There are many ways to shore up your defenses against the oppressive Dark Presence. However, resources for upgrades are fairly limited. You’ll want to figure out the best weapon upgrades to choose in Alan Wake 2 to prevent any buyer’s remorse.
Unlike some action games, Alan Wake 2 doesn’t shower you with upgrade materials. There are a limited amount, so it’s imperative you spend them wisely. You won’t be able to reach the endgame with everything unlocked — at least until New Game Plus.
Choosing the right weapon upgrades in Alan Wake 2 means understanding your own play style, whether you like to get into the thick of things or kite enemies. Either way, there is a list of weapon upgrades you shouldn’t go without.
The 11 best weapon upgrades to get in Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake and Saga Anderson are armed with different weapons in the game, and both have their own upgrade trees. Alan hunts down Words of Power, whereas Saga seeks scattered Alex Casey lunchboxes for manuscript fragments. Here are the best upgrades for their weapons, respective by character:
Best weapon upgrades for Saga
Rifle
The rifle hits slow but hard. You should use it to take out enemies at a distance or weaken them enough for a few quick pistol shots. Get the two upgrades that maximize its power.
- Way Home: Bullets penetrate the enemy’s Darkness Shield. This upgrade lets you damage enemies at a distance without having to get close and burn through batteries.
- Kill Shot: Stand still to enter a focus mode, which increases accuracy and damage while pulling shots toward enemy weak points.
Sawed-off Shotgun
The sawed-off shotgun is a weapon you should trade for the pump-action shotgun later in the story. With that in mind, you should avoid spending too many scraps on upgrades. But there is one I suggest if you decide to buff the gun.
- Fluid Motion: Increases reload speed. This is an absolute must-have if you plan on sticking with this gun.
Crossbow
Like the sawed-off shotgun, the crossbow is something you’ll likely trade away later in the game (for the rifle). But if you want one upgrade, I do have a suggestion.
- Magnetic Pull: Bolts lodged into enemies will attract bullets fired near them.
Pistol
The pistol is your bread-and-butter weapon in Alan Wake 2. Getting all three upgrades is more than acceptable, but I suggest getting these two ASAP:
- Again and Again: Hold the fire button to activate auto-fire mode. This is a fantastic upgrade for dealing damage. Pull the trigger to fire off up to five bullets, then release and do it again. And again.
- More Bullets: Increases magazine size by 50%. This pairs well with Again and Again, but it’s great on its own as it prevents a lot of time-wasting reloading during fights.
Pump-action shotgun
The pump-action shotgun is an absolute beast of a weapon that’s best used to send heavy fire down range to take out enemies quickly. The best upgrade to accomplish this?
- Under Control: Move faster while aiming. The other two upgrades are okay, but standing still shouldn’t be an option and auto-fire burns too many precious rounds. Move and focus your aim at enemy weak points.
Best weapon upgrades for Alan Wake
Alan doesn’t upgrade his weapons the same way as Saga does in the game. You use Words of Power to upgrade your arsenal, and specific Words are needed for specific aspects of Alan. There is a lot to consider, and we have a guide covering the best overall Words to get first. But strictly for combat, you need to focus on find Word upgrades for Word of Gun, Word of Action, and Word of War.
Best Word of Gun upgrades
- Personal Space: Increases the knockback force of Alan’s shotgun. It’s smart to create some distance between yourself and danger. Right?
Best Word of War upgrades
- Paint the Town: Increases shotgun damage when hitting multiple enemies with one shot. You’ll get ganged up on more often than you’d like, and being able to damage whole groups at once is a blessing.
- Full Stop: Increases damage dealt by the last bullet in the revolver’s chamber. You can upgrade this all the way to 100% extra damage, making that last bullet hit like a cannonball.
Best Word of Action upgrades
- It’s Personal: Increases damage dealt to enemies in close proximity. Enemies will get in your business fast when playing as Alan. Combine this upgrade with Personal Space for some serious power.
Of course, these are merely suggestions and not strict rules to follow. Depending on your play style, you may opt for different upgrades. But for the money, you shouldn’t do without considering the above.
