In a game like Hunt Showdown, the learning curve is often too steep for many players to enjoy. Add this to the fact that there are tons of weapons to choose from, and it can feel incredibly daunting to new players. The game is not very clear on which weapons are best for beginners and instead relies on players putting in the time and effort to learn each gun.
But for those who are new to Hunt: Showdown, or for those who simply looking to better understand the weapons, don't worry! This guide will go in-depth on the best starter loadouts in the game, and how to best optimize them.
Romeo 77 + Caldwell Conversion Pistol
The Romeo 77 is easily one of the most cost-effective guns In the game. In general, shotguns in Hunt Showdown are the most devastating weapons for close-quarter gun engagements, and the Romero is no exception. Due to how compounds are set up, the Romero 77 makes it very easy for players to utilize the map to their advantage by punishing unprepared or ill-equipped enemy hunters. But don't misunderstand! The Romeo 77 still has the best-in-class one-shot range for any shotgun, being able to kill an enemy hunter in a single blast up to 13 meters away! The only real drawback of the Romeo 77 is that it is a single-shot shotgun, and a misplaced shot could spell the doom of the player.
The Caldwell Conversion Pistol is a standard single-action revolver that is unlocked pretty early on at rank 22. As a sidearm, it pairs amazingly with the Romero 77 thanks to its rapid draw speed and range. The Conversion Pistol is often mistaken as a very average weapon in most regards, but analyzing it closely reveals that it has some amazing stats! Firstly, the sidearm can be equipped with FMJ rounds, which are special bullets that double its one-shot headshot potential. FMJ bullets also allow the Conversion pistol to penetrate most metal surfaces. One of the most cost-effective ways to turn this weapon into a complete powerhouse is by equipping the "fanning" perk. By doing so, players can rapidly output a devastating, and accurate, wall of lead.
Sparks LLR + Caldwell 92 New Army
The Sparks LLR is a dangerous, and relatively inexpensive, single shot long ammo rifle. The rifle is a great weapon for beginners to start practicing long ammo gameplay before they move on to the more advanced (and significantly more expensive) long-ammo guns. The Sparks LLR has the single highest base damage to any long ammo gun in the game, coming in at a whopping 149 damage per shot. For reference, the base health of a fresh hunter is 150. This leaves the enemy hunter extremely exposed to follow-up attacks from any source. This insane damage output will make killing previously downed hunters a piece of cake. Once the player hits their initial Sparks shot, it is wise to switch to an effective secondary weapon like the Caldwell 92 New Army.
The Caldwell 92 New Army is a great close-quarters sidearm. Its rapid rate of fire makes it the ideal weapon to land follow-up shots on enemies already tagged with the Spark LLR. Like the Conversion pistol, the 92 New Army can also equip FMJ bullets allowing it to penetrate the metal cover. This works wonders when combined with the Spark, since most enemies will immediately run to cover if hit by one of its bullets! Simply follow up with a barrage of those cover-penetrating bullets when they're trying to heal for an easy kill. Do note though that the 92 New Army with FMJ has a horrible slow bullet velocity, making it very difficult to hit shots at range.
Winfield 1873C Markman + Nagant Officer
The Winfield 1873C is unlocked as soon as you start the game and is overlooked by many players when unlocking new guns, but don't make the same mistake. When combined with certain variants and perks, the Winfield 1873C can prove to be a truly deadly and versatile weapon. Perhaps the greatest variant of the Winfield is the marksman variant. Unlocking said variant gives the Winfield a medium power optic, allowing the player to have a clear line of sight for those medium to long-range engagements.
Unfortunately, the base Winfield 1873C bullet velocity is pretty lackluster which makes using scopes a bit difficult. But fear not, because by equipping High Velocity rounds the weapon's bullet velocity is massively increased. This essentially gives the Winfield the same bullet velocity as most long-ammo guns! Perks such as Marksman Scopesmith and Levering are highly recommended to greatly add to its effectiveness at both close range and long range.
The Nagant Officer is a phenomenal, and cheap, backup gun when using any scoped rifle due to its rate of fire. If you don’t have levering or if you want to engage at ranges where levering is ineffective, the Nagant Officer is for you. This classic side arm is amazing when paired with the Winfield, especially since they will combine ammo pools! Not having to every worry about running out of ammunition is one less thing to worry about in an already stressful game.