STALKER 2 Beginner Guide With Tips And Tricks

1. Introduction

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl plunges you headfirst into a relentless, open-world survival horror experience where the line between success and death is razor-thin. From mutated beasts to deadly anomalies, every excursion into the Zone is fraught with peril—but for newcomers, survival is not a matter of brute force, it's about making smart choices.

This guide equips you with crucial strategies to manage gear, combat efficiently, navigate anomalies, hunt artifacts, and preserve precious resources. Stick with these tips, and you’ll go from rookie wanderer to seasoned Stalker.

2. Travel Light & Inventory Management

Why weight matters

Unlike other shooters, STALKER 2 punishes the overloaded traveler. Each extra item saps your stamina, slows exploration, and hampers escape. Vendors may tempt you with impressive but overpriced weaponry or supplies, but your best gear often lies in stashes scattered across the Zone. Go out with nothing but your pistol, knife, detector, 5 medkits and 10 bandages… some food and maybe a couple of energy drinks”

Essentials loadout

• Weapons: Stick to two primaries (e.g., shotgun and AK) and a pistol for emergencies.

• Ammo: Carry only the types your active weapons use—excess ammo just drains weight.

• Medkits, bandages, food: 5–10 medkits and ~10 bandages are a good baseline. Food’s plentiful—don’t overstock.

• Energy drinks: ~5-10 on hand to regenerate stamina during heavy runs or escape.

If you stumble on ammo, weapons, or consumables you don't need, leave them in your private stash—a shared storage box accessible from any camp. This strategy keeps your pack light yet supply-secure .

Quick-use bindings

Bind bandages, meds, and drinks to hotkeys or quick slots. It takes real time in game to go through your inventory so just pressing a button to use an item instead of opening up your bag and finding it can save your life.

Unload ammo from discarded weapons

When looking at discarded weapons on the ground be sure to take the ammo out of them by holding down the looting key.

3. Combat: Be Efficient, Not Aggressive

Embrace single-shot headshots

Ammo isn’t abundant and weapon durability deteriorates quickly. Scatter-firing will waste bullets and hasten gear wear. Instead, adopt single-shot mode and aim for headshots—even an AK takes 4–5 body hits to down a bandit on Stalker difficulty, but a clean headshot kills instantly. When you get access to them a scope can also help immensely.

Use cover & movement

AI in STALKER 2 has suspiciously accurate aim. Always seek solid cover—rock walls, crates, buildings—and avoid leaning out of foliage, which is transparent to enemies. When detected, reposition; flanking and hit-and-hide tactics prolong your survival. Losing sight of you disorients enemies.

Know when to retreat

Not all fights are winnable. Whether low on ammo or facing a pack of mutants, the better strategy is to flee, regroup, and return later—to conserve resources and avoid costly repairs.

Close-quarters engagements

Mutants and animals must be killed more aggressively. For close-quarters mutants (like Flesh or Bloodsuckers), pistols or shotguns with tight accuracy are ideal. Headshots remain critical—they make the difference between survival and wasting precious resources .

Use grenades strategically

Grenades are cheap, portable, and effective. Tossing explosives into clustered enemies saves ammo, durability, and time. Use both over and underhanded throws depending on cover and distance. Overhand with left click throws the grenade farther, but right clicking to underhand throw the grenade will only send it forward a short distance.

4. Shotguns & Sidearms: Close-Quarters Essentials

Early “boom-stick” shotgun

As soon as you arrive, you should prioritize obtaining the basic shotgun from early post office encounters. One headshot will take down most low-tier mutants.

Upgrade to the Cracker shotgun

Once you reach trade hubs like Slag Heap, aim for the Cracker shotgun—holds six rounds and delivers superior armor penetration. Traders like Huron may have it in pristine condition, or you could loot one from bandit patrols for repair later .

Stealth pistol with suppressor

For stealth tactics, equip a pistol with a suppressor—a suppressor for Skif’s PM can be found early near the “Boiler House.” A silenced headshot keeps engagements quiet and ammo-efficient.

Backup pistol strategy

A reliable sidearm is invaluable. Before your shotgun or scoped rifle becomes a liability due to ammo scarcity, rely on a trusty suppressed pistol to pick off lone enemies while avoiding large confrontations.

5. Anomalies, Artifacts & Detector Usage

Understanding anomalies

Anomalies are environmental hazards—electrical bursts, gravitational pulls, acid, glass shards—that can slaughter you instantly. Mutants avoid them, but you can cross them by using bolts to trigger and neutralize them for a few seconds.

Artifact mechanics

Artifacts spawn within anomaly fields and come with buff/debuff effects. There are two main types: those that emit radiation but give buffs, and those that block radiation but may have weaker buffs. To safely use artifacts, equip both types so they cancel out net radiation .

Using your detector

Each detector (Veles, Bear, Hilka, Echo) gives audio/visual cues indicating proximity to artifacts. For example, Veles shows the exact location, Hilka uses signal strength based on the distance to the artifact. Approach until flashing intensifies, then grab the artifact.

Farming artifacts

Anomalous fields respawn artifacts on 1–3 day cycles—not just after emissions. The Lesser Zone’s Magnetic Cave is a reliable farm site. Wait a day, return, and repeat.

Handling anomalies

Toss a bolt to disable many anomalies (e.g. electro, acid) for a short window. But anomalies like glass shards require walking or crouching carefully around them to avoid getting cut.

6. Stashes, Fast Travel & Exploratory Tactics

Unmarked stashes

Not all loot is marked on maps. Search rooftops, piles of rubble, vehicles, and underpass tunnels. Developers hide unique guns, ammo, and suit parts— these are early-game treasures if you know where to look .

Smart stash clearing

Raid and loot stashes gradually. Stash heavy loot in private boxes, return home to sell or store, then repeat without overburdening inventory—this prevents premature despawning .

Time your exploration

Stick to daytime when visibility is highest. At settlements, use beds to skip nights and avoid dangerous darkness—NPCs have clear eyesight, even at night. While you will have a hard time seeing as your flashlight doesn’t illuminate very far.

High ground tactics

Mutants often struggle to reach elevated positions. Use cars, rubble, even small ledges to gain height advantage. Climbing on stuff is one of the most important things as mutants will stop attacking if they cannot reach you.

7. Economics: Ammo, Gear & Artifact Profit

Sell smart

All gear—guns, ammo, medkits, artifact—can be sold. Dump unused yellow-condition weapons and consumables for coupons.

Skip early vendor purchases

Vendor guns and ammo are overpriced, especially more rare calibers. Instead, scavenge and loot—plenty of AKs, pistols, shotgun shells, even food to sell or use.

Artifact margins

Artifacts aren’t just buffs—they’re revenue. Artifact prices for the Scientists are generous, but even elsewhere they’re always worth a quick coupon. Don’t sell common artifacts too soon unless you have to—hold on for better vendors later on in the game.

Blueprint collection

Blueprints unlock suit containers, armor mods, detectors, and lead-lined upgrades—search them early in stashes to unlock new gear upgrades.

8. Gear Upgrades: Armor, Detectors & Suit Mods

Armors & lead containers

Exoskeleton and higher-tier suits with lead-lined pouches allow radiation-emitting artifacts to be worn safely. These should be your upgrade goals once you find matching blueprints.

Skip early upgrades

Save coupons—low-tier suits are easily replaced by stash finds. Only spend on upgrades once you’re confident you’ll keep the suit long-term.

Artifact slots & weight mods

Prioritize upgrades that add artifact slots or reduce weight load—these directly enhance your looting potential and survivability .

Detector tiers

Upgrade detectors from basic to Veles or Bear to boost artifact hunting efficiency. Higher models reveal exact artifact zones and shorten loot runs.

9. Health, Hunger, Radiation & Status Effects

Status bars matter

Stay ahead of bleeding, hunger, radiation, and stamina. Hunger drains your ability to sprint; radiation causes ongoing damage. A balanced loadout of food, antirads (or vodka), and health meds is crucial.

Quick-use food & rads

Eating food stops hunger. Vodka or an antirad pill can reset minor radiation absorption. Save them for when suited artifacts or unexpected exposure occur.

Artifact radiation

Artifacts emit radiation when equipped. Combine them with a radiation-blocking artifact of equal or greater strength. Avoid mismatched combos—uneven stacking leads to radiation buildup.

Emissions

Radiation storms (emissions) hit unpredictably. Seek shelter inside brick or concrete buildings—barns aren’t safe. Light warning cues on your compass guide you to cover; sprint with energy drinks if you're slowed.

10. Save Often

Don't rely on the autosave

Auto-saves are frequent but unreliable. Save manually before big decisions, tough missions, or modding sessions. Use multiple save slots to avoid corruption.

Also Backup before modding

Found a cool mod? Backup saves first—compatibility problems may corrupt data. It's better to preserve your progress before experimenting.

11. Final Words – Embrace the Zone

STALKER 2 isn’t a quick-action shooter—it’s a brutal, slow-burn survival simulator. The Zone demands caution, cunning, and resourcefulness. Use your wit: headshots, stash use, light inventory, and artifact farming form the backbone of your survival. Build up gradually—don’t rush the main story; side quests and stash runs will equip you better for harder zones.

Explore, experiment, fail, learn—and return stronger. STALKER 2 rewards the patient scavenger more richly than the impetuous gun-for-hire. Go forth, avoid unnecessary fights, gather artifacts, loot stashes, and let the Zone teach you. Good luck, Stalker—you’re going to need it.

Best War Thunder Settings for Spotting Enemies and Performance

Maximizing both visibility and performance in War Thunder is crucial—clearly spotting enemies while maintaining high frame rates puts you steps ahead in battle. Here's a breakdown of the optimal settings across Graphics, Post‑FX, and Sound to sharpen visibility, reduce distractions, and keep gameplay smooth.

1. Graphics Settings – Max Performance Meets Clear Vision

War Thunder Graphics Settings

🔧 Display & Rendering

• Fullscreen/Windowed Fullscreen – Both work; pick what you’re comfortable with.

• Resolution – Always set it to your monitor’s native maximum for sharp visuals and better spotting.

• Graphics API – Try Direct3D12 for increased FPS. If unstable and your game starts randomly crashing, revert to D3D11.

🕶️ Anti-Aliasing (AA) & Upscaling

• Option 1 (Minimalist): Enable Old video card support – looks basic but gives significant FPS boost. (It’s down at the bottom under “Others”)

• Option 2 (Balanced): Set AA to None for full control of visuals.

• Option 3 (Quality): Use TSR/TAA, possibly combined with SSAA×4 if your system supports it. Though SSAAx4 can be performance intensive.

• Option 4 (NVIDIA): Use NVIDIA DLSS + Super Resolution for crisp visuals and higher framerates.

More War Thunder Graphics Settings

⚙️ Performance & Clarity

• NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency – Enable for reduced input lag if your GPU is 90%+ loaded.

• Texture Quality – High: helps identify enemies; stickers and camo unaffected.

• Shadow Quality – Minimum: keeps shadows bright to reveal hidden targets.

• Water Quality – Off or Low: minimal spotting advantage but niche; consider High only if your system handles it easily.

• Clouds/Reflections – Low or Off: better visibility and FPS.

• Effects & Explosions – Off: reduces distraction and enhances performance.

• Terrain/Rubble/Foliage – Off or Low: simplifies battlefield visuals; tree range ~40‑50%.

• Particle Density & Grass Range – Off or minimal to avoid clutter.

• Lens Flare & Motion Blur – Turn off both to eliminate visual obstructions and keep the scene clear.

Even more War Thunder Graphics Settings

2. Post‑FX Settings – Visual Clarity Beyond Basics

War Thunder Post FX Settings

• Vignette – 0% (off): no darkened edges disrupting your view.

• Sharpness (TPS) – Around 75–90%: find a balance for clarity at distance without jitter.

• Gunner/Bomber/Cockpit Sharpness – ~60%: keeps critical views sharp.

• Color Correction – Default.

• Lens Flare – Off in gameplay; optionally on in replays.

• Tone Mapping:

  • Set mapping method to Polynom with custom A–E settings adjusted for your preference.

  • Disable Reinhard, or set to 0 to avoid overexposure from bright light.

  • Adjust White during an explosion to fine-tune fire/tracer visibility — some players prefer subtle bluish flames.

• Gamma (in main parameters) – Increase for better night battle visibility; brightens scenes and improves spotting.

War Thunder Post FX Settings

3. Sound Settings – Listen to Win

War Thunder Sound Settings

• Output Configuration – Use Stereo for simple setups; 5.1 for surround-aware headsets.

• Master Volume – Moderate (~35–40%): avoids overbearing noise.

• SFX Volume – ~50%: crucial for engine/spotted cues without drowning out battlefield sounds.

• Other Player Engine Volume – Set to Maximum: loud engine noises help track distant vehicles.

• Gunfire, Radio Chat, Voice Warnings, RWR, Tinnitus – Set to low or ~20–25%: leaves room to hear essential battlefield audio without clutter.

Why These Settings Help You Spot Better

Resolution & SSAA/DLSS

Crisp visuals make distant enemy silhouettes pop.

No Blur/Vignette/Flare

Unobstructed view ensures fast target acquisition.

Reduced FX/Grass/Earth clutter

Clean sightlines let enemies stand out.

Reflex & Post‑FX clarity

Sharp visuals with low input lag = smoother tracking.

Engine volume up

Easier detection of unseen enemies via audio cues.

4. Miscellaneous Settings – Small Tweaks for Big Impact

🔧 Battle Settings

• Automatically Join Squads – Enabled for passive Silver Lion income, even if minimal.

• Join Already Active Battles – Disabled to avoid entering matches mid-progress where you spawn into disadvantageous situations.

🌿 Ground Vehicle Battle Settings

• Grass in Tank Sight – Turn Off to remove grass obstructing your view in sniper mode, ensuring clearer aim and target visibility.

🎯 Hit Indicator Fade Time

• Increase to 8–10 seconds: Keeps damage direction indicators visible longer, giving you ample time to react in multi-enemy engagements.

Optimizing your setup for both visual clarity and performance gives you a competitive edge—abilities like crisp resolution, reduced visual noise, and audio awareness bring strategic advantages. Test and tweak these settings to match your hardware and personal preferences. Happy hunting!

Broken Arrow Review: A Modern RTS Powerhouse With Muscle and Grit

Real-time strategy games have been making a quiet resurgence, and Broken Arrow crashes into the scene with the kind of impact that makes strategy fans sit up straight. Imagine World in Conflict spent six months in the gym, pumped on protein shakes, and yelling about flanking maneuvers—Broken Arrow is exactly that. It's big, it's bold, and it’s unrelentingly tactical. But does it have the polish and staying power to stand alongside the titans of the genre like Supreme Commander or Command & Conquer?

Let’s dive into the battlefield.

You may also be interested in:

• WARNO Review – A Deep Dive into Cold War Tactics

• Sea Power Review – A Cinematic Jump Into Cold War Naval Strategy

No Base Building, No Nonsense – Just War

Broken Arrow has a number of nail biting singleplayer missions

Broken Arrow throws the old-school RTS playbook out the window. There’s no base building, no resource gathering, no constructing barracks or power plants. Instead, it embraces a modern, combat-focused approach: you earn battlefield points and spend them to deploy infantry, tanks, helicopters, and jets wherever the action is hot. Much like other games in the genre like Warno.

This shift places strategy and battlefield awareness at the forefront. Whether it’s deploying a recon squad to scout enemy positions or launching a precision airstrike, every decision feels weighty. One misstep, and you could lose an entire armored column to a well-placed ambush.

The game's structure leans into dynamic warfare with combined arms tactics. It’s all about movement, positioning, and flexibility. In one mission, taking a town seemed straightforward—until the player flanked a beach and triggered an unexpected firefight, splitting the battle in two. These unpredictable moments give the gameplay a heartbeat and force players to adapt on the fly. Most importantly, no one unit can dominate the battle alone. Different unit types have to be used together in order to achieve victory.

Combat That Commands Respect

Broken Arrow might not always look the best, but the vehicles look fantastic

The combat in Broken Arrow is nothing short of exhilarating. The rock-paper-scissors mechanics—tanks beat infantry, infantry beats air, air beats tanks—are just the foundation. What makes it shine is the depth added through unit interactions, line of sight, terrain advantages, and the importance of range.

Engagements feel grounded in real military logic. Spotting an enemy first often means the difference between victory and a fiery death. Tanks are terrifying, but even they can be neutralized by hidden Javelin squads tucked in a tree line. Vehicles can lose mobility, optics, and firepower. Infantry gets suppressed, panics, and retreats. This isn't arcade combat—this is tactical chess at 100 miles per hour.

Supply lines also play a subtle but crucial role. Units run out of ammo over time, and supply trucks or airdrops must be used to keep them operational. Thankfully, it's streamlined—support arrives, and units resupply within a defined radius. It never becomes a micromanagement chore but still teaches the importance of planning and logistics.

If there's one word to define Broken Arrow's combat, it’s “range.” The entire gameplay loop is built around visibility, line of sight, and engagement distances. From recon units spotting ahead to jets bombing targets with laser guidance, the game makes every engagement feel intentional and strategic.

Campaign Weaknesses, But Explosive Fun

Singleplayer missions have fantastic detailed briefings, though the characters do fall a little flat

Let’s not mince words—the story is forgettable. It’s the usual America vs. Russia, Cold War goes hot, cliché-filled affair. Voice acting tends to be kind of melodramatic. This isn’t where Broken Arrow flexes.

But that’s okay—nobody is playing this for Oscar-worthy drama or unique storytelling. Missions themselves are where the campaign redeems its weak narrative. Objectives often reflect realistic military goals—secure a beachhead, hold a crossroads, repel an armored assault. These are grounded scenarios that reward tactical thinking.

Additionally, the game doesn't punish failure harshly. If you lose a control point, you're given the opportunity to retake it. That forgiving structure ensures each mission feels like a prolonged, engaging battle rather than a frustrating trial-and-error slog.

Visuals, Performance, and Sound: A Mixed Bag

Broken Arrow excels at complex missions that force you to think tactically. In single and multiplayer

Let’s talk graphics. Unit models look great—clean, crisp, and impressively detailed. Particle effects and explosions are especially satisfying, with missiles trailing smoke and debris flying in every direction. When the battlefield lights up, it’s a sight to behold.

However, terrain and environmental assets are a letdown. Trees look muddy and low-res until you zoom in, and buildings are clearly copy-pasted across maps. The overall aesthetic lacks organic variation, with sharp angles and repetitive geometry that feel at odds with the otherwise realistic combat. The maps look very different, but often have large sections that feel very samey.

Even more concerning is performance. On a top-tier GPU like the RTX 5090, the game still stutters and struggles to maintain consistent frame rates. The GPU gets hammered while the CPU barely breaks a sweat, pointing to optimization issues. No DLSS support at launch only makes things worse for players with mid-range rigs.

Thankfully, Broken Arrow redeems itself with exceptional sound design. Artillery shells scream overhead, jets roar past, and infantry shout orders under fire. Directional sound cues and layered effects create a deeply immersive soundscape that genuinely elevates every battle. Though like in any RTS you will quickly start to recognize the same unit barks being repeated over and over again.

Multiplayer Depth and Tactical Deck Building

Outside the campaign, Broken Arrow introduces deck-building mechanics that allow players to create their own custom force compositions. With 10,000 points to spend and caps to prevent overstacking one unit type, you can build balanced, specialized, or outright ridiculous decks. Want a sky full of bombers? Go for it—just know you’ll pay the price in versatility.

The main thing that makes Broken Arrow stand out from every other RTS I’ve played is just how fully fleshed out its combined arms gameplay is. A lot of games like WARNO have decent combined arms mechanics, but artillery and backline micro never feel quite as impactful there as they do here.

In Broken Arrow, every part of your force has to work together seamlessly for you to succeed. Your artillery, air power, anti-air, armor, and infantry all play critical roles in every match. That’s the magic of the tactics in this game – it’s not about spamming one unit type. It’s about coordinating your entire military force like an actual commander.

Final Verdict

Broken Arrow doesn’t just borrow from past RTS greats—it builds on their legacy. It respects the player’s intelligence, rewards smart decisions, and offers a sandbox of modern warfare that feels alive and dangerous. Yes, the story is flat, the visuals uneven, and the optimization needs serious work. But when it comes to gameplay—the heart and soul of any RTS—it absolutely delivers.

If you're a strategy fan who’s missed the glory days of World in Conflict and Supreme Commander, Broken Arrow is a triumphant return to form. It’s not perfect, but it’s powerful, promising, and—most importantly—fun.

Score: 8/10 – RTS is back, and it means business.

You may also be interested in:

• WARNO Review – A Deep Dive into Cold War Tactics

• Sea Power Review – A Cinematic Jump Into Cold War Naval Strategy

Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront: Best Units for USA Germany And USSR in Conquest Mode

Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront is a hardcore World War II real-time tactics game that emphasizes historical authenticity, tactical depth, and strategic variety. One of the core gameplay pillars in Conquest mode is selecting and upgrading units effectively across different nations. With limited research points and manpower, every choice matters.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the top 10 units for three major factions: the USA, Germany, and the USSR. These selections are not only based on sheer combat effectiveness but also their cost-efficiency, research accessibility, and versatility throughout various Conquest stages.

Note: The Finnish forces are also a contender in the game, especially their infantry, but they are not covered in this guide.

Top 10 Best USA Units in Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront

The United States military in Gates of Hell: Ostfront offers a flexible balance of elite infantry, mobile firepower, and powerful support units. These top 10 picks highlight the USA’s strengths in firepower, survivability, and combined-arms effectiveness.

The USA’s Late war Stuart Gates of Hell: Ostfront unit

1. Veteran Rifle Squad
   A surprisingly effective choice. With two Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs), rifle grenadiers, and solid health and regen stats, these squads offer a noticeable firepower boost over standard infantry. They’re accessible early, affordable, and lead into elite units like the Rangers.

2. 101st Airborne
   This is arguably the best infantry unit for the USA. With two BARs, two Thompsons, a 30-cal machine gun, M9 bazooka, and multiple grenade types, the 101st brings immense firepower. Their health and stamina are excellent, making them capable of punching above their weight in nearly any combat scenario.

3. 3-Inch Gun M5 (M1 Carriage)
   An exceptional anti-tank asset. With 161mm of penetration and a wide gun shield, this towed gun provides consistent reliability against medium to heavy armor. It’s better than its counterpart, the M6, in terms of both performance and survivability.

4. 75mm M1A1 Pack Howitzer
   This is the second variant with a gun shield and heat rounds. Lightweight (two tow weight), mobile, and extremely versatile, it handles light armor, infantry, and emplacements efficiently. A must-have for a cheap anti tank weapon that can still stay mobile with a cheap truck.

5. M16 MGMC Quad .50 Cal
   A terror against infantry and light vehicles. The quad-mounted .50 cals on a half-track platform offer a devastating rate of fire. It also serves as effective anti-air and suppresses enemy units with ease. It’s a machine gun on steroids… because it’s 4 heavy machine guns.

6. M20 Armored Utility Car
   This seemingly unremarkable unit hides a secret—it carries a bazooka. Light, fast, and equipped with a .50 cal, it offers early anti-tank capabilities when infantry may lack punch. It’s also cheap and has decent survivability.

7. M3 Stuart (Late Variant)
   What sets this variant apart is its complement of five .30 caliber machine guns. With a 37mm cannon, decent armor, and speed, this tank becomes a mobile bullet storm. An excellent light tank for early and mid-game, especially at suppressing infantry.

8. M4A3E8 Sherman 76mm (Field Mod)
   Strong armor, excellent penetration, and a massive ammo supply for its .50 cal make this the best Sherman variant. It’s a top-tier medium tank with improved survivability and offensive capability.

9. 90mm GMC M36
   This tank destroyer brings heavy firepower with 171mm penetration. Although open-topped and vulnerable to HE, it excels at ambushes and long-range AT roles. A tank hunter’s dream. Can prevent enemy tanks from advancing over a wide area.

10. 105mm HMC M7 Priest
    A self-propelled gun with solid high-explosive power and mobility. Though open-topped, it brings potent indirect fire and versatility to American forces, making it a great late-game support choice.

Top 10 Best German Units in Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront

Germany’s military forces boast powerful tanks, exceptional support weapons, and well-equipped infantry. While sometimes expensive or requiring deep research, their top units dominate when used strategically.

Germany’s Panzer 3 Ausf. N Gates of Hell: Ostfront unit

1. Blue Division (Spanische Blau Division)
   Incredible cost-efficiency and stats. They boast elite-tier health and stamina (on par with Fallschirmjäger) and come with an MG34, semi-auto rifles, and a solid grenade loadout. Easily one of the best infantry for cost.

2. Panzerjäger I
   Early game anti-tank capability for a low cost. Armed with a 4.7cm gun with decent penetration, this lightly armored tank destroyer is great for handling light and medium threats. Quick to unlock and devastating early on and through to the mid game.

3. 7.5cm LeIG 18 Light Infantry Gun
   The best all-around support weapon. It offers both HE and HEAT shells, capable of eliminating infantry, buildings, and even light armor. Low pop cap and high fire rate make it a staple support unit. Fantastic for backing up infantry with direct fire.

4. Brandenburgers
   Elite stealth infantry. With MG42s, good stats, and the stealth perk, they are ideal for ambushes and recon sabotage. Their versatility and high damage make them a strong offensive asset.

5. Flammpanzerwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/16
   Best flame support vehicle. Comes with dual flamethrowers and an MG42. While lightly armored, it’s cheap, mobile, and can incinerate entire enemy squads in seconds. Just be careful where you put it.

6. Panzer III Ausf. N
   Medium support tank with a short 75mm gun. Its HEAT rounds are excellent for anti-armor roles, while HE clears infantry. Affordable and effective, especially in urban or mixed combat zones.

7. StuH 42
   A heavy-hitting assault gun with a 10.5cm main gun. Capable of dealing with fortified positions and heavy armor thanks to powerful HE and HEAT ammo. Resilient and useful throughout mid to late game.

8. Grille (3cm Mk 103 variant)
   Insanely high rate of fire and good armor penetration. Equipped with a 3cm auto-cannon and high magazine capacity, it’s deadly against infantry and light vehicles. A rare but potent support option.

9. Jagdpanther
   Arguably the best heavy tank destroyer for the Germans. Combines King Tiger firepower (88mm gun) with better mobility and slightly lower cost. Its sloped armor provides strong protection, making it a late-game menace.

10. Tiger I Ausf. H
    Iconic and deadly. Comes with smoke launchers, thick armor, and the infamous 88mm gun. While expensive and high on the research tree, its battlefield dominance makes it worth the cost in most Conquest campaigns.

Top 10 Best Soviet Units in Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront

The USSR shines in aggressive, cost-effective units with overwhelming firepower. Soviet units often offer better survivability and value, even if they sometimes lack the finesse of Western counterparts.

The Soviets’ SU 100 Gates of Hell: Ostfront unit

1. Assault Engineers (Sapper Squad)
   Armored, high health, and equipped with PPSh-41s and flamethrowers. These elite infantry squads dominate close-quarters combat. Tough, deadly, and well-armed.

2. Ampulomet
   This underrated incendiary launcher is cheap and horrifyingly effective. Lob fire bombs at enemy infantry, buildings, and even tanks. Excellent for terror and area denial.

3. 57mm ZiS-2 AT Gun
   High-velocity anti-tank gun with outstanding penetration. Fast firing, long-ranged, and devastating to enemy armor. A must-have in the mid to late stages.

4. 120mm Mortar
   Versatile and powerful. Comes with HE, smoke, and incendiary shells. Offers extended range and tactical utility unmatched by other nation’s mortars.

5. BM-31-12 Andryusha (Katyusha)
   The most devastating rocket artillery system. Expensive, but it wipes entire zones with 12 massive 300mm rockets. Ideal for breaking entrenched positions or devastating AI bases.

6. T-60 Light Tank
   Armed with a 20mm autocannon, this light tank shreds infantry and light vehicles. Cheap, nimble, and excellent for early game rushes or support.

7. KV-8 Flame Tank
   Massive armor and a powerful flamethrower. This heavy support tank is a walking inferno that’s extremely difficult to destroy. Great for leading urban assaults.

8. SU-100
   One of the best Soviet tank destroyers. Armed with a 100mm gun and good armor, it makes short work of Tigers and Panthers. High pop cap, but extremely lethal.

9. SU-122
   Combines 122mm HE power with HEAT rounds for armor penetration. Great for both anti-tank and anti-personnel roles. Mobile and surprisingly affordable for what it offers.

10. IS-2 Model 1945
    One of the strongest heavy tanks in the game. Exceptional armor, a powerful 122mm gun, and a .50 cal make it ideal for spearheading late-game offensives. Tough, impactful, and visually imposing.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Tools for Victory

Each nation in Call to Arms: Gates of Hell - Ostfront offers a distinct playstyle. The USA excels with versatile and mobile combined-arms tactics, Germany leverages elite troops and high-tech support, while the USSR floods the field with armored behemoths and cost-efficient firepower.

Whichever faction you prefer, these top units provide a powerful foundation for any Conquest campaign. Whether you're laying down suppressive fire with quad .50s, sneaking Brandenburgers behind enemy lines, or unleashing a hellstorm with Andryusha rockets, mastering these units can make the difference between victory and defeat.

While this article covers only the three primary factions, don't sleep on the Finnish forces—though smaller in scale, they bring unique capabilities that deserve their own spotlight.

Intravenous 2 Review: Tactical Stealth Done Right or a Trial-and-Error Slog?

Intravenous 2 is a game that doesn’t try to win you over. It’s unapologetically niche, gritty in tone, and deeply committed to its stealth-driven gameplay roots. As a sequel to the original cult indie hit, it continues with the same thematic and mechanical DNA. For returning fans, this might be a welcome refinement. For newcomers, however, it may be an acquired taste — or a frustrating experience.

Where many games try to cast a wide net of appeal, Intravenous 2 leans into a very specific vision: hyper-lethal stealth combined with tactical gameplay. The question is whether that vision is executed with enough finesse to make it enjoyable — or if its uncompromising nature becomes a barrier to wider appeal.

Intravenous 2 Review -Gameplay & Mechanics

The first thing players will notice is the visual style: a top-down perspective reminiscent of games like Hotline Miami. However, that’s where the similarity ends. While Hotline Miami thrived on twitchy reflexes, high-octane action, and quick deaths followed by even quicker retries, Intravenous 2 demands patience, careful planning, and a strong tolerance for trial-and-error.

Combat is unforgiving. Enemies are hyper-lethal, and the game clearly discourages players from going loud. Instead, success relies heavily on remaining undetected, mastering the use of suppressors, shadows, and movement timing. Weapons are deeply customizable — from fire rates to attachments — echoing the attention to detail seen in mil-sims like Escape from Tarkov.

But that realism comes at a cost. Stealth fans may find the level design overly punishing. It’s not uncommon to get shot by an enemy off-screen — a frustrating occurrence that can erase 15–20 minutes of careful progress in an instant. That’s particularly discouraging in a game that doesn't always provide clear visual feedback on enemy positions or optimal routes.

Additionally, trial-and-error plays a dominant role in progression. Some encounters feel arbitrarily structured: choose the wrong path or open the wrong door, and you're back to square one. In many cases, success feels more like a product of repetition than strategic mastery. Though when the pieces fall into place and you execute a series of stealthy takedowns without being detected, or manage to overcome the odds in a firefight against a group of enemies, it feels amazing.

There’s also a surprising issue with difficulty settings. Rather than making "normal" the default mode, the game sets "hard" as the starting point, while labeling a higher level — “True” — as the intended difficulty. This confusing choice creates unnecessary friction. If the developer wants the experience to be difficult by design, that should be framed clearly without complicating player expectations.

Intravenous 2 Review - Narrative & Storytelling

If the gameplay is divisive, the story is even more so. Intravenous 2 casts you as a hitman who claims to operate under a strict moral code — targeting only those deemed “truly evil.” It’s a familiar trope, but one handled here with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The protagonist constantly reminds players of his righteousness, making the narrative feel more like a self-justification monologue than an organic character arc.

Early missions involve targeting people based on weak premises — like a man allegedly running a roofing scam — and the game spends considerable effort trying to paint these targets as unquestionably deserving.

A botched hit leads to your father being kidnapped by a mysterious organization that blackmails you into continuing your work. The setup is meant to add intrigue but raises more questions than it answers. Why would a secretive group rely on someone who just failed a mission? Why are they monitoring every hitman’s moral decisions?

The attempt to build suspense falls flat because the world doesn’t follow its own logic. Combined with the protagonist’s grating self-image, the story can feel more like a Reddit thread turned into a script than a gripping narrative experience. Though the simplicity of the narrative also makes your motivations in every scene easy to grasp, and most importantly justifies your violent actions.

Intravenous 2 Review - Art Direction & Technical Polish

Despite its gameplay and narrative missteps, Intravenous 2 shows a high degree of polish in its presentation. The visual style, though minimalist, is sharp and deliberate. Lighting and shadows are crucial gameplay elements and are rendered in a way that enhances tension without overcomplicating the screen. The environments are gritty, atmospheric, and detailed enough to support the immersion demanded by stealth mechanics.

Sound design is another strong point. Footsteps, suppressed gunfire, and ambient noise all play critical roles in how the player perceives danger. Audio cues are well-executed and serve both narrative and functional purposes. The tension-building is real — sneaking through tight hallways or watching patrol routes unfold creates a palpable sense of risk.

From a technical standpoint, the game runs smoothly, with minimal bugs or hiccups during its early hours. Weapon customization menus, while overly dense for some players, are logically structured for those familiar with tactical shooter design. In short, it’s clear that Intravenous 2 is a labor of love — one where the developer’s passion and attention to detail shine through.

Who Is This Game Really For?

Intravenous 2 isn’t trying to please everyone — and that’s both its greatest strength and its biggest limitation. This is a game built for a specific audience: fans of methodical, hardcore stealth gameplay who appreciate deep mechanical systems, unforgiving difficulty, and a strong dose of realism.

Players who enjoyed the first Intravenous game will find more of what they loved here. It’s an iterative sequel, not a reinvention. However, for gamers on the fence — especially those unfamiliar with the franchise — this second installment won’t serve as a friendly entry point. If anything, it doubles down on the elements that made the original polarizing.

The narrative and UI flaws, coupled with rigid stealth mechanics, make it a hard sell for broader audiences. Those looking for a more accessible or polished stealth experience may be better served by titles like Mark of the Ninja, Desperados III, or even Hitman (2016–2021) — all of which offer more flexibility without sacrificing depth.

Final Verdict

Intravenous 2 is a passion project that excels in technical polish, stealth tension, and mechanical depth — but it falters in accessibility, storytelling, and intuitive design. It delivers exactly what its niche audience craves, yet struggles to welcome anyone outside that circle.

Its uncompromising structure and trial-and-error design philosophy will likely frustrate more players than it delights. But for those who thrive on tactical stealth, where every movement matters and success is hard-won, this could be a hidden gem.

Approach it with clear expectations: this is not a mainstream stealth shooter. It's a challenging, raw experience that rewards precision, patience, and perseverance — if you can overlook its narrative stumbles and unforgiving design.