The Flare Gun (or “Distress Pistol”) is one of those rare tools you won’t find easily in the story mode for The Long Dark. They’re not just extremely rare — they’re also impossible to find until a certain Grey Mother trigger makes the weapon spawn. It might be sitting right under your home base.
There are multiple chapters in Wintermute, the new story mode add-on recently included in The Long Dark, and the flare gun is tough to find in every location. If you’re pulling your hair out and just want a cool orange gun that shoots flares, we’ve got all the locations listed (so far) — a little light helps fight The Long Dark.
More The Long Dark: Wintermute guides on Gameranx:
- The Long Dark: How To Get Healing & Fire | Story Guide
- The Long Dark: All Safety Deposit Box Key Locations | Story Guide
Where To Find The Flare Gun | Story Guide
The Flare Gun (Distress Pistol) is a special weapon that fires flares — duh! It’s a rare weapon, and extremely easy to miss in Episode 1.
- Chapter 1: On the west edge of Milton, there are three houses across the street from the School House. Search the center house and look under the red rug near the rest room door.
- NOTE: This hidden cache will only appear AFTER the Grey Mother hints at the Distress Pistol’s location.
- Chapter 2: Inside the Dam, located in an orange box with multiple flare rounds.
The Flare Gun is an extremely effective weapon that scares off animals — it’s especially useful at fending off packs of wolves. While it isn’t designed to kill, the Flare Gun can kill wildlife with a well-aimed shot.
NOTE: The Flare Gun is the only weapon that can scare bears. Not even the rifle can frighten bears.
More coming soon. We’ll update these locations as more episodes are released.
