The Ratslayer is a unique Varmint Rifle with a night vision scope, a suppressor, and an extended magazine attached. It can be found in the Broc Flower Cave.

It’s considered one of the best early-game weapons. It boasts the third-highest critical hit chance multiplier in the entire game, which is a 5x multiplier. The only weapons with a higher critical hit multiplier are weapons that you have finite/limited ammo for and thus cannot use during most encounters.

Quick tips before you go out to get the rifle:

• Giant Rats in the area. The entire area is filled with Giant Rats, which can be quite difficult to deal with in the early game as they have a surprisingly high amount of HP and deal significant damage. Bringing Hollow Point ammunition will make killing them much easier.
• Dark area. The entirety of Broc Flower Cave is incredibly dark. Consider bringing a dose of Cateye with you. Doing so will make navigating the cave and killing/avoiding the rats much easier.

Acquisition of the Ratslayer

To find the Ratslayer, you must make your way to Broc Flower Cave, which is located west of Ranger Station Echo and north of Camp Searchlight.

Look for a hill with a pathway up the side, you’ll see a shabby wooden door, which acts as the entrance to the cave, and use it to enter.

When you enter the cave, go down the path in front of you.

Next, take the path on your right. Whenever there is a fork in the way, always turn right until you find yourself on a ridge overlooking a large, open part of the cave.

The first turn is right down the path at the start. Take the right, right where the minecart with a barrel inside it is.

The next turn is in a slightly more open area which is also filled with barrels. Follow the right wall. You’ll know you’re going the correct way if you pass a flaming barrel.

Just a short walk after that last turn you should get to the ridge. Follow it to the end. Try to be sneaky so that the rats in the open area below don’t spot you

At the end of the ridge, you should see a broken fence, beyond which is a room.

There are several metal tables inside of that room. Look at the one in the far left corner. The Ratslayer should be leaning against it.

Comparison of the Ratslayer to the Varmint Rifle

• The Ratslayer deals more damage (23 damage vs 18 damage)
• The Ratslayer has a higher critical hit chance multiplier (5x vs 1x)
• The Ratslayer has a higher magazine size than the base Varmint Rifle, on part with a fully upgraded one (8 vs 5)
• The Ratslayer is far more durable (995 attacks before breaking vs 595 attacks before breaking)

Tips for using the Ratslayer

• Get the weapon as early as possible. Thanks to its low-cost ammunition, absurd critical hit modifier, and ability to accept Hollow Point and Armor-Piercing ammunition, it’s one of the best early-game weapons. 
• Using this weapon with a critical hit build can make it surprisingly viable, even in the mid-late game. Check out our critical hit build guide here.