Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: Best Ammo Ranked

Using any of the rounds at the top of this Escape From Tarkov ammo tier list can give you a real advantage in-raid, as they will be able to rip through even the highest armour classes and secure you more dog tags.

Contrary to most first person shooters, Escape From Tarkov's damage values come entirely from the ammunition and not the guns, so picking your poison is paramount to your success in the Norvinsk region. So, make sure to carry on reading the rest of this guide in order to see our full Escape From Tarkov ammo tier list.

• If you want to fully understand the Escape From Tarkov penetration system, make sure to check out our detailed guide.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List

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While the most significant factor in the placement of the various rounds on this Escape From Tarkov ammo tier list is their strength and potency in-raid, we will also consider their availability and the weapons that use them, as that can play a huge part in how much you will end up using each round.

This is also taking into account the significant patch 12.13 ammo changes, which saw a number of the top-tier rounds removed from traders and thus much harder to come by. While this doesn't affect the strength of the round in isolation, you do have to take into account its strength relative to when you're likely to come across it.

So, without further adieu, here's our full Escape From Tarkov ammo tier list for you to enjoy:

• Want some more tier lists? Don't miss this Escape From Tarkov loot tier list to find out which items you should be picking up.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: S-Tier

Here are the rounds that you will want to be using no matter what in game:

• 12/70 Flechette
• 9x21mm BT
• 4.6x30mm AP SX
• 9x39mm PAB-9
• 9x39mm BP
• 5.56x45mm M995
• 7.62x39 BP
• 7.62x39 MAI AP
• .300 Blackout AP
• 7.62x51mm M993
• 7.62x51mm M61
• 7.62x54mm R BS
• 7.62x54mm R SNB
• 12.7x55mm PS12B
• .338 LM AP
• .338 LP FMJ

Some rather familiar names here if you've played even a single raid of Tarkov in the late wipe, with 7.62x39 BP and 7.62x51 M61 being the overwhelming choices for most chads. Flechette is perhaps the dark horse in the S-Tier though, as it is by far the cheapest round and perhaps even the most effective if used correctly.

• Make sure that you're getting the highest FPS possible with our Escape From Tarkov best settings guide.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: A-Tier

Here are our choices for the A-Tier rounds in Escape From Tarkov:

• 12/70 AP-20
• 23x75mm "Barrikada"
• 9x19mm PBP
• .45 ACP AP
• 9x21mm PS
• 5.7x28mm SS190
• 4.6x30mm FMJ SX
• 4.6x30mm Subsonic SX
• 9x39mm SP-6
• .366 AP-M
• 5.45x39mm PPBS "Igolnik"
• 5.45x39mm BS
• 5.45x39mm 7N40
• 5.56x45mm SSA AP
• 5.56x45mm M855A1
• 7.62x51mm M62 Tracer
• 7.62x54mm R BT
• 7.62x54mm R PS
• 338 LM UCW

In this tier we move onto a lot of the best SMG rounds and also the assault rifle ammo that is just below the top tier. While rounds like Igolnik and SSA AP are nearly good enough to be in the S-Tier, their availability is what lets them down, as they are found in raid only.

• Find out how to get the Escape From Tarkov Skybridge Key with this guide here.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: B-Tier

Moving onto the B-Tier, you'll want to use these on more budget runs, if you've got it lying around in your stash, or if you're earlier on in the Escape From Tarkov wipe:

• 12/70 Magnum buckshot
• 12/70 RIP
• 12/70 Superformance
• 23x75mm "Shrapnel-10"
• 9x19mm AP 6.3
• .45 Match FMJ
• 5.7x28mm SB193
• 9x39mm SPP
• 5.45x39mm BT
• 5.45x39mm BP
• 5.45x39mm PP
• 5.56x45mm M856A1
• 7.62x39mm PS
• .300 Blackout M62
• 7.62x51mm M80
• 7.62x54mm R LPS
• 7.62x54mm R T-46M

Perhaps the most glaring inclusion in this tier is M80 which, if we're being honest, nearly dropped into C-Tier. Over the space of a wipe it has moved from Peacekeeper LL2 where it would have been A-Tier to now being in Peacekeeper LL4. For level 37 and likely the mid-late wipe it just doesn't really hold up anymore, but it is still good enough to run if you find it in-raid.

• If you're a fan of bashing things, then this full list of the Escape From Tarkov melee weapons might be for you.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: C-Tier

These are the rounds that you're really only going to want to use if you have to, as there are much better alternatives out there:

• 12/70 7mm
• 12/70 6.5mm
• 12/70 Grizzly
• 12/70 Copper Sabot
• 12/70 Makeshift .50 BMG
• 12/70 FTX Custom Lite
• 23x75mm "Shrapnel-25"
• 9x19mm RIP
• 9x19mm Quakemaker
• .45 RIP
• .45 Hydra-Shok
• 5.7x28mm L191
• 9x39mm SP-5
• .366 TKM EKO
• .366 TKM FMJ
• 5.45x39mm PS
• 5.56x45mm M855
• 7.62x39mm T-45M1
• .300 Blackout BCP FMJ
• .300 Blackout Whisper
• 7.62x51mm TCW SP
• 7.62x51mm BCP FMJ
• 12.7x55mm PS12
• .338 ML TAC-X

While there are some decent to good rounds in this list that can be effective in certain situations, the majority of these rounds are really only viable if that's all you have, as there are far better alternatives out there both within the ammo type and beyond.

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Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: D-Tier

Here are our choices for the D-Tier ammunition in Escape From Tarkov:

• 12/70 5.25mm
• 12/70 Lead Slug
• 12/70 Dual Sabot
• 12/70 "Poleva-3"
• 12/70 "Poleva-6U"
• 20/70 "Poleva-6U"
• 20/70 Star
• 12/70 Devastator
• 9x18mm PM PBM
• 9x18mm PMM PSTM
• 9x18mm PM SP7
• 7.62x25mm TT PST
• 9x19mm PST
• 9x19mm Luger CCI
• .45 Lasermatch FMJ
• 9x21mm PE
• .357 Magnum FMJ
• 5.7x28mm R37.F
• 4.6x30mm Action SX
• .366 TKM Geksa
• 5.45x39mm T
• 5.56x45mm FMJ
• 5.56x45mm M856
• 7.62x39mm US
• .300 Blackout V-Max
• 7.62x51mm Ultra Nosier
• 12.7x55mm PS12A

These rounds either have really clear alternatives that you should always be going for, or are only viable in meme builds. The 12.7x55mm PS12A round for example is only viable for leg meta - which is a bit silly with an ASh-12 - but could be quite fun if you want to try something different.

• Find out everything we know so far about the elusive Escape From Tarkov Lightkeeper with this handy guide.

Escape From Tarkov Ammo Tier List: F-Tier

Here's the bottom of the barrel in terms of ammo in Escape From Tarkov:

• 20/70 5.6mm
• 20/70 6.2mm
• 20/70 7.5mm
• 20/70 7.3mm
• 20/70 "Poleva-3"
• 9x18mm PM SP8
• 9x18mm PSV
• 9x18mm P
• 9x18mm PSO
• 9x18mm PPO
• 9x18mm PRS
• 9x18mm PPE
• 9x18mm PPT
• 9x18mm PST
• 9x18mm RGO28
• 9x18mm BZHT
• 7.62x25mm TT LRNPC
• 7.62x25mm TT LRN
• 7.62x25mm TT FMJ43
• 7.62x25mm TT AKBS
• 7.62x25mm TT P GL
• 7.62x25mm TT PT
• 9x19mm PSO
• 9x19mm T
• 9x21mm P
• .357 Soft Point
• 357 HP
• 357 JHP
• 5.7x28mm SS198LF
• 5.7x28mm R37.X
• SS197SR
• 5.45x39mm HP
• 5.45x39mm PRS
• 5.45x39mm SP
• 5.45x39mm US
• 5.45x39mm FMJ
• 5.56x45mm Warmageddon
• 5.56x45mm HP
• 5.56x45mm MK 255 Mod 0 (RRLP)
• 5.56x45mm MK 255 Mod 0 (SOST)
• 7.62x39mm HP

Just save yourself the pain and don't use these rounds! They either have terrible penetration, terrible damage, or unfortunately often both. You can get much better rounds even from LL1 Escape From Tarkov Traders, so unless you're doing a hardcore run you have no business using these rounds.

So, that completes this Escape From Tarkov ammo tier list, giving you a full rundown of every round in the game and how it compares to the rest. Did you agree? Make sure to let us know what you think of our Escape From Tarkov best guns list too.