Summary
Ubisoft had a lot of goodwill to earn back after the lackluster release ofWatch Dogsgiven all the hype that surrounded its pre-launch promotion. That put a ton of pressure onWatch Dogs 2toredeem a franchisethat its publisher once hoped would rivalAssassin’s Creed. One of the ways they went about this isswapping the game’s protagonistfrom John Wick-style Aiden Pierce to a more stealth-focused everyman in Marcus Holloway.
The stealth focus did wonders for the gameplay ofWatch Dogs 2. Marcus is a more defenseless character than Aiden was, but the trade-off is his ability to manipulate his environment in more complex ways. When combined with the sequel’s level design that encourages player creativity,Watch Dogs 2feels like a revolution in how good this series can be. However, when a mission goes south, combat becomes a necessity, and Marcus can be outfitted with an array of unique weaponry to fight back when things get loud. Here are thebest weapons inWatch Dogs 2, and how much they cost to acquire.
Updated on November 7th, 2024, by Evan Regan:With Ubisoft still pumping out Watch Dogs content in the form of books, a feature-length film announcement, and a crossover with their other major franchises in XDefiant, it would appear that the developer still thinks very highly of the franchise, even if the announcement of a fourth video game entry has yet to materialize. As it stands, Watch Dogs 2 remains the pinnacle of the series, with Marcus' adventure offering up a perfect blend of open-world action and tech-focused stealth gameplay. While fans wait for news on the franchise’s future, this list has been updated to feature a few more of the best weapons in Marcus' arsenal.
12Paintball Rifle (Non-Lethal)
Paint A Pretty Picture
Is thePaintball Riflea top gun inWatch Dogs 2when it comes to high-difficulty or PvP play? No, but it deserves its laurels because, for better or worse, it’s the most visually exciting non-lethal weapon in the game. It’s also free as soon as players get access to theNo CompromisesDLC.
What makes this weapon so great is that it operates like a paintball gun, so any missed shots will paint surrounding surfaces in a bright array of color. As a non-lethal weapon, it’s perfectly serviceable—although there are better options out there—but as a non-lethal weapon with a bit of spectacle, it’s unmatched.
11HHoS Rifle (Lethal)
Nothing Wrong With A Classic
TheHHoS Rifleis the “default” lethal rifle inWatch Dogs 2.While Marcus' signature weapons are the 2EZ stun gun and the Thunder Ball, as far as a cut-and-dry “gun” goes, his go-to seems to be the HHoS. It can be 3D printed for $86,400, which is a bit pricey for the gun’s overall value.
Given that it’s the default rifle inWatch Dogs 2,the HHoS doesn’t really shine in any particular area, but holds its own in every important category. It has a solid 30-round magazine, and deals consistent damage, even if its fire rate is a bit low compared to other rifles. It’s the default for a reason; a jack of all trades that doesn’t really stand out, but won’t let any player down in a firefight either.
102EZ (Non-Lethal)
As Easy As It Sounds
Arguably the most widely-applicable weapon inWatch Dogs 2, Marcus' Stun Gun—nicknamed the “2EZ”—is one of the most effective non-lethal weapons in the whole game. It can put down most standard enemies silently and from range and preserves a pacifist approach to the campaign that fits best with the tone of Marcus' narrative.
Going further in earning its nickname, the 2EZ does not need to be purchased. It’s a part of Marcus' arsenal right from the game’s first mission, seemingly never runs out of ammo (although it does need to briefly recharge after firing), and can carry players through the whole campaign if they so choose.
9Help Desk Denial Pistol (Lethal)
An Uzi In These Trying Times
Not interested in non-lethal play? TheHelp Desk Denial Pistolhas got the other end of the spectrum covered. Similar to the generic 4N00bs Pistol but fully automatic, this pistol isWatch Dogs 2’sequivalent of an uzi; short range, high fire rate, smaller magazine, and fast reloads.
This is a unique sidearm, so it isn’t cheap, but it can be 3D printed at the DedSec hideout. It costs $45,900, making it one of the cheaper unique weapons in the game, and for the right play style, it’s absolutely worth the investment with how much havoc it can wreak.
8CTRL-ALT-DEL Launcher (Lethal)
The Opposite Of Stealthy
Being able to shoot down individual grunts is great, but what about when a high-speed chase breaks out? Sometimes, Marcus will need to get the cops off his tail. For Those situations, theCTRL-ALT-DEL Launcheris the perfect tool. This deadly-accurate grenade launcher can take out a vehicle in a single shot, and if timed right, will set off a chain reaction of vehicle explosions that can eliminate an entire group of pursuing enemies.
Unlike the Help Desk Pistol, this launcher doesn’t come cheap. It’ll cost players $105,300 at the 3D printer to get access to it, but in exchange, players will get a force of pure destruction. Also, the gun looks like a shark. How cool is that?
7DOT_FILE Rifle (Lethal)
Making Money Is Easy
After all this talk about how expensive these guns can be, it might be nice to have a gun that earns money by using it. Enter: theDOT_FILE Rifle, a burst-fire assault rifle equipped with Smart Hack bullets. These bullets willhack any enemies killedby the rifle that fired them, earning the player money with each kill. When using a lethal playstyle, this weapon will stack up currency very quickly.
The DOT_FILE Rifle will cost players $43,200 at the 3D Printer. It’s one of the cheaper options that will appear on this list, and it earns back the cost of its purchase within a few missions.
6Goodbye, World Shotgun (Lethal)
Time To Say Goodbye
There aren’t many better feelings in gaming than a good shotgun. Fully embracing that idea inWatch Dogs 2is theGoodbye, World Shotgun, a fully automatic short-range weapon with a huge magazine and an extra-wide spread on its shots. There isn’t another weapon in the game that allows Marcus to walk through a crowd of enemies more easily than this shotgun.
There is a huge risk-reward caveat to this weapon, however. Marcus does not have a lot of health, so going loud at close range can get him killed very quickly if players aren’t careful with their positioning. With that in mind, the price tag of this shotgun is $43,200, and it provides a nice contrast to the DOT_FILE Rifle for the same cost.
5Zero Day Rifle (Lethal)
Suppressed Sniping For Long-Range Stealth
Almost all the weapons discussed so far involve going into combat encounters guns blazing. TheZero Day Rifleis the game’s best option for maintaining a lethal approach but combining it with stealth. This rifle comes with a built-in suppressor and a Smart Scope, making it perfect for stealthy long-range approaches. Despite the silencer, the Zero Day Rifle still does enough damage to be used as a standard assault rifle, so if thingsdoget loud, players won’t need to scramble to switch weapons.
Here’s the catch, the Zero Day Rifle comes in at a whopping $99,900 pricetag at the 3D printer, meaning players will need to save up for a while or get a ton of use out of the DOT_FILE Rifle to be able to unlock it.
4Thunder Ball (Non-Lethal)
Marcus' Iconic Weapon Is Both Brutal And Non-Lethal
The only melee-focused weapon inWatch Dogs 2, theThunder Ballis virtually unmatched in its versatility. Players will most frequently employ it by performing stealth takedowns on unaware enemies and is especially effective when combined withthe Create Distraction skill,which can prevent enemies from spotting Marcus as he approaches. However, it can also be used as an offensive weapon outside of stealth to quickly knock out lone enemies before they can raise their guns. It also allows players to quickly take out attacking security dogs, one of the most troublesome enemies in the game.
Making all these factors even better is that the Thunder Ball comes completely free. Marcus will have access to it from the first mission, just like the 2EZ stun gun. The Thunder Ball will make up the melee part of his arsenal for the entire campaign, and it’ll do a great job of it. It also has some fantastic animations making for brutally satisfying takedowns.
3WTB Stun Launcher (Non-Lethal)
Pricey, But Makes Stealth A Cakewalk
It’s hard to imagine a grenade launcher also acting as a stealth weapon, but here we are. TheWTB Stun Launcheruses a modified version of the 2EZ’s stun charges to create an explosion of volts that will stun enemies, and disable vehicles, but won’t set off any collateral explosions as a result.
There are two downsides: First, it has an extremely slow rate of fire, meaning a missed shot can be costly. Second, it costs $118,800 to 3D print. It is, by a wide margin, the most expensive weapon in the game, but given how it can somewhat trivialize the stealthy approach, that’s not without reason.
