This weapon was previously owned by Zulu. Its special features include an enlarged ammo box and a particularly reliable retracting mechanism design. The modifications meant an increase in the weapon's weight, but that wasn't a problem for the last owner.
― In-game description
Zulu's RP-74 is a unique variant of RP-74 light machine gun featured in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
Characteristics[]
Hah! It's not great, it's the best in the Zone. It's modified, so it's a touch on the heavy side, but then you don't need to run when you've got that kind of cannon on you - let the enemy do the running!
― Zulu describing his weapon
This one-of-a-kind RP-74 belongs to Zulu, a former member of Duty who resides near Yanov station. Compared to a standard RP-74, its durability was increased (by 43-50%) and it magazine capacity was increased by 50 rounds, to a 150-round capacity. However, these changes come with a downside: the weapon's weight is increased by 2.5 kg, for a total weight of 10 kg when empty.
With upgrades, it is possible to boost the magazine capacity to a whopping 250 rounds and the weapon's reliability can also be further increased, improving the weapon's ability to withstand prolonged fire. Further upgrades allow the player to turn the weapon into a deadly machine gun with better fire rate or accuracy depending on the player's preferences.
The main downside of this weapon (other than other disadvantages inherent to the RP-74) is its weight combined with the massive amount of ammunition it requires to be operated, which will likely force the player to discard some other items in their inventory or eventually use Hercules or an Exoskeleton to improve their carrying capacity. Nonetheless, it is a particularly powerful weapon that can prove to be very efficient against powerful enemies such as Pseudogiants, or large numbers of NPCs such as the Monolith fighters that appear during the final mission.
Acquisition[]
There are two ways to acquire this weapon:
- Zulu uses the machine gun as his main weapon for the trip through the Pripyat 1 underpass, and it can be retrieved from him if he dies at any point during the trip. It should be noted that this weapon may be grabbed by any of the player's teammates, which will force the player to kill him or have him killed by the enemies inside the tunnel for the weapon to be recovered. To avoid pointless bloodshed, it is best to immediately grab the weapon when Zulu dies.
- If Zulu survives the journey through the underpass, he will be later found at the School fighting off a group of snorks. Once again, he will drop the weapon on death. Alternatively, one may help him kill the snorks, and he will move to the Laundromat where he will give the player his machine gun as a reward.
- The player must be careful not to abandon Zulu after meeting him at the School (up to the point where the autosave is triggered), as moving far away from the building without rescuing him will cause him to disappear from the game alongside his weapon.
Glitches[]
- It is possible to acquire two of Zulu's RP-74s. This can be done by rescuing him at the School, but not escorting him to the Laundromat. Trade with him and he should have one of Zulu's RP-74 in his inventory. With enough money (~25000 RU), buy it from him, and let him go to the Laundromat. After a while, return there, speak to him and he will give the player a second one.
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