Why Special Weapons Matter
Special weapons give players recognizable alternatives to standard weapon variants in Apocalypse Rising 2. They cover primary, secondary, and melee slots, so knowing each item’s type, caliber, and inventory size helps when deciding what to keep.
Weapons are central to defending against hostile players and The Infected. Firearms can use magazines or loose ammunition, while melee weapons can help conserve ammunition and avoid attracting attention.
This page organizes the confirmed SPECIAL-class weapon list. It does not assume every special weapon has the same availability, drop rate, or attachment options.
The list also shows why inventory size matters when comparing weapons. A compact item such as a 1 x 3 Lupara occupies a different amount of space from a 2 x 9 M1918 Tankgewehr. Type and caliber are useful reference points too, especially when two weapons share ammunition but have different listed variants.
Primary Special Weapons
The primary special weapons category includes shotguns, rifles, assault carbines, and light machine guns. Their listed sizes range from compact two-by-four items to the much larger M1918 Tankgewehr.
| Weapon | Type | Variant | Caliber | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomstick Coach Gun | Shotgun | Coach Gun | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 2 x 5 |
| M1918 Tankgewehr | Rifle | N/A | 13.2mm Anti-Tank | 2 x 9 |
| Operator M4A1 | Assault Carbine | M4A1 | 5.56mm NATO | 2 x 6 |
| Patriot | Assault Carbine | N/A | 5.56mm NATO | 2 x 4 |
| Santa's Pig | Light Machine Gun | M60 | 7.62mm Plastic Balls | 2 x 7 |
| Trooper M1919A6 | Light Machine Gun | M1919A6 | .30-06 Springfield | 2 x 7 |
The Boomstick Coach Gun is identified as a Coach Gun variant and uses 12 Gauge Buckshot. The M1918 Tankgewehr is the largest listed primary special weapon, at 2 x 9, and uses 13.2mm Anti-Tank ammunition.
Both the Operator M4A1 and Patriot use 5.56mm NATO, but they are listed with different variants and sizes. The Operator M4A1 is a 2 x 6 M4A1 variant, while the Patriot has no listed variant and occupies 2 x 4.
The two listed special light machine guns are Santa’s Pig and the Trooper M1919A6. Santa’s Pig is an M60 variant using 7.62mm Plastic Balls. The Trooper M1919A6 uses .30-06 Springfield ammunition.
A source video identifies an Infected Legendary Soldier as a possible Patriot source and describes it as a rare drop. The same source says an Infected NATO Operator around truck crashes always drops the Operator XM177, which appears in the category’s all-items list, while the primary table specifically lists Operator M4A1.
Secondary Special Weapons
Secondary special weapons include machine pistols, shotguns, a submachine gun, short rifles, a pistol, and a revolver. This makes the category more varied than a simple pistol list.
| Weapon | Type | Variant | Caliber | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avtomat Makarov | Machine Pistol | Makarov | 9mm Soviet | 2 x 2 |
| Broadside Lupara | Shotgun | Lupara | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 1 x 3 |
| M1911 F/A | Machine Pistol | M1911 | .45 ACP | 2 x 3 |
| Rogue UZI | Submachine Gun | UZI | 9mm Parabellum | 2 x 3 |
| Snake's MAC-10 | Machine Pistol | MAC-10 | .45 ACP | 2 x 4 |
| SOCOM MK23 | Pistol | N/A | .45 ACP | 2 x 4 |
The Avtomat Makarov is the smallest listed firearm in this group at 2 x 2. The Broadside Lupara is especially compact at 1 x 3 and uses 12 Gauge Buckshot.
Three listed secondary special weapons use .45 ACP:
- M1911 F/A
- Snake’s MAC-10
- SOCOM MK23
Their weapon types differ. The M1911 F/A and Snake’s MAC-10 are machine pistols, while the SOCOM MK23 is a pistol. Their listed variants also differ: M1911, MAC-10, and N/A respectively.
The Rogue UZI is the only listed special submachine gun in this section. It is a UZI variant using 9mm Parabellum and takes up 2 x 3 inventory space.
Source material describes the M1911 F/A as a possible drop from an Infected Hitman. It identifies possible Hitman locations near Fair View, on a casino roof, and on the top floor of the Obsidian Room in Salem, while also noting that the weapon may not drop.
Short Rifles, Shotguns, and Medical Darts
Several secondary items do not fit the typical handgun role. The Stunted AK-47 and Trapper’s Model 94 are short rifles, while the Vagrant Lupara is another Lupara shotgun. XMDS-1A is listed as a revolver using Medical Darts.
| Weapon | Type | Variant | Caliber | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stunted AK-47 | Short Rifle | AK-47 | 7.62mm Soviet | 2 x 4 |
| Sweeper Desert Eagle | Machine Pistol | Desert Eagle | .44 Magnum | 2 x 3 |
| Trapper's Model 94 | Short Rifle | Model 94 Ranger | .357 Magnum | 2 x 4 |
| Vagrant Lupara | Shotgun | Lupara | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 1 x 3 |
| XMDS-1A | Revolver | N/A | Medical Darts | 2 x 3 |
The Stunted AK-47 is a 2 x 4 short rifle using 7.62mm Soviet ammunition. Source material describes an Infected Gang Leader at the prison’s third-level cell block as a possible source for it, though the item is not guaranteed to drop.
Trapper’s Model 94 is another 2 x 4 short rifle, listed as a Model 94 Ranger variant with .357 Magnum ammunition. A source video identifies a trapper near a house by a fishing camp as a possible encounter, while noting that the regular Model 94 may appear instead.
The Vagrant Lupara and Broadside Lupara share the Lupara variant, 12 Gauge Buckshot caliber, and 1 x 3 size. They remain separate special-weapon entries.
XMDS-1A stands apart because its listed caliber is Medical Darts rather than a conventional firearm cartridge. Its type is revolver, its variant is N/A, and its listed size is 2 x 3.
Other location notes in the supplied material include the Vagrant Lupara at the junkyard, the Rogue UZI at rogue helicopter crashes or an NAS observatory, and the SOCOM MK23 on an Infected Mercenary that may emerge from an NAS hangar. These descriptions identify possible encounters, not guaranteed spawns or drops.
Special Melee Weapons
Special weapons are not limited to firearms. The category also includes three melee entries with sharp or blunt damage types.
| Weapon | Type | Variant | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abomination Claws | Sharp | N/A | 2 x 3 |
| Frost Longsword | Sharp | Steel Longsword | 1 x 7 |
| Stranded PC Keyboard | Blunt | N/A | 2 x 4 |
Melee weapons are useful when fighting The Infected because they can save bullets for player-versus-player combat and may avoid drawing attention. The supplied weapon overview recommends using melee against infected for those reasons.
Abomination Claws are a sharp weapon occupying 2 x 3 space. Frost Longsword is also sharp, but is identified as a Steel Longsword variant and has the longest listed melee shape at 1 x 7.
The Stranded PC Keyboard is the only listed blunt special melee weapon. It occupies 2 x 4 space and has no listed variant.
Unlike firearms, the melee table does not provide a caliber column. The available information instead distinguishes these items by damage type, variant where listed, and size. That makes the Frost Longsword’s Steel Longsword variant and 1 x 7 size the clearest listed differences from the other two melee entries.
FAQ
What are Apocalypse Rising 2 special weapons?
Apocalypse Rising 2 special weapons are weapons listed in the SPECIAL class category. The supplied list includes primary firearms, secondary firearms, and melee weapons.
How many listed special weapons are there?
The category page states “All items (26).” Its visible primary, secondary, and melee tables list the special weapons covered above.
Are special weapons only guns?
No. The category includes melee items: Abomination Claws, Frost Longsword, and Stranded PC Keyboard.
Which special weapons use .45 ACP?
M1911 F/A, Snake’s MAC-10, and SOCOM MK23 are listed as using .45 ACP.
Which listed special weapon uses Medical Darts?
XMDS-1A is listed as a revolver that uses Medical Darts.