The PUBG flare gun is the only item in the game that can summon a loaded care package straight to your position, and most players still waste it by firing it in the wrong zone at the wrong time. Fire it inside the circle and you get a special drop with top-tier weapons and armor. Fire it outside and you get something very different. This guide covers where the flare gun spawns, exactly what it drops, and when you should actually pull the trigger.
What Is the Flare Gun in PUBG?
The flare gun is a rare, single-shot signal pistol that calls in a care package when fired into the sky. It takes up a pistol slot but it is not a combat weapon. Think of it as a one-use loot ticket.
It has existed on multiple maps and is categorised in-game as a Miscellaneous Weapon. The flare itself is the ammo and it is loaded by default when you pick the gun up.
Key fact: The contents of the care package depend on where you fire the flare, not just that you fired it.
Where to Find a PUBG Flare Gun
The flare gun is one of the rarest ground spawns in the game. You will not stumble into one on every match, and when you do find one, treat it like gold.
Common spawn areas include:
- Military Base (Erangel), especially inside the main compound buildings
- Georgopol containers (Erangel), around the crane and warehouses
- Mylta Power (Erangel), inside the power station buildings
- Hacienda del Patron (Miramar) and Pecado
- Paradise Resort (Sanhok) and Bootcamp
- Castle and Cosmodrome (Vikendi)
Flare guns favour high-tier military and industrial POIs. If you are grinding for one, running the hot drops on Erangel is still the most reliable path. Our pubg erangel map breakdown covers the best loot routes if you want to maximise your chances.
What the Flare Gun Actually Drops
This is the part most new players get wrong. The flare gun gives you one of two drops, and the location you fire it from decides which one.
Inside the Playzone: Special Air Drop
Fire the flare gun while standing inside the current white circle (safe zone) and a plane will fly over and drop a special care package. This crate is marked by a red smoke trail instead of the usual red flare on a standard airdrop.
Typical special air drop contents include:
- Level 3 Military Vest and Level 3 Military Helmet (the exclusive variants, better than world-looted L3s)
- Groza or AWM (both airdrop-exclusive weapons)
- M249 LMG
- Attachments, meds, and backpack upgrades
This is the drop you want. It is one of the only ways to get an AWM or Groza outside a normal airdrop.
Outside the Playzone: BRDM-2
Fire the flare while standing outside the current safe zone and the plane drops a BRDM-2 armored vehicle on a parachute. The BRDM-2 is amphibious, bulletproof against small arms, and can tank absurd amounts of damage before exploding. Our full pubg vehicles guide breaks down why it is the strongest ride in the game.
The BRDM-2 is excellent for crossing water on Erangel, pushing final circles, or just rolling up on a compound while your squad fires out the sides.
How to Fire the PUBG Flare Gun
The mechanics are simple, but the aim angle matters.
- Equip the flare gun to a weapon slot (it occupies a pistol slot)
- Point the barrel toward the sky at roughly a 45 to 90 degree angle
- Fire
- The plane will spawn within about 20 to 30 seconds and the drop lands shortly after
Do not fire it horizontally. Pointing it low can cause the flare to clip terrain or buildings and still consume the shot without triggering the plane. Open ground with a clear view of the sky is ideal.
When Should You Use It?
Timing is everything. A flare gun used in phase one is a free crate for a third party. A flare gun used in phase four can end the game in your favour.
Best Timing Windows
| Phase | Should You Use It? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1-2 | No | Too many squads nearby, the drop will be contested |
| Phase 3 | Maybe | Only if you have strong cover and a vehicle |
| Phase 4-5 | Yes | Fewer enemies, you can secure the drop |
| Final circles | Risky | Plane noise reveals your position to everyone left |
Rule of thumb: Fire the flare when you have cover near the predicted landing spot, a teammate watching sightlines, and ideally a vehicle to grab and go.
When NOT to Fire It
- When you can hear nearby gunfights (the drop will attract third parties)
- When you are solo in open ground with no cover
- When the safe zone is small and the plane noise will tell every surviving squad exactly where you are
- When you already have a top-tier loadout and gaining a Groza offers little upgrade
Flare Gun vs Standard Airdrop
New players sometimes confuse the two. They are not the same.
| Feature | Flare Gun Drop (Special) | Standard Airdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Player fires flare gun | Automatic, scheduled |
| Smoke color | Red smoke trail | Red flare |
| Loot quality | Highest tier, includes exclusive variants | High tier |
| Guaranteed items | Groza/AWM + L3 military armor commonly | Varies, randomised |
| Risk level | High (you called it, enemies know) | High (everyone sees it) |
The special drop called by a flare is generally better than a standard airdrop because the gear is tuned to the maximum tier. That is also why it is a magnet for every squad in audio range.
Advanced Flare Gun Tips
A few habits separate players who get value from the flare gun from players who feed their enemies free loot.
- Fire from one spot, loot from another. Move 50 to 100 meters after firing so the plane noise does not pin your exact position
- Pre-plan the landing zone. Fire the flare into open terrain near solid cover, not into the middle of a city where buildings can block the drop
- Use the BRDM-2 drop as a vehicle call, not a mistake. On Erangel final circles, dropping a BRDM outside the zone and rolling in is a legitimate strategy
- Coordinate with your squad. One player watches the sky, two cover the lanes, one grabs the crate
- Do not fire during fog or heavy rain weather events unless you know the plane will still spawn, as visibility of the smoke can be reduced
For more squad-level tactics, our pubg tips and tricks article covers rotations, third-party management and final-circle positioning in depth.
Flare Gun Availability by Map
The flare gun has moved in and out of the loot table on different maps over time, and Krafton has adjusted its spawn rates and map availability in various updates. It is traditionally associated with the larger 8×8 maps.
- Erangel: Classic flare gun map, special drop is a staple strategy here
- Miramar: Available, open terrain makes drops easier to spot and harder to contest safely
- Vikendi: Available, snow terrain can make the red smoke extremely visible
- Sanhok: Historically available, dense jungle makes contesting a flare drop brutal
Smaller maps like Karakin and Paramo have different loot ecosystems and do not always include the flare gun. Always check the current map’s loot pool in-game if you are unsure.
The Bottom Line
The PUBG flare gun is the single best way to upgrade your loadout mid-match, but only if you understand the two outcomes it produces. Inside the circle gets you a top-tier special care package. Outside the circle gets you a BRDM-2. Fire it in the right phase, with cover and a plan, and it wins games. Fire it early in the open and it hands a free Groza to whoever third-parties you.
Pair the flare gun strategy with a strong baseline loadout from our best guns in pubg breakdown, and dial in your sensitivity with our best pubg settings guide to make sure you can actually hold the drop you just called.