Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a tense PvPvE extraction shooter set in a monster-infested Louisiana bayou during the late 1800s. The 2024 engine upgrade to CryEngine 5.11 dramatically improved visuals and performance while adding the new Mammon's Gulch map. Every match drops 12 players (solos, duos, or trios) into a map where they hunt AI boss monsters while watching for other hunters doing the same. The permadeath system means losing a hunter erases all their equipped gear and earned traits, making every firefight genuinely nerve-wracking.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stillwater Bayou | All skill levels | Boss bounty tokens, contraband weapons from dead hunters, trait XP | Shotgun Rusher |
| 2 | Lawson Delta | All skill levels | Boss bounty tokens, better sightlines for sniper play | Shotgun Rusher |
| 3 | DeSalle | All skill levels | Boss bounty tokens, diverse terrain for all playstyles | Long Ammo Sniper |
| 4 | Bounty Lair | Mid-late match | Boss bounty tokens worth $500+ each, bonus XP, upgrade points | Long Ammo Sniper |
| 5 | Extraction Points | End of match | Successful extraction saves your hunter, gear, and all earned XP/traits | Long Ammo Sniper |
Stillwater Bayou — Starting Area
The original map featuring swamp terrain, flooded compounds, and dense vegetation. Water splashing is a major sound giveaway. Key compounds include Pitching Crematorium, Healing Waters Church, and Blanchett Graves. The open water areas between compounds are extremely dangerous for rotations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All skill levels |
| Key Rewards | Boss bounty tokens, contraband weapons from dead hunters, trait XP |
| Recommended Role | Shotgun Rusher |
| Key Weapons | Caldwell Rival 78 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of bounty extraction — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Lawson Delta.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Lawson Delta — Early Game
A more arid map with farmland, industrial areas, and elevated terrain. Features longer sightlines than Stillwater making long ammo more dominant. Fort Bolden and Windy Run are common boss spawns with excellent defensive positions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All skill levels |
| Key Rewards | Boss bounty tokens, better sightlines for sniper play |
| Recommended Role | Shotgun Rusher |
| Key Weapons | Caldwell Rival 78 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering dark sight — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Caldwell Rival 78 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in DeSalle.
DeSalle — Mid Game
The largest map with a small American frontier town, vineyards, and canyon terrain. DeSalle has the most vertical gameplay with multi-story buildings and cliff faces. Upper DeSalle and Lower DeSalle create natural map division for rotations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All skill levels |
| Key Rewards | Boss bounty tokens, diverse terrain for all playstyles |
| Recommended Role | Long Ammo Sniper |
| Key Weapons | Caldwell Rival 78 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Mosin-Nagant becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master trait system for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Bounty Lair — Late Game
The compound where the boss spawns, identified by the final clue. Boss compounds have limited entry points making them defensible but also trappable. During the 3-minute banish phase, your position is broadcast to all players on the map via lightning effects.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-late match |
| Key Rewards | Boss bounty tokens worth $500+ each, bonus XP, upgrade points |
| Recommended Role | Long Ammo Sniper |
| Key Weapons | Mosin-Nagant |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Mosin-Nagant should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- sound traps mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Extraction Points.
Extraction Points — Endgame
Three extraction points spawn per map at the edges. They require a 5-second channel to extract. Enemy teams often camp extractions when they know bounty carriers are heading there. Always approach extractions from unexpected angles and check bushes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | End of match |
| Key Rewards | Successful extraction saves your hunter, gear, and all earned XP/traits |
| Recommended Role | Long Ammo Sniper |
| Key Weapons | Mosin-Nagant |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Bomb Lance for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Stillwater Bayou → Lawson Delta → DeSalle → Bounty Lair → Extraction Points. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons — Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Hunt: Showdown 1896 Guides
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Hunt: Showdown 1896 Overview
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Best Builds
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Tier List
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Walkthrough
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Beginner's Guide
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Tips & Tricks
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Weapons Guide
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Combat Guide
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Boss Guide
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Crafting Guide
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 Classes & Characters
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