The hardcore playground Escape from Tarkov demands everything from players right from the start. If you have already played a few rounds and want to know which good and cheap weapons you can try out, you are in the right place. Players looking for weapons for budget builds will also find something useful.
The tactical hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov can be quite overwhelming at the beginning. There are a bunch of weapons, scopes, and even different types of ammunition within the caliber classes. It’s easy to lose track.
To help you out during your first real raids, here are a few loadouts and tips for the right weapons and ammunition to get started.
When should I start raiding seriously? You can go all out right in the first hours of gameplay and have the chance to find the good stuff.
However, until level 5 and the unlocking of the flea market, you should familiarize yourself with the maps and gameplay mechanics. Once you have access to the flea market, you can sell weapon parts and items at your own prices and finally earn a decent amount of Rubles.
In our tips for beginners, we recommend initially getting to know the maps as a SCAV to gradually get drawn deeper into the hardcore whirlpool.
3 strong weapons for beginners and budget builds
Which weapons are recommended? In a video by EFT veteran “DeadlySlob”, the YouTuber presents 3 weapons that he especially recommends for beginners, but they also offer a good and cheap alternative for experienced players.
The prices are estimates from “DeadlySlob” and may vary significantly from the current flea market prices. If the weapons are currently too expensive for you, choose another weapon from the list or check back later.
These are the weapons:
- ADAR 2-15
- Single-shot assault rifle with stable values at medium to long range
- can be upgraded to M4
- AK-74 / AK-74M / AK-74N
- Iconic Russian assault rifle with many applications
- needs some mods, but then has very smooth automatic fire
- Vepr Hunter
- Very strong and cheap carbine with single shot
- Based on the AKM model and can use the strong M80 ammunition
The ADAR delivers good performance for little money
What does the ADAR look like? The rifle is a single-shot variant of the more well-known M4A1 and performs solidly at medium to long ranges.
The weapon is so good for a budget build because you hardly need to modify it to achieve good results. According to “DeadlySlob”, a decent scope is enough to have a really good weapon at hand.
As a scope, the “Primary Arms Compact Prism Scope” with 2.5x magnification is recommended.
What ammunition should I take? As ammunition, you can take the M855A1. The rounds are cheap and still deliver decent damage. With 3 full magazines, you should be good to go, which corresponds to 90 rounds.
- ADAR Rounds: M1855A1 / 5.56 x 45 mm NATO caliber
- Damage: 44
- Piercing power: 40
- Cost: 200 – 300 Rubles each.
How much does the fun cost? You can get the ADAR really cheap, but the scope drives up the price. You can also try out another one if you find something suitable in your box.
- Weapon: ADAR
- approx. 25,000 Rubles
- Scope: Primary Arms Compact Prism Scope 2.5
- approx. 18,000 Rubles
- Ammunition: approx. 20,000 Rubles
- Total cost: approx. 63,000 Rubles
The AK-74 needs attachments but can be really good
What can the AK’s do? Here you have several options, as there are some variants of the AK-74, and they all do a good job. Just make sure you don’t use the more compact AKS-74.
The Kalashnikovs are versatile, cheap, and can deal a lot of damage in a short time. However, you need some mods to slightly compensate for the strong recoil of the weapons.
For the scope, “DeadlySlob” recommends a simple red dot without too many bells and whistles. This way, you have a really stable automatic rifle and can deal heavy hits at short to medium range.
How about the bullets? Depending on your budget, there are 2 options here. Either you take the slightly cheaper BT rounds, which offer relatively low piercing power, or you spend a little more and treat yourself to the BS rounds.
Since you are armed with a fully automatic weapon, you should have about 150 rounds, i.e., 5 magazines, with you.
- AK-74 Rounds: BT / 5.45 x 39 mm caliber
- Damage: 44
- Piercing power: 33
- Cost: 300 – 350 Rubles each.
- AK-74 Rounds: BS / 5.45 x 39 mm caliber
- Damage: 40
- Piercing power: 50
- Cost: 550 – 600 Rubles each.
What do I need to pay for the AKs? Although the weapons themselves are quite cheap, the costs for attachments and ammunition drive the total expenses up.
- Weapon: AK-74 and variants
- approx. 20,000 Rubles
- Scope: Belomo PK-06 reflex sight
- approx. 15,000 Rubles
- Muzzle brake: PWS CQB 74 5.45 x 39 muzzle brake
- approx. 10,000 Rubles (dealer, cheaper on the flea market)
- Pistol grip: Izhmash AK-74 pistol grip from textolite (6P4 Sb.9)
- less than 1,000 Rubles at the dealer
- Ammunition BT: approx. 50,000 Rubles
- Total cost: approx. 100,000 Rubles
Vepr Hunter shoots nasty M80 rounds
Why the Vepr Hunter? The semi-automatic hunting carbine does a really good job, but it’s a bit pricier. The Hunter fires large caliber rounds and can deal a lot of damage while still remaining fairly affordable.
The rifle needs few attachments to be really powerful. A decent scope and 10-round magazines are enough to turn the carbine into a dangerous killer – at medium and long distances.
What do I fill the Vepr Hunter with? The rounds are a real bargain compared to the other weapons and hit hard. However, the magazines only hold 10 rounds. With 4 magazines, you should be good for the round.
- Rounds: M80 / 7.62 x 51 mm caliber
- Damage: 80
- Piercing power: 45
- Cost: 220 – 250 Rubles each.
How much does the Hunter cost me? “DeadlySlob” states that since the rounds here are a bit cheaper, the investment for the Vepr Hunter is below average. However, the weapon itself is the most expensive on our list. But you only need a good scope, and you get a weapon with real punch.
- Weapon: Vepr Hunter
- approx. 35,000
- Scope: Belomo PK-06 reflex sight
- approx. 15,000 Rubles
- Ammunition: approx. 10,000 Rubles
- Total cost: approx. 60,000 Rubles
Use the insurance, budget weapons often get left behind
Any further tips in this regard? With these weapons, you are well equipped, but you haven’t risen far up the food chain yet. So use the insurance, as it’s likely that your weapons will be left behind by better-equipped players.
The insurance will return your weapons if no other player has looted them. Especially at the beginning, it makes sense to insure, as not too many survivors are interested in your weak stuff.
The game has recently gained a lot of attention and new players, so Tarkov streamers have suddenly seen a significant increase. So there are a lot of newbies wandering around who are eager for your stuff. So stay calm and don’t let the “Gear Fear” get to you.
Which low-budget weapons have you already had experiences with? Do you have any suggestions for cheap, strong weapons?
