The post-apocalyptic world of Stalker 2 is filled with all sorts of adversaries at each corner, making efficient weapons a must-have while going around in Chornobyl. At first, the huge selection of weapons can be a bit overwhelming, so choosing the right one is necessary to make exploring the zones much easier.
Like any good first-person shooter, the weapons that you keep with you will have a huge impact on the way each fight goes. There are more than 35 weapons in Stalker 2, and if you feel it’s not enough, the game also allows for modifications of each gun through the use of attachments & upgrades. Here’s a guide on how to get hold of the best weapons, repair them, and use suitable attachments.
How To Repair Weapons In Stalker 2
You can repair or upgrade your guns by talking to a Technician for a certain amount of coupons. This is done by following these steps:
- Go up to the Tech and press Q to talk to him.
- A menu will pop up showing your weapons.
- Select the one that you want to be repaired.
- Confirm the repair to increase durability all the way to 100 and pay the Tech the amount of coupons he asks for.
Maintaining your guns regularly is essential since after some time they will start jamming and deteriorating. They won’t be as powerful and all your shots will be less accurate. The fact that they need a repair will be indicated by a yellow icon on them. If not actioned, this will turn into a red icon – which means that they have broken: repairs will be even more expensive than usual, and selling them will not fetch you a good price.
There are multiple locations in Stalker 2 where you can find a Technician. There is one to be found in all settlements, like Lens in Zalissya.
How To Equip Attachments
You can equip attachments to a weapon either through drag and drop, or through the Attachment menu. If you want to bring out your gun’s true power, use attachments. There are a couple of ways you can do this.
Method 1: Drag and Drop
After obtaining the attachment, just drag and drop the ones that are compatible with your gun. You’ll have to drop it on your weapon, so make sure you aren’t in the middle of a fight since time doesn’t stop during this. To get rid of any unwanted attachments, open your inventory and click on the weapon you want to modify. Then select the attachment’s name and remove it.
Method 2: Attachment Menu
Another way to add attachments to your weapon is through the “Attachment Menu”. Long press T or D-Pad Up, which will open up the attachments menu. Then select the accessories you want. Once the animation ends, the attachment will be mounted and you’ll be able to use your gun. If you want to get rid of an attachment using this way, open the attachments menu again and click on the one you want to unmount. This can also be done on guns that you picked up from enemies or other stalkers.
Finding suppressors and sight attachments is not that hard since you can buy them or find them in stashes. Complicated attachments like the foregrips and laser sights need a visit to the Tech.
Stalker 2: Best Early Weapons
While each gun has its own pros and cons, there are some guns that just manage to make fights a piece of cake.
1. Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S
Starting out can be much easier if you have a gun like the AKM 74S, as it can shoot multiple enemies without being too close to them. Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S comes with a scope attachment that’ll help in long-distance shooting in the early parts of the game.
While we have a detailed guide here on how to find Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S, here is the short version: To find this gun, find the bar in Valissya. Just head over to Warlock and ask him to give you a job. This will start the side quest “Warlock’s Debtor”. Go to the location on the map and speak to the gang members. Then talk to Valik and climb over the water tower. There will be a bag at the top, take the AKM-74S from it (It’s now yours to keep).
2. Viper-5
What makes Viper-5 a good gun is its abundance throughout The Zone. The ammunition it uses is available at many places as well. It can be obtained through loot, enemies,and missions. A larger magazine of 30 rounds and high stability make Viper a suitable choice.
In Stalker 2, weapons need to be repaired regularly and since Viper-5 has a low cost of repair, it is a good option in the beginning missions of the game.
3. TOZ-34
Having a powerful shotgun with you can help you fight off enemies who seem to attack out of nowhere. They deal quite a lot of damage and should be with you whenever you’re exploring The Zone. TOZ-34 has good accuracy and is perfect for close encounters. You can find this gun during the mission “The Lost Boys” or at Hamster’s shop in Zalissya. Incidentally, during this mission, you will also come across a decision to make on whether you should save the Ninth. Do check out our guide if you want to know what happens in either case.
4. Spitter
This is a modified S-2 SMG that’s fast-firing and has better recoil control. Its accuracy makes it a good close-range weapon. Since this SMG uses 9×18 ammo, you won’t have to collect separate ammo for your SMGs and your Pistols.
This gun can be found while completing the quests “A Big Score” and “Deceive the Deceiver”, for which you’ll have to go to the Slag Heap and find Zakhar. Know that this is a trap since Zakhar’s men will be there to kill you. Take care of the men and loot Sashko Cheery’s body to get the Spitter SMG.
5. VS Vintar (Veteran Rife)
Coming to rifles, the VS Vintar is a good choice since the modifications available for it make it a powerful gun. As soon as you mod it, VS Vintar can help you tackle all sorts of enemies using its long-range capability.
You can find these guns on the soldiers in Eastern or Western checkpoints, or in the Chemical plant.
Besides these weapons, the Boomstick, Skif Pistol, Riemann Integral A and SPSA-14 are some other great options you can go for. A less powerful gun can be modified and upgraded into something more by using the modifications option. It all depends on the kind of attacks you prefer to use. So try to be strategic with the weapons you use to deal with the creatures of Chornobyl.