Dead Island 2 – How To Get Guns

TL;DR

  • Complete ‘Justifiable Zombicide’ main mission to unlock firearm spawns
  • Guns become available as loot and quest rewards after story progression
  • Six base weapon classes with extensive customization options
  • Firearms complement but don’t replace melee combat effectiveness
  • Weapon perks and mods create significant variety within each class

Acquiring firearms in Dead Island 2 requires deliberate story advancement rather than random exploration. While the game emphasizes its sophisticated melee combat system, firearms become accessible through specific narrative milestones.

During your initial hours, you’ll notice an absence of gun drops despite thorough searching. This design choice ensures players master the deep melee mechanics first before introducing ranged options. The developers intentionally structured weapon progression to match character development and story pacing.

Even though they're a bit clunky, some weapons are still worth finding.

Strategic firearm use can complement your melee approach in Dead Island 2’s combat encounters.

Common early-game mistake: wasting time searching areas repeatedly for guns before reaching the unlock point. Instead, focus on completing main story objectives and upgrading your melee arsenal, as these weapons remain essential throughout your playthrough.

The pivotal moment for firearm accessibility arrives with the Justifiable Zombicide main story mission. This narrative checkpoint serves as the gateway to ranged weapon availability throughout the game world.

Upon completing this mission, you’ll receive your first firearm directly as part of the quest completion. More importantly, the game’s loot tables update system-wide, allowing guns to spawn in weapon chests, enemy drops, and as quest rewards. The timing typically occurs around 6-8 hours into gameplay, depending on your pace and side content completion.

Post-mission, you’ll notice immediate changes: police stations and military checkpoints become reliable firearm sources, special infected have increased gun drop rates, and certain side quests specifically reward unique ranged weapons.

Dead Island 2 features six foundational firearm categories that form the basis of your ranged arsenal. These include pistols for quick handling, rifles for balanced performance, shotguns for close-quarters devastation, submachine guns for rapid fire, and special weapons for unique combat situations.

The true depth emerges through the customization system. Each weapon can be modified with various scopes, magazines, barrels, and special modifications that fundamentally alter their performance characteristics. The perk assignment system ensures that even identical weapon models can perform dramatically differently based on their randomized attributes.

Advanced tip: Focus on weapon synergy rather than raw damage numbers. A well-modified pistol with stability perks often outperforms a base rifle with higher damage but poor handling characteristics.

While firearms provide valuable ranged options, they function best as supplements to your melee toolkit rather than replacements. Ammunition scarcity remains a consistent balancing factor, encouraging strategic use rather than continuous firing.

Optimal playstyle integrates both combat approaches: use melee for standard zombies and conserve firearm ammunition for special infected, distant targets, or emergency crowd control situations. Different weapon classes excel in specific scenarios – shotguns against clustered enemies, rifles for precision shots, and pistols for mobile combat.

For comprehensive gameplay assistance, consult our Complete Guide for fundamental mechanics, or explore specialized content like our Weapons Unlock strategies for similar progression systems in other games.

Mastering Dead Island 2’s combat requires understanding both melee and firearm systems. Check our Class Guide for insights on character specialization that complements your weapon choices.

Action Checklist

  • Progress through main story until reaching ‘Justifiable Zombicide’ mission
  • Complete the mission to receive your first gun and unlock system-wide firearm spawns
  • Search police stations and military areas for reliable firearm drops
  • Experiment with weapon customization to find your preferred combat style
  • Develop ammo conservation habits and integrate firearms strategically with melee

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Dead Island 2 – How To Get Guns Unlock firearms in Dead Island 2 through story progression and master weapon customization for zombie survival