Once players have survived their initial spawn and found everything they need to get started in DayZ, they will likely explore further into the map, and no doubt come across a few firearms and their attachments. Players can customize their weapons with these attachments, and the choice of what to use will depend on what stats they want to prioritize.
With over two dozen different types of guns in the game and plenty of attachments to choose from, it can be difficult for players to know which ones are the most beneficial. Here are the best weapon attachments for players to look out for in DayZ.
9 Compensators
An attachment that is only available for the SG5-K, the compensator lowers bullet dispersion and therefore increases the gun’s accuracy. Despite this, the increase is only marginal, at around 3%, so it’s barely worth it. Players should use a different muzzle attachment, like a suppressor or a bayonet, as these will be far more valuable than a Compensator.
That being said, as the Compensator is only available for one gun, players won’t be using it all that often anyway, which is handy because other attachments do a far better job of increasing accuracy and reducing recoil.
8 Flashlights
Flashlights come in two types – a pistol flashlight for handguns, and a universal flashlight for everything else. As one would expect, they light up the player’s surroundings, illuminating the interior of a building or lighting up the wilderness at night.
While they may be useful in these circumstances, they can give away the player’s position to enemies, so it might be best to avoid using one. They also require a 9V battery to function, and players will only get about 80 minutes of use before having to place a new one in. Flashlights can be attached to a rail Handguard on a gun, or they can be mounted on a tactical helmet.
7 Bayonets
Fixed on the end of a long gun, Bayonets allow the player to deal four times more damage to enemies with their melee attack. It also causes far more shock damage, has a high chance to cause bleeding, and can even one-shot opponents if aimed at the head.
Overall, Bayonets are useful to kill players in close-quarters areas such as buildings but don’t perform as well against the infected. While it could be used stealthily to bayonet the Zs from behind and avoid getting swarmed, it doesn’t have as much stopping power as some might expect.
6 Handguards
Handguards are used for two main purposes – recoil control and sway reduction, and different models have different stats associated with them. If looking to reduce recoil for short-range combat, players can equip an M4 Rail Handguard if wielding an M4, or a KA Wooden Handguard for AK weapons, or an SG5 K Rail Handguard for the SG5 K.
If looking for reduced sway for long-range shots, an MP Handguard is best for M4s, whereas a KA Rail Handguard works well for AK weapons, and an SG5 K Polymer Handguard is helpful for the submachine gun.
5 Buttstocks
As with Handguards, players should choose between a recoil control or a spray reduction build. If going the recoil route, an M4 CQP Buttstock is great for M4s, while a KA Wooden Buttstock is best for AK weapons, and a LAR Polymer Buttstock reduces recoil for LARs.
As for sway reduction, an M4 MP Buttstock should be used for M4s, or a KA Folding Buttstock for AK weapons, and a LAR Folding Buttstock for LARs. Players would be wise to mix and match these attachments to try and get either the lowest recoil or the lowest spray, dependent on the type of combat they’re expecting to run into.
4 Sights
Sights are some of the optics that are available in DayZ, but don’t provide any magnification and are best used for short-range firefights. Every sight in the game provides the same buff to accuracy, so the choice of which one to pick is largely down to personal preference.
In general, they aren’t as useful as Scopes due to their limited long-range potential, but they do provide a greater field of view when aiming, which can be useful in certain circumstances, such as clearing a building. Sights have their place in the game, but ultimately don’t provide the same level of accuracy as Scopes and aren’t going to be as helpful.
3 Scope
Every Scope, just like Sights, increase accuracy by the same amount, meaning it is also largely down to personal preference. However, different scopes have different magnifications, ranging from the x1.8 Pistol Optic to the x12 Hunting Scope.
In most situations, a middle-of-the-road approach is best, using a medium scope such as the x4 PSO 1 Optic or the x6 ATOG Optic. These are all-rounders that will enable players to get shots off over long distances but also allow them to engage in close to medium-range firefights.
2 Suppressors
Far eclipsing a Bayonet or a Compensator, Suppressors are by far the best muzzle attachment. They reduce the noise made from shots, meaning players and the infected won’t hear it if over 150 meters away, and each one besides the improvised Plastic Bottle Suppressor also provides buffs to accuracy and recoil control.
Suppressors do come with a penalty to sway, but the fact that players can better hide their activity and avoid drawing zombies toward them while firing make these attachments absolutely worth the downsides. Players should acquire a Suppressor the first chance they get, even if it’s the improvised version.
1 Ghillie Rifle Wrap
Used in conjunction with a long gun and a Suppressor, the Ghillie Rifle Wrap is the ultimate tool for stealth. This attachment does have to be crafted from 2 burlap strips and 1 netting, but the camouflage it provides grants players the ability to avoid detection from other players and use whatever gun they like without it risking their concealment.
It can be put on most guns (excluding pistols) and is a fantastic accompaniment to a full-body ghillie suit.
DayZ is available for PS4, Xbox One, and Windows.