Summary
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylcan be a challenging game. Combining survival and sim elements with intense first-person tactical combat can take some getting used to, but it certainly has its advantages as well as its difficulties. Onegreat advantage of the open-world settingis the increased effectiveness of sniper rifles. While they might not be ideal for taking down some of the faster-moving mutants in The Zone, they can provide a huge tactical advantage against human enemies.
Given the unforgiving nature of combat in STALKER 2, withbleeding effects and injuries playing a major role, it often makes sense to engage enemies from a long distance first before moving into enemy outposts and bases. Fortunately, there is a wide range of sniper rifles players can choose from in the game, each with its specific attributes and unique variants.
3.34 KG
9x39
Magazine Size
10
TheVS Vintaris a silenced sniper rifle with both semi-auto and full-auto firing modes. Though each shot may be relatively weak when compared to other sniper rifles, the built-in silencer gives the Vintar a huge advantage when fighting against human enemies.
To acquire the VS Vintar, players will need to buy it from the trader, Ragman, in Rostok. Upgrades can also be made to the riflesuch as modified scope and extended magazine. Like all sniper rifles, the VS Vintar is highly valuable and can sell for up to 27,000 coupons. The Vintar has two unique variants in the game, one namedMercand the other namedVeteran.
4.1 KG
.308
TheMark 1 EMRis a modernized version of the American classic M14. Famed for its reliability and accuracy, the only real drawback is its slightly heavier carry weight. However, this is made up for by the weapon’s versatility and stopping power.
Though the rifle will feel quite inferior to other sniper rifles without any attachments,the simple addition of a scopeand extended magazine can make all the difference. The Mark 1 EMR also has the advantage of being able to use a silencer, which not all snipers can.
5.4 KG
7.62x54
TheSVDM-2is a highly accurate and long-ranged sniper rifle ideal for engaging human enemies from a distance. A fast rate of fire ensures that it can land follow-up shots if required, or switch to other nearby targets without any delay.
The SVDM-2 can be obtained from mid-level enemiessuch as those in the Lesser Zone. TheLynxvariant is a unique version of the SVDM and has better penetration, though it comes at the cost of a slightly shorter maximum range.
4.64 KG
TheSVU-MK S-3is a very powerful semi-auto sniper rifle with great versatility. Much like the SVDM-2, the SVU-MK has great power, but it is far superior in terms of both range and penetration, making it the ideal long-distance, semi-auto rifle.
Overall, the SVU-MK is one of the most powerful weapons in the game. TheWhipvariant is even more powerful and also has an improved range compared to the standard model. The Whip can be found in the Doctor’s house during the main mission “An Act of Mercy.”
4.62 KG
5
TheM701 Superis a bolt-action hunting rifle with a focus on damage and accuracy, coming at the cost of a very low rate of fire. The weapon must be cocked after each shot, but when fired it delivers one of the most powerful rifle shots in the game.
Ideal for taking on enemies from a long distance, the M701 is extremely loud but can fortunately be customized with a silencer and other attachments. TheHuntervariant is also available as part of theDeluxe EditionDLC andcomes with a silencer equipped already.
7.26 KG
TheGauss Gunis a high-powered energy weapon that relies on batteries, rather than ammunition, to fire. Though it may have a slow rate of fire, the shots unleashed by the Gauss Gun are devastating and can take down even some of the strongest enemies in the game effortlessly. In addition to its exceptional performance, selling one of these will fetch up to 120,000 coupons, making it one of themost valuable items in The Zone.
Players will only come across these later in the game when facing Monolith soldiers, and a unique variant called theEM-1is also obtainable by following the main story missions. Overall, few guns, if any, can stand up to the well-rounded attributes of the Gauss Gun, making it not only the best sniper rifle but one of the best overall weapons in the game.
