The best sniper rifles in STALKER 2

Key things

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

STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl can be a challenging game. The combination of survival and sim elements with intense first-person tactical combat takes some getting used to, but it definitely has its advantages and pitfalls. A big advantage of the open world setting is the increased effectiveness of sniper rifles. While they may 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.

Due to the merciless nature of combat in STALKER 2, where bleeding effects and injuries play a major role, it often makes sense to attack enemies from a distance first before moving on to enemy bases and bases. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of sniper rifles for players to choose from in the game, each with its own specific attributes and unique variants.

6 VS Vintar

Silent sniper rifle with fully automatic mode

The VS Vintar is a silenced sniper rifle with semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes. Although each shot may be relatively weak compared to other sniper rifles, the built-in silencer gives the Vintar a huge advantage against human enemies.

To obtain the VS Vintar, players will need to purchase it from the merchant Ragman in Rostock. Upgrades can also be made to the rifle, such as a modified scope and extended magazine. Like all sniper rifles, the VS Vintar is highly valuable and can sell for up to 27,000 coupons. Vintar has two unique variants in the game, one named Merc and the latter Veteran.

5 Mark 1 EMR

A fast-firing, long-range rifle

The Mark 1 EMR is a modernized version of the American classic M14. Renowned for its reliability and accuracy, the only real downside is the slightly heavier weight. However, this is offset by the weapon's versatility and stopping power.

While the rifle will look pretty 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 do.

4 SVDM-2

Powerful semi-automatic sniper rifle

The SVDM-2 is a highly accurate long-range sniper rifle, ideal for fighting human enemies from a distance. The high rate of fire ensures that it can fire follow-up shots when necessary or switch to other nearby targets without delay.

The SVDM-2 can be obtained from mid-level enemies such as those in the Small Zone. The Feature variant is a unique version of SVDM and has better penetration, although 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-automatic sniper rifle with great versatility. Like the SVDM-2, the SVU-MK has great power, but is far superior in both range and penetration, making it an ideal long-range semi-automatic rifle.

Overall, the SVU-MK is one of the strongest weapons in the game. The Whip the variant is even more powerful and also has an improved range over the standard model. The Whip can be found in the Doctor's house during the main mission “An Act of Mercy.”

2 M701 Great

Elite Bolt-Action Hunting Rifle

The M701 Great is a bolt-action hunting rifle with a focus on damage and accuracy, at the cost of a very slow rate of fire. The weapon must be cocked after each shot, but when fired it provides 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 fortunately it can be modified with a silencer and other accessories. The Hunter variant is also available as a component Deluxe Edition DLC and comes with a silencer already fitted.

1 Gauss Gun

A high-powered energy weapon

The Gauss Gun is a high-powered energy weapon that relies on batteries rather than ammo to fire. Although it may have a slow rate of fire, the shots fired by the Gauss Gun are devastating and can effortlessly destroy even the strongest enemies in the game. In addition to its exceptional performance, selling one of these will yield up to 120,000 coupons, making it one of the most valuable items in The Zone.

Players will only encounter them later in the game when they face Monolith soldiers and a unique variant called EM-1 can also be obtained by following the main story missions. Overall, few, if any, weapons can match the Gauss Gun's well-rounded attributes, making it not only the best sniper rifle, but also one of the best weapons in the game.