Listen up, because getting your gear sorted early makes all the difference here (i've seen too many rookies learn this the hard way). For close combat you'll want the spsa-14 or sledgehammer shotgun because mutants don't really care about fancy tactics. Pair that with something reliable like the kharod assault rifle for mid-range work, and grab skif's pistol for those sneaky moments when noise isn't your friend.

Your suit choice really matters here because the zone doesn't play nice with rookies. Start with basic protection that has at least 4 artifact slots (this gives you room to adapt to different threats), and make sure you've got a decent gas mask since radiation's always lurking around. Speaking of artifacts, a compass or weird ball can really save your skin when things get dicey.

Something interesting about ammo management - you'll want to keep about 200 shotgun shells handy, because that's usually where most stalkers run short first. Always pack more medkits than you think you need (trust me on this one), and energy drinks are literally life savers when you're deep in anomaly fields. The bear detector is worth saving up for, but an echo will do the job while you're starting out.

A little wisdom from the zone - keep your gear maintained (things break at the worst possible moments), and don't be afraid to store extra equipment in stashes. And here's something most guides won't tell you - the tourist suit is actually perfect for scouting runs, even if it looks basic. Just remember to keep your total weight under 60kg, because being overencumbered in the wrong place can be your last mistake.