Survive the Wild with The Long Dark: Complete Weapons & Ammo Guide
In The Long Dark, mastering ranged weapons can mean the difference between thriving and perishing in the frozen wilderness. This guide breaks down every ranged option—from the high‑impact Hunting Rifle to the silent and renewable Survival Bow, the compact Revolver, all the way to the emergency Distress Pistol—showing you how to use them most effectively, and how to maximize your Firearms and Archery skills.
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Weapon Types & Their Characteristics
Hunting Rifle
The Long Dark Hunting Rifle
A .303 caliber bolt‑action rifle with a 10‑round internal magazine and built‑in iron sights. Powerful and precise, it delivers one shot kills on deer and wolves with headshots. Torso hits on wolves may require two shots; bears usually take 2–3 headshots or up to five torso hits to down. Rifle rounds are rare, and the firearm itself weighs about 4 kg (~8.8 lbs). Condition degrades with every shot (1.33% per shot at base skill), though you can clean it using a Firearm Cleaning Kit to restore condition and reduce jamming risk.
Revolver
The Long Dark Revolver
A double‑action handgun with a six‑round cylinder, weighing ~1.5 kg (~3.3 lbs). It’s faster to fire and reload compared to the rifle and often deters wolves even without a killing hit. Damage is considerably lower—deer and wolves may bleed out over several hours post-hit, and moose or cougars often ignore revolver shots. If multiple rounds are fired quickly at a charging moose, it might scare off the animal. It’s most useful in close‑range and defensive scenarios.
Survival Bow
The Long Dark Survival Bow
A self‑crafted maple longbow weighing ~0.5 kg (~1.1 lbs). Shoots Simple, Fire-Hardened, or Manufactured arrows. Silent and renewable, it’s ideal for stealth and small‑game hunting. Arrows cause heavy bleeding and can often be retrieved—though condition degrades with each shot. Bow condition drops 2–3% per use and cannot be repaired. Bleed‑out times shorten with higher Archery skill. Moose and cougars don’t bleed, making bows less effective against them.
Distress Pistol (Flare Gun)
The Long Dark Distress Pistol
A single-shot break-action pistol firing Flare Shells that create bright, burning projectiles lasting ~20 in‑game minutes. It’s the only weapon that guarantees deterrence of charging bears and moose—if it connects. Hits may kill instantly via critical hit or cause a bleeding wound (except moose and cougars, which don’t bleed). Accuracy is challenging due to heavy arc trajectory. The pistol is light (~0.4 kg) but rare and not repairable; the shells are non-craftable and non-retrievable.
Ammunition & Crafting
Hunting Rifle & Revolver Ammo: Crafted at the fixed Ammunition Workbench (e.g. at Bleak Inlet). Rifle ammunition is especially rare—use with care. Revolver ammunition is more common.
Arrows for Bow:
Simple Arrows: Takes down most animals with bleeding wounds.
Fire Hardened: Brittle, only effective vs rabbits and ptarmigan, break on larger targets.
Manufactured: Highest damage and durability—trader‑only.
Arrows may be recovered after firing—damage accrues based on hit surface.
Flare Shells for Distress Pistol: Cannot be crafted or reused once fired.
Skill Leveling Strategies
Rifle & Revolver Firearms Skill: Gain XP by hitting wildlife—headshots yield more. Improved weapon stability and reduced degradation come with higher skill.
Archery Skill: Earned from both crafting and firing arrows. Hitting targets increases skill, and higher levels improve draw speed, stability, condition retention, and reduce bleed‑out durations.
Weapon Comparison Table
| Weapon | Pros | Cons | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting Rifle | Instant headshots, straight-line bullets, effective up to ~50 paces | Heavy (~4 kg), rare ammo, condition degrades per shot, jamming possible | Deer, wolves, bears (with headshots), large game |
| Revolver | Light (~1.5 kg), quick fire, deters charging wolves | Low stopping power, slow bleed-out, ineffective vs moose/cougar | Emergency defense, close-range wolf deterrence |
| Survival Bow | Silent, renewable ammo, retrievable arrows, great for small game | Low range, slow draw, arc trajectory, less effective vs large animals | Rabbits, ptarmigan, stealth wolf hunts |
| Distress Pistol | Guaranteed deterrent if hit, kills or wounds large predators | Very rare, only single-shot, severe arc makes hits difficult, ammo non-craftable | Emergency deterrent—especially vs bears/moose with flare hit |
Combat & Hunting Tips
Using the Rifle: Target head or neck for instant kills. Torso shots induce bleed—45 minutes for deer, 120 for bear, etc. Weapons degrade quickly—keep cleaning kits on hand.
Using the Revolver: Effective as high-stress backup. Even a non-lethal hit on a charging wolf often causes retreat. Avoid attempting moose/cougar kills—use rifle or let bleed out over long periods.
Using the Bow: Stealth is your ally. Aim carefully for bleeding hits at close range. Track wounded animals before they escape. Arrow retrieval is key to conserving materials.
Using the Flare Gun: Fire at a charging bear or moose to scare them away. If you hit them, animals either die quickly via bleed or flee immediately. Cougar is immune to deterrence. This weapon is best used in emergencies.
Conclusion
Best overall choice: The Hunting Rifle delivers power and precision but demands resource discipline.
Stealth & sustainability champion: The Survival Bow, with renewable ammo and silent effectiveness, is ideal for resource constrained and careful players.
Emergency backup: The Revolver offers quick response in close encounters.
Last-resort deterrent: The Distress Pistol, when used directly, can turn a dangerous bear or moose charge into an escape.
Mastering ammo crafting, weapon upkeep, and skill progression dramatically increases your survival chances in The Long Dark.
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