A true staple of the Metro series, the Tikhar rifle (sometimes spelled ‘Tihar’) has appeared in some form since the very first game. The Metro Exodus Tikhar falls into the ‘Special Weapons’ category and was showcased in 4A Games’ latest gameplay trailer, alongside the Helsing crossbow. “The Tikhar is a silent, pneumatic, Metro-made rifle,” explains 4A Games; “constructed from scavenged components. It fires high-velocity ball bearings propelled by a cylinder of compressed air.”
As one might expect, the Tikhar’s ball bearings don’t deal very much damage. However, they do have low recoil. As such, the weapon is surprisingly stable for something with such a high rate of fire. With the right sight or scope, the rifle can also be effective at mid- and even long-range. While other rifles like the Bulldog and Kalash offer higher damage, the Tikhar fills a unique role thanks to the fact that it shoots almost silently. What’s more, the Metro Exodus Tikhar can now use “craftable incendiary ammo,” which you can make in the field. This ammunition explodes on contact. Of course, the weapon also has a wide variety of customisation options. Two of these potential configurations were shown in the recent gameplay trailer.
Metro Exodus Tikhar Configurations #1: The Sparta Rifle
The first configuration for the Metro Exodus Tikhar features a Horizontal Magazine, which increases the ammo capacity to 27 balls or 9 capsules. It also has an Airtight Pneumatic System, which prevents pressure loss, as well as a Night Vision Scope and Infrared Laser. These components turn the Tikhar into the ‘Sparta Rifle,’ which excels in nighttime stealth missions. With higher precision and greater ammo capacity, it should be valuable for players who favour stealth tactics.
Metro Exodus Tikhar Configurations #2: The Hell Breath
Players looking for something a bit more powerful, however, may find the Hell Breath more useful. This configuration transforms the pneumatic rifle into a railgun; “the ultimate, long-range anti-personnel rifle, with only one flaw; damage depends on your current charge.” It features a Helical Magazine, giving it the maximum ammo capacity of 36 balls or 12 capsules. This is truly the ultimate version of the Tikhar, boasting its maximum damage, accuracy, and ammo capacity. The damage of this weapon is totally transformed from that of its other configurations; it leaps from near the bottom of the chart to the very top!