STALKER 2: Best Gear, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Gauss Gun: Powerful damage to take out tough enemies easily.
• Suit With High PSI: Essential for protection against radiation, obtainable through side mission.
• Texan Shotgun: High damage and rate of fire, easy to find in the Abandoned Science Campus.

The world of STALKER 2 is huge, and there is a massive number of things for players to find and pick up. These can range from the weapons needed to keep the character alive, to new Artifacts to bring some new powers to the mix for those combat scenarios. The gear in the game is extensive, and there is a lot for players to sift through to find the ones that they want to keep.

Because of this, trying to find the right gear can be overwhelming. When there seems to be an endless ocean of equipment to find and choose from, it can feel like analysis paralysis. Fortunately, this guide is here to help anyone who wants to deck out their character to the best of their ability. These are the best gear items in the game, and why they are worth looking for.

8 Gauss Gun

A Powerful Punch

• Has possibly the best damage in the game.
• Can take out the toughest of enemies.

The Gauss Gun is one of the best weapons that players can find in STALKER 2, if not the best. It boasts excellent damage that can wipe out the toughest of enemies without having to worry at all. This makes it perfect for the late-game areas and their respective quests.

The Gauss Gun can be found in a couple of different ways. One method is to complete the In the Name of Science side mission, which pops up as the story approaches its end. No matter a player chooses to get ahold of it, it is well worth the effort and can make anyone a scourge in the Zone.

7 Suit With High PSI

Keep Radiation At Bay

• Radiation is always a threat that needs to be addressed.
• Can be obtained fairly easily.

Radiation is everywhere in the game, and finding a suit that can protect the character from it can be paramount to survival. These suits can be found around the map, but there is one guaranteed way of obtaining one.

By competing the side mission The Side Hustle, players will be rewarded with a suit with high PSI. The only drawback is that it requires some in-game time for the suit to be built, but it is worth the wait to get this suit to help navigate the irradiated wasteland.

6 Texan Shotgun

Blast Away The Competition

• Possibly the best shotgun in the game.
• Easy to find.

Being able to nail an enemy with a punch is always recommended, and finding this shotgun will give players the ability to do just that. It has some of the highest damage and rate of fire among all shotguns in the game, which makes it a perfect choice for any adventurer.

It can be found by visiting one of the Abandoned Science Campus pods. The campus is in the southeast area of the Jupiter region of the map.

5 Drowned Assault Rifle

A Great Weapon

• Best assault rifle for early on in the game.
• Assult rifles are the most consistently great weapons.

Assault rifles are always the poster child for weaponry in games with guns, and that is for a good reason: these weapons are consistent. They offer good rates of fire with good damage, which makes them more than capable in most situations.

This weapon can be found next to the Slag Heap camp found in the Garbage region of the map. This area can be accessed early on in the game, which is another plus.

4 Weird Ball

A Fantastic Artifact

• Helps reduce incoming damage.
• Easy to find early in the game.

Artifacts are a huge part of STALKER 2, and this is one of the best to have for the early game. It offers a reduction in incoming bullet damage when players are standing still. That is a huge help that cannot be overstated.

It is located to the east of Zalissya, which is the first town players will visit during the story. Once the tutorial is done, simply head out to find this item to add to their inventory.

3 Diamond Exoskeleton

Great Damage Reduction

• Significantly reduces physical and radiation damage.
• Provides solid defense for other damage types as well.

Finding the right suit can be a great way to make sure the main character never has to worry about meeting their untimely end. This suit, in particular, provides great damage reduction with some special benefits given to physical and radiation damage. Found in Prypiat, the Diamond Exoskeleton is easy to find and can be a game-changer.

2 Sunrise Suit

Reliable And Effective

• Provides ease of mind throughout the story.
• Found early on in the game.

It’s always good when a piece of gear can be found early on in the game, and it’s even better when that piece of gear can be used beyond those early stages. That’s exactly what this suit is. Once the Lesser Zone quarantine has been lifted, players can head to the Repair Quay in the Zaton region. Here, they can find a free suit in the rafters that they can take for themselves.

1 The Trophy

Good For Any Range

• One of the best weapons in the game.
• Easy to find and easy to use.

This assault rifle is a superior version of the AS Val assault rifle. The difference is that this one comes with better stats, an excellent scope, and a cooler skin.

Players can get this gun by completing a puzzle in the Chemical Plant region. It’s easily missable, so check out the guide on how to find and complete this puzzle to avoid missing out on this excellent weapon.