Used for exploitation (though limited on the exam, it's vital for the course). Nmap: For network discovery.

The PEN-200 course focuses heavily on specific tools. You can download and learn these for free today: The industry-standard OS.

Read Hack The Box write-ups on Medium or GitBook. They teach you the "thought process" required for the PEN-200 exam.

Heath Adams (The Cyber Mentor) often makes the first several hours of his flagship course available for free on YouTube. This covers networking, Linux, and Windows fundamentals—essential for PEN-200. 3. Free Tools You Must Master