PUBG Tips and Tricks: The Ultimate Guide

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, also known as PUBG, has been one of the most popular and exciting battle royale games since its release. With millions of players around the world, it’s a game that requires strategy, quick thinking, and a bit of luck to come out on top. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the game, there are always tips and tricks that can help you improve your skills and increase your chances of winning. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore some of the best tips and tricks for PUBG that you can use to dominate the battlefield and come out on top.

Before You Start PUBG

PUBG is a fantastic game full of competition and heartbreak, but it isn’t without its flaws, it is in preview as of now after all. That being said, before you even start the game up there are a few things you can do to give yourself an edge.

Get a Gaming Headset

This is important, and could very well make the difference between surviving and being killed. Make sure the headset has some form of surround sound so that you can hear the specific direction that shots are coming from and or where the sound of footsteps are. I can’t stress the importance of this enough in PUBG.

Practice

Before you hop in with expectations of getting that elusive chicken dinner and being the last player standing you need to practice. I suggest jumping into some of the most populated and volatile areas to get your skill level up. You WILL die A LOT, but, you will also learn a lot really fast about the shooting and looting mechanics.

Choosing A Drop Zone

Every game of PUBG starts on a plane that takes a random one-way, straight-line trip across the map where you have to choose where and when you want to jump out a skydive down to. For me, there are two schools of thought when deciding to jump in. You are either trying to survive or you’re going for gear.

By survive I mean, gear is not your number one priority. You want to jump to a spot that is less kinetic and you are less likely to encounter other players right off the bat. The flip side is you want to jump in and get the best gear you possibly can and are ready and willing to kill for it even if that means fisticuffs to the death as soon as you hit the ground. With that being said I have highlighted the best drop zones for each of these scenarios based on my experience.

As far as how you should make your way to the ground, I suggest, if your desired drop point is on the flight path, wait until the last second when you are directly over the top of the place and jump and then point yourself straight down and don’t move until your chute opens. If your drop point is off the flight path, fly straight to the desired area and then point yourself straight down to gain as much speed as possible so that you open your chute as low as you can.

Survival Drop Zones

The places at the top of the map tend to be pretty good for loot and very little fighting, the biggest issue with those spots is the play zone is often very far away so you are usually limited with the amount of time you have to loot initially because you will have to begin searching for a vehicle to get inside the play zone.

Gear Grabbing Drop Zones

Some of my favorite places to drop into are Lipovka, Novorennoye, Primorsk, and Shooting Range. All of those are pretty good for groups or solo play. Shooting Range can sometimes be stingy with loot and therefore may not be a great place for a group to drop.

Looting

Let me reiterate that everything in this guide is my opinion based on my experiences. That being said I have played quite a bit and have had my fair share of success as well as plenty of failures.

Gear

Don’t pick up everything you see

A mistake I see a lot and I have made myself is picking up every single thing you come across. Try to have somewhat of a plan. Know what is it you’re looking to grab. Personally as far as gear goes, always pick up the highest-level chest, helmet, and backpack you come across. Outside of that, I recommend only picking up frag grenades and painkillers/energy drinks and maybe a first aid kit until you have a level 3 backpack which will grant you enough room to pick up what you want for the most part.

Energy Drinks/Painkillers

The more I play the more I am surprised at different aspects of the game that players do not know. That being said if you are going to get caught by the blue circle, drink your energy drinks and painkillers. These will fill up the bar above your health bar and will significantly reduce the rate at which you lose health from being outside the playable area. In addition to this effect, the drinks can also slowly restore your health back to full even if you can only bandage a certain portion. These are some of the most important items you can hold in my opinion.

Bandages/First Aid Kits

Bandages will restore a small portion of your health up to a certain point

First Aid Kits will completely restore your health up to the marked point on your health bar.

Med Kit

These are different from first aid kits in that even if your health has been permanently reduced due to bleed, burns, or shots, it will restore your health to 100% no matter what.

Cosmetics/Clothing

The only piece of clothing that I would say has an undeniable benefit is the ghillie suit. This can only be found in airdrop crates or on killed players that possessed it. Outside of the ghillie suit your really just picking things up for your own personal style choice.

Weapons

Below I will list all weapons with their corresponding ammo type and my quick thoughts on the weapon. Overall you will have to play and experiment with different weapons to see what appeals to you and your play style. Personally, I prefer to have one automatic assault rifle and one long-range weapon. My go-to weapons are the SKS accompanied by a DP-28 machine gun. Again, you will have to play to find what you like and prefer.

Assault Rifles

All of the following assault rifles have a default 30-round magazine capacity.

Groza – 7.62

This weapon can only be found in airdrop crates and is arguably one of the best weapons in the game. I personally do not use it because of its kick, but it is one that you should definitely pick up and try. It’s one of the most popular weapons for a reason.

AKM – 7.62

Single or automatic, this weapon packs a punch but has a pretty hard kick. Despite its faults, its one of my go-to weapons to fill that automatic weapon slot in my preferred loadout.

SCAR-L – 5.56

Single or automatic,  this is my favorite 5.56 assault rifle. It is capable of taking the range slot or the auto slot making it very versatile.

M16A4 – 5.56

This is one of the only weapons with a 3-round burst fire mode in the game. I never use the burst fire but some swear by it. It can also fire in single-shot mode and serves as a decent-range weapon option.

M416 – 5.56

This is basically the M16 but with full auto mode. Great choice as it has the maximum amount of attachment slots available to you allowing you to customize it to your liking.

Shotguns

S12K – 12 gauge

This is a semi-automatic magazine-fed shotgun that can fire rapidly. Up close and indoors this gun can kill players very quickly. Outside of those scenarios, I think there are better choices. It lacks range and has incredible recoil.

S1897 – 12 gauge

This pump action shotgun holds 5 rounds and performs just about the way you would think a pump shotgun would. Great for close-quarters fights but lacks range.

S686 – 12 gauge

This is a double barrel shotgun with better range than the other 2 shotguns. I love the way this gun feels in the game, but it takes a few seconds to reload, and with only 2 shots it can be an all-or-nothing choice.

Sniper Rifles

AWM – .300 magnum

This 5-round, bolt-action sniper is the weapon you think of when you think of sniper rifles. It fires slowly, and precisely, and it hits like a truck. Pair this bad boy with a silencer and a ghillie suit and you can wreak havoc.

Mk12 – 7.62

With a 10-round magazine, this weapon can function as a sniper but also offers a full auto mode. I have only used it a few times as it felt like a subpar version of both a sniper and an automatic weapon. It is worth trying out as it does hit hard.

M24 – 7.62

This sniper holds 5 rounds and is a great choice for a long-range option. If you see it in an airdrop crate, give it a shot.

Mini 14 – 5.56

I feel this weapon is very underrated and gets passed up by a lot of players. With a 20-round magazine, low recoil, and high fire rate, the Mini 14 is an excellent choice to fill your ranged weapon slot.

KAR98k – 7.62

5 rounds, has bolt action, hits hard, and has range. I have a love-hate relationship with this weapon. When it works, it’s fun to use, but I stopped picking it up in favor of the SKS.

SKS – 7.62

This has a 10-round magazine with a high rate of fire and excellent accuracy. It is my go-to weapon for ranged engagements. It feels like it hits like a KAR98k but with half the recoil, 10x the fire rate, and more attachment options.

VSS Ventorez – 9mm

This weapon has a 10-round magazine and an option for full auto. It also has its own optic mounted on it. I really can’t give any real opinion on it as I have only fired it in the lobby prior to games. It has low recoil but it is firing 9mm rounds and only possesses a 10-round magazine. I think there are better choices.

Machine Guns / SMGs

M249 – 5.56

This machine gun has a 100-round drum magazine and an extremely high automatic fire rate. Easily one of the best weapons in the game for medium to close-range engagements. Only accessible through airdrop crates. If you see it grab it!

Tommy Gun – .45

This is another weapon that gets passed over a lot. While it is not my first choice, it is an excellent weapon that can cause serious damage. If you pass one, especially without a weapon, grab it, it could save your life.

UMP9 – 9mm

Great SMG, lots of attachment slots offering a variety of fire modes. It is a versatile weapon that is readily available across the map. This is definitely a weapon that you should get familiar with as it is often one of the first ones you will come across and will find lots of attachments for.

Micro Uzi – 9mm

This weapon has one of the highest rates of fire in the game. That said, it has a relatively small magazine and abysmal accuracy. I only pick this up in a bind and try to limit engagements with it to very close quarters.

Vector – .45

This weapon gets passed over a lot as well. In its infancy (when you first pick it up) there isn’t a lot to love. But, if you can get an extended magazine on it with some other attachments, it can prove to be very deadly. It has a very high rate of fire and great accuracy at close range. Play around with this one, you might like what you find.

Pistols

P18C – 9mm

This pistol has a 17-round magazine and boasts a fully automatic mode. In my opinion its hit or miss, I would compare it to a mini uzi that sits in your pistol slot.

P92 – 9mm

Your run of the mil pistol with a 15-round magazine. Grab as needed.

P1911 – .45

This pistol has a small 7-round magazine but hits hard. It’s a trade-off not everyone is willing to make. Personally, depending on the situation I will grab this or the R1895 revolver.

R1895 – 7.62

This weapon is the only revolver and holds 7 rounds. What it lacks in magazine size it makes up for in power. This pistol feels very accurate from long range when compared to other pistols. The trade-off, it takes a REALLY long time to reload.

Melee

There are a bunch of different melee weapons in PUBG but I am going to save you some time and talk about the only one that matters.

The Pan

The pan is the only melee weapon that matters in PUBG. If you see one pick it up! Not only can the pan do a lot of damage to another player if you hit them with it but it can and does block bullets. While not in use the pan site on your lower back and will reflect bullets that strike it. This has saved many players and it can save you too. Plain and simple, if you see it grab it. Pan is love, pan is life.

Grenades

• Stun
• Frag
• Molotov Cocktail
• Smoke grenades

They are all pretty self-explanatory. I usually only pick up frags. Occasionally I will pick up stun grenades if I can’t find others as they can be great for pushing in on someone who has barricaded themselves in somewhere or closing ground with someone out in the open toward the end of the game.

Attachments

Instead of listing every attachment in the game (which I don’t think will be very helpful), I’ll give a quick overview and my personal opinion on things.

• Silencers
• Flash Hiders
• Extended Magazines
• Quickdraw Magazines
• Red Dot Sights
• 8x Scopes
• Grips
• And More

My best advice is to play with different things and use what you like. I always recommend a Flash Hider as opposed to a Compensator on your barrel which will help keep you hidden from enemies while firing.

Outside of the Flash Hider, in my opinion, there really isn’t a specific choice that is significantly better than others. Pick up and use what you come across when you have the applicable weapon or a level 3 backpack with ample room.

Vehicles

UAZ (Closed Top)

A closed top, hard-framed vehicle with room for an entire team makes it one of the best vehicles available in PUBG.

UAZ (Open Top)

Exactly the same as the hard top UAZ except without the top. Still a good vehicle, but leaves you and your teammates much more vulnerable to enemy fire.

Dacia 1300

Rear wheel drive car with room for the team but has poor acceleration and terrible handling offroad.

Motorcycle (w/ sidecar)

Room for 3 players, excellent fuel consumption, acceleration, and speed. Very vulnerable to enemy fire and can easily be killed if you crash.

Motorcycle

Room for 2, the fastest vehicle available but also the easiest for others to shoot you off.

Buggy

Light, fast, and excellent offroad handling. The only downside is its open frame leaves the 2 occupants exposed to bullets.

PG-117

The only water vehicle in PUBG. There is enough room for an entire team and it travels very fast. No roof means highly exposed.

Gameplay Tips

Movement Tips

Here are some tips for efficient movement:

• Holster your weapon to run approximately 6% faster. This is great when trying to cover long distances when caught outside the play zone.
• Use autorun. This will preserve your fingers as long play sessions can be difficult if you’re holding the stick in one direction for minutes at a time.
• Make sure you rotate the camera around your character. It can be done while still or while running. Use this to look behind you or around you when moving. This is also a great way to keep an eye on players around you without moving if you are hidden.
• REMOVE YOUR SHOES! Prior to the game in the customization menu, you can remove your character’s shoes which makes you significantly quieter when moving without sacrificing speed.
• Place markers on the map. Use these to pick a spot you want to move to prior to moving. You will see the marker on your compass at the top of the screen so you always know if you’re headed in the right direction.
• Dive underwater. This is great for moving undetected or evading attacks if you are under fire.
• Vehicles are fantastic for covering large distances quickly but are also magnets for enemy players. Be aware of the attention you are drawing to yourself. If it’s towards the end of the game and the play zone isn’t very far, I suggest ditching vehicles and moving on foot so as to stay quiet.
• Be aware of the sound you make when moving. This can give you away your exact position to players that are nearby. When you are still you make no noise and can listen for others’ movements to help pinpoint their position.
• Use boost when in vehicles
• Use the handbrake while in a vehicle, giving you more control around tight corners.
• When you enter a building, close the door behind you. All doors start closed, when you leave one open you’re leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for others to follow right to you.

Fighting Tips

Here are some tips for combat:

• In Melee fights, headshots do considerably more damage. If you are using your fists, jumping and then punching will perform a superman punch that does significant damage.
• If someone engages you in a fistfight, turn and fight them. With a couple of headshots and/or superman punches you can quickly turn the tide even if they got the drop on you.
• While aiming your weapon, don’t forget that you can lean in any direction. Learn this, and use it, it can make a difference in life or death.
• When in a gunfight, especially if you get the jump on someone, try crouching. It will steady your sights and recoil making you much more accurate.
• If you click RB you can switch to first-person mode, some players prefer this for fighting. Try it out and see what you think.
• Aim down your sights. This is great for taking long shots and is significantly more accurate. That being said it impairs your movement so be careful.
• If you know that you are about to enter an area where a fight is immanent, go ahead and fill up with energy drinks and or painkillers. The boost in health recovery and small speed boost could make all the difference.

Looting Tips

Here are some tips for optimal looting:

• After you have killed someone don’t assume its clear to go loot. Often times its quite the opposite. ALWAYS assume someone is watching you and that you are never safe.
• When looting a body (or anything for that matter) you can still move while in the menu. Continue to make small movements back and fourth while looting to make it harder for anyone watching to get a head shot.
• Have a plan. Before you go loot a body, have an idea of what you’re looking for. If you know you just need 7.62 ammo and energy drinks, get to the loot menu and go straight to those items, grab them, and go. You never want to stay in one place too long.
• Do not get greedy. Grab what you NEED and keep moving.
• When entering a building to loot, clear the entire building first so that you can loot in peace. Its very easy for people to lure you into feeling safe by leaving loot on the ground to make the building appear to be untouched.
• You can use frags to clear small huts from the outside or buildings that you think may be occupied.
• After the first few minutes of gameplay pistols are essentially useless. Unless you have the automatic pistol, or don’t have enough ammo for your main weapons, don’t waste inventory space with pistol ammo.

Evasion Tips

Here are some tips for evading other players:

• Crouching inside of a bush can make for excellent cover. That being said, long grass and bushes do not load in until within 150 feet whereas players load in long before that making you an easy target for a sniper at long range. Use this when in a confined play zone.
• In PUBG, especially toward the end of the game when the play zone is very small, you do not want to fire unless the kill is guaranteed. As soon as you fire, you give away your position.
• At the end of the game, you can usually focus on evading and letting other players kill and wound each other. Wait for the right time to strike.
• If you take fire while out in the open, DO NOT GO PRONE. This will only make you an easier target. Instead, run in a zig-zag pattern. Even if you do not know where you are getting shot from, just pick a direction and run with the intention of breaking the line of sight wherever you can. Most times players will only chase you under certain circumstances. This means if you can break the line of sight and get to cover, you can likely heal and plot your next move.
• If you choose to take shelter in a building, find a small room and notice which way the door opens when you enter. Close the door and hide behind the door in the direction it opens so that someone that enters will have to turn around and close it to see you. This will allow you to get the jump on them. Remember close ALL doors behind you, and if you don’t need the loot, leave it so someone who comes behind you will think the building has been untouched and let their guard down.
• This goes both ways, when entering a building or room always immediately check behind the door so you don’t get shot in the back.
• When attempting to move while staying hidden stay low, if you walk along ridge lines you will create a silhouette that makes you stick out like a sore thumb at a distance.

Summary

By following the tips and tricks outlined here, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled and successful player. Remember to always stay alert, communicate with your teammates, and stay focused on your objectives. With practice and perseverance, you can dominate the battlegrounds and emerge as a champion in PUBG. So get out there, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

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