The popular squad-based tactical FPS Ready or Not has finally made its way to consoles after its original 2023 Steam launch. For console players who might be approaching the game for the first time, Ready or Not takes its inspirations from classic tactical FPS like SWAT or SOCOM, where managing an AI squad and approaching engagements strategically is as important as good marksmanship. For the game's single-player mode, players take the role of leader of an elite SWAT team. Players have to equip their team for missions, and manage them in the field. The AI team members can act and engage enemies without orders, but players will need to give them specific instructions for tactical maneuvers like door breaches or checking a blind corridor with mirrors.
How To Play Ready Or Not Solo (& Without Bots)
If you’re confident you can defuse tense situations and fight crime independently, here’s a guide on how to play Ready or Not as a solo player.
There are several different scenarios based on high-pressure SWAT response situations, and players can choose to equip for each mission, or go with more general loadouts that suit a variety of scenarios. As the game bases its scoring system loosely on police procedures, players will get more credit for using non-lethal methods, only engaging with suspects that shoot first, and a variety of other things. That means that players need to consider non-lethal loadouts too, if they want the best mission ranks. With that in mind, these are the best loadouts for AI teammates in Ready or Not, for a variety of scenarios.
5 Starter Team Loadout
A Balanced Team
Alpha:
- Primary Weapon: SA-58 (EXPS3/Combat Grip/Flashlight/ASR Brake), 4 x AP magazines
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Flashlight), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 3 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 2 x C2
- Long Tactical: Battering ram
- Headgear: Gas mask
Bravo:
- Primary Weapon: SA-58 (EXPS3/Combat Grip/Flashlight/ASR Brake), 4 x AP magazines
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Flashlight), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 3 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 2 x C2
- Long Tactical: M320 GL (Gas)
- Headgear: Gas mask
Charlie:
- Primary Weapon: SA-58 (EXPS3/Combat Grip/Flashlight/ASR Brake), 4 x AP magazines
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Flashlight), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 3 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 2 x C2
- Long Tactical: Battering ram
- Headgear: Gas mask
Delta:
- Primary Weapon: SA-58 (EXPS3/Combat Grip/Flashlight/ASR Brake), 4 x AP magazines
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Flashlight), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 3 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 2 x C2
- Long Tactical: Mirror gun
- Headgear: Gas mask
Best Officer Traits:
- Armorer
- Nutritionist
- Veteran
- Riot Control
This team has a good balance of capabilities for players who are new to Ready or Not, and are focused on getting through missions by any means. The player's AI companions have full lethal capabilities with their weapons, and plenty of options for breaching with C2, plus two members with Battering Rams (in case one goes down). Flashbangs are effective for suppressing targets so the team can clear a room with minimal opposition. However, since the AI will be using gas masks to enable the use of gas grenades from Alpha's M320, players can alternatively load up with CS gas grenades instead of flashes to subdue enemies.
4 Realistic Loadout
SWAT Team Roleplay
Alpha:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: Glock 19 (Laser Pointer) 2 x JHP ammo
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Tactical Shield
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Bravo:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: Glock 19 (Laser Pointer) 2 x JHP ammo
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Breaching Shotgun
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Charlie:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: Glock 19 (Laser Pointer) 2 x JHP ammo
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Breaching Shotgun
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Delta:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: Glock 19 (Laser Pointer) 2 x JHP ammo
- Armor: Light (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: M320 GL (Stinger)
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Best Officer Traits:
- Armorer
- Nutritionist
- Veteran
- Riot Control
This team tries to roughly emulate the equipment a real SWAT team might use for a standard engagement. That means budgetary limitations apply, so the weapons come with only standard attachments, the armor is mostly light ceramic except for the point man, and the squad use anti-flash goggles rather than flashier equipment like NVGs. Players will need to play carefully and tactically with this team, but they're equipped to get the job done in most scenarios.
Ready Or Not: Best Weapons, Ranked
The best weapons in Ready or Not range from all categories of guns, but which of them will see players survive the challenging hostile encounters?
3 Team Player Loadout
Keep Your Squad Alive
Alpha:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: MP7 (RMR Dot Sight/Suppressor/Combat Grip) 3 x AP ammo
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: M320 GL (Flash)
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Bravo:
- Primary Weapon: MK17 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: M45A1 (RMR Sight/Compensator/Laser Pointer) 2 x AP ammo
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Breaching Shotgun
- Headgear: Ballistic Face Mask
Charlie:
- Primary Weapon: MP5A3 (RMR Dot/Suppressor/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: M45A1 (RMR Sight/Compensator/Laser Pointer) 2 x AP ammo
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Tactical Shield
- Headgear: Anti-flash Goggles
Delta:
- Primary Weapon: B1301 (RMR Sight/12GA Brake/Flashlight) 4 x Buckshot
- Secondary Weapon: M45A1 (RMR Sight/Compensator/Laser Pointer) 2 x AP ammo
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Battering Ram
- Headgear: Ballistic Face Mask
Best Officer Traits:
- Armorer x 2
- Nutritionist x 2
This team is great for keeping AI companions alive and morale high. Each AI team member has a slightly specialized role in this team, too. Alpha is equipped with an assault rifle and suppressed sidearm, along with plenty of flash grenades to suppress enemies. Bravo brings heavy firepower with a high-caliber assault rifle and sidearm, as well as a breaching shotgun. Charlie can take point with a tactical shield and high-caliber sidearm. Delta brings close-quarters stopping power with a shotgun primary, high-caliber sidearm, and a battering ram or breaching shotgun for a backup door-breaker.
2 Best Lethal Loadout
Weapons Free
Alpha:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Laser Pointer), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: M320 GL (Gas)
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Bravo:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Laser Pointer), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x wedges, 1 x C2
- Long Tactical: Breaching Shotgun
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Charlie:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Laser Pointer), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x wedges
- Long Tactical: Breaching Shotgun
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Delta:
- Primary Weapon: MK18 (Holo Sight/ASR Brake/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 4 x AP ammo
- Secondary Weapon: 57 USG (RMR Dot/Laser Pointer), 2 x AP magazines
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x flashbangs, 2 x wedges
- Long Tactical: Mirror Gun
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Best Officer Traits:
- Armorer
- Nutritionist
- Veteran
- Breacher
This team goes for full lethality, and focuses on using gas and flashbangs to keep resistance to a minimum. Since this team is designed for dealing with well-armed enemies, all members get heavy armor with full ceramic plates. The primary and secondary weapon are consistent across the team to keep things simple, as the MK18 and 57 USG provide enough stopping power with AP ammo for enemy armor to be a non-issue. Players can equip Alpha or another team member with the M320 GL for some extra gas grenades, and split their equipment loadout between gas and flash grenades to deal with different situations, or stick with gas if they feel it's sufficient. Remember to bring gas masks, and make liberal use of the mirror gun and wedges to gain a tactical advantage before a firefight breaks out.
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1 Best Non-Lethal Loadout
S-Rank SWAT Team
Alpha:
- Primary Weapon: VPL25 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 6 x Pepperball
- Secondary Weapon: Any (Carry no sidearm ammo)
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x Wedges, 1 x Taser
- Long Tactical: M320 GL (Gas)
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Bravo:
- Primary Weapon: VPL25 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 6 x Pepperball
- Secondary Weapon: Any (Carry no sidearm ammo)
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x Wedges, 1 x Taser
- Long Tactical: Battering Ram
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Charlie:
- Primary Weapon: VPL25 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 6 x Pepperball
- Secondary Weapon: Any (Carry no sidearm ammo)
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x Wedges, 1 x Taser
- Long Tactical: Mirror Gun
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Delta:
- Primary Weapon: VPL25 (Holo Sight/Combat Grip/Flashlight) 6 x Pepperball
- Secondary Weapon: Any (Carry no sidearm ammo)
- Armor: Heavy (Full/Ceramic Inserts)
- Equipment: 2 x CS gas, 2 x Wedges, 1 x Taser
- Long Tactical: Battering Ram
- Headgear: Gas Mask
Best Officer Traits:
- Pacifier x 2
- Veteran
- Riot Control
To obtain an S rank in Ready or Not, players have to go fully non-lethal, arrest all suspects and complete all other objectives. This team loadout is designed for those non-lethal attempts, but players should be aware that this is by far the most difficult way to play the game. The team gets the VPL-25 (or the TAC-700), an assault rifle designed for firing non-lethal pepperball rounds. An alternative option is to give one or two AIs the beanbag shotgun, but it's technically possible for the AI to get accidental kills with close-range headshots and ruin the S rank if you do. Don't give the AI any sidearm ammo, as there's no way to stop them using the lethal ammo if they have any. Players will need to approach every situation carefully with this team, try and isolate enemies and subdue, or use gas to subdue multiple enemies in enclosed spaces. Another important thing to note is that breaching is done with battering rams, as it's possible to accidentally kill enemies with breaching charges.
Ready or Not
- Released
- December 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Void Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, FPS
