Find Weapons Without Wasting Your Run
Weapon hunting matters because firearms are a primary defense against hostile players and The Infected. This Apocalypse Rising 2 weapon locations guide helps you choose areas based on the weapon type and ammunition you need. Start with the supplies you spawn with, then loot deliberately instead of firing away scarce ammunition.
A new save begins with a Snubnose revolver, three Snubnose 6rd Speedloaders, a box of .45 ACP ammo containing 24 bullets, and a Pocket Knife. One gameplay guide also lists a flashlight, bandages, a drink, and a Hardy can of beans among starting supplies.
Weapons range from compact knives to machine guns. Firearms commonly use magazines, while some use loose ammunition and usually have lower capacities. Attachments such as suppressors and optical attachments can enhance weapons, but weapon skins do not change weapon statistics.
| Starting item | Reported amount or detail | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Snubnose revolver | 1 | Starting firearm |
| Snubnose 6rd Speedloader | 3 | Revolver ammunition supply |
| .45 ACP ammo box | 24 bullets | Starting ammunition |
| Pocket Knife | 1 | Starting melee weapon |
Choose Locations by Loot Need
The best route depends on what your character needs. If food and drinks are the priority, look through gas stations, house fridges, cardboard boxes, bins, and barrels. MREs are identified as strong food supplies, while water is identified as a strong drink supply.
For weapons and ammunition, civilian, military, and Soviet areas offer different opportunities. Civilian ammunition such as 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 Magnum, .30-06, and 12 Gauge can appear in civilian cases or alongside firearms that use those calibers.
Use this quick route choice when planning where to search:
- Check civilian cases and compatible firearms for common civilian calibers.
- Search military ammo boxes, military zones, and military zombies for NATO ammunition.
- Search Soviet ammo crates and Soviet locations for Soviet ammunition.
- Keep food, drinks, and medical supplies in mind instead of making every stop only about guns.
Military areas are important for NATO ammunition and military-oriented supplies. NATO ammo may appear in military ammo boxes, as ground loot in military zones, beside compatible weapons, or as drops from military zombies. Military zombies are described as wearing olive green or camouflage clothing.
Soviet ammunition includes 7.62 Soviet, 7.62 Soviet Rimmed, 5.45 Soviet, 9mm Soviet, and 9mm Subsonic. Look for it in Soviet ammo crates, next to compatible weapons, or as ground loot in Soviet locations.
| Need | Suggested containers or areas | Examples named in the source |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian-caliber ammo | Civilian cases; beside matching guns | 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 Magnum, .30-06, 12 Gauge |
| NATO ammo | Military ammo boxes; military zones; military zombies | Military relay, naval air station, university |
| Soviet ammo | Soviet ammo crates; Soviet ground loot; matching weapons | Mansion, coastal bunkers, Soviet cave west of Casino |
| Medical supplies | Med boxes; orange equipment cases; medical chests; cabinets | Military green med boxes can contain military med kits |
| Food and drinks | Gas stations, fridges, cardboard boxes, bins, barrels | MREs and water |
Special ammunition has narrow sourcing rules. .357 Magnum is only found alongside the Python secondary or the Trapper’s Model 94 special weapon. .30 Carbine is only found alongside M1 and M2 Carbine rifles. That makes finding the related weapon especially valuable before committing backpack space to an ammunition search.
Loot Military and Soviet Areas Carefully
Military locations can offer green crates with supplies, including food and water. The military relay, naval air station, and university are specifically named as military areas. A 5.56 battle pack can rarely spawn in some military areas and on top of a crate during the military convoy random event.
The 7.62 battle pack can rarely spawn at NAS, or be dropped by a particular zombie in a house by NASA. These are rare finds, so do not rely on them as the only way to stay supplied.
Soviet locations are tied to Soviet ammunition and weapons. The mansion, coastal bunkers, and the Soviet cave west of Casino are specifically identified as places where Soviet ammunition may be found. The mansion and Soviet camps are named for the 5.45 Soviet can; Magnolia Tactical or the mansion are named for the 7.62 Soviet can. The mansion is also named for the 7.62 Soviet Rimmed can.
| Ammunition item | Reported possible location or source |
|---|---|
| 5.56 battle pack | Rarely in some military areas; on a military convoy crate |
| 7.62 battle pack | Rarely at NAS; particular zombie in a house by NASA |
| 5.45 Soviet can | Mansion; Soviet camps |
| 7.62 Soviet can | Magnolia Tactical; mansion |
| 7.62 Soviet Rimmed can | Mansion |
| .30-06 can | Various locations, including Nassau Gun Dotos; one was found in NATO house |
| 9mm Subsonic can | Source material identifies it as a rare, location-specific ammo item |
The available community map is titled “AR2 Beta Map: Weapon Spawns.” Its stated goal is to mark every weapon container while remaining accurate about what spawns inside. Treat it as a container-focused reference rather than a promise that a specific gun will always be waiting in one exact spot.
Match Weapons to Their Ammunition
A useful way to evaluate a weapon location is to ask whether it can support your ammunition supply. Civilian weapons include the Mini-14, Model 94, Model 94 Ranger, M1903 Springfield, and Model 788. These use several different calibers, so finding a civilian firearm does not automatically mean your current ammo will fit it.
| Weapon | Class | Ammunition | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-14 | Civilian | 5.56mm NATO | 20, 30 |
| Model 94 | Civilian | .44 Magnum | 11 |
| Model 94 Ranger | Civilian | .357 Magnum | 9 |
| M1903 Springfield | Civilian/Surplus | .30-06 Springfield | 5 |
| Model 788 | Civilian | .44 Magnum | 3 |
| Model 788 Carbine | Civilian/Police | 7.62mm NATO | 3 |
Military, police, special forces, and Soviet weapon classes create another reason to route toward matching loot areas. For example, 7.62mm NATO is used by several marksman and sniper rifles, while 7.62mm Rimmed appears with Soviet weapons such as the Mosin-Nagant PU and Dragunov.
| Weapon | Class | Ammunition | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| M21 | Military/Police | 7.62mm NATO | 20, 30 |
| MSG-90 | Special Forces | 7.62mm NATO | 10, 20, 30 |
| PSG-1 | Special Forces | 7.62mm NATO | 10, 20, 30 |
| Dragunov | Soviet | 7.62mm Rimmed | 10 |
| VSS Vintorez | Soviet | 9mm Subsonic | 10, 20, 30 |
| L96A1 | Special Forces | 7.62mm NATO | 10 |
| M40A1 | Military | 7.62mm NATO | 5 |
Shotguns use 12 Gauge Buckshot and can be civilian, police, or military/police weapons. Because 12 Gauge is listed among calibers found in civilian cases or beside compatible guns, civilian looting can remain useful even after finding a stronger weapon.
| Shotgun | Class | Ammunition | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-5 | Civilian/Police | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 5 |
| Coach Gun | Civilian | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 2 |
| Maverick 88 | Civilian | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 |
| Model 590 | Military/Police | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 |
FAQ
Where should I start looking for Apocalypse Rising 2 weapon locations?
Start by matching the area to your ammunition need. Civilian cases and compatible guns can provide several civilian calibers, military zones support NATO ammunition searches, and Soviet locations support Soviet ammunition searches.
Should I shoot The Infected while looting?
The source recommends using a melee weapon against The Infected to save bullets for PvP combat and avoid drawing attention. One gameplay guide likewise advises against shooting zombies because it uses ammunition and alerts other players.
Where can I find melee weapons?
A video source recommends exploring houses for melee weapons. It shows a Fire Axe near a yellow farm-like area and identifies the Fire Axe as a melee weapon.
Is there a map for weapon containers?
Yes. The available “AR2 Beta Map: Weapon Spawns” is being made to mark weapon containers and indicate what spawns inside them.