When it comes to raiding illegal compounds or responding to armed threats, every piece of equipment in Ready or Not can prove to be effective. However, with the myriad of options available to players, choosing the right tools for the job can feel a little overwhelming at first.
In this guide, we're going over some equipment recommendations to create a universal loadout that players can use in every Ready or Not mission.
Ready or Not: 12 Tips and Tricks for Beginners
To succeed in Ready or Not, you need to be alert at all times.
Best Weapons in Ready or Not
Every weapon that fires traditional ammunition is lethal, and they can all be loaded with either AP or JHP rounds for armored and unarmored targets respectively. With that said, players can use whatever weapon they want and still see good results.
However, there are a few things that are worth taking note of. For example, weapons chambered in either 5.56x45mm or.300 Blackout tend to have lower recoil than those chambered in 7.62x51mm, making them much easier to control when firing follow-up shots or when shooting bursts. Additionally, rifle rounds are better at penetrating armor than buckshot or pistol rounds. The best weapons in RoN are ones that are easy to use, but are still capable of beating armor when equipped with AP ammo.
If you're looking for a weapon that can comfortably carry you through any mission and against any target, try the following:
- ARWC
- MK18
- G36C
- MCX
These three are all extremely stable when firing, especially once the right attachments are used. Follow-up shots and full-auto bursts are very easy with these guns, and if they don't take someone down with the first bullet, the second and third ones definitely will.
Heavy caliber rifles like the G3A3 and SA-58 are best used in maps that include armored targets, such as Ides of March, Sins of the Father, and Neon Tomb. Only use them in semi-auto mode.
Best SMG and Pistol
As far as pistols go, the Five-Seven is arguably the best. Not only does it have a higher mag capacity than other pistols (carrying 20 bullets per magazine), but it also fires 5.7mm rifle rounds, which are better at penetrating armor. The same logic applies to the P90 SMG — both weapons fire the same bullet, and both have higher magazine capacities compared to their counterparts.
Lethal or Non-Lethal?
If all you want is to clear missions efficiently, then any of the weapons listed above will do just fine. However, if you want to get an S-rank in any RoN mission, you'll need to clear them perfectly using non-lethal weapons.
The VPL-25 is a great choice for non-lethal runs. It has the modularity and versatility of an assault rifle and the effectiveness of other pepperball guns. However, if you want to incapacitate suspects more quickly, then the beanbag shotgun is the better option.
Best Armor Setup in Ready or Not
Armor is separated into two types: light and heavy. Light armor will make you move faster, but it won't protect your arms and groin area from damage. Meanwhile, heavy armor is the opposite — it will protect more parts of your body in exchange for a slower overall movement speed.
Players can customize the type of protection their armor provides in RoN. After you select the weight class of your armor, you can then choose between three different material types:
- Kevlar offers maximum mobility and decent protection against low-caliber munitions. It is not as effective at stopping rifle rounds and slugs.
- Steel provides significantly better protection against all bullets than Kevlar, but it will slow players down significantly.
- Ceramic balances protection and mobility, but if you take too much damage, the armor plates will break, leaving you defenseless for the rest of the mission.
Which Armor Type Should You Choose?
In most missions, heavy steel armor will be the most useful. It'll protect you from all incoming damage types, so as long as you don't mind being slow, this armor type will be the best choice for you.
However, on missions where time is of the essence, kevlar or ceramic armor will be better. Missions like The Elephant and Relapse have bombs that must be defused, so you'll need to move fast.
Light armor is also preferred in missions set in big maps, like Carriers of the Vine and Hide and Seek. Meanwhile, heavy armor is preferred in small maps full of tight corridors like Twisted Nerve and Valley of the Dolls.
Using stab vests is generally not recommended unless you want to roleplay as a patrol officer, and doing missions without armor is practically a death sentence.
Your armor's weight class also affects how much ammunition/gadgets/throwables you can bring during a mission.
Best Grenades in Ready or Not
Flashbangs are by far the best grenades in Ready or Not as far as universal loadouts are concerned. Unlike Stingers, these can stun targets that are hiding behind cover, and they aren't as detrimental to the team as CS Gas, so long as teammates don't look at the flashbang as it goes off.
Speaking of gas grenades, they are extremely valuable for tactics/strategies that make heavy use of CS Gas. Some missions (like Greased Palms) are best cleared with gas rather than with flashes, but don't forget to bring a gas mask when you decide to use them. Otherwise, you'll only slow the entire team down.
Which Tactical Gear to Use in Ready or Not?
All long tactical equipment is situational, but the best one for a general loadout has to be the Mirrorgun (sometimes referred to as the Optiwand). This lets you peek from corners and behind doors, giving the team crucial info before entering a room. The Mirrorgun isn't an essential piece of equipment by any means, but if you want to be safe, make sure someone in the squad has one.
The Breaching Shotgun and Battering Ram reduce suspect morale when used to bust down a door, making them more compliant. Meanwhile, the Ballistic Shield can make entering rooms safer, and M320 launchers are great for lobbing tactical grenades over long distances. Which ones you bring all depends on personal preference and/or preferred tactics.
Best All-Around Loadout in Ready or Not
A good universal Ready or Not loadout would look like the following:
|
Primary Weapon |
MCX with SFMB Brake, TH Grip, flashlight, and sight of choice |
|
Secondary Weapon |
Five-Seven with flashlight and optional red dot sight |
|
Grenade |
Flashbangs |
|
Tactical Gear |
Mirrorgun |
|
Armor |
Heavy Steel with full coverage |
The MCX is great for both close and long-range shootouts. It's short enough to be maneuverable in tight spaces, and it doesn't kick as much as some other rifles like the MK16 and DM4PDW. However, it does make your camera shake quite a bit, and if that bothers you, the G36C, MK18, and ARWC are all great alternatives that do not sacrifice power for comfort. If you want a zero-recoil primary weapon that still packs a punch, go with the P90.
You can equip this loadout on all of your NPC squadmates in Ready or Not and still see success even on the harder missions. Still, it'd be best to give bots different tactical gear so you aren't left wanting.
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
- Publisher(s)
- Void Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, FPS
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 16 hours
