As a new player to any extraction shooter, finding the right weapon to suit your playstyle and withstand the onslaught of other operators and enemies proves downright difficult. But hey, we can help. When it comes down to the best starter weapons in Active Matter for beginners, we’ll dive into the top categories you should prioritize!
The Best Weapons in Active Matter for New Players
You’ll find a wide assortment of weapons in Active Matter, from pistols to shotguns to submachine guns to high-powered sniper rifles capable of picking off other players from afar. But as a new player, you won’t have access to everything, and you won’t want to wield certain weapons that require more skill or money.
Best Pistol for New Players
While you’re given an assortment of pistols, like the iconic M9, it’s not the go-to pistol for new players when you first start a new character in Active Matter. That’s actually the Makarov, which is a lightweight, semi-automatic handgun designed for close-quarters engagements in a pinch. It’s certainly not the ideal tool for a firefight, but it’ll suffice if you run out of ammunition in your primary.
But most importantly, it offers a fast switch speed and ADS, with a tight aiming profile, allowing you to snap to targets relatively quickly with a little practice. The low recoil helps keep shots centered, and with time, you’ll pick off low-level opponents with ease.
Best Assault Rifle for New Players
The M4 is one of the most reliable early-game assault rifles in Active Matter. While in a raid, you can find them in loot crates, by killing other players and enemy soldiers, and via airdrops. I’ve had immense luck scoring M4s, magazines, and ammunition boxes out of airdrops on Factory.
Why the M4 over an AK series rifle? It’s an exceptional all-rounder weapon with decent range and damage, adequate recoil control for a new player, a high rate of fire for those panicked engagements in close quarters, and it’s easy to upgrade with useful attachments.
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Best SMG for New Players
While I’d love to tell you the Vector is the go-to submachine gun for new players in Active Matter, it’s not. The iconic MP5, however, is the right choice. It’s the functional choice, of course. It’s a matter of mobility with the SMGs in the game.
With a high rate of fire, fantastic accuracy at close to mid-range encounters, adequate stopping power, and its compact build, the MP5 is a decent weapon for tight raids in which you want to move fast or remain indoors and out of the way.
Best Shotgun for New Players
For my first few raids in Active Matter, I decided to take the MB590 into battle. It’s an absolute monster, and I was able to take down one- and two-man squads with ease before anyone fired off a shot in response. Better yet, a few Invisible didn’t stand a chance, either.
With excellent accuracy at close quarters, immense stopping power, and reliable spread, the MB590 shotgun is the ideal new player weapon when clearing AM-transformed creatures, but a well-placed shot to the upper torso or head will stop a player in their tracks.
Best Sniper for New Players
Lastly, if you’re lucky enough to find a sniper rifle in the game, let it be the SV-98 when you’re a new player. It’s still got quite the kick, and it’s unwieldy if you’re on the move, but this rifle offers precision, control, and stopping power in spades. That said, it’s not really a new player weapon. None of the game’s sniper rifles are, though.
The SV-98, should you manage to get into an elevated position with proper angles against enemy players, will put down your opponents in a single well-placed shot. If you can land said shot, of course. Don’t rely solely on the SV-98; keep a lightweight SMG in your pack and a powerful pistol on your hip.