Incendiary Grenade

Lore & Background

The Incendiary Grenade is a crude but brutally effective weapon crafted from scavenged military-grade thermite compounds and repurposed metal casings—often old ration tins or shell casings hammered shut. In the Metro, where ammunition is scarce and mutants lurk in every shadow, such devices are prized by rangers and stalkers for their ability to clear rooms and deny passage to hordes. The Red Line and Reich both manufacture variants, but the design remains fundamentally similar: a pin-pull igniter that triggers a magnesium-based reaction, producing intense heat and blinding light. These grenades are especially feared by nosalises and other creatures that rely on dark environments, as the sudden flash and heat can disorient or outright incinerate them. However, their use in enclosed tunnels risks collateral damage, including setting fire to valuable supplies—like a cache of canned food or a wooden support beam—or causing structural collapse. Experienced fighters thus reserve them for emergencies or planned ambushes, where the risk is worth the reward. Survivors tell stories of using incendiary grenades to seal off mutant nests, the flames licking at the walls long after the last creature fell, or to signal for help in the pitch-black ruins above ground, the smoke column visible for miles. The weapon embodies the brutal resourcefulness of Metro dwellers—turning industrial waste into a tool of survival, one that can just as easily save a life as end one.

In Their Own Story

The tunnel shuddered as the nosalis pack closed in, their claws scraping against concrete like broken glass. Khariton fumbled for the grenade on his belt, the familiar weight of the cylinder reassuring—a cold lump of potential death. He yanked the pin and tossed it into the advancing mass. The flash was blinding, a searing white that painted the walls in stark relief, shadows leaping and twisting. Then came the heat—a wave that sucked the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping. The nosalises shrieked, their fur ablaze, scattering into the darkness like living torches. Khariton coughed, smoke stinging his eyes, and muttered a prayer to whatever gods still listened. The fire would hold them back, at least for now, a crackling, spitting barrier of light and pain.

Reader's Guide

The Incendiary Grenade is a throwable area-denial weapon that ignites a patch of ground on impact, dealing continuous fire damage to any enemy that enters the zone. It is particularly effective against mutants like nosalises and watchmen, which are vulnerable to fire and often charge in groups—one well-placed toss can turn a rush into a rout. The grenade can also be used to illuminate dark areas temporarily, revealing hidden threats or loot in the gloom. When to use: Toss it into narrow corridors or chokepoints to block enemy advances, or into nests to clear out multiple foes at once. It is less effective against armored humans, who may survive the initial blast, but the fire can still flush them from cover, forcing them into the open where your rifle can finish the job. Be cautious in tight spaces—the flames can spread to flammable objects or block your own path, trapping you in a burning corridor. Conserve these grenades for critical moments, as they are rarer than standard explosives and every one counts. Pro tip: Combine with a gas mask to avoid smoke inhalation, and time your throws to catch enemies mid-charge for maximum impact—watch them run into the fire, not away from it.

Did You Know?

• The Incendiary Grenade's thermite compound can melt through thin metal, making it useful for breaching locked doors in some areas—though the resulting hole is often jagged and smoking.
• In Metro 2033, the grenade's fire persists for several seconds, allowing it to block passages effectively—long enough to force a mutant horde to find another route or burn.
• The design is based on real-world thermite grenades used by military forces for demolition and incendiary purposes, though Metro's version is cruder, often assembled from scavenged parts.
• Some stations prohibit their use due to the risk of starting uncontrolled fires in the wooden support structures of the Metro—a single spark can doom an entire settlement.