Trench Decay Loadouts Tier List
Full-kit rankings for online co-op extracts — community beta guidance.
A loadout in TRENCH: DECAY is your combined primary firearm, sidearm, melee tool, movement habits, and squad role — not a single crate roll. This Loadouts Tier List ranks full kits using community-informed early-beta guidance for online co-op runs where you push the line, survive gas, and extract with your squad while the Live War Map advances. studio rook. patches frequently; revisit this page after Big Bertha and any crate economy changes.
Individual weapons live on the Weapons Tier List and Melee Tier List. Loadouts here describe how pieces fit together for medal spenders and crate grinders alike.
Loadout ranking rules
| Tier | Extract reliability (public squads) |
|---|---|
| S | Works without voice comms; forgiving ammo; strong gas/extract phases |
| A | Strong with basic squad habits from Beginner Squad Tips |
| B | Needs coordinated roles from Squad Roles |
| C | Meme or incomplete kits |
| D/F | Actively hurts extract rate |
S Tier loadouts
Standard Bearer (balanced rifle + pistol + trench blade)
Primary: Service bolt-action or medal-shop burst rifle from Weapons Tier List
Secondary: Fast pistol swap
Melee: Balanced trench blade from Melee Tier List
Role: Default anchor or flexible lineman
Why S tier: Low ammo stress, strong mid-range, pistol saves extract timers, melee cleans when gas compresses lanes. Medals unlock path is predictable; crates supplement rather than gate progress. Redeem Codes for firearm and melee crates to finish the kit fast.
Breach Cleaner (shotgun + pistol + block melee)
Primary: Trench shotgun archetype
Secondary: Pistol
Melee: High-block utility tool
Role: Interior trench clearer
Why S tier: Shotguns dominate choke fights community lobbies report post-tutorial. Block melee covers reloads — critical when four players stack in one trench. Slightly weaker in open craters after Big Bertha unless you rotate with rifle teammates.
Fire Support Flex (SMG + pistol + fast light melee)
Primary: High-rate SMG-class primary
Secondary: Pistol
Melee: Fast light-swing tool
Role: Mobile gas rotator
Why S tier: Keeps DPS while crouch-moving through gas pockets. Burns ammo — bring squad cover discipline. Best when one teammate runs Standard Bearer for range.
A Tier loadouts
Overwatch Scout (marksman rifle + pistol + reach melee)
Strong when squads hold artillery lulls opened by Big Bertha. A tier in coordinated groups; B tier in silent public squads that sprint away from your sightline.
Medic-Style Support (rifle + pistol + block melee, rear focus)
Not a formal class — a player who stays rear during pushes to watch gas and block for extract. A tier with comms; B tier without.
Crate Lucky Generalist (best Enlisted Firearms Crate roll + any pistol + any S melee)
A tier day one after a god roll; downgrade to B tier if you never unlock a backup primary and RNG dries up.
B Tier loadouts
Heavy Gunner (LMG + pistol + heavy melee)
B tier in public matchmaking — reloads are too exposed without dedicated cover from Squad Roles.
Pistol Main (pistol primary + backup pistol + fast melee)
Fun challenge loadout; B tier for Live War Map grinding.
Tutorial Holdout (starter rifle only, no sidearm investment)
Replace before serious pushes. Use Getting Started and Codes to exit this tier.
C / D / F Tier loadouts
Cosmetic-only flex — Matching skins, weak guns: C tier fun.
No melee slot discipline — D tier; extract fails when ammo ends.
Four identical breach cleaners — F tier squad comp; no range for open sectors.
Medals and crate path by loadout
| Goal loadout | Medals priority | Crate priority |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Bearer | Medal-shop rifle | Firearms crate for sidegrade |
| Breach Cleaner | Shotgun unlock if sold | Firearms + Melee crates |
| Fire Support Flex | SMG if available | Firearms crates |
| Overwatch Scout | Handling upgrades | Firearms crates with marksman bias |
Always redeem active Codes before spending medals — FRONTPAGEREWARD-style bundles jump-start multiple slots.
Big Bertha loadout shifts
The Big Bertha update added artillery pacing and wider craters between trenches. Community adjustments:
- Mixed squads (Standard Bearer + Breach Cleaner + SMG flex) outperformed four duplicate kits.
- Block melee rose in value during shell telegraphs.
- Pure Overwatch Scout stacks needed faster rotate calls — see Updates Hub.
If your squad wipes in craters, swap one breach loadout for flex SMG before blaming individual guns.
Squad composition template (four-stack)
- Standard Bearer — Mid-range anchor
- Breach Cleaner — Interior control
- Fire Support Flex — Gas and extract DPS
- Support rear — Block melee, gas watch, pistol finish
Public squads rarely get this perfect — partial overlap still beats four solo snipers.
New player path
- Finish Commissar tutorial (Getting Started).
- Redeem Codes and join studio rook. group.
- Open crates toward Standard Bearer or Breach Cleaner.
- Read Beginner Squad Tips before medal spending.
- Assign Squad Roles when partying up.
Related pages
- Weapons Tier List — Primary breakdowns
- Melee Tier List — Close combat tools
- Tier List Hub — Ranking methodology
Loadouts win wars in early beta — guns alone do not. Update your kit when patches land and keep one flex slot for squad needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What is the best beginner loadout?
Standard Bearer (rifle + pistol + trench blade) is the most forgiving for new players learning gas and extract timing.
Can I run the same loadout as my friends?
You can, but mixed kits cover range and trenches better. Duplicate breach loadouts struggle in open Big Bertha craters.
How do Codes affect loadouts?
Codes grant medals and crates that unlock firearms and melee faster — always redeem before buying duplicate medal items.
Do loadouts matter more than individual gun tiers?
Yes for extracts. A balanced B-tier kit with squad cover beats a lone S-tier primary without pistol or melee backup.
When should I switch loadouts?
Switch when patches change artillery pacing, your squad comp shifts, or you unlock a crate archetype that fills a missing role.
Is Big Bertha still the meta reference point?
It is the latest major theme documented here. Check Updates Hub for newer patches that may supersede these notes.