Best Sniper Rifles In STALKER 2

Key Takeaways

• Sniper rifles offer a huge tactical advantage in STALKER 2 with long-range precision and the ability to engage enemies from a distance.
• VS Vintar is a silenced sniper rifle with full-auto mode, Mark 1 EMR offers versatility, and SVU-MK S-3 has great power and range.
• The Gauss Gun stands out as a supremely powerful energy weapon, capable of taking down strong enemies effortlessly and fetching high prices.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl can 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. One great advantage of the open-world setting is 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, with bleeding 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.

6 VS Vintar

A Silenced Sniper Rifle With A Full-Auto Mode

The VS Vintar is 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 rifle such 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 named Merc and the other named Veteran.

5 Mark 1 EMR

A Fast-Firing Long Range Rifle

The Mark 1 EMR is 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 scope and 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.

4 SVDM-2

A Powerful Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle

The SVDM-2 is 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 enemies such as those in the Lesser Zone. The Lynx variant is a unique version of the SVDM and has better penetration, though it comes at the cost of a slightly shorter maximum range.

3 SVU-MK S-3

A Versatile Rifle With Great Stopping Power

The SVU-MK S-3 is 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. The Whip variant 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.”

2 M701 Super

An Elite Bolt-Action Hunting Rifle

The M701 Super is 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. The Hunter variant is also available as part of the Deluxe Edition DLC and comes with a silencer equipped already.

1 Gauss Gun

A Supremely Powerful Energy Weapon

The Gauss Gun is 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 the most valuable items in The Zone.

Players will only come across these later in the game when facing Monolith soldiers, and a unique variant called the EM-1 is 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.