Look you definitely want to start with a reliable loadout and your best bet is grabbing Skif's Pistol for those tight corners when things get messy. For anything at range an AKM-74S or GP37 will do the job, and if you can get your hands on a Lynx that'll help with distant threats. The most important thing honestly is having good radiation protection, so make sure you've got a proper protective suit and mask before even thinking about heading down there. Something interesting - always pack at least 5 medkits, some anti-rad meds, and energy drinks because you'll burn through them faster than you'd expect underground. A detector is absolutely essential for spotting anomalies and artifacts, trust me on this one.

When it comes to managing your gear try to keep important stuff like sidearms and medical supplies where you can reach them quick. The thing about underground spaces is they get pretty tight so maybe skip the bulky armor and focus more on being able to move around. Leave about 20% of your bag empty for anything valuable you find down there especially ammo and artifacts. For some really solid firepower, the SVDM-2 or Dnipro are great choices if youve managed to find them but dont stress if you haven't. One last bit of advice - light sources and anomaly detection tools are going to save your life more than fancy weapon attachments down there so prioritize those. Anything you dont absolutely need can stay in a storage box back at the settlements, no point weighing yourself down unnecessarily.