Insurgency: Sandstorm is still massively popular four years after its initial release, and with the expansion to consoles, its following has only grown. Its biggest draw is the realistic tactical battles players engage in, providing an immersive experience. The game was widely praised for its realistic gameplay, graphics, and fluid animations.
One aspect of Insurgency: Sandstorm that can be confusing for the player is obtaining credits. Credits are used for in-game purchases of cosmetic items that allow the player to change certain features, such as clothing items. The process for collecting credits isn't actually random, and there is only one way to do it. This guide will explain how players can get credits and the best way to boost their collecting speed.
How To Earn Credits
For players new to the game, they may have just noticed they have credits, or they may be confused about how they earn them. There is actually only one way to earn credits in the game, and that's through leveling up. Each level gained nets the player a minimum of 100 credits.
Any extra credits can potentially come from the additional cosmetic item they also receive. If the player already owns that item, they'll receive half its worth in credits. So, if the player receives an item worth 600 credits, they'll get an additional 300 credits if it's one they already own. For this example, the player would get the base 100 credits for leveling up, and 300 credits from the cosmetic item, resulting in 400 total credits.
There is no way to buy credits, and the player must grind to stack them up. The best way to earn credits fast in Insurgency: Sandstorm is to level up as quickly as possible.
How To Level Up Fast
Most of the XP gained during the game comes from time played, not from kills. However, that's not to say that kills don't count for anything. They will boost the XP gain to some extent, but not nearly as much as time played. That being said, the player will want to choose gameplay options that keep them active for as long as possible. For example, a one-hour co-op mission can net approximately three times as much XP as a 20-minute co-op mission. Roughly speaking, the player could amass enough XP in one active hour to gain one level. Unfortunately, this is very grindy, but after several hours of gameplay, they will have amassed several hundred credits.
There are also frequent double XP events hosted by the NWI team. Typically run at the end of each month, players will be able to rack up the XP and gain levels much more easily during these events, which means stacking up their credits faster. Whether on a double XP event or a normal day, running on a co-op mission is the best way to level up as quickly as possible.
Using Co-Op To Level Up Efficiently
In co-op mode, the player will join a team that must capture and protect objectives from the enemy. They'll have to fight their way through the entire map and destroy every one of the enemy's weapons caches. It's highly recommended that each player have a sidearm in addition to their gun of choice in case they run out of ammo. The team will need to effectively work together and try not to separate to perform their mission most efficiently.
One key strategy is to position the entire team in a place to camp and where they can go prone. The player should make the attempt to be the first to throw an incendiary on the weapons cache. The teammates will need to be very good at communication and reporting enemies as they find them, as this will save lives. No matter what, the player needs to stay in the objective and focused. Regardless of how bad things get for the team, the player should not leave the game. Even if they lose, they will still get a boatload of XP from playing.
Tips For Leveling Up Quickly
For the player looking to score as many credits as possible, leveling up is key. To maximize their ability to level up, they'll need to rapidly farm XP. While co-op is the best way to do this, several things should be taken into account when deciding what to do and how to play.
The following suggestions will help boost their XP gain:
- Avoid competitive because the queue lines are too long, reducing the ability to gain XP quickly.
- Play Checkpoint in co-op mode, as capturing objectives and making kills will increase XP gain marginally.
- Stay on the objective, because veering off course could lead to disastrous consequences, including the death of one or more party members.
- Loot bodies for essential consumable items that will help with capturing objectives and making kills.
- Stay in the mission for the long haul, no matter what.
Insurgency: Sandstorm is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows.