Balancing range and firepower with hefty recoil, LMGs are in a weird position in XDefiant, and none more so than the RPK-74. In practice, it’s a clunky AK-47 with a slightly larger magazine and range effectiveness. Though it will still struggle against the competition, the best XDefiant RPK loadout does bring this awkward weapon to the next level thanks to enhanced handling and rate of fire.
If you’re looking to follow the meta more closely, then you’re better off using one of the best XDefiant guns instead. However, if you’re willing to put up with its drawbacks, I’ve found this RPK-74 build to be one of the most satisfying to use.
Best XDefiant RPK-74 Loadout
The best XDefiant RPK-74 build is:
- Muzzle: Muzzle Booster
- Barrel: Rapid Fire Barrel
- Front Rail: Vertical Grip
- Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip
- Stock: Precision Stock
Oddly, the LMGs available right now don’t have as much recoil as you’d expect, the RPK included. This makes consistently landing killing blows relatively straightforward, even when you’re at the far end in the RPK’s effective range of up to 36 meters. This means that this RPK loadout can focus on turning up the heat without worrying too much about recoil control becoming unwieldy.
The main attachments you will want on the RPK-74 are the Muzzle Booster and Rapid Fire Barrel. Combined, you’ll benefit from a 7.5% increased rate of fire (raising the RPM to 564 compared to 525 RPM) but an ostensibly heavy 30% recoil penalty both vertically and horizontally. In practice though, this recoil penalty really isn’t as bad as it sounds, especially when used alongside recoil-dampening attachments.
Speaking of, the Vertical Grip offers 10% improved vertical recoil control at the expense of 5% ADS speed and walking speed while the Precision Stock serves up 5% improved vertical and horizontal recoil control but -10% ADS speed and -15% recoil recovery. While it does make the RPK feel more sluggish, it will be much more controllable. Plus, you can make up for this drawback. In fact, the Quick Draw Grip, the meta rear grip for most weapons, strikes once again with this RPK loadout.
By boosting both sprint-shoot time and ADS speed by 10%, the RPK feels more responsive and slick with the Quick Draw Grip. Remember, the RPK is designed to be a mid-range powerhouse, not a CQC laser like the XDefiant Vector loadout.
Put it all together and you’ll be left with a powerful LMG for holding zones and controlling the map. With its increased rate of fire and average mobility, you can beat out SMGs and assault rifles in close range, provided you’re more accurate. If you can play to the RPK-74 loadout’s strengths, then you’ll find great success here before you unlock later LMGs.
XDefiant RPK-74 Class Setup
The RPK is a versatile weapon. However, where it will struggle most is at close range, particularly because of its long three-second reload. With this in mind, the 93R will be your best friend. When equipped with a Reflex Sight, Quick Draw Grip, Muzzle Booster, Quick Mag, and Reinforced Stock, the 93R is a close-range shredder. Remember, switching to your pistol is always faster than reloading.
Then, I recommend bringing either the Frag Grenade or Sticky Grenade as your throwable device. The Sticky will more consistently bag kills thanks to its increased damage and delayed detonation, though the larger blast radius and ability to cook the Frag make it a versatile choice. However, given the rather static, zone-controlling nature of the RPK, the EMP and Proximity Mine are also fun choices. The EMP can disable enemy gadgets like shields, while the Proximity Mine can cover your back while you hold down an objective.
While you can usually use any of the XDefiant Factions that pique your fancy, there is one to avoid with this RPK loadout - the Cleaners. The Cleaners are a popular faction due to their damage-over-time burn passive and area-of-effect abilities. Perfect pairing, right? Well, not in practice. Because the burn passive reduces your effective damage range to compensate for the burn damage, mid-range weapons like the RPK suffer. If you’re using the XDefiant ACR loadout then go for it, but I don’t recommend using the Cleaners with the RPK. Classes like the Phantoms and Libertad work much better here.
How to Unlock the RPK-74 in XDefiant
To unlock the RPK in XDefiant, all you have to do is deal 10,000 damage with LMGs. Yes, it really is as simple as that - you don't even need to get kills with LMGs. As such, you can really use any LMG you like, including the starting M249.
Since players have 100 health (barring the Phantom's 125 health), it will take quite some time to unlock, despite how simple the challenge is.
Well, that covers the best XDefiant RPK loadout you can make. Pick a spot to set up shop in one of the XDefiant maps and pick off anyone that enters your path. It works wonders in attack and defence game modes. When you’re ready for your next loadout, take a look at the XDefiant guns list to see what’s available.