Battle-Tested Loadouts

💰 The "Ferro+Stitcher" Combo (Dirt Cheap Meta)

Why This Works: This is the classic budget loadout that every serious Raider should know. It's cheap to craft, effective in combat, and even if you lose everything, Scrappy—your trusty rooster—will bring you more materials after each raid to craft it again.

Crafting Requirements:

• Ferro: 3x Metal Parts, 5x Rubber Parts
• Stitcher: 6x Metal Parts, 7x Rubber Parts
• Total Cost: 9x Metal Parts, 12x Rubber Parts (abundant materials you'll never run out of)

The Combat Flow:

Here's how you actually use this loadout in a fight. The Ferro hits hard—really hard. We're talking 3 shots to kill a player wearing a light shield. But here's the catch: you have to reload after every single shot. That's where the Stitcher comes in.

Engagement Strategy:

1. Open with Ferro: Land that first precise shot for massive damage. If you're accurate, you've already won half the fight.
2. Swap to Stitcher: Instead of standing there reloading the Ferro, immediately switch to your Stitcher and finish them off with full-auto fire.
3. Reload Ferro during downtime: Between engagements, reload your Ferro so it's ready for the next opener.

The Downsides (And How to Work Around Them):

• Weapon switch time: There's a delay when swapping weapons. Practice the timing so you can swap smoothly without getting caught.
• You'll still need to reload Ferro: Don't forget to top off that Ferro between fights. Nothing worse than engaging with an empty Ferro.
• Close-quarters can be tricky: If someone rushes you, skip the Ferro entirely and go straight Stitcher. Save the Ferro for when you have distance.

Why Raiders Love It: This combo is popular because it's forgiving. Lose a fight? No big deal. Craft another set with the materials Scrappy brings back. The Ferro teaches you precision, the Stitcher saves you when you miss, and together they cover most combat scenarios without breaking the bank.

🔨 The "Anvil Precision" (Solo Hard-Hitter)

Concept: A single-weapon loadout for players with deadly aim. The Anvil hand cannon delivers massive per-shot damage, perfect for ambushes and long-range picks.

Key Weapon: Anvil (Hand Cannon)

• Damage: Very effective against ARC armor plating and players
• Ammo Type: Heavy Ammo (6 rounds per magazine)
• Best For: Patient players who can land headshots consistently

Strategy: The Anvil is all about making every shot count. Position yourself carefully, take your time, and eliminate targets before they know where you are. Pair with bandages and a light shield to stay mobile.

🔨 The Hammer - Your Secret Third Weapon

Here's What Nobody Tells You: You always have a hammer equipped in your third weapon slot. You can't unequip it, and honestly? Most people completely forget it exists until they're panicking in a firefight.

Primary Uses:

• Breaching: Break open crates and doors during raids
• Emergency Melee: When you're out of ammo or caught in close quarters

Why It's Actually Broken (In a Good Way):

During playtesting, I kept forgetting about the hammer—until I didn't. Here's what makes it crazy: it deals very high damage in close combat, way more than you'd expect from a "utility tool." But the real secret? It's AOE.

Picture this: you're in tight quarters, two enemies rush you, you're frantically reloading—forget the reload. Pull out the hammer. Every swing hits both of them if they're standing close together. You're literally cleaving through multiple targets per swing.

The Trade-Off:

Each hammer swing drains your stamina, so you can't just spam it endlessly. But when your back's against the wall, when you've burned through all your ammo, or when someone rushes you during a reload—the hammer wins fights that guns can't.

Pro Tip: Don't think of the hammer as a last resort. Think of it as a legitimate close-quarters option. Enemy pushed up too close? Instead of trying to hip-fire and missing, one hammer swing does more damage anyway. Just watch that stamina bar.