Ready or Not, developed by Void Interactive, offers an immersive and realistic police-sim experience where teamplay, coordination, and equipment must work together to succeed in every mission. In this article, we will go deeper into all the tools and gear, what they are for, and tips on how to use them effectively depending on the situation. If you played SWAT 4 or the classic Rainbow Six games, you might be familiar with some of the tools in this list, such as the Mirrorgun or the Door Wedge.
Tactical Equipment in Ready or Not
As we mentioned in our previous detailed review of Ready or Not, the game doesn’t offer a tutorial. We only get a vague description of what weapons and equipment can be used for without any numbers or statistics to see their pros and cons. This ambiguity might make it difficult for new players interested in the genre.
This Ready or Not tactical equipment guide mainly focuses on main players that need some orientation on the basics of this game. Ready or Not offer four categories to split the gear, depending on their use:
- Long Tactical: As the name suggests, this is tactical equipment meant to be used from a distance
- Gear: This is equipment that is part of your character’s clothing. It includes both armor and headwear.
- Grenades: Any non-lethal throwable that you can use to cause an effect on the enemies.
- Tactical Devices: These are very situational devices that can help you in particular ways.
Remember that all of these gadgets are situational, and knowing when to use them must come with practice. It is also important to always coordinate with your team to make sure there is always watching your back while you are defenseless and ready to take action after using any of these items.
Long Tactical Equipment in Ready or Not
Long Tacticals are a must. Moreover, it is essential to carry at least one of them with a team of four. They are fundamental to keeping the players safe before breaching a door.
Mirrorgun Gadget
This gadget will prevent you from going back to the lobby before finishing the mission more than any equipment on this list. Yes, it is slow, but it will save your life countless times. The Mirrorgun is a camera that you can slip below a door to spot armed hostiles, civilians, and even traps on the other side of the doors. To use, aim at the bottom of an entry to get a prompt that will let you use it even if you don’t have it equipped in your hands.
Breaching Shotgun
The breaching Shotgun equipment in Ready or Not is one of the most effective tools to breach a door. You can breach from cover, and if used from a proper distance, you won’t die to any explosives set on that door. Keep in mind that it will leave a big hole in the door, preventing you from locking it.
The best way to use it is to shoot the door handle from the cover to open it instantly. With proper communication and timing, you can use a Mirrorgun to spot threats on the other side, and once you are ready to breach, have a teammate prepared with a tactical grenade and stun enemies on the other side.
Ballistic Shield
This tactical equipment is less necessary than the previous two in Ready or Not. Yet, if it is used right, it can be your team’s best friend against oncoming enemy attacks. The Ballistic Shield will protect anything behind it from projectiles. The best way to use it is to have the shield carrier take point and someone behind, ready to repel any attack. The user of this gadget can carry a handgun while using it but can only fire from the hip.
There are two variants to the ballistic shield in the game, including the vanilla version and the Ready or Not Rescue Shield obtained from DLC.
For a more thorough discussion of how to use the ballistic shield, check out our guide to the best shield loadout in Ready or Not.
Battering Ram Tactical Gear in Ready or Not
The Battering Ram is similar to the Breaching Shotgun but has massive disadvantages. The player holding these tools is completely exposed to any enemies in the other room, so a quick reaction from the teammates is fundamental. The only advantage with the Battering Ram is that if an enemy is standing right behind the door, they will be instantly stunned.
M320 Launcher
This launcher has three variants, Flashbang, Stinger, and Gas. We won’t dive deep into them as the three have the same objective, neutralizing anything in the other room. This launcher can be quickly deployed and used.
Yet, many ask: why not just use a regular grenade? A grenade you have to cook, time, and throw, giving the enemy a chance to react. Combined with a Breaching Shotgun or Battering Ram, Ready or Not players can quickly use these launchers with little risk. Keep in mind that any grenade launched through the M320 will activate on impact so try to land it on a far wall.
Related Article: The Best Weapon Attachments in Ready or Not
Wearable Gear in Ready or Not
As we mentioned before, the gear is anything the player can wear to have a tactical advantage on their upper body and head.
Armor
Armor in Ready or Not is equipment worn to protect the torso of the player. Below you can see the effects of using different amounts of armor.
- No Armor: Provides no protection in exchange for high mobility.
- Light Armor: This is a plate carrier that provides some protection for the player while letting the player maintain decent mobility
- Heavy Armor: Provides a high level of protection for the player giving the ability to receive heavy fire in combat while sacrificing movement speed.
Headwear
Headwear covers any tactical tool, equipment, or protection a Ready or Not player can wear on their head.
- No Facewear: Why would you even consider this? Just no. Jokes aside, No Facewear won’t give you an advantage, not even a movement boost.
- NVGS: Once equipped, press N as the default key to activate, which will allow you to see in low-light environments. Keep in mind that high-light rooms might make you blind. Also, in the main menu at the graphics options, look for the NVG Display setting. This will allow you to change your NVG from Green Phosphor to White Phosphor or vice versa. This last tip is entirely up to personal preference.
- CBRN Riot Gasmask: This will protect you from gas grenades that will stun you and slowly hurt you.
- Anti-Flash Goggles: This will allow you to deploy flash grenades quickly. This unique gear in Ready or Not lowers your chance of being affected by flash grenades or traps. When wearing this, your vision won’t be affected. However, your character can still be disoriented by the sound, yet the goggles will reduce the effect.
- Ballistic Facemask: Probably the most broadly useful headwear in Ready or Not. It will allow you to receive impact from small arms and some less-lethal projectiles without taking heavy damage and/or dying.
Grenades
All of these grenades in Ready or Not are non-lethal but can badly damage or even kill a target if spammed.
The best way to use them is by coordinating and timing with the teammate opening or breaching a door. We highly recommend any new player jump in the shooting range to practice their throws.
- Flashbang Grenades: “I don’t always get flash banged, but when I do, it’s because my teammate threw it.” As the game description states, this throwable will blind and disorient those caught in it’s a blast. This is the grenade we recommend the most.
- CS Gas: This grenade will cause difficulty breathing, blurred vision, and burning sensations on the target. This makes it one of the most aggressive items on this list. The effect of this item can last for some time and not wearing a CBRN Riot Gasmask can be counterproductive for your teammates or yourself.
- Stinger Grenade: Very similar to the Flashbang, this will stunt and disorient enemies. Keep in mind that there is no headwear or armor to prevent you from being affected by this throwable.
Tactical Devices in Ready or Not
These devices are very situational. They can be either replaced for any other tool on this list or are not usually necessary, except for one.
- C2 Explosives: The C2 Explosive is probably the most “screw anyone standing on the other side” device on this list. C2 is EXTREMELY loud and will stunt anyone standing on the other side of the door. This gadget can be helpful but can be easily and effectively replaced with a Breaching Shotgun.
- Door Wedge: This is the “white sheep” of the Ready or Not tactical devices. We highly recommend this device, especially if you are playing Single Player. The device will allow you to block doors behind you, preventing ambushes from the enemy. You use them by aiming at the bottom of a door.
- Pepper Spray: This is an item that we really don’t recommend unless you are certain that your target is an unarmed civilian. This device has very limited range and can get you killed if used against a non-compliant armed hostile. The Pepper Spray will blind and disorient targets hit in the face but has a very small range.
- Lockpick Gun: This is a tool slightly faster than the regular lockpicks the game already offered without the need of having them equipped to take the spot for another Tactical Device. The only advantage is that you can unlock doors fasters just like the lockpick you carry by default but slightly faster.
Default Tools Carried in Ready or Not
Ready or Not offers two tools that the player can carry by default. These include the regular lockpick and the Chem Light. Chem Lights are basically glowing sticks, but what are they used for? It’s simple if you clear a room, you drop a Chem Light to mark it. In that way, you won’t waste time clearing rooms you or your allies have already cleared.
Wrapping It All Up
Thank you all for sticking with us. We hope you’ve enjoyed and learned something from our Ready or Not tactical equipment guide. Practice will make you master any game mechanic, so hop into a match, die, and repeat. Good luck, and have a good raid, colleagues.
If you’d like more insights into this great tactical shooter, check out our guide on the best guns to use in Ready or Not.
