Guide to All Weapons in Stalker 2: Best, Unique, and Ones Not Worth Upgrading

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers an expansive and captivating world full of dangers, mysteries, and artifacts. Throughout the adventure, you'll battle bandits, military, factions, and exterminate countless hordes of mutants. Regardless of who you're fighting, choosing the right weapon can significantly simplify the gameplay and increase survivability.

In this guide, we'll provide a comprehensive breakdown of the secret weapons available in the game. You'll learn where to find special guns, how the weapons differ in effectiveness, and which weapons should be sold immediately to avoid cluttering your inventory.

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, you can upgrade weapons with technicians, who are usually found in settlements. However, upgrading guns is very expensive, and you get very few coupons for sold loot. You should spend wisely on upgrades, as more powerful guns will appear as you progress. To save players from wasting resources and time, we've compiled a list of guns that can be used without upgrades or sold to traders.

The PTM is one of the most common pistols in the game. It is available to most stalkers or bandits. The gun is often found in stashes or can simply be lying around the location. Although the pistol boasts decent damage and a modest weight, there is no particular reason to carry it with you, let alone upgrade it.

Replacement: The Skif Pistol is the best alternative to the PTM. It weighs less and is very cheap to repair. Additionally, you can install modules and upgrades on it, turning the gun into the best tool for killing. According to reviews, many players complete the entire game with this pistol, and its damage is sufficient for most shootouts. Essentially, the Skif Pistol makes the regular PTM redundant from the start.

The UDP Compact is a decent pistol that may seem like a worthy replacement for the initial gun in the early hours. It has decent damage, good accuracy, a large magazine capacity, and a very stylish modern design. But when it comes to shootouts and practicality, you'll quickly realize that the UDP is not much different from the PTM in terms of effectiveness.

Replacement: A modified Skif pistol. As soon as you get a suppressor and an extended magazine, you can safely give the UDP to a trader for half the price. Additionally, upgrading the initial pistol will cost you less than upgrading the UDP. Plus, the latter tends to break often. Repairs often cost 1000 coupons.

The Sawed-Off Shotgun is one of the most common weapons in the Zone. An immortal classic for beginners. It boasts high damage and a convenient design, but the two-shot capacity and long, slow reload speed make it the most useless weapon in the game. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the weapon's terrible responsiveness makes missing monsters a common occurrence. Reloading in the heat of battle is always disadvantageous, as opponents often attack the player relentlessly. This is especially true for Bloodsuckers.

Replacement: absolutely any shotgun. But it's best to keep the M860 Cracker on hand. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, enemies have a lot of health, and two shots are never enough to kill anyone. Not to mention fighting an entire group of enemies. Sometimes even a full magazine of the M860 isn't enough to kill a single Bloodsucker. And here you have only two shells and reduced range. In short — it's trash.

The TOZ-34 (Grandpa's Gun) is an impressive shotgun, nice to hold and admire its design. It doesn't have many other positives. Unfortunately, this gun's problems are similar to the Sawed-Off: two shells, long reload time, and heavy weight. Yes, it has good range and can even kill with one headshot using buckshot. But these advantages are clearly not enough to take the TOZ on an expedition.

Replacement: M860 Cracker or SPSA-14. You can carry the first option until you find the second. Then you can think about upgrades and attachments. The fact is, the SPSA-14 isn't a rare shotgun. You can easily find it in the Zone in the first hours of the game. With it, you'll be completely safe, and the monsters spawning behind you won't annoy you as much as they did with the TOZ-34 in your inventory.

The Viper-5 is a submachine gun that fans of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series love. It's quite useful early on, as you can find ammunition for it under any bush. It's also very light, has excellent rate of fire, and reloads quickly. The Viper works great at close range but is otherwise useless due to low damage and poor armor penetration.

Replacement: once you get any assault rifle, you can safely sell the Viper-5. But if you specifically like submachine guns, we recommend considering the Buket S-2 and M10 Gordon. Both surpass the Viper in all categories. The first has the most respectable damage, high rate of fire, and popular ammo type. Below you will see its stats.

Note: if you really want to play the game with the Viper-5, we will discuss a special version of the SMG called Checkmate in a separate chapter. There you'll also learn how to obtain it.

The AKM-74U is a compact version of the full-sized AKS-74C. It uses the same type of ammunition and offers characteristics similar to the original. A reliable assault rifle for the first act of the campaign. Upgrading it makes no sense, as this gun is essentially the starting minimum for survival in the zone. Its true purpose is to be a valuable resource for bartering. That's it. Unfortunately, it can't boast of anything outstanding.

Replacement: an upgraded AKS-74 and, of course, the Dnipro. The latter surpasses all rifles in the game in terms of characteristics, but it uses the same type of ammunition as the AK. It can be upgraded by the technician Harpy at the Yanov station.

The AKS-74C is a reliable workhorse that never fails. Unfortunately, in the second part, its characteristics were significantly reduced, making the rifle less effective compared to other options. Additionally, the game has many unique versions of the AKS-74C, which boast individual features and enhanced stats. Therefore, you can safely take all the weapons you find to the trader without even thinking about upgrading.

Replacement: above, we mentioned the Dnipro rifle, but as an alternative, we can suggest the Fora-221. It's hard to find ammo for the AR416 and GP37, but the Fora uses the same caliber as the AK. You can safely choose this gun. It's more accurate, more powerful, and hits more precisely.

We've compiled a list of the best guns that are worth keeping in your storage box and upgrading as needed. Special weapons are not included in this list, as their characteristics differ significantly from standard models.

An OP weapon given at the very start of the game. An indispensable item for stealth playthroughs. This gun has an excellent rate of fire and high damage. During the playthrough, you can collect a whole set of upgrades that turn the basic pistol into a real killing machine. No joke. The best pistol in the game.

Alternative: APSB. A good pistol to keep on hand in case you get tired of Skif's Pistol. Silent, with good armor penetration and pleasant bullet range. We don't recommend spending much on upgrades, but always keep one in your storage box. Just in case you want some variety.

The perfect shotgun, created based on the AKM-74. Eight rounds in the magazine, high rate of fire, and pleasant range without excessive pellet spread — the key to successful combat even against the most dangerous mutants. The best among shotguns.

Alternative: SPSA-14. A very powerful shotgun that hardly falls short of the Saiga in terms of characteristics. You can easily find it at checkpoints or military outposts. You'll spend most of the game with it, as there are simply no other significant alternatives.

The only useful submachine gun in the entire game. Hits further and more accurately than all counterparts. Useful for clearing enemy squads in confined spaces. Pleasant recoil, high rate of fire, and decent armor penetration make this SMG an indispensable assistant in completing story missions.

Alternative: none. All other submachine guns are trash.

The perfect assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39. Excellent damage and high armor penetration — the key to success. Yes, expensive to maintain, but it deserves it. The best rifle after which you can forget about balance issues and the inflated health of monsters.

Alternative: Kharod. A rather rare rifle that you can accidentally find in a stash or special place. For example, you can head to Yantar in the location of the Equipment Cemetery and search its upper part. There you'll see a small descent leading into a cave. Once inside, turn right and jump onto the ledge. Go through the opening. Jump over the pit and search the corpse. Besides Kharod, you will get the APBS revolver and the Integral-A SMG.

A wonderful sniper rifle. Yes, the Vintar is no longer in vogue in the second part. This gun significantly surpasses it in damage and penetration power. It can't boast high rate of fire, but its range and effectiveness more than make up for this drawback. The best choice for clearing Pripyat.

Alternative: SVU-MK S-3. An excellent counterpart to the M701, which is difficult to find in the zone. Less powerful than the former rifle, but with a high rate of fire. Head to the Forest Village location in the Yanov region. You will automatically get a marker with a stash. Near one of the houses, you will see a cellar with a locked door. Enter the code: 240983 to open the passage. Inside you will find the coveted sniper rifle.

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, there are two unique guns classified as sniper rifles. After obtaining them, all other weapons become automatically ineffective. Of course, we are talking about Gauss rifles. You will find the first one in the Prometheus location in Pripyat. Throw a grenade at the double white doors to open the passage. The Gauss rifle will be lying on the table.

The second version, the EM-1 Gauss, can only be obtained by completing the storyline on Korshunov's side. You will need to kill Scar in the final mission and take the gun from his body.

RPG-7U — can be obtained for free during the storyline quest Like in the Good Old Days. In any case, you will need to take it for repairs, as the rocket launcher will be in poor condition.

RPM-74 — a combination of the power of a large-caliber machine gun and the portability of an assault rifle. The perfect weapon for exterminating entire hordes of enemies. The machine gun can be found in the Overpass Exit location in the Rostok base area. Also, to the north of Rostok, there is a stash with a safe. Enter the code: 195726 and take the machine gun.

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, there are a large number of unique guns with special characteristics and appearance. Some weapons will be rewarded for completing missions, while others will have to be found on your own. Explore stashes and complete additional quests to unlock collectible rifles yourself. In this chapter, we have collected all the secret guns found so far.

A unique submachine gun that Shah brought from the Big Land. You will receive the stash coordinates during the Bandit Rampage quest. Don't kill the Professor and let him explain. The stash itself is located in the tunnel.

PTM Monolith Pistol (DLC)

A pistol given to all owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. It differs from the regular version with slightly improved characteristics and a unique appearance. It can be found during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest. You need to search the Journalist's Stash.

A custom-made pistol equipped with a sports kit. It has good damage and pleasant accuracy. You can receive it as a reward for the Through the Thorns to the Stars storyline quest in the Swamps location.

A fairly weak pistol in terms of characteristics, which is given for completing one of the two main storyline missions: Legends of the Zone and In Search of a Miracle in the NIICHAZ location.

A stylish and deadly revolver, which unfortunately can only be obtained by owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. While completing the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest, search the Journalist's Stash that will appear on the PDA map.

A very good pistol that you won't play much with, as it is given at the very end of the storyline. It can be obtained by killing Colonel Korshunov during the main mission Down Below. This fight can happen if you side with Richter or Strelok.

Another cool pistol in terms of characteristics, which can only be obtained at the end of the storyline. You need to side with Richter and Kaimanov, and in the Last Wish mission, do not shoot the doctor. Choose the action Lower the Weapon. The gun is inside a secret room that can be accessed from the doctor's basement.

An improved version of the M860. The shotgun can be found in the abandoned Emerald Village located in the Zaton region. Walk around the largest house on the outskirts and climb onto its roof. Jump down through the hole and search the chest.

This weapon is only available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. You will find it in a stash located in one of the buildings in Pripyat. You will receive the map marker during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

A modified version of the SPAS-14. The shotgun has improved penetration and accuracy. It can be obtained by completing all stages of the arena in the Freedom Coliseum quest. The quest can be taken from the bartender at the Rostok base.

An improved version of the Ram-2 shotgun. It can be found in the bunker in the Abandoned Science Town located in the eastern part of the Jupiter region.

This weapon is only available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. The stash with the gun is located near the Isolator. The map marker will appear during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

This weapon is only available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. You can find it in the Journalist's Stash at the North Checkpoint. You will get there during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

A very weak submachine gun in terms of damage, which can be obtained by owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. The stash with the gun is located near the Volkhov Air Defense System. You will receive the coordinates during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

An improved version of the VSS available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. You will find the rifle in the Journalist's Stash at the Gorodische. The map marker will appear during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

An improved version of the Buket S-2. You will find the weapon on the body of Bodryak during the Fat Profit quest. The quest can be obtained at the Terrikon location, and the body with the gun is lying in the parking lot.

A rather dull iteration of the M10 Gordon. Low damage and poor range make it unsuitable for active firefights. The gun can be found in the bunker during the Small Incident story mission. It lies on the table.

An improved version of the VSS is located in the Rostok depot. You can pick it up after completing the Invisible Threat mission.

A unique sniper rifle that can be taken from the table in the Doctor's house during the Act of Mercy quest.

A unique skin for the M701 sniper rifle, available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. You can find the weapon in the Journalist's Stash in a building in Pripyat. The map marker will appear during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

An improved version of the SVD. The rifle is awarded as a reward for completing the main quest Hot Pursuit.

An enhanced version of the Mark 1 EMR with increased damage. You will find it during the On the Edge quest. To start the mission, you must defend Zalesye from a Monolith attack.

An improved version of the classic AKS-74C. The perfect rifle for the first forays into the exclusion zone. You can take it from the stash on the water tower. Take the debt collection quest from the bartender in Zalesye. During the mission, talk to Valenok to get the stash coordinates.

A slightly improved version of the AR416, which can be obtained during the Poppy Field quest. You need to give the icon to Pomore and then kill him to retrieve the quest item. Note that the rifle will be in poor condition, and you'll need a lot of coupons to repair it.

A decent rifle that can be found in Zaton. Head to the Service Station location and search the brick building at the very bottom of the location. The barrel will be in the room on the left side of the entrance.

An improved version of the AKS-74U. Head to the Elevator location, which is on the Cordon. Go up to the second floor of the grain storage and search the corpse lying on the right side of the entrance.

An improved version of the Grom-S14 rifle. It can be found in the center of the Cooling Tower region at the very top of the map. It lies in a pit next to a skeleton. The gun is broken, so take it to a repairman before using it.

A unique rifle that can be obtained at the end of the Down Below story mission. To do this, you must side with Richter. The gun will be on the table after the cutscene.

A rifle assembled from VSS parts. To find it, you need to go to the Military Warehouses in the Chemical Plant region. Near the location, you'll see a cylindrical concrete ventilation structure. A dead body will be lying nearby. The structure will have a partially destroyed base. Throw a grenade there to blow up the wall. A passage to the safe will open. Open it and take the gun.

A unique rifle available only to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate editions. You will receive it during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest. The stash will be at the Armory.

Another special rifle that can be taken by Deluxe and Ultimate edition owners. It can be found in the Journalist's Stash at the Military Warehouses location during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest.

A slightly improved version of the AKS-74C with increased damage and rate of fire. Go through the southern passage to the Terrikon location and talk to Bynya, who stands on the bridge. He will ask you to retrieve the rifle from the water. Agree to the request, but do not give away the gun. Unfortunately, the rifle will be broken, so you'll have to spend on repairs.

Another stylish reskin of the AKS-74C. You will receive the rifle as a reward if you show the strange PDA to Colonel Korshunov in the Return to Terrikon quest. The gun will be on the table after the cutscene.

An interesting gun with an equally interesting name. It has quite high damage and excellent penetration. You can find it on the giant crane at the Port Cranes location. You will reach this place during the Three Captains quest. Climb the ladder onto the crane and disarm the trap in the doorway. The weapon will be by the window.

A slightly improved version of the Fora-221, obtainable for completing the Uninvited Guests quest at the cement plant. Unfortunately, he will give you junk that needs to be repaired by a technician.

An improved version of the AKS-74U with high rate of fire. It can be obtained during the quest Search for Former Glory. It lies in the sewer of the Chemical Plant.

A rifle assembled from VSS parts. Head to the Cave of Death located in the Cordon region. Go inside and bypass the anomalies. Take the rifle from the pedestal. A controller will appear. Kill it to unlock the way out.

A special version of the Zubr-19 submachine gun. Much better than the original as it has increased accuracy and bullet range. The weapon can be picked up during the Act of Mercy story quest. The gun lies behind a wooden altar with candlesticks.

A trimmed version of the regular machine gun but with a unique paint job. You will find it at the Exit of the Overpass location, which is near the Rostok base. Enter the pipe located to the north. Go to the red passage and kill the mutant. Use the switch on the right wall and go to the door on the right side. Climb the ladder to the iron door labeled DU-III-12. The machine gun will be on the table.

You will receive this machine gun at the very end of the game when you kill Korshunov. To do this, you need to side with Richter or Shooter.

Another weapon given to owners of Deluxe and Ultimate editions. Much worse in terms of characteristics than the AR416 of the Unknown Stalker, but it has a stylish skin. The barrel can be taken from the Journalist's Stash during the Who Seeks Will Always Find quest at the Sphere.