After launching out of nowhere during The Game Awards 2023, The Finals has taken the world by storm. Emark Studios’ latest free-to-play title is a fast-paced shooter that can pump you with adrenaline. With its chaotic and destructive environment, many things can go wrong as you try to cash out or reach the vault.
You can use three types of builds in The Finals, out of which the Light build is preferred by many. Compared to the Medium and Heavy builds, it’s much more nimble thanks to its agile nature and fast mobility. If you prefer lightning-quick gameplay, you’ll need to use the best Light builds and loadouts to highlight those.
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Weapons: V9S or any melee weapon
Specialization: Cloaking Device
Gadgets: Pyro Grenade, Glitch Grenade, Breach Charge
Thanks to the recent patches, the Light class’s specialties are more balanced now. The Cloaking Device got nerfed a bit, making it more challenging to use mid-fight, but this doesn’t affect the main playstyle of sneaking up on enemies and catching them off guard. On the bright side, you have more room to use other specializations.
You’re free to use the dagger or sword to slit your opponent’s necks, but the V9S is the best when it comes to ranged weapons. While it’s less effective now at longer ranges, you’ll need to be up close and personal in most of your engagements as a Light build anyway, and that’s where this pistol shines the brightest.
As for your choice of gadgets, the Glitch Grenade is an excellent item to start a fight when contesting for a cashout or a vault. You can even pair it with a Medium build’s Sonar Grenade to better understand how many people are in the vicinity. On the other hand, Breach Charge helps you create new lines of sight at an objective. For example, you can use it to drop the cashout on the floor instead of going to the rooftop. Finally, the Pyro Grenade is always a solid pick for almost every build in the game since it provides solid damage utility; however, it can be a tad unpredictable.
Hit and Run
Weapons: XP-54, SR-84, or LH1
Specialization: Grappling Hook or Cloaking Device
Gadgets: Glitch Grenade, Pyro Grenade, Breach Charge
You might’ve already seen this header, but this loadout emphasizes the Light build’s hit-and-run proficiency. All the weapons we’ve listed here excel in mid-range fights. The XP-54 is ideal for close to medium-range combat, while the SR-84 is a top pick for snipers who want to do long-range damage. Meanwhile, despite getting nerfed recently, the LH1 can be considered an in-between weapon of the SR-84 and XP-54.
Your job with this build is to scout ahead and melt the enemy’s HP. You might be worried that a Medium build opponent can quickly heal their team’s health using their Healing Beam, but fear not—the Glitch Grenade can disable the usage of gadgets and specializations. While the enemy is vulnerable, you can use the Cloaking Device to fade in and out of their sight. But if the Cloaking Device is too overrated for your taste, the Grappling Hook is great for gaining vantage points to shoot from using the SR-84. If you’d rather deny objectives, use the Pyro Grenade and Breach Charge combination to manipulate the terrain to your liking.
You can use the VA9 or M11 SMG, but they only have a limited range compared to the other guns.
The Finals: Best Reserved Loadout for Light Builds
The great thing about reserved loadouts is that you can be more flexible regarding your pick. At the end of the day, it all boils down to your playstyle. You rarely have to use your reserve, but in case you need to, these are the items that are the most useful for Light builds:
- Smoke Grenade
- Flashbang
- SR-84
- M11
If you didn’t choose the SR-84 beforehand while using the hit-and-run build, you can swap your XP-54 or LH1 to opt for long-ranged attacks. Having a sniper ready is always good if you consistently fight from afar. Suppose your shots just don’t connect. In that case, the M11 submachine gun can let you beam your targets up close without much effort.
As for your reserve gadgets, the Glitch Grenade is already bonkers, but the Flashbang is an excellent alternative since it disrupts enemies and gives you some information through the hit markers. The Smoke Grenade is also useful when trying to control an objective, but it can be easily replaced with something else.
