Stalker 2 - Top 5 Best Weapons Early Game

There are more than enough weapons to choose from during your adventures in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, but as we're all too well aware, some of them will always be better than others. However, if you're a beginner and you're just starting to figure out how the game works, picking a gun can easily turn into an overwhelming task.

Thankfully, there are some weapons that will help you not only learn the mechanics of the game but will also turn you into an unstoppable killing machine early on. In this guide, we'll list the top 5 best guns for beginners in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Let's get started!

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Top 5 Best Weapons For Beginners

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Top 5 Best Weapons For Beginners

It's important to note that every weapon in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has its own advantages and disadvantages. That's why it's always a good idea to experiment with as many of them as you can to find the one that fits your gameplay style and strategy best. Now it's time to take a look at each of these guns separately.

AKM-74U

The AKM-74U is one of the most versatile weapons in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and it's perfect for beginners who want to explore different approaches to killing enemies. It has decent power and good handling, which is great for the first challenges in The Zone. Moreover, its rate of fire is to die for, and it allows you to quickly wipe out even the strongest opponents in the game.

The best news is that this weapon is quite easy to find, and all you need to do is visit a specialized shop. Although it will cost you some money, buying it is better as opposed to waiting for it to drop from defeated enemies. Usually, if you kill an opponent and pick up an AKM-47U, the weapon will have medium to low durability, which can lower its effectiveness significantly.

Type: Assault Rifle
Weight: 2.72 kg
Magazine: 30
Caliber: 5.45 x 39

M860 Cracker

The M860 Cracker is a powerful pump-action weapon that will help you tackle all challenges in the early stages of Stalker 2. Even though it requires a precise aim, it's extremely reliable and can deal insane amounts of damage. Additionally, one of its biggest advantages is that it's particularly useful when it comes to fighting mutants because of its damage output.

However, it's important to note that getting your hands on this weapon will require a lot of effort. You need to complete a solid amount of missions, and this is the only way to get it because the gun isn't available in Zalissya. That's why, if you want the M860 Cracker, you need to reach Huron in Slag Heap as quickly as possible.

Type: Shotgun
Weight: 3.2 kg
Magazine: 6
Caliber: 12''/70

Viper-5

You'll be glad to hear that the Viper-5 is not only one of the strongest weapons in the game, but it's also not that difficult to find. You can get it from loots, missions, and even drops from random enemies after you've managed to defeat them. You'll have plenty of opportunities to complete all these activities during the first hours of your journey, so you should be able to obtain this gun relatively fast. Moreover, its ammunition is scattered everywhere around the map, so you won't have any trouble loading your weapon as well.

The Viper-5 has a magazine size of 30, and although it will start to break over time like most other weapons in the game, its repair cost is quite low. However, you don't even have to search for Technicians because finding another one of these guns is easier and way cheaper. Last, but not least, this is one of the most stable weapons out there.

Type: SMG
Weight: 2.5 kg
Magazine: 30
Caliber: 9 x 19

TOZ-34

The TOZ-34 is a shotgun, which is easy to use, and you don't need a lot of experience, apart from having good aim. Its damage output is impressive, and it will be very useful when you're in The Zone. Even if you don't want to have it as your primary weapon, we recommend putting it in the secondary slot. Moreover, you can always get it from the Trader Hamster at Zalissya in the Lesser Zone region, which you can reach as part of the A Tough Awakening mission.

In case you don't have the budget to afford the TOZ-34, you can try to defeat as many enemies as you can. Sooner or later, one of the corpses will drop this weapon. If you're still having trouble obtaining it, find the corpse of the Slava Janitor who's part of the Piece of Cake mission.

Type: Shotgun
Weight: 3.14 kg
Magazine: 2
Caliber: 12''/70

Valik Lummox's AKM-74S

There are only two things that matter in The Zone: killing enemies and staying safe. That's why it's good to have a weapon that allows you to shoot your opponents from a distance while you're still hidden in the spot you've selected. The best early-game gun for this purpose is the Valik Lummox's AKM-74S.

Although you can get this weapon from loot and enemy drops, it's better if you just complete the mission for Warlock. When you reach the top of the Water Tower, you'll stumble upon this assault rifle. Keep in mind that the Valik Lummox's AKM-74S has a very fast reload speed and a scope that gives it even more range.

Type: Assault Rifle
Weight: 2.65 kg
Magazine: 30
Caliber: 5.45 x 39

Have fun and good luck on your next adventure! For more information about the latest gaming news and guides, you can check out the following articles: