PUBG Erangel map and the best places to drop in for loot

(Image credit: PUBG Corporation)

The original arena, the PUBG Erangel map was PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds first ever map and remains a favourite for many fans and players. With forests, coastlines cities, rivers and those terrifying open grasslands to explore, it's a staple of the PUBG experience and one that's worth understanding in full when you're dropping in for a firefight. Since remastered, here's everything you need to know about the PUBG Erangel map and how to master it for yourself.

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PUBG Enrangel Map

While loot is randomised in PUBG, the game prioritises risk - so you’ll find more, and more impressive, loot in areas like the main towns and cities. That means players usually flock to those areas in droves, leading to some tense early-game shootouts.

We’ve denoted these areas as “high risk” in the guide below, while fresh players might want to stick to the “low risk” zones - usually a bit more spread out and remote, but with more of a chance to build up an armoury before heading into a firefight.

1. Georgopol (medium-high risk)

Erangel’s largest town, but somewhat lacking in modern facilities. The accommodation consists primarily of derelict apartments, for example. There's a good chance of loot here, as well as running into other people looking for it so it's a slightly risky area to hit first. However, there's a high chance of finding a vehicle if you survive so worth considering when you're more experienced.

2. School, Rozhok (high risk)

The school is a central location with a high chance of great gear, which is to say it’s fairly popular. Expect an immediate fight if you drop here at the start of a match - the school in particular is an absolute death trap. The buildings can be slow to loot but there's alway a car in the nearby garage. It's middle map placement also means the safe zone is rarely far away.

3. Quarry (medium risk)

This southwesterly location has a decent chance of spawning rare loot, and lots of isolated buildings. A great spot if the safe zone falls this way but the open space and chance of conflict can be risky.

4. Sosnova Military Base (high risk)

Perhaps the riskiest drop point on the entire map. It's full of rare weapons and armour, which means it's crawling with high level players. It's also isolated on the southern side of the island, making it tricky to get away from. Assuming you make it out alive at all.

5. Stalber (low risk)

A great big mountain with very little loot at the top so a safe starter. Come here for a quiet drop, but don't expect to find much and expect to journey far to make it into the next safe zone.

6. The Bunkers (high risk)

There's always loads of very exotic gear here, but it's also a series of concrete tunnels full of chokepoints and corners. Oh, and people looking for all those guns. If you can get in, get lucky and get out, good luck to you.

7. Novorepnoye (high risk)

This container yard/dock is another high risk area thanks to its cargo container area full of open areas and blind spots. Plenty of buildings also means loot, making it dangerously attractive to experienced players, but there the high chance of finding good gear, as well as cars and boats, making it worth the risk for some.

8. The Crater, southwest of Lipovka (high risk)

This area of the map is basically a big hole with five warehouses, two houses and one big military building. So there's plenty of gear and it's a great place to kit out a full squad. However, plenty of other people will have the same idea and the sunken terrain also makes it a popular place for snipers to camp out, shooting down at their victims from up on high. So, in short: dangerous.

9. The Villas (medium-high risk)

This is a tiny area comprising of 8 buildings. It's not a great place for loot but its main strength is strategic - there's an elevated area where the rooftops gives you a great view of the surrounding area. It's perfect for a squad to hole up and defend (assuming you've got some good ranged weapons).

10. West of Novorepnoye (low risk)

Just west of Novorepnoye you'll see a crossroads with a few buildings around it. It's small enough to be ignored by high level players but those houses mean a good chance of gear and the roads usually contain a few cars. The nearby bridge is not somewhere you want to be late game, as it's a often a bottleneck when the playing area constricts. But get in early and clear out and you could get a strong start.

11. North west of Lipovka (low risk)

North west of Lipkova above the crater you'll find several small clusters of houses. You won't find a huge amount of gear here, so it will be quiet, but hit enough buildings and you should scavenge enough to get you started. The roads also mean a good chance of a vehicle too.

Bonus location: Erangel Docks (medium risk)

A later patch added a series of docks and ports along the shores of Erangel. Not only do these add more visual variation to the region's coastlines, but they offer increased loot opportunities where once there was just sand.

The docks can be found at Novorepnoye, Ferry Pier, along the southern beach of the mainland, and the northern beach of Sosnovka Island. Each offers a variety of tactical considerations, such as a lighthouse with increased elevation, or a series of shipping containers that allow for cover.