Essential Gear and Weapons Guide for Stalker 2 – Best weapons & Items to Get Early

Alina2 weeks ago

Key Takeaways:

Prioritize upgrading your equipment early in the game to tackle the challenges of the Lesser Zone with confidence.
Scour hidden locations and complete side quests to collect rare weapons and gear for a tactical advantage.
Manage your resources wisely, from weapon durability to Coupons, for a smoother progression through Stalker 2.

Stalker 2 immerses players in the treacherous and anomaly-filled Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where survival is anything but guaranteed. With dangerous mutants, hostile humans, and the ever-looming threat of anomalies, having top-tier gear isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity. But obtaining quality equipment in the early stages of the game, especially in the Lesser Zone, can be daunting. This guide will highlight essential early-game weapons, armor, and tips to ensure you’re always one step ahead.

Upgrading Armor Early: Stay Protected

Free Debut Suit

One of the first armor upgrades you’ll encounter, the Debut Suit, offers excellent protection compared to the default Leather Jacket.

Option 1: Complete the Needle in a Haystack quest and hand over Ward sensors to Captain Zotov.
Option 2: Head to the Old Mill, where a free Debut Suit awaits atop a drawer in one of the houses.

Grabbing the suit from the Old Mill early can make enemy encounters significantly more manageable.

Explorer Suit

Once you’ve made progress in the Behind Seven Seals quest, you’ll access tunnels beneath the Dome, where an Explorer Suit is hidden on a table in a dark corner. This suit surpasses the Debut Suit in overall stats and durability. Although better suits appear later in the game, upgrading to the Explorer Suit is crucial for early survival.

Essential Early Game Weapons

1. Valik Lummox’s AKM74-S

How to Get It: After reaching Zalissya, take on the Warlock’s Debtor side quest from Warden. Follow the instructions and climb a water tower to find this scoped assault rifle.
Why It’s Great: Offers high accuracy and a reliable scope for mid-to-long-range engagements, making it invaluable in early encounters.

2. Spitter SMG

How to Get It: Found during the A Big Score quest at the Slag Heap. After dealing with the double-cross, loot Sashko Cheery’s corpse to acquire it.
Why It’s Great: With a fast rate of fire and decent accuracy, this SMG is perfect for close encounters, especially in tight spaces.

3. SVD Sniper Rifle

How to Get It: Visit the northern checkpoint warehouse near Zalissya and eliminate the bandit Leshy perched on a catwalk. Disarm the traps before engaging him.
Why It’s Great: Despite its poor condition, the SVD is a lethal long-range weapon. Its damage and precision make it a great addition to your arsenal when facing enemies from a distance.

4. TOZ 34 Shotgun

How to Get It: Navigate the Levitating Silo south of Zalissya. Battle mutated animals to retrieve the shotgun from a stash on the rooftop.
Why It’s Great: Mutants often attack at close range, and the TOZ 34 excels in dealing massive damage in such situations.

5. Model Competitor Revolver

How to Get It: Begin the Seek, And You Shall Find quest by completing A Needle in a Haystack and finding one of the 12 Journalist stashes scattered across the map.
Why It’s Great: Its high damage and precision make it an ideal backup weapon, particularly for medium-range combat.

Additional Tips and Hidden Treasures

Free Gas Masks

To complement your protective gear, a gas mask is vital for surviving anomalies and other hazards:

Aurora Gas Mask: Located northeast of Zalissya on a backpack stash atop a rooftop in a square-shaped compound.
Optician Gas Mask: Found in a stash at the Cowsheds west of Zalissya. Though better against bullets, it offers less resistance to environmental threats than the Aurora mask.

Full Durability Boomstick

Shotguns are a mutant hunter’s best friend. You can secure a fully durable Boomstick from a trap-rigged windmill at the Old Mill POI. Disarm the trap and claim this powerful shotgun to deal with close-range threats.

Weapons from the Tutorial

Before completing the prologue, stash items like the AKM-74u carbine from defeated soldiers into a safe. Retrieve them later for a valuable early-game boost.

Managing Weapon Repairs and Durability

While many early-game weapons are found in poor condition, investing in repairs is essential:

SVD Sniper Rifle: Effective even when damaged but benefits greatly from repairs.
M860 Cracker Shotgun: Occasionally dropped by Bandits, it’s an exceptional weapon against mutants. Repairing this shotgun is worth the expense.
Unknown Stalker’s AR416: This modified assault rifle requires significant repairs, costing 14-18k Coupons, but becomes a powerhouse when restored.

Mastering the Lesser Zone: Strategies for Survival

Exploration Is Key: Hidden stashes and side quests are crucial for obtaining rare gear and weapons.
Conserve Ammo: Save high-caliber rounds for tougher enemies; rely on common ammunition for weaker foes.
Use Traps to Your Advantage: Many locations have booby traps disarm them for safety or lure enemies into them.

FAQs

Q1: What is the best early-game armor in Stalker 2?
The Debut Suit, found at the Old Mill, is a solid choice for early protection. Upgrading to the Explorer Suit during the Behind Seven Seals quest is highly recommended.

Q2: How can I find better weapons in the Lesser Zone?
Explore locations like the Old Mill, Levitating Silo, and Zalissya. Complete side quests such as Warlock’s Debtor and A Big Score to obtain powerful weapons like Valik Lummox’s AKM74-S and the Spitter SMG.

Q3: Should I repair damaged weapons?
Yes, repairing key weapons like the SVD Sniper Rifle and M860 Cracker Shotgun is worth the investment, as they can drastically improve your survival chances.

Q4: How do I deal with mutants effectively?
Use shotguns like the TOZ 34 or Boomstick for close-range combat. Keep a backup weapon like a revolver or SMG for emergencies.

Q5: Can I keep items from the tutorial?
Yes, stash items like the AKM-74u carbine in a nearby safe during the tutorial to retrieve them later.