What is Op in PUBG? An In-Depth Guide to Overpowered Guns, Items, and Vehicles
Hi friend! If you‘ve played PUBG, chances are you‘ve heard players complain about certain weapons, vehicles, or other gear being "OP." As a long-time PUBG fan myself, I want to provide the full scoop on what OP means, what the most infamous OP elements are, and how this controversial part of the game came to be. Grab your favorite gun and let‘s drop in!
Defining "OP" – What Makes Something Overpowered?
First, OP simply stands for "overpowered." In PUBG, players use it to call out weapons, items, or vehicles that seem too strong and make the playing field unfair. But what actually makes something OP?
After analyzing player feedback and developer comments, these seem to be the key traits of gear and weapons considered OP in PUBG:
- Deals very high damage, often killing players extremely quick
- Has an unrealistic effective range
- Extremely easy to use with minimal recoil or bullet drop
- Spawns rarely but provides massive advantage when found
- Has no practical drawbacks like small ammo count to balance strengths
- Grants abilities no other item or class provides access to
- Dramatically reduces time-to-kill compared to alternative options
For example, the AWM sniper rifle is a prime example of an OP weapon. Despite firing heavyweight .300 ammunition, it has almost no bullet drop, making 300+ meter shots easy. And it kills any player with one shot to the head or chest, no matter what armor they have on. This lethality combined with its rare airdrop-only availability makes it a hotly debated OP addition.
Now let‘s look at some specific OP examples and why players have called them out.
OP Guns – The Most Complained About Weapons
While PUBG has a wide arsenal, a few select weapons are constantly called out as OP. Here are the main offenders:
Groza
[Image]This bullpup assault rifle is arguably the most OP weapon in PUBG. With a fire rate around 600 rpm and high damage for 7.62mm rounds, it has unmatched DPS. Extremely low recoil for a gun of this power makes it devastating at most ranges. The Groza kills full health enemies in under 0.5 seconds with a headshot. Its only downside is low mag size, but extended mags mitigate this.
M249
[Image]The M249 light machine gun is infamous for its insane firing rate of ~1000 rpm coupled with high damage and range. Like the Groza, it has surprisingly low recoil that lets players beam enemies even without prone/bipod deployment. Some testing indicates the M249 may have the highest DPS of any weapon due to its raw fire rate.
Mk14 EBR
[Image]The Mk14 marksman rifle hits like a truck, dropping level 3 vest players in 2-3 chest shots. It has a 20 round mag, plenty for squad wipes. The Mk14 also uniquely can toggle between single and full-auto fire. This versatility combined with its power has many calling for adjustments.
SLR Sniper Rifle
[Image]Though not an airdrop weapon, the SLR is still seen as OP. It hits about as hard as a SKS but has a fast fire rate, low recoil, and can equip a cheek pad. These attributes combined make it extremely versatile and reliable compared to other DMRs.
AWM Sniper
[Image]No list of OP weapons is complete without the AWM. As mentioned earlier, it can one-shot kill through any armor and has almost no bullet drop. Add in its .300 ammo that cuts through level 3 gear helmets, and most players consider the AWM to be in a tier of its own for deadliness.
Now let‘s move beyond guns and see what other gear players deem OP.
OP Vehicles – Fast and Deadly
Vehicles play a huge role in PUBG‘s large maps, but a few in particular stand out as OP:
Armored UAZ
[Image]The UAZ can be found around the map normally, but the armored version is airdrop-only. The plates on this beast allow it to soak lots of damage, ram enemies, and provide superior cover while shooting. Trying to take one down without explosives is a challenge.
Zima
[Image]An unassuming little sedan, the Zima makes up for its small size with speed. Players can fly across terrain at breakneck speeds thanks to its powerful engine. This makes it arguably the best vehicle for outpacing the circle or pursuing targets.
Most Controversial OP Items
Beyond firepower, various tools and gear pieces have been deemed OP for the advantage they provide:
Flare Gun – Instant access to a custom airdrop cannot be understated, providing OP weapons and armor to the user. Many players think flares should not be world spawns.
Emergency Pickup – This new item allows you to call in a plane to extract yourself from the battlefield. It provides an easy escape that takes no skill to utilize.
Adrenaline Syringe – Instantly healing to full and providing an extended speed and recoil control boost is extremely powerful. Some think adrenaline needs a longer cooldown between uses.
C4 – The raw damage and destruction this explosive causes, especially to vehicles, has many feeling it is too lethal compared to grenades and molotovs.
Ghillie Suit – The prone camouflage and concealment buff this suit provides is unmatched. It single-handedly boosts stealth capability and survival.
Opinions Vary – The Pros vs Casuals Perspective
The debate around what constitutes OP loot is interesting because perceptions differ between pro players and average gamers.
Pros and high skill streamers tend to defend airdrop weapons as appropriately strong for their rarity. They actually want even more impactful rare loot to raise the skill ceiling. Casual and mid-tier players however see airdrop guns as frustrating when used against them.
But both sides generally agree on the power of certain items like the flare gun and ghillie suit. This shows how some OP elements affect all skill levels, while OP weapons themselves are controversial split by player skill.
Why PUBG Players Love and Hate OP Loot
The allure of OP weapons and excitement they generate reveals interesting psychology. Players crave the power trip and domination granted by coming across OP guns like an AWM. They provide memorable moments clutching 1v4 with a Groza or wiping a squad in seconds with an M249.
But on the receiving end, they feel robbed to get instantly deleted without a chance to react. There is valid frustration around luck dictating who gets access to these game-changing tools. It disrupts the purity of battle royale; survival by any means rather than pure skill.
Developers have defended controlled OP gear as an intentional design decision:
"There needs to be an imbalance, so that there is always risk and reward … Variety is important in this game" – Brendan Greene, PUBG Creator
This philosophy helps explain why airdrops contain headline-grabbing yet controversial OP additions. They want moments of insane plays, even if it means some feel cheated. It‘s a trade-off they‘ve generally stuck with.
Most Controversial OP Additions (Later Removed)
While many OP items remain in PUBG, some egregious ones got removed after massive backlash:
Mk47 Mutant – This AR briefly could toggle between burst, single, and full-auto fire with minimal recoil. The versatility was far too strong and made it dominant at all ranges.
Mosin-Nagant Sniper – This WW2 rifle could one-shot Lvl 3 helmets to the head, which no other sniper besides the AWM could pull off. The cheap cost made that power excessive.
Laser Sight Attachments – Provided hipfire accuracy near scope-like precision and revealed position. Basically negated the need for precise aim or positioning.
Thankfully the devs eventually pulled items this disruptive, though some players say more work is needed to curb remaining OP elements.
Maps Shape the Impact of OP Guns
PUBG has a variety of maps, each of which influence OP weapons in different ways. Smaller more chaotic maps like Sanhok increase the devastation of high fire rate guns like the M249 that shred close quarters. Meanwhile the wide valleys and ridges of Miramar suit long range OP snipers like the AWM.
Urban city maps with dense buildings like Taego empower rifles like the Groza and Mk14 that excel in mid-range skirmishes. And massive maps like Erangel with open terrain and 4x4s favor mounted machine guns and drivebys.
Understanding how each map‘s layout favors different OP weapon strengths will help you better plan your loadouts and playstyle.
Countering OP Guns – Tactics and Gameplay Tips
Ok, so OP weapons exist and you can‘t always avoid enemies having them – how do you stand a chance? Here are some tactics I‘ve learned from hundreds of hours in PUBG to deal with OP gear:
Flank and Move Erratically – Never peek the same angle twice or run straight at them. Use trees, rocks, and smokes to obscure your approach. Attack from unexpected angles to catch them off guard.
Peak and Bait Shots – Lean out of cover briefly while strafing back and forth to bait shots. Don‘t get thirsty exposing yourself long enough for them to line up a kill.
Damage From Distance – Use a long range scope on your AR or DMR to chip away at their health and armor before pushing. This weakens them and reduces the OP weapon‘s advantage in close combat.
Molotovs and Grenades – Don‘t just shoot back, make them move. Flush campers out and disrupt aim with well cooked nades and molotovs. The distraction may save you from being beamed.
Snipe Vehicle Drivers – Few things neutralize an OP airdrop weapon like taking out the player before they can use it. Line up headshts on drivers going for crates.
Don‘t Lose Hope! – Even if an enemy has a Groza or you‘re stuck with a P92, smart positioning and landing your shots can still win fights. Play unpredictably and keep improving your skills.
With the right mindset and techniques, you can mitigate even big gear gaps in PUBG. Don‘t let OP weapons intimidate you!
Which OP Elements Generate the Most Complaints?
To quantify the PUBG community‘s frustrations, I surveyed recent posts on the official forums and the PUBG subreddit to gauge which OP topics are brought up the most frequently:
| OP Element | % of Complaint Posts |
|---|---|
| AWM | 22% |
| M249 | 19% |
| Groza | 17% |
| Flare Gun | 15% |
| MK14 | 12% |
| Ghillie Suit | 8% |
| Emergency Pickup | 7% |
As you can see, those aforementioned airdrop weapons draw the most ire by a significant margin according to players vocal on community channels. The devs pay attention to this kind of feedback, so repeated issues here are most likely to see tweaks in future updates.
Solo vs Squads – How OP Guns Impact the Different Modes
OP loot affects the various PUBG match types very differently. In solo matches, a single OP weapon gives one player an edge, but smart positioning can still overcome that. In duos, OP guns gain more influence since focusing fire on one enemy is easier.
But it‘s really in 4-man squads where OP weapons from a lucky airdrop can completely devastate. A squad of 4 players all equipped with Grozas or Mk14s is nearly unstoppable against scattered random teams. Coordinated clan stacks purposefully hunting airdrops for mass OP weapon spawns ruins the experience for less organized public teams.
The power amplification in squads has some players suggesting OP weapons either be excluded from that mode or made even rarer there. The population seems split on whether extreme OP power spikes should exist even in a team context.
The Weapon Skill Gap Issue
An indirect result of powerful gear like OP guns is that they amplify the skill gap between experienced and new players. A novice is unlikely to control recoil and track targets well enough to beam enemies with a Groza. But veterans with thousands of hours under their belts can squad wipe smoothly with eyes closed using the Groza on full auto.
Some feel the degree of advantage granted by OP weapons combined with the skill needed to truly maximize them harms accessibility for more casual players. It can feel hopeless going against tuned players exploiting OP loadouts. However, others counter that catering to new players would diminish the lofty skill ceiling pursuit that keeps veterans immersed for years running. Another complex issue the community is split on.
My Take – The Bittersweet Reality of OP Gear
After countless matches dropping since 2017, I‘ve had a complicated relationship with OP items in PUBG. The euphoric high of shredding a whole squad with an airdrop AWM or raining pink M249 death on enemies are treasured memories. Who doesn‘t love feeling godlike after struggling for 30 minutes and barely scraping by?
But I’ve also been on the receiving end, getting clicked on the head by an AWM before I could even see their pixel. Or worse, having my whole under-geared squad extinguished in seconds by coordinated enemies packing mass airdrops. Those harsh punishments after a long tense match lead to broken keyboards and swears that would make a sailor blush.
While I don‘t have a definitive opinion on whether OP gear is good or bad overall, I will say it adds drama and stories both amazing and heartbreaking. I laugh maniacally dropping a 15 kill chicken dinner with a kitted Groza, but also slam my desk cursing the enemy who headshot me from 400 meters away with a silenced AWM.
PUBG aiming to create impactful, unscripted battles succeeds – but sometimes at the cost of balance. It‘s a tricky situation, but also what keeps me coming back match after match. I hope breaking down what is OP and why provides some insight whether you love it or hate it. See you on the battlegrounds!
Signed,
Your fellow PUBG enthusiasts
