Guides → Weapons & upgrades
All weapons & upgrades
There are five weapons in The Sinking City 2, each with two upgrades found in the world. Locations verified against the GameSpew walkthrough (August 19, 2026). Chapter numbers refer to our walkthrough.
Pistol
Where to find it: Starting weapon
Upgrades:
- E.R.C. Crate on the Annex first floor (Ch. 2, after meeting Corentin)
- Voss Aiming Grip — Devil's Reef Hotel Room 301 safe, code 2137 (Ch. 2). Adds a timing marker to the crosshair; perfectly timed shots deal more damage
Field Surgeon (pump-action shotgun)
Where to find it: The Silver Eel saloon, on the display past the safe room (Ch. 2). Takes 2 inventory slots; ammo is expensive to craft
Upgrades:
- Cutter's Sturdy Stock — printing press puzzle, all-gold solution (Ch. 2). Bonus damage shooting enemies in the back
- E.R.C. Crate at Akeley Hospital reception (Ch. 3)
Minuteman (submachine gun)
Where to find it: Devil's Reef Hotel basement, on the table next to the ventilation machine (Ch. 2)
Upgrades:
- Akeley Hospital storage room, padlock code 1308 (Ch. 3)
- Fishing Shop buoy locker, symbol code Lighthouse–Rings–Star–Squid (Ch. 4)
Grenade launcher
Where to find it: Fish Market Weighing Station, behind the door sealed by two starfish (Ch. 4)
Upgrades:
- Fish Market Locker Room safe, code 1496 (Ch. 4) — reachable before you own the weapon
- Salt Storage, Cutting Area, button code I-IV-IX-XVI (Ch. 4)
Rifle
Where to find it: Akeley Hospital, room beyond the Materials room near the Prosthetics Workshop (Ch. 3)
Upgrades:
- E.R.C. Crate on the Portal Room second floor (Ch. 5)
- E.R.C. Crate at the cliffside tent (Ch. 5)
Exact answers for the coded attachments: Room 301 / 2137, Hospital Storage / 1308, Ezekiel buoy locker, Locker Room / 1496, Salt Storage. Ammo running out between those upgrades: combat guide.
How upgrades work: E.R.C. Crates and Activator Pens
Many upgrades sit inside E.R.C. Crates, which only open with an E.R.C. Activator Pen — a consumable found nearby or carried from earlier areas. If a crate won't open, you're missing a pen; they're usually within a room or two. Crates also hold inventory slot upgrades, ammo and Dream Essence, so they're always worth a detour. For every crate and its nearest consumable pen, use the E.R.C. Crate & Activator Pen checklist.
Talents: Dream Essence
Weapons are only half the build. Connecting evidence in your Investigation space earns Dream Essence, spent at safe rooms on talents. Upgrades and talents synergize — stacking weak-point damage against Slither-type enemies is the classic example. Our walkthrough lists the evidence groupings per chapter. For first-pick recommendations, tier unlocks and slot rules, see the talents & Dream Essence guide.
Edition & pre-order weapons
| Weapon | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Shale Mary (handgun skin/variant) | Chthonic Arsenal pre-order bonus |
| Breakwater (shotgun variant) | Chthonic Arsenal pre-order bonus |
| Tektite Tommy (SMG variant) | Chthonic Arsenal pre-order bonus |
| Bucking Bronco (revolver) | Premium edition or Holloway Manor DLC completion — Holloway Manor walkthrough |
Edition contents and pricing: editions compared.