hot Swap, Reactive Reload
This sidearm only has one true drawback: a small magazine. For perks, the sight recommendations are the same as ever: TrueSight and SureShot. High Caliber Rounds is always my favorite in the second column, but Quickdraw is also an excellent choice. In the third slot you can use Hand Loaded to improve on the range, or Zen Moment to help with the already good stability. In the last column I’d go with Rangefinder, particularly if you don’t use Hand Loaded in the previous slot, but Hidden Hand can also be used to push the above average aim assist even higher. The vendor roll for this weapon is fantastic.
[divider]
ZEAL VECTOR~
- Pros – Hitscan. High mag size.
- Neutral – Average reload speed.
- Cons – Very low range and aim assist. Below average stability.
Recommended Perks:
- Accurized Ballistics
- Reactive Reload
- Hand Loaded/Quickdraw
- Quick Reaction
Range, stability, and aim assist are all poor. With that being said, it does decrease its time-to-kill with an impact increasing barrel perk. If you use Accruized Ballistics, you can actually drop the optimal TtK down to 0.50s (4 crits) and the body TtK down to 0.67s (5 body shots), which is best in class.
As far as perks, Reactive Reload and Quick Reaction are an interesting combination, giving you boosts to booth damage and agility when you reload after a kill. In reality, they’re pretty niche bonuses, but players who use them correctly will definitely be rewarded. Due to the very low base range, stick with Hand Loaded in the middle column.
[divider]
The Binding Blaze
- Pros – Hitscan. High mag size. Above average reload speed.
- Cons – Very low range and aim assist. Below average stability.
Recommended Perks:
- Iron Lordly Sights
- Hand Loaded/Fitted Stock
- High Caliber Rounds, Quickdraw, Appended Magazine, Lightweight
- Rangefinder/Hidden Hand/Zen Moment, Crowd Control, Reactive Reload, Hot Swap, Battle Runner
On the positive side, it’s hitscan, which means that the projectiles do not have travel time. The reload speed and mag size are both decent as well. Unfortunately, there’s low range, stability, and aim assist, plus the lack of an Impact-increasing barrel.
Go with the Iron Lordly Sights for the AA bonus, and either Hand Loaded or Fitted Stock in the second slot. Although it doesn’t look like they do much in terms of additional stats, sidearms are very sensitive to even small changes, and Fitted Stock and Hand Loaded both make noticeable differences. In the third column High Caliber Rounds is and will probably always be my favorite for sidearms, but I know quite a few people who swear by Quickdraw. Appended Magazine is also a solid option, particularly if you get Crowd Control in the last column.
[divider]
Anton’s Rule
- Pros – Hitscan. High stability, reload speed, and mag size.
- Cons – Low range & Impact. Very low aim assist.
Best Vendor Perks:
- SteadyHand IS
- Feeding Frenzy
- Hand Loaded
- Hot Swap
Recommended Perks:
- SureShot IS/TrueSight IS
- Crowd Control, Zen Moment, Feeding Frenzy
- Hand Loaded, High Caliber Rounds, Fitted Stock
- Rangefinder/Hidden Hand, Reactive Reload, Hot Swap
Just don’t use sidearms in this archetype. They have the worst range and require a much higher percentage of critical hits to achieve their optimal time-to-kill. Not only that, but it’s nearly impossible to even maintain the max RoF because it’s so fast.
Go with Hand Loaded, because all the flinch in the world doesn’t matter if the damage drop off immediately makes it so that you need an extra bullet to kill. Then Rangefinder or Hidden Hand, as they each attempt to improve on the base stats.
[divider]
Impeacher V
- Pros – Hitscan. High stability, reload speed, and mag size.
- Cons – Very low range and aim assist.
Best Vendor Perks:
- TrueSight IS
- Flared Magwell or Snapshot
- Hand Loaded or Zen Moment
- Reactive Reload
Recommended Perks:
- SureShot IS/TrueSight IS
- High Caliber Rounds/Quickdraw, Lightweight
- Hand Loaded, Fitted Stock, Zen Moment
- Rangefinder/Hidden Hand, Reactive Reload, Hot Swap
Same story as the Anton’s Rule. For perks, in the second column it comes down to HCR and Quickdraw. In the third slot Hand Loaded is tier one to help with the low base stability on both weapons, and then Fitted Stock and Zen Moment bring up the rear. In the last column Rangefinder and Hidden Hand are in equal demand, both trying to shore up poor base stat-lines. Reactive Reload comes next, since we’re again attempting to up that damage in any way we can.