How to get guns early in System Shock

If want to know how to get guns early in System Shock, you’re making a smart decision. The Nightdive Studios remake of the classic doesn’t go out of the way to build complex combat mechanics. What it does do though is put an emphasis on maintaining and using a large and varied arsenal of tools and weapons to thrive in firefights in your mission against SHODAN.

We’ll go over how to get guns early in System Shock, specifically how to pick up the two first weapons available in the game on Level One of Citadel Station. You’ll need more than just guns to succeed in this game though, so make sure you know how to heal in System Shock too.

Early-game guns in System Shock

There are two guns you’ll be able to pick up in the first level of System Shock. These guns are the KE-41 Minipistol and the TB-05 Sparobeam. Both of these weapons are comparatively weak to later weapons that you’ll come across in-game, but they’ll serve you very well in the early game, especially compared to the limited utility of melee weapons like the wrench and lead pipe that you’ll have to begin with.

How to get the Sparobeam

To get the Sparobeam in System Shock, you’ll need to head towards the centre of Level One – Medical. Here you’ll see four different quadrants – Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma – denoted by signs. You need to head up the elevator next to the sign denoting Beta Quadrant. Be careful how you do this, as there will be a Hopper robot guarding it. The best way to deal with this threat is to throw an EMP grenade at it, then smash it to bits with your chosen melee tool.

Once up the elevator, turn left and follow the corridor around the corner. Defeat the cyborg you’ll run into, and then open the furthest door down the hall. Head over to the desk near the middle of the room, and you’ll find the Sparobeam ready and waiting for you. Note that cyborg enemies will also drop these weapons when killed, but these versions will always be broken, and can only be recycled for scrap.

The Sparobeam will be your first encounter with an energy weapon. While this gun isn’t as effective at long range and has poor armour penetration, it consumes energy rather than ammunition, meaning that as long as you’ve got a recharge station nearby, it can effectively fire an unlimited number of shots. You can also increase the firepower of the beam into high-charge or overcharge for more damage, though this will consume energy much faster. Finally, the Sparobeam is more effective against robotic and cybernetic enemies, dealing a damage bonus to these targets. It’ll make easy work of the deadly early-game Hopper robot turrets you’ll encounter.

How to get the Minipistol

To get this versatile pistol, you’ll also need to head to Beta Quadrant. Once you’re up the lift, turn left and turn the corner. You’re looking for the second-to-last door here, which should have a name above it reading ‘Althea Grossman’. Step inside, and you’ll find your weapon on the ground next to a corpse.

The Minipistol will almost certainly be your first brush with kinetic weapons. It’s got a high rate of fire and a decent range for its size, but it will need ammunition to use. This is actually an advantage in some ways, however, as many of the later upgrades you’ll collect such as a personal shield and advanced sensors also need energy to operate, so using a kinetic weapon helps to better regulate your supply if you don’t have an active recharge point nearby. You can also collect standard or teflon-coated rounds for the Minipistol. Not only is this the most abundant ammo in the game, dropping off even late-game enemies, but teflon-coated rounds are especially effective against armoured enemies, as they have higher armour penetration.

That’s how to get guns early in System Shock. It’s worth noting that both of these guns can actually be found multiple times on Level One, as well as on other early levels. We simply supplied the fastest route to get to them both at once.

There are plenty of other weapons you’ll be able to pick up throughout the game, including laser pistols, a shotgun, an assault rifle, and more, all of which will drastically change your gameplay experience when it comes to combat. All of these weapons can be upgraded with mod-kits too, but you’ll need to know how to get credits in System Shock to afford them.