In Escape from Tarkov, players of all skill levels can enter the same raid together. This emphasizes the value of your loadouts and whether you want to get the best weapon loadout possible or find the cheapest and most valuable weapon that will lessen the risk if you lose. There will always be a disadvantage when using cheap weapons, but using their best versions isn’t too bad. Here are the best underrated cheap weapons in Escape from Tarkov.
Best Cheap Weapons to Use in Escape from Tarkov
UMP .45 Submachine Gun
The HK UMP .45 is a versatile and cheap gun in Escape from Tarkov. It has been the go-to weapon, progressing from level 14+ since it unlocks from level 2 Peacekeeper. It’ll cost roughly 40,000 Roubles to build without a suppressor, and even when you reach level 23 and unlock the suppressor, it’ll only cost around 85,000-90,000 to build with sights included.
Ammo is also cheap, and you don’t burn through it since the fire rate isn’t that high. It is one of the best weapons to play leveling up, and when you reach the end, it is also decent because of the .45 AP ammo. You can easily penetrate class 3 armor at such a low level, making the UMP the king of cheap weapons.
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SR-2M Submachine Gun
The SR-2M is the same as the UMP, where you need to slap on a scope and suppressor to work. The gun might even be cheaper, depending on what sights you want to use. However, the high fire rate and the ammunition costs make it less cost-effective than the UMP.
The SR-2M packs a stronger punch because of the 7N42 Zubilo ammo when you reach the endgame, making it one of the “meta” weapons that can compete with some of the most expensive and strongest weapons because of the fire rate and the strong ammo.
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MP9-N 9×19 Submachine Gun
Unsurprisingly, we have another submachine gun on the list, the MP9-N. Submachine guns are always cheap and accessible, so they make it to the list. The MP9-N uses 9×19, which means it is only strong in the early to mid game until you unlock 9×19 PBP, which takes a long time.
The weapon boasts a high fire rate and is surprisingly accurate, too. The low recoil makes it easily controllable even when spraying from a distance. However, when available, you’ll use some 9×19 Pst ammo early in the wipe and upgrade to the AP 6.3. Like the other submachine guns, you only need to add a sight, which makes it cheap.
Aklys Defense Velociraptor .300 Assault Rifle
The Velociraptor .300 AR is a surprisingly “decent” weapon introduced in patch 0.16. While there are way better weapons, the Velociraptor has a suppressor attached. You only need to attach a sight like the other SMGs, but the base gun is way more expensive compared to the SMGs.
You are looking at spending 90,000-110,000 Roubles for this weapon, which is still cheap. You want to use this weapon because of the .300 ammo it uses. Since you can use the Blackout CBJ or even M62 Tracers, which are unlocked at the same level you get M956A1s, M80s, 7N42s, and more, the CBJ easily penetrates class five armor, which is already better than most “meta” ammo.
You can compare the Velociraptor .300 ARs price point to weapons like a 5.56 MDR, non-meta M4A1s, and AKs, yet the Velociraptor is slightly better just because of the ammo it uses.
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MP-153 Semi-Automatic Shotgun
The MP-153 semi-automatic shotgun is probably the laziest but most effective weapon. Building it costs around 50,000-60,000 Roubles; if you want to forego the suppressor, it’ll go for around 30,000-40,000 Roubles. The weapon doesn’t burn through ammo since you are using 12/70 shells, and the Flechette is easily available in the mid-wipe for players, making it the go-to for close-quarter combat.
Several quests require you to use a shotgun, like Setup, Punisher Part 4, or Silent Caliber, so you are forced to use one of these for your quests.
There are two variations for the weapon. If you are hunting Scavs and expecting long-range fights, you must use slugs like FTX or .50 BMG. If not, you want to use Flechette or even RIP. If you are using RIP, you want to aim for the legs.
MDR 7.62×51 Assault Rifle
The last one on the list is the MDR 7.62×51 AR. It costs around 180,000 – 240,000 with a suppressor and sights. If you are using a simple sight, it’ll cost around 180,000 or more. If you want to use something better like a VUDU, Razor, or even a Burris, it’ll go up to 240,000.
It depends on what you want to use the weapon for. You can use it for sniping with a good scope. It also has a full-auto mode, which makes it incredibly good for short-range use because of the ammo it uses. The MDR uses M80s, M62s, and M61s. If it is early in the wipe, BCP FMJ is also not bad.
Because of the ammo type, MDR trumps every weapon on the list, making it easy to build. Attaching a foregrip might be unnecessary because the recoil is already high. You can use cheap foregrips to increase the ergonomics.
Published: Jan 20, 2025 3:24 PM UTC