For any serious expedition start with a reliable Saiga or TOZ-34 shotgun, paired with an SVDm-2 sniper or AKM-74S for range coverage then keep a 9x18 pistol as backup just in case things get messy. The Wind of Freedom suit or Diamond Exo with artifact slots work great, and you'll definitely want a PA-10 Gas Mask when radiation spikes hit. Grab whatever detector you can find early on but the Flytrap really makes artifact hunting worthwhile once you snag one

Pack around 10 Medkits and Bandages each, grab some anti-rad meds since Vodka just weighs you down, and energy drinks are lifesavers when you need to sprint away from trouble. Interesting thing about weapons, stick to three max or youll regret the weight real quick. For ammo keep it under 300 rounds total, buckshot and 5.45x39 are your best friends early on. Keep an eye on that weight meter, stay in the white zone if possible, and dont be shy about using stashes for extra loot. Good to know that balancing protection is key here, radiation gear wont help much against bullets so swap gear based on what youre up against

Remember dealing with anomaly fields is just as dangerous as firefights so make sure youve got the right protection before heading anywhere new and always keep some inventory space free for valuable artifacts you might find