If you’ve ever found yourself slamming the reload button on an empty shotgun clip right as the Void Wyrm boss winds up its one-shot attack, you know exactly how frustrating ammo shortages can be. It doesn’t matter if you have the highest-tier weapon in the game or a perfectly built character – if you run out of ammo mid-fight, you’re dead weight for your squad. If you’ve been struggling with inconsistent stockpiles, mastering how to get ammo in The First Descendant will completely change how you approach every mission and open-world grind. I’ve put hundreds of hours into the game, testing every possible farming method and passive trick, so I can tell you exactly what works, what wastes your time, and what will keep your clips full no matter what you’re fighting.
Core Ways to Get Ammo in The First Descendant for All Playstyles
No matter if you main a solo sniper build or run support for a full squad, there are four consistent ways to build your ammo stockpile that work for every playstyle. You don’t need to spend hours grinding if you don’t want to, but mixing and matching these methods will make sure you never run out when you need it most.
If you’re still new to the game and figuring out how to get ammo in The First Descendant that matches your main weapon loadout, prioritizing enemy types that use the same guns as you is the fastest way to build a stockpile. For example, if you main a SMG for close-quarters fights, farm the Grunt mobs near the starting hub, since 80% of them carry SMGs and drop the exact ammo you need. You don’t have to wander aimlessly; just target the right mobs and you’ll have a full stock in 10 minutes or less.
Best Open-World Ammo Farming Routes for Solo Players
Solo players have to be extra careful with ammo, since you don’t have squadmates to share extra rounds with when you run out. The good news is there are a few dedicated farming routes that let you stock up on every ammo type fast, no squad required. My go-to route for general ammo is the Rust Valley Outpost loop, which takes 10 minutes to run and nets you around 800 mixed ammo rounds every run. The route runs around the perimeter of the outpost, where 120+ regular Grunts spawn in set intervals, with no elite or boss mobs to slow you down. You can run it on easy difficulty to make the kills even faster, and the ammo drop rate stays the same no matter what difficulty you choose.
If you’re looking for heavy weapon ammo specifically, head to the Volcanic Zone drone spawn points west of the central hub. Drones drop heavy ammo 60% of the time, and there are 20+ drone spawn points in a small, tight area that you can clear in 7 minutes flat. I used to waste 20 minutes running around random zones looking for heavy ammo before I found this route, now I can stock up 500 heavy rounds in less time than it takes to run a single low-difficulty mission. Just make sure you bring a long-range weapon to take out the drones quickly, since they fly high and are hard to hit with close-quarters guns.
Passive Ammo Generation Methods to Cut Down on Farming Time
If you hate grinding and would rather spend your time running boss fights or exploring new zones, passive ammo generation methods are exactly what you need. These require a little bit of setup first, but once you have them in place, you’ll barely ever have to stop to farm ammo again. First, pick a character with an ammo-related passive if you regularly struggle with shortages. Viessa’s passive generates 5 pistol ammo every 3 kills, which is perfect if you run a pistol as your secondary weapon. Ajax’s perk drops extra heavy ammo every time you destroy an enemy weak point, which is a game-changer if you main a rocket launcher or grenade launcher for boss fights.
Next, invest in the Ammo Regen Module mod for your most used weapon. This mod generates 1 round every 2 seconds when the weapon is holstered, so you’ll slowly build up ammo even when you’re running between fights or looting chests. For sniper mains, the Ammo On Kill mod gives you 2 sniper rounds per headshot, which means you almost never have to farm sniper ammo if you land your shots consistently. Squad bonuses also help a lot if you play with friends regularly. If you have a support character in your team, their group perk can give 10% extra ammo drops for the whole squad, which adds up fast over the course of a long mission. Even small passive buffs make a huge difference over time, and you’ll notice you have far more extra ammo than you used to once you add a few of these to your build.
Common Ammo Wasting Mistakes to Avoid
Even if you farm ammo regularly and have great passive perks, you can still run out mid-fight if you’re making these common mistakes. I’ve made all of these myself at one point, so I know exactly how costly they can be. First, stop using the wrong weapon type for small, weak enemies. Using a rocket launcher on regular Grunt mobs wastes heavy ammo you could save for boss fights, and it’s way less efficient than using a SMG or assault rifle to take them out in a few shots. Save your heavy ammo for high-health enemies and boss phases, and use lower-cost ammo for regular mobs.
Second, don’t skip ammo drops mid-mission just because you think you have enough. I can’t tell you how many times I skipped a stack of shotgun ammo right before a boss phase where I needed it most, and ended up having to use a weak pistol to try to finish the fight. It only takes 2 seconds to pick up ammo, so it’s always worth stopping even if your clip is full. Third, don’t fill your inventory with weapons you never use, since that takes up space you could use to carry extra ammo. You only need 2-3 weapons for most missions, so store the rest in your hub stash to free up 3-4 extra slots for ammo stacks. Finally, always restock at the hub before starting a Void Intercept mission. These missions have almost no ammo drops mid-fight, so running out is a guaranteed wipe for your whole squad. Take 30 seconds to check your ammo stock before you queue up, and you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration later.
At the end of the day, learning how to get ammo in The First Descendant doesn’t have to be a tedious grind that takes time away from fun boss fights and loot runs. Mix a few quick farming runs for the ammo types you use most, add 1-2 passive generation perks to your build, and avoid the common wasting mistakes we covered, and you’ll never have to panic about an empty clip mid-fight again. Every player’s needs are different, so test a few of these methods to see what works best for your playstyle, and adjust as you unlock new weapons and characters. You’ll be surprised how much easier every mission feels when you don’t have to worry about running out of ammo halfway through.