The Distress Pistol (or "Flare Gun") is a 12 gauge orange/red weapon made of metal, carbon and plastic. It is used to launch Flare Shells single-shot, so it must be reloaded manually each time as well as losing 4% each time used. The Distress Pistol cannot be repaired, and it's ammunition is finite and cannot be crafted.

The prototype for this pistol is the Orion 12 Gauge Alerter Basic-4.
Description:
"A device used to launch an emergency beacon into the air. Fires Flare Shells."

Weight
0.40kg (empty)
0.45kg (loaded)

The Distress Pistol is mainly used for:

• Illuminating Areas: fired flare shells will illuminate an area overhead as well as their landing site (comparable to a hand-held Flare) and will burn for 15 minutes (in-game). While lit on the ground, a flare shell will deter nearby Wolves and Timberwolves from approach it, as well as reducing Timberwolf Morale if landing nearby a member of their pack. Upon landing, flare shells may ricochet off hard surfaces.
  
• Frightening Wildlife: similar to reports from the Hunting Rifle or Revolver, shots from the Distress Pistol scare all nearby animals. This is especially useful against Bears, which are not typically frightened by gunshots, as well as the more dangerous Aurora Wolfs and Aurora Bears.
  
• Hunting: all animals (except Moose) bleed out upon being struck by weapons, so even a single Distress Pistol shot will kill it's target (if it hits). Distress Pistols do high damage, and are likely to instantly kill Wolves or Timberwolves if struck in the body or head. Hitting animals can be difficult or dangerous however, since launched flares arc heavily, making them easier to hit at close range. If an animal survives being initially struck by a flare shell, it will bleed out shortly there after, and can be easily tracked even at night as the attached flare continues burning: illuminating the animal from even long distances.

The Distress Pistol can be quickly selected with the Weapons Hotkey ("2" by default), or the "Weapons" tab of the Radial Menu ("SPACE"), or equipping it via the inventory.

It is loaded and reloaded by pressing Reload ("R") or selecting the option to reload from the Inventory.

To use the weapon must first be Aimed ("RIGHT MOUSE") and then Fired ("LEFT MOUSE"). Unlike the Hunting Rifle and Bow, the Distress Pistol does not drain Stamina to aim, and this can be aimed indefinitely, as well as while moving (unlike the Revolver) albeit at a slower pace.
ammo for him:


Repair and Assembly
The Distress Pistol cannot be repaired or crafted, nor can it's ammunition. It is always found at 100% Condition. Distress Pistol cases always contain one Distress Pistol and variable amounts of ammunition based on Survival Mode difficulty and/or loot settings.

Distress Pistols are always found inside of a bright orange case with up to 8 Flare Shells. The pistol is always found at 100% Condition, though Flare Shells decay condition extremely slowly (~1% every 100 days).

Single Flare Shells may be found very rarely in high-loot quality locations, such as inside the drawers of Workbenches, inside of Safes, or behind/underneath furniture indoors.

Appearance in-game:

examples of finding:


Survival Mode
Timberwolf Mountain

• Timberwolf Mountain Summit, inside the Tail Section.

The Ravine

• Ravine Basin - Inside the railcar at the bottom of the basin (requires a Climbing Rope to be deployed, to access).

Bleak Inlet

• Lonely Lighthouse - near the ruined structure's top.

Ash Canyon

• Campfire: between Pillar's Footrest and Climber's Cave

Hushed River Valley

• Peak Cave
  
• Lovely Cave
  
• Valley Cave

Challenge Mode

• The Hunted: Part 1 - Skeeter's Ridge, inside the basement.
  
• Hopeless Rescue - atop Timberwolf Mountain (inside the Tail Section of the crashed aircraft). NOTE: during this challenge, this is the only location where a Distress Pistol may spawn.

SPOILERS FOR "WINTERMUTE" STORY MODE
Wintermute (Story Mode)
Episode 1

• Crashed Plane - a distress pistol case with ammunition will be available immediately after the plane crash, if this item is selected to be loaded into Mackenzie's plane in the Hangar prior to departure.
  
• Mission: Highway Robbery - A second pistol can be found during the mission.

Episode 2

• Carter Hydro Dam - inside the bathroom.

Episode 3

• Burned Ridge - A case can be found among the aircraft debris.
  
• Community Center - A distress pistol with ammunition can be found inside the Community Center, after completing the Mission "Fallen Star".

Flare rocket - 12 gauge smooth-bore pyrotechnic cartridge for a signal pistol. Consists of a sleeve, primer, gunpowder and signal star. Lights up red after firing.
Three shots of red cartridges at short intervals usually indicate a distress call.
This cartridge deteriorates in a warm room at a rate of about 1% in 25 days.
Where to find
Flare rockets are more likely to be found:
on fragile ice, with some frequency;
in the tail of the plane - quite a lot in a box with a pistol;
in Ambar at the sublocation of the Buildings in the Pleasant Valley;
in a service carriage, in a gorge at the sublocation of the Raven Falls railway line;
in the safe;
at the Milton Park Office;
in the Lonely Cave;
in the Valley Cave;
with a small percentage of probability, it can be found in any random container.
Interesting Facts
The flare rocket can be used for its intended purpose. True, this is a great waste. After all, it illuminates only one place and glows for about 15 in-game minutes.
If a tainted Flare Flare is loaded into the Flare Pistol and then defused, the Flare Flare durability returns to 100%

3 atypical facts:

• When aiming at a hostile Wolf, they will immediately begin charging the player.
  
• When a signal flare hits the ice, it ricochets and flies a little further.
  
• Distress Pistols are featured heavily in television and films, such as the movie "The Road" (2009).

Information has actualed for 05.2021
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