Best Weapons for Horde Night in 7 Days to Die

Your weapon choice for blood moon determines whether you cruise through the horde or desperately swing a stone axe at a feral wight. Here’s the ranked tier list.

S-Tier: Best Horde Weapons

AK-47 (Assault Rifle)

The king of horde night. The AK fires .762 caliber rounds at high velocity with excellent fire rate. At Q5–6 with the Full Auto Mod installed, it shreds through standard zombies and handles specials efficiently.

Best for: Game Stage 80+ hordes, Warrior to Insane difficulty
Ammo cost: ~2.5 rounds per standard zombie

Lever-Action Rifle (.44 Magnum)

Underrated single-fire workhorse. High damage per shot, reliable accuracy, good against armored zombies. Slower ROF but more ammo efficient than the AK.

A-Tier: Strong Choices

Shotgun (Double-Barrel or Pump)

At close range (within 5 blocks), a shotgun is devastating. All pellets hit = massive damage. Two shots will reliably down most zombies including Wights.

Best for: Kill corridors where zombies are funneled close
Ammo cost: ~2 shells at close range

Hunting Rifle (.308)

The best early-game horde weapon due to cheap ammo. One-shots most standard zombies through Day 28. Falls behind in late game against armored specials.

Check your ammo needs with the Ammo Calculator.

B-Tier: Situational

Sniper Rifle (.50 Cal)

Excellent against Demolishers - one headshot from 20+ blocks prevents the explosive detonation. However, bolt-action ROF makes it weak against swarms.

SMG-5 (9mm)

High fire rate burns through ammo quickly. Good against standard zombies in early-to-mid game but inefficient at high game stages with armored specials.

The Optimal 2-Weapon Loadout

Early game (Day 1–21): Hunting Rifle + Pistol backup
Mid game (Day 21–49): AK-47 + Shotgun
Late game (Day 49+): AK-47 + Sniper Rifle (for demolishers)

Ammo Management Tips

Never enter horde night with less than 500 rounds per primary weapon
Craft 20–30% more ammo than your Ammo Calculator recommends
Keep a stockpile of AP (.308, .762 AP) for Wights and Demolishers
Shotgun shells are fast to craft if you run short mid-horde

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best weapon for horde night?

The AK-47 (Assault Rifle) is the best all-around horde weapon for mid-to-late game. High damage, good fire rate, and .762 AP ammo shreds specials. The Hunting Rifle is better for early game due to cheap .308 ammo.

How much ammo should I stockpile per horde?

As a rule: 3–4 rounds per zombie for rifles, 5–6 for SMGs, 2 for shotguns at close range. Use the Ammo Calculator for exact numbers based on your expected horde size.

Should I use melee weapons during horde night?

Only as a backup when ammo runs out. Melee weapons drain stamina rapidly and leave you vulnerable to Cop acid attacks and Demolisher explosions. Keep a Q5–6 melee weapon as emergency only.