The Last Of Us Part 2 No Return: Every Gun, Ranked

Summary

• No Return in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered focuses on gameplay and testing your skills.
• Choose wisely when it comes to weapons in No Return, as their utility varies due to fast-paced combat.
• Each weapon in No Return has its strengths and weaknesses, so strategic decision-making is key.

No Return is one of the several new features added to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. Unlike the campaign, No Return is all about gameplay, taking the skills you learned during the story and putting them to the test.

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You come across all the guns you normally would in the main game, but their utility changes in No Return due to the fast-paced nature of the combat and the roguelike mechanics. You don't have a choice of which weapons you get during a run, but this list should help point you in the direction of the best guns, so you know where to spend your resources.

12 Silenced Submachine Gun

It's Always Quiet

• No Upgrades Available
• Rarely Shows Up

The Silenced Submachine Gun looks good on paper. It shoots fast and is completely silent. For No Return, though, it lacks the versatility necessary to make a weapon truly useful. Of all the unlockable weapons on this list, this might be the only one we recommend skipping, especially if it pops up early in a run.

You are better off waiting and spending your resources on a better weapon. The big plus, though, is that it doesn't require any upgrades, so it is the best version possible right from the start.

11 Semi-Auto Pistol/Military Pistol

The Same Basic Pistol

• Upgradable Fire Rate, Stability, Recoil, and Ammo Capacity

The Military Pistol and Semi-Automatic Pistol are identical, which is why we put them into one entry. The upgrades do not add a lot of flash to this weapon, so we don't recommend using a lot of resources to make the weapon better. All the same, these pistols come in handy throughout an entire run.

If you are only up against one enemy who poses little to no threat, it is better to use this weapon than to use some ammunition from a better weapon that can be better used during more intense combat moments.

10 Bow

Silent But Slow

• Upgradable Draw Speed, Stability, and Rangefinder

This weapon has a special place in The Last of Us. Ellie uses it in the first game during an iconic hunting sequence and Lev uses it to great effect in the sequel's story. Though it is a powerful weapon, in No Return its slow rate of fire serves as a drawback.

If you miss when a couple of enemies are coming at you, they will easily close the distance and crowd you into a corner before you have time to load up another arrow. It is a great option for stealth, though.

9 Crossbow

Shoots Faster And Ammo Is More Reusable

• Upgradable Stability, Scope, and Draw Speed

The Crossbow has a lot of the advantages of the Bow, but is a step beyond it for a couple of reasons. The bolts are more durable than the arrows, so you are more likely to be able to retrieve used ones from dead bodies, and its rate of fire is slightly better.

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You won't be blasting your way out of a corner, but it can do you some good when under pressure. The ability to add a scope is a great upgrade for any stealth-centered gamers.

8 Revolver

Packs A Punch And Looks Cool

• Upgradable Fire Rate, Stability, Reload Speed, and Damage

The Revolver might seem like a redundant gun since you almost always start with a pistol, but you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to buy one during a run. It has a slower rate of fire than the other pistols higher on this list, but it makes up for it with firepower.

You can make it even more powerful with an upgrade. Even the rate of fire can be improved upon with an upgrade too, making it a formidable force against a group or one powerful foe.

7 Bolt-Action Rifle

Powerful But Has A Slow Rate Of Fire

• Upgradable Stability, Ammo Capacity, Scope, and Damage

The Bolt-Action Rifle is extremely powerful. Sure, it takes a long time to reload between shots, but that won't matter that much when it can take out most enemies in one hit. As good as it is, it won't take the place of all your weapons, since the slow rate of fire is a disadvantage up close.

However, at a distance, there are few weapons better than this rifle. With the upgraded damage, it is a great weapon to use against most bosses, who are generally slow enough to let you get in a few shots even with the reduced rate of fire.

6 Pump Shotgun

Great Close-Range Option

• Upgradable Fire Rate, Stability, and Ammo Capacity

There are two different shotguns you can get. The Pump Shotgun is the inferior model. Even though it can hold more shells before a reload, it is not as powerful. All the same, the Pump Shotgun is a necessary purchase when it comes along, since it is essential for dominating close-range encounters against infected.

As long as you have the ammunition, you are nearly invincible. With the capacity upgraded, you can hold your own against large hordes of infected before needing to reload.

5 Semi-Auto Rifle

Be Careful Not To Use All The Bullets In One Place

• Upgradable Stability, Ammo Capacity, Scope, and Burst Fire

The Semi-Auto Rifle is good at its base level, but unlocking the burst-fire ability makes it a killing machine against bloaters and bosses. Don't pass this weapon up when it comes your way.

The good thing is you can mostly ignore the other upgrades and the Semi-Auto Rifle will be one of the most useful weapons you can get your hands on. Just don't be wasteful with it, since you don't have a lot of ammo despite the semi-automatic nature of the weapon.

4 Double Barrel Shotgun

More Powerful Than The Pump Shotgun

• Upgradable Stability, Reload Speed, and Damage

Even though you only have two bullets before needing to reload, the Double Barrel Shotgun will clear most everything in front of you. If you upgrade the reload speed, then the two shots become less of an issue.

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It gets the advantage over the Pump Shotgun because of the ability to upgrade its firepower. If you can do this and also stack up some incendiary shells before reaching the boss, then you will be able to do serious damage against them right from the start of the encounter.

3 Flamethrower

Keeps Any Enemy At Bay

• No Upgrades Available

The Flamethrower is one of those special weapons you don't come across often. You need to pick it up when you do, though. Fire is a great tool for keeping enemies at bay. It doesn't always kill right away, but it will distract enemies for a long time while they are more concerned with putting out the flames than with attacking you.

Make sure you have enough ammunition for it when you reach the boss. It also doesn't require any upgrades, so it comes to you as the best weapon it could be without having to spend extra resources.