Stalker 2: Top 11 Assault Rifles and Their Acquisition Tips

In the immersive world of Stalker 2, assault rifles stand out as a premier choice for players, and their popularity is well-earned. These weapons boast versatile firing modes, a plethora of upgrade options, and impressive damage output, particularly in close to mid-range combat scenarios. To succeed in the hazardous environment of Stalker 2, selecting a high-quality assault rifle is essential, rather than settling for subpar alternatives. With numerous choices at your disposal, we’ve curated a list of the top 11 assault rifles in the game, along with detailed strategies on how to acquire each one.

11. AR416

The AR416 is among the most accessible assault rifles to acquire in Stalker 2. Though its base damage is slightly below average, its exceptional penetration and accuracy make it a top choice for early-game encounters.

Its single-fire mode is particularly advantageous for achieving precision headshots, often enabling you to take down foes with a single round.

However, its full-auto mode, while great for rapid firing, can lead to rapid ammunition depletion—a critical concern during the game’s initial stages when resources are scarce.

How to Acquire the AR416

To find the AR416, explore the Lesser Zone early in the game. Here are key locations:

1. Scientists’ Bunker (Southwestern Lesser Zone): Find an AR416 on Petro Yerokhin’s body.
2. Central Checkpoint (Southern Lesser Zone): Look on a table inside this point of interest (POI).
3. Poppy Field Side Quest: Completing this quest can reward you with a variant named “Unknown Stalker’s AR416.” You can either trade a Religious Icon painting with Pomor or eliminate him to acquire the weapon. This unique version features a grip for enhanced accuracy.

Alternatively, in the Cement Factory region, you can locate an AR416 in perfect condition inside a crate at the Eastern Tunnel POI, near the depot entrance.

10. Grom S-14

Offering a significant upgrade from the AR416, the Grom S-14 features superior damage and penetration, making it ideal for taking down both mutants and armored human adversaries with efficiency.

While its range and accuracy are similar to those of the AR416, the Grom S-14’s limited 20-round magazine requires careful management, especially in heated battles. Its integrated grenade launcher adds a tactical advantage, allowing you to switch your reticle for projectile aiming in combat.

Despite its magazine limitation, the Grom S-14 shines in single-fire mode, enabling precise shots that excel in tactical encounters or intense firefights.

How to Acquire the Grom S-14

Several avenues lead to the Grom S-14 acquisition:

1. Side Activity with Vadyk Firecracker (Chemical Plant Region): Complete the task assigned by Vadyk, located at the Bloodsucker POI, to gain access to his stash which contains a Grom S-14 with an extended magazine.
2. Electrical Transformer on the Island (Chemical Plant Region): Another Grom S-14 can be looted from Lesyk Scythe’s body found at the Electrical Transformer POI.
3. Vendor at Yaniv Station (Yaniv Region): If you advance to the Yaniv region, you can purchase a pristine Grom S-14 from the Wreck vendor.

9. AS Lavina

The AS Lavina is an excellent choice for stealth-oriented players, featuring reduced noise thanks to a built-in suppressor. It leads the pack as the best silenced assault rifle in Stalker 2, facilitating stealthy takedowns.

While its accuracy and penetration surpass those of the Grom S-14, the AS Lavina retains its advantage through an integrated silencer that enables quiet engagements.

With lighter weight, it offers enhanced portability for stalkers.

How to Acquire the AS Lavina

There are several locations where you can acquire the AS Lavina:

1. Death Cave (Cordon Region): Located at the cave’s end. Search for a skeleton resting near a lamp, with the AS Lavina nearby.
2. Quiet’s Camp (Wild Island, Noontide Base): During the mission “Just Like the Good Old Days,”explore Quiet’s Camp POI to find an AS Lavina in pristine condition.
3. Transmission Pylon Stash (Burnt Forest): Find the AS Lavina inside a stash bag right under the Transmission Pylon.

8. Choice of Lummox’s AKM-74S

The standard AKM-74S is a commendable weapon, but opting for Valik Lummox’s custom version can unleash its full potential. This unique rifle features enhanced accuracy due to its upgraded scope, making it indispensable for sharpshooters.

Its performance shines in single-fire mode, allowing you to efficiently eliminate targets at range. Though it trails behind in penetration compared to some top-tier rifles, its rarity and precision make it a coveted asset in Stalker 2.

How to Acquire Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S

To obtain Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S, participate in the side quest “Warlock’s Debtor.”You’ll need to rescue Valik from bandits who are pressuring him for repayment. In gratitude, he will disclose the location of his stash.

The stash can be found in the Water Tower POI, situated just north of the Zalissya Bar in the Lesser Zone. This area can be accessed relatively early in your journey, allowing you to add this powerful weapon to your arsenal for critical missions.

7. GP37

Regarded as the best mid-game assault rifle, the GP37 consistently features a standard scope across all its finds, amplifying its accuracy for landing precise shots. Its adaptability is one of its strongest assets, offering three distinct firing modes: single shots for headshots, triple bursts for rapid impact, and full-auto for unleashing overwhelming firepower.

As you progress into the Zaton region, transitioning from weapons like Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S to the GP37 is crucial due to its superior penetration capabilities, ensuring you’re well-equipped for challenging encounters.

How to Acquire the GP37

To acquire the GP37, consider these options:

1. Purchase from Eugene (Rostok): The most straightforward method, though you must have enough Coupons.
2. Cave Network (Zaton Region): Explore the Cave Network east of the Gas Station POI to find a body with a GP37.
3. Dredger (Zaton Region): Located southeast of the Cave Network, look for the GP37 on a table near a window.
4. Port Cranes (Zaton Region): Check inside lockers in the area east of the Shevchenko POI for additional GP37s.
5. Church (Swamps Region): Inside the Church POI, you will discover a GP37 and a high-capacity magazine on a table.

6. Out-221

The compact Fora-221 boasts iron sights and a 30-round magazine, outpacing older models like the AKM-74U and AKM-74S. Its remarkable accuracy, even with standard sights, makes it an appealing choice.

Moreover, its upgrade potential is virtually unmatched; players can enhance the Fora-221 with various attachments, making it one of the top-tier assault rifles available in Stalker 2.

How to Acquire the Fora-221

Here are several strategies to obtain the Fora-221:

1. Complete the “Uninvited Guests” Side Quest: This quest, given by Myrtkas in the Concrete Forest, tasks you with retrieving a weapon from an underground system guarded by Burers. Defeating them allows you to claim the Fora-221, albeit in a damaged state.
2. Claw POI (Zaton Region): Explore the Claw POI near the Gas Station to locate a stash containing the Fora-221.
3. Swamp Near Rostok: Search the swamp between the Buryakivka and Volkhov SAM POIs to discover a Fora-221 hidden within a tree stump.
4. Scientists’ Bunker (Yantar Region): Head to the Scientists’ Bunker in the northwestern Yantar region, where you can find another Fora-221 on the roof.

5. Khard

The Kharod stands out as an impressive choice among the available assault rifles, showcasing superior accuracy that makes it effective both for strategic shots and sustaining fire against enemy squads.

Its versatility shines through with a 30-round magazine and dual firing modes, allowing players to effectively respond to threats, whether human or monstrous. Moreover, its commanding penetration power ensures swift dispatch of even the toughest mutants.

How to Acquire the Kharod

Securing the Kharod isn’t overly simple, given its status as one of Stalker 2’s premier rifles. Here are the main acquisition methods:

1. Purchase from Wreck at Yaniv Station: If you have an ample supply of Coupons, Wreck sells the Kharod in brand new condition.
2. Near Trailer Dump POI: For a free option, head north of the Yantar Production Complex to the Trailer Dump POI. Inside a nearby building, you will discover the Kharod, but you need the passcode 5578 to enter.
3. Near the Mobile Enterprise Building POI: In the Jupiter region, explore the Mobile Enterprise Building; ascend to the roof and drop through to find a Kharod with full durability.

4. Sotnyk

The Sotnyk is widely considered the best assault rifle available in Stalker 2, although it has the drawback of being locked behind end-game content.

While not accessible during standard exploration, when players do manage to obtain it, the Sotnyk becomes invaluable—featuring a robust design, excellent scope, suppressor, and high damage output.

Its accuracy and outstanding penetration capabilities allow it to breeze through the toughest encounters, although regretfully its use is restricted to the narrative’s conclusion.

How to Acquire the Sotnyk

The Sotnyk becomes obtainable only during the end-game mission Down Below. Here’s how to secure it:

1. Avoid Aligning with Spark or Ward Factions: Steering clear of those factions during the mission allows access to critical areas necessary for obtaining the Sotnyk.
2. Return to the Enerhetyk Palace of Culture: After securing the X7 suit, search for the Sotnyk on a table situated close to Strelok.

3. Dnipro

The Dnipro rifle excels in Stalker 2, featuring remarkable penetration and excellent accuracy, even without a scope. As a weapon deeply rooted in military lore, it stands as a favored choice among adept stalkers.

How to Acquire the Dnipro

To secure the Dnipro, consider these paths:

1. Cooling Tower Region: The Dnipro lies atop the South Cooling Tower POI, accessible via a fire whirl anomaly to reach the tower.
2. Lishchyna Facility in the Red Forest: Search within this facility in the eastern Red Forest for a Dnipro waiting to be discovered.
3. School No. 1 in Prypiat: Locate a teleport anomaly in the eastern building of this POI; it leads to a Dnipro next to a fallen soldier.
4. Buy from Wreck: If seeking convenience and wealth permits it, purchasing the Dnipro from Wreck in the Yaniv region is viable but expensive.

2. Special

The Special, although not as powerful as the Dnipro, excels through its early availability and lasting utility. It effectively serves players from the game’s outset through to its mid and late stages.

Despite being the heaviest at 6 kg, it compensates for this with robust base damage, substantial penetration, and impressive range, enhanced by its built-in scope. Essentially a variant of the AKM-74U, it offers superior reliability throughout your journey in Stalker 2.

How to Acquire the Special

Head to the Mill south of the Pig Farm in the Cordon region to obtain the Special assault rifle. There, you will encounter Stets Leech.

• Option 1: Eliminate Stets Leech and loot the Special.
• Option 2: Heal him, then return later to find him deceased, allowing you to acquire the Special rifle effortlessly.

1. SLEEP MODE

The SOFMOD reigns as the premier assault rifle in Stalker 2, expertly engineered to navigate the perilous challenges of the Zone. Alongside the Special, it holds the highest base damage among assault rifles. However, its slightly superior range and lighter weight solidify its top-tier status.

As a variant of the AR416, the SOFMOD comes outfitted with a silencer, grip, and red dot reticle, making it a formidable choice for stealth-focused strategies, capable of one-shotting most hostile human NPCs.

Notably, the SOFMOD is attainable early in the game and remains effective well into later stages, ensuring that you stay resilient against the myriad threats that populate Stalker 2.

How to Acquire the SOFMOD

To obtain the SOFMOD:

1. Head to the Zaton Region: Locate the Railway Maintenance Facility POI, found north of the Canning Factory.
2. Locate the Garage: Search for a building featuring a garage door adjacent to a red container, and enter through the garage door.
3. Find the Rifle: Proceed left past a rusted van upon entering, then turn left into the adjacent room to discover the SOFMOD assault rifle resting upon wooden crates, alongside several medkits and packs of 5.56x45mm M885 ammunition.

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