The Anti-Armor Rifle is a sniper rifle featured in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.
Overview[]
The Anti-Armor Rifle is a very powerful 12.7mm, bolt-action anti-materiel sniper rifle that can be purchased from the Merchant of Menace as part of the Special Weapons Drop. It will contain the weapon itself, as well as a Light Machine Gun, health, and ammo.
The rifle does extreme amounts of damage to infantry, killing all in one hit and even passing through multiple enemies if lined up correctly. The rifle does very high damage to light vehicles and helicopters; however, due to the low ammunition count and low rate of fire it is not a very efficient method for taking out vehicles. Additionally, despite its name, the rifle cannot deal damage to armored vehicles, making it equivalent to all other bullet-firing weapons in this regard. The rifle is extremely inaccurate while moving, forcing the wielder to remain stationary or crouched while shooting, and it suffers the same flinch-on-hit effect as other scoped weapons while zoomed, both of which contribute to making the rifle nearly unusable in direct combat. The aforementioned low rate of fire further restricts its combat effectiveness. It can be useful in the 'No One Will Ever Know' and 'Omertà' contracts due to its one shot kill property, though a Sniper Rifle headshot can achieve the same effect, and the latter weapon is given to the player for free at the start of both missions. And while a well-aimed shot from the rifle can pierce the cockpit of a helicopter and kill the pilot, potentially leading to the helicopter crashing without being destroyed (useful in obtaining valuable vehicles such as the YAH-56 Gunship), the Sniper Rifle can do the same while dealing less unintended damage to the vehicle, making it preferable for this role.
Locations[]
- Acquired from the Special Weapons Drop, which is unlocked after completing 'In the Neighborhood'.
- Many can be found within supply creates during 'Gambit'.
Southern Province[]
- Two respawning NK soldiers may be the only renewable source for this weapon early in the game. Just across the river southwest of the DMZ and due south of the UH-60 minigame marker, Allied forces are engaged in a small-scale conflict with NK troops spawning from a large tunnel. Two NK soldiers on top of the tunnel, behind some sandbags, carry this weapon. The player can reach them by climbing the angled walls on the side of the tunnel and jumping onto the tunnel roof.
- It can be found close to the Ten of Clubs in the beginning where AN and NK forces are fighting; two NK soldiers have the anti-armor rifle. This is one of the only places where it is available very early in the game.
- Two AN soldiers stationed on top of the buildings overlooking the AN Officer in 'Omertà' are equipped with the rifle.
Northern Province[]
- Three elite KPA soldiers protecting the Five of Hearts have the rifle.
- Tow snipers protecting the Two of Spades from the hilltop are equipped with these.
- A sniper just northwest of the Three of Spades, standing on top of a bunker has one.
- Multiple soldiers encountered in 'Loose Ends', including the Jack of Spades himself, are equipped with the rifle.
- During the final ace contract, 'The Ace of Spades', there are elite snipers equipped with these standing on top of the launch facilities walls.
Real life[]
The Anti-Armor Rifle appears to be based on the Russian KSVK rifle.