What are the best Stalker 2 weapons? You won’t get very far in a first-person shooter if you’re not prepared to do some shooting, and there’s plenty of firepower to be had in Stalker 2. Whether you’re going up against mutants or humans, The Heart of Chornobyl is a dangerous place that demands a powerful arsenal. Each weapon can also be modified with attachments and upgrades to make them feel distinctly different.
There are 35 Stalker 2 weapons in total, though you often don’t have the luxury of choice in GSC’s survival game. While the stats of some weapons are dramatically better than others, sometimes, the best weapon is the one with the most ammunition. From pistols to assault rifles, shotguns to grenades, our list of weapons in Stalker 2 can help you shape your loadout to your preference.
Best Stalker 2 weapons
While the best Stalker 2 weapon is usually the one you have to hand when a fight kicks off, there are times when you’ll come across a particularly strong version of an existing weapon. These are unique weapons and come with custom upgrades that outstrip a lot of what you can tinker with on your own.
Here are the best weapons in Stalker 2:
Name | Weapon | Location |
Viper “Monolith” | Viper | Journalist Stash – Lesser Zone |
Riemann | Integral-A | Journalist Stash – Rostok |
Lynx | SVDM-2 | Mission Reward – Hot on the Trail |
Veteran | VSS Vintorez | Journalist Stash – Swamps |
How to repair your Stalker 2 weapons
Every weapon in Stalker 2 has a durability percentage, and if this durability hits zero, the weapon will be unusable forever. You can see the durability in detail by examining the weapon in your inventory, and at a glance, you can see how it’s faring by the color of the shield icon next to the weapon in your inventory.
The lower a weapon’s durability gets, the higher the likelihood of a jam when firing. There isn’t anything worse than a weapon jam in a fight and can spell certain death if you have nothing else to fight back with.
To repair a weapon, visit a technician NPC in a settlement, talk to them, and press Q to open the upgrade menu. From here you can cycle through your weapons and can press the R key to repair it back to pristine condition. Depending on the rarity of the weapon, this can cost a lot of coupons. Sometimes it’s better to purchase or scavenge a new weapon rather than sinking money into something common.
How to upgrade your Stalker 2 weapons
Each weapon you pick up can be upgraded in a multitude of ways, from the barrel to the stock, even the chassis in some cases. This costs money, but is nearly always worth the price, especially if you have found a particularly rare weapon and want to amplify its power.
To upgrade your weapon, visit a technician in one of the Stalker 2 towns, speak to them, and press Q. This will open up the upgrade menu where you’ll be able to browse and purchase upgrades for your chosen weapon.
All Stalker 2 weapons
Initially, you’ll be scrounging for whatever you can get your hands on – the wasteland is a dangerous place, and wandering without a way to defend yourself is a death sentence. Thankfully, once you’ve found your feet, you’ll have a lot of Stalker 2 weapons to choose from.
Pistols
Pistols can be a reliable sidearm, but they aren’t something you’ll want to depend on when it comes to the tougher enemies that Stalker 2 will throw at you.
- HK USP Tactical
- Makarov PM
- APS
SMGs
For close-quarters fights, SMGs are arguably the most devastating type of gun you can have in your arsenal. They put a lot of lead downrange in no time at all – just don’t expect much at range.
- Viper
- OTs-02 Kiparis
- PP-19 Bizon
- MAC-10
- Integral-A
- Buket S-2
Shotguns
Shotguns can be devastating up close; excellent for taking out local wildlife, or anything remotely human if they decide to cross your path.
- TOZ-34
- M860 Cracker
- Boomstick
Assault Rifles
The jack of all trades Stalker 2 gun, assault rifles can be effective up close and at range, making them a staple for anyone who braves the outside. Whether you use these powerful firearms as a makeshift marksman rifle or outfit them for CQB, you shouldn’t leave home without one.
- AK-74
- AKS-74
- AKS-74U
- AS Val
- GP37
- HK G36
- Malyuk
- HK416
- M14
- OTs-14-4A Groza
Sniper Rifles
With unparalleled range and damage, sniper rifles are a Stalker’s best friend if they want to stay out of danger – useful for both scouting an area and also eliminating any inhabitants of said area.
Machine Guns
Machine guns are for those who want to put as many rounds in a general direction as humanely possible. Not especially accurate, but in terms of raw power, the machine gun is king.
Launchers
Launchers are the most efficient way of delivering an explosive at a safe distance. Primarily used to take down vehicles and structures, there’s not reason you couldn’t utilize these destructive armaments on something a little more… fleshy.
Grenades
Grenades should be a staple of any Stalker’s pack – best used to clear small spaces and any nests that you find on your travels.
With a full stock of Stalker 2 weapons, you should have no trouble taking on the hostiles heading your way in the open-world game. Check out how to handle all the Stalker 2 anomalies that cross your path, along with the best Stalker 2 settings to manage your framerate. Finally, check out our Stalker 2 preview to find out how we fared in the Zone, plus our favorite FPS games to play right now.