PUBG Guide: The Best Looting Tactics For Every Phase of the Game

With the new September patch for PUBG introducing the Mini 14 sniper rifle, a fog map, and the Kameshki location, it becomes really important to know the best loot places and what tactics to apply in order to get the most out of these additions.

Apart from the wealth weapons and armor lying around the map, you can also find useful attachments of all sorts in huge numbers if you know where to look for them (and not die in the process). In this PUBG guide, we’ll go over some tips and best practices for looting the map so you can greatly increase your chances of survival in this battle-royale shooter.  

Early Game Looting Tactics for PUBG

The early game is the most important part of PUBG, since it determines whether you’ll find the best loot in the initial part of the match, or get yourself killed by landing in a high-risk area where even the best players have no chance of surviving.

When you first drop in, make sure that you travel all the way to the western part of the map to the city of Georgopol — this is the safest bet for looting in the early game. Almost nobody goes this far in the beginning of the match, so you will have no trouble looting the buildings without getting killed on the spot.

When you’re done with Georgopol, start moving south by the shoreline until you arrive at the Hospital location. It is highly advisable to loot it from top to bottom, so you won’t miss the best items. This is also a great place for finding a vehicle — usually there is at least one you can use for transportation and four-wheeled destruction.

Mid Game Looting Tactics for PUBG

While choosing the safest place for early game is essential, you can take some bigger risks in the mid game, since you will already have at least one decent assault rifle and armor if you’ve followed the steps above. So where do you go from the Hospital in the west?

In the mid game, try to move closer to the central and eastern part of the map, where the Prison is located (just a bit to the south of Lipovka). Approach this location with great care, as it is a popular hot spot for looting — so expect some company to deal with.

Your best friend in this endeavor is the sniper rifle. Position yourself on the cliffs behind the prison and take out all enemies that you see in the open. Check the windows and the watchtowers before making a move, then as soon as the territory seems more or less clear, move out onto the location itself — but again, do so with great caution.

From the Prison, you can move down to Mylta Power. This area also has a high chance of netting you a free vehicle, some solid firearms, and powerful armor.

Late Game Looting Tactics for PUBG

In the late game, you can finally travel to the southern island of Sosnovka. This is where the Military Base is located. The base is definitely the most dangerous place on the entire PUBG map — a choice location for the most qualified and experienced players. You can get to the island by boat, via the two bridges that connect it with the main island, or simply by swimming.

The Sosnovka Military Base has the finest loot that you can get — both in terms of the building itself and in the drops you’ll grab off killed players. If you decide to drop here from the plane, then at least choose to land a bit to the east of the base. This will put you at the Novorepnoye location, which is still very dangerous, but not as much as the base itself.

You can take a slight detour from the base into the hills surrounding it with a huge radio antenna overseeing the location — a favorite place for many snipers and looters alike.

Getting Loot from Air Drops in PUBG

Apart from the typical looting places in each phase of the game, you can find more rare weapons and attachments in one of the random air drops. Just take note of the buzzing sound of the approaching plane, and look out for red smoke that will indicate the crate dropped from the passing aircraft.

Below is a list of rare items you can find only in air drops.

• Weapons:
  • AWM
  • M24
  • Mk14 EBR
  • M249
  • Kar98k
  • OTs-14 Groza
• Attachments:
  • 4x ACOG Scope
  • 8x CQBSS Scope
  • 15x PM II Scope
  • Suppressor for Assault Rifle
  • Suppressor for Snipers
• Clothing:
  • Ghillie Suit
• Equipment:
  • Spetsnaz Helmet (Level 3)
  • Military Vest (Level 3)
  • Backpack (Level 3)
• Consumables:
  • Adrenaline Syringe
  • Medical Kit

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That wraps up this guide to looting! If you want some extra tips and tricks, check out the rest of our PUBG guides to make sure you survive in this unforgiving shooter: 

• All Key Miramar Map Locations
• Finding the Best Loot Locations in PUBG
• How to Bind Crouch Jump in PUBG
• How to Get Crate Keys
• PUBG Pioneer Crate Guide: What’s Inside, and When You Get Them
• How to Parachute Better and Faster in PUBG