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Best Weapons
As CJ battles back against rival gangs and other factions to take back the hood GTA San Andreas, he'll find himself in possession of some incredibly powerful weapons. From pistols and sub-machine guns to assault rifles and explosives, CJ's arsenal will grow immensely throughout the game. However, there are some weapons you'll definitely want to make a priority when you're getting geared up to head out on a high-stakes mission. Here's a breakdown of the best weapons in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and how to to get hold of them.
This guide includes an update for the GTA: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition release for Xbox, PC, and PS5.
Looking for a particular weapon? Click the links below to jump straight to it...
SMG
When you're stocking up on weapons for a heavy firefight, a sub-machine gun is a necessity. It's versatile, easy to grab and, with a decent weapon skill, will do a ton of damage. Although most micro sub-machine guns will get the job done, the SMG is easily the one you want in your back pocket.
They'll be hard to come by in the early game, but once San Andreas opens up, you'll be able to nab these from pretty much anywhere and they'll always do right by you. As for exactly where you'll be able to get an SMG conveniently, Ammu-Nation sells them for $2,000, which isn't too hefty once you're making more money. You can also grab them from these spawns:
- Los Santos - When in Jefferson, look for a motel with orange walls. If you're struggling to find it, it's just at the bottom of the path that takes you up into Los Colinas. Head to the back of the motel and you'll find stairs up to the roof. Follow them and head to the left-hand side. You'll find the SMG waiting.
- San Fierro - Across the road from the Avispa Country Club you'll find an alleyway with dumpsters and a bribery pickup. Head all the way to bribery pickup and through the gate to the left. The SMG will be waiting inside.
- Las Venturas - Starting from the Four Dragons Casino, head towards the Come-A-Lot casino across the road. Circle around to the back of the casino and you'll find a secret passageway. Follow it to the end to find an SMG.
Katana
You'll want to fill your melee weapon slot with something, and the best in the game is easily the katana. Luckily, it's not hard to get either, with CJ able to grab it within the first few minutes of the game. Not only is the katana a fast melee weapon that can end enemies in a few strikes, but it also has a long-range swing and does tons of damage.
You can't pick up a katana from Ammu-Nation but you can find quite a few out in the wild. Here's a list of the most convenient katana spawns:
- Los Santos - You'll find it in the alleyway across the street from the corner where CJ partakes in the lowrider challenge. It's behind a fence on the lefthand side. For those that haven't reached that point in the story yet, look for the Alhambra nightclub in Idlewood and head over the bridge to the right of the entrance. Take the next left you see after crossing the bridge.
- San Fierro - Head to Downtown San Fierro and look for the Chinatown area. You'll find an alleyway near the bottom of the street on the right. Head in and then take a left down another alley to find the katana. If you're having trouble finding it, it's the same alley you head down during the Wu Zi Mu mission Mountain Cloud Boys.
- Las Venturas - Head around the corner from the save point outside the Four Dragons Casino. You'll find a katana in amongst some palm trees.
M4
Towards the end of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, CJ will move on to using late-game weapons. Few of these guns are as reliable as the M4. Although it will make CJ far less nimble than when he uses the SMG, the M4 packs a punch and can take out ranged targets quickly.
Better yet, most enemies will be using assault rifles by the last act, so you'll always have a decent amount of ammo on hand. Looking to buy an M4? It'll set you back $4,500 from Ammu-Nation. You can also nab it from these spawns:
- Los Santos - Head to Los Santos airport and go all the way to the end of the runway on the right. You'll find three yellow and white striped blockades. In between them, you'll find the M4.
- San Fierro - Go to the Palisades and look on the map for a long line of houses represented by white rectangles. The third house up is where you want to go. Head there and look in the backyard to find the M4.
- Las Venturas - If you're looking for an M4 in Las Venturas, head to Pilgrim and look for the motel with a pool out back. You'll find it on the venue's rooftop.
Sawn-Off Shotgun
Shotguns are ultimately a very powerful weapon in San Andreas, and if you're looking to do a lot of damage very quickly, you can't go wrong with either the pump-action or combat shotgun. But the sawn-off shotgun has something neither of its upgraded counterparts do. You can dual-wield it.
Get CJ's weapon skill up to Hitman with a shotgun and he can carry two sawn-offs into battle. As you can imagine, firing two barrels at once makes for a pretty brutal attack, even into the late game. If you want to grab yourself a sawn-off, they go for $800. Meanwhile, here are some convenient spawns:
- Los Santos - Head to East Los Santos and track down the strip club called The Pig Pen. On top of the venue's roof, you'll find a sawn-off shotgun.
- Red County - Take a trip to Palomino Creek in Red County. When in the centre of town, you'll find a house proudly touting an American flag over its garage door. In the backyard, you'll find the sawn-off. If you're struggling to locate the house, its yard is in front of a store called Jazz Mags.
- Las Venturas - Grab a helicopter or jetpack and head to Las Venturas airport. You should find an under-construction building in the southeast corner of the airport. Fly to the top of it and you'll find the sawn-off waiting for you.
Sniper Rifle
A unique and very powerful weapon, the sniper rifle is always good to have on hand. It'll allow you to get through some really tough fights without a scratch if you use it wisely and does a ton of damage to boot. The scope allows you to pick off targets from afar too, which means you can often end lengthy firefights before they've even started.
If you're looking to get your hands on a sniper rifle, you can buy one from Ammu-Nation for $5,000. You can also take one with you if you head to any of these spawns:
- Los Santos - Head to the southmost part of Vinewood and look for a big building with "Stage 25" written along the side of it. There should be some stairs leading up to two elevated walkways. Go to the very top and you'll find a sniper.
- San Fierro - Head to Downtown San Fierro and look for a shop called Otto's Autos. Use a jetpack or a helicopter to fly up to the roof across from the car shop. There should be a sniper waiting for you there.
- Las Venturas - Get a helicopter or a jetpack and head to the top of the Three Dragons Casino. A sniper will be sat on top of it.
Satchel Charge
A lot of explosives in San Andreas can be hard to wield, mainly as there's no arc to judge how you'll throw the weapon or where it'll land. It's why the satchel charge is easily the best explosive you'll find. No, you still can't see where it'll land when you throw it, but you have the option to blow it up whenever you want, meaning mistakes won't send you straight to the hospital.
They also do a lot of damage and are great for crowded areas filled with foes. To get satchel charges, you can either snag them from Ammu-Nation for $2,000 or you can find them at these spawns:
- San Fierro - Head to the Avispa Country Club's entrance and drive around to the back of the building. There will be a satchel charge waiting for you.
- Red County - Make your way to the Inside Track store in Montgomery. A little tip, it's the same shop you rob with Catalina in the mission Against All Odds. Head down the alley to the right-hand side of the entrance to find the satchel charge.
Heat-Seeking Missile Launcher
There's a lot of heavy weapons in San Andreas, but none of them compare to the heat-seeking missile launcher. This is a late-game weapon and for good reason. It annihilates anything in its path and has the ability to home in on targets, making it the best way to put a stop to helicopters, jets, cars and other vehicles chasing you.
Acquiring it can be tough; like all the other heavy ordinances, you can't just pick it up from Ammu-Nation. However, you can net yourself one if you head to these spawn locations:
- San Fierro - Head to the San Fierro airport and look for three white fuel tanks to the right of the runway. In between the tanks, you should come across a heat-seeking missile launcher.
- Las Venturas - Next to the Pilson Intersection, you should see a two-story parking lot overlooking a series of shipping containers. When driving up to the second level of the parking lot, take a right and head to the furthest corner. You'll find the heat-seeking missile launcher tucked away.
Minigun
If you're not in the mood for heat-seeking missiles and feel like mowing down hundreds of enemies fast, you might want to reach for the minigun instead. This devastating weapon will make light work of hundreds of foes at once. It's your golden ticket out of hectic situations, and when it comes to some of San Andreas' late-game firefights, that's definitely what you want by your side. Although you'll move slow, the damage output is simply too good to pass up.
Getting one is tricky though. Much like the heat-seeking missile launcher, it isn't easy to come by. However, there are a few locations you head to if you want to bag yourself one.
- San Fierro - Head to the railway bridge connecting San Fierro and the desert. When there, use a jetpack or helicopter to fly up to the first archway when travelling from the San Fierro side of the bridge. The minigun can be found waiting there.
- Las Venturas - Make your way to the same parking lot you chased the agent to during the C.R.A.S.H mission Misappropriation. If you haven't completed that level or need a refresher, it can be found down a narrow alley in Roca Escalante. The alley is next to a shop called Dick's Sounds. At the bottom, you'll find the minigun hidden around a corner.
- Las Venturas - Another spawn can be found in the bottom right-hand corner of Las Venturas. Look for a construction site in Rockshore East and climb the scaffolding. The minigun can be found on the fourth level.