SV-98

SV-98 icon

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The **Snaiperskaya Vintovka Model 1998 (Lit: Sniper Rifle Model 1998)**, known in-game as the **SV-98**, is a bolt-action Sniper Rifle that uses the 7.62mm Ammunition and was added in the v0.4.0 "*Log and load*" update, on June 2, 2018.

## Sounds

* Firing
* Reloading
* Half Cycle when Magazine is empty
* Cycling and Swapping To

## Strategies

### Using

* The SV-98 can be used in the same manner as the Mosin-Nagant but just with more bullets in each magazine, with higher damage, bullet velocity, fire rate, and thicker bullets.
	+ However, the 10-round detachable magazine requires a slight adjustment in the reload strategy. Just try to take cover or use another weapon. You can also rely on your teammates in this situation.
* The SV-98 will always come with at least a 4x Scope when found in Golden Containers at the Docks. This makes it incredibly powerful, as you will often out-range and out-scope others. Use this to your advantage by sniping people from far away, getting many kills for low effort.
	+ If your target attempts to hide behind an Obstacle, continue firing as sniper bullets do 1.5x damage to obstacles with very little ammo cost.
* During combat, reloading the SV-98 when there are more than 5 bullets in the magazine is a waste of time. Five bullets are enough to kill several enemies, and reloading the SV-98 gives them time to heal. However, like all guns, reload whenever not in combat, as you never know what will happen during an exchange or when you'll need the extra bullets.
* Although it is a Sniper Rifle, the SV-98 is also useful in close quarters. It deals more damage per shot than the SPAS-12, and its shots do not spread when shooting it.
* The SV-98 is much more effective if the Player can quickswitch. This is extremely effective if the player quick switches between the SV-98 and another Sniper Rifle/Shotgun. Having two SV-98s is particularly devastating if the player knows how to Quickswitch, so never pass up the opportunity to use two SVs.
* The SV-98 is a great gun to use if you have good aim. Use it as an advantage against your opponent and keep peeking and shooting.
* The SV-98 has the highest bullet velocity out of all weapons in the game, which makes aiming easier as you do not have to lead your shots too much.
	+ Use the fast bullet velocity and long-range to take out opponents at a far range.
* The large bullet will reveal your position and prompt other players to take cover. So, once again, aim precisely.
* The firing sound is somewhat quiet for a non-suppressed sniper rifle or just a sniper rifle in general. Therefore, if you shoot from far away enough, the target may not even hear your bullet coming.

### Countering

* Try to get close range; never fight against someone with an SV-98 at long range unless necessary, where the best counter is using another sniper rifle or a DMR, as DMRs have great accuracy.
	+ Fight them with a fast-firing SMG or a shotgun at close range. Try to lure them into a bunker, where the reflective walls might make them damage themselves, and unload a shotgun/automatic weapon into them.
	+ However, note that skilled players may know how to use the SV-98 in close range.
* Move around erratically, preferably with high Adrenaline. Never move in straight lines or predictable patterns, as the opponent will likely lead their shots and hit you.
* Inexperienced players may not quickswitch, so they will have heavy recoil whenever they shoot. Wait until they shoot and then slam rounds into them.
	+ However, this would not work on skilled players that know how to quickswitch.
* The Scout Elite can be an effective counter to the SV-98 if you place your shots well. The low movement speed decrease after firing can allow you to dodge the SV-98's bullets without the need to quickswitch off your gun or expose yourself any longer than necessary. Be aware that this may take some time and effort if your opponent is well armored.
* The AWM-S can also be an effective counter, as it is for most guns since it does over 2x as much damage as the SV-98. However, don't try to do this at a super long-range, as the SV-98 has a much higher bullet velocity. Mid-range is best, and short-range can work too.
* Try to stay behind cover (preferably indestructible) as much as possible if you don't have adrenaline. This tactic works best with reflective covers such as a Container or Hedgehog, as the SV-98 user may accidentally hit themselves with their shots. Above all else, never take cover behind destructible objects, as the SV-98 can easily destroy them in just a few hits, especially barrels.
* The Super 90 can be used at close range or long range to take an SV-98 user out. It does similar damage, and the thicker bullet means that you are more likely to hit them. However, be aware that they might have a shotgun or SMG as a secondary weapon. In this case, the Pan is very helpful because it completely reflects the SV-98's powerful bullet.
	+ It should also be known that the SV-98 has a much higher range and bullet velocity than the Super 90. Try not to get too far away, or the SV-98's superiority in those aspects will cancel out the advantage gained with the thicker bullet.
* Be aware that if you see this weapon on the ground somewhere, the odds are that someone is using it to bait people into a trap because of it's rarity and usefulness. Look around for areas other survivrs can hide before you rush towards it.

## Rarity

The SV-98 is one of the rarest weapons in the game, falling behind all Golden Air Drop Weapons. It is verified to be rarer than the Saiga-12 by Justin and mainly spawns in golden containers in the Docks, where it is commonly found with a 4x scope, rarely found with an 8x scope, and extremely rarely with a 15x scope. There is a 1/26 chance of a golden Container spawning with the SV-98 in the Docks. Besides the Docks, it rarely spawns as Tier World loot and can be dropped in normal Air Drops.

## Links

* https://surviv.io/img/loot/loot-weapon-sv98.svg

## Trivia

* The SV-98 has the highest magazine size of any sniper rifle.
* The real-life SV-98 was made by Vladimir Stronskiy from Russia in 1998.
* The SV-98 is nicknamed "Mosin 2.0" by the Devs because many of its stats are better than the most common bolt-action sniper in the game, the Mosin Nagant.
* The SV-98 is a direct upgrade to the Mosin Nagant, with the SV-98s only disadvantage is the slower reload time and the rarity.
* As was confirmed by Justin, the SV-98 is rarer than the Saiga-12, officially making it the 4th rarest gun in the game behind the M249, PKP Pecheneg, and AWM-S.
* The weapon icon does not appear to have a scope, which would make aiming this gun at long range difficult. Most SV-98s would have a scope attached.
* In real life, the SV-98 uses the 7.62×54mmR cartridge. It can also fire 7.62x51mm NATO and .338 Lapua Magnum.
* In real life, the SV-98 has a counterpart, the SVN-98. It is a bullpup, bolt-action sniper rifle, also developed in 1998.
* The SV-98 in the game seems to sport an earlier version of the stock. It appears the standard version of the SV-98 sports a stock with a larger and rounder thumbhole, a different gripping surface shape, and a slightly different stock overall.

## Gallery

The SV-98 and the old Saiga-12 in the HUD.A survivr holding the SV-98 paired with a 4x scope.A fellow survivr found 2 golden containers, both containing the SV-98Another survivr with an 8x scope and an SV-98.A survivr finding a SV-98 in a crate2 lucky survivrs found a golden container with a SV-98 and a 15x scope inside