Summary
- Check for ammunition in broken weapons to save money and resources
- Focus on valuable items instead of picking up everything while exploring
- Engage in side quests and thoroughly explore the map for rewards and an immersive experience
The universe of STALKER 2 presents a Zone filled with unpredictable dangers, deadly anomalies, and indecipherable mysteries. Constant radiation, mutant creatures, and supernatural phenomena are just some of the challenges that threaten the survival of anyone venturing there, making each step a matter of life and death.
STALKER 2: 10 Tips For Newcomers To The Franchise
For those unfamiliar with the STALKER series, here are some useful tips to keep in mind while playing STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Simple mistakes can lead to devastating consequences, compromising the current mission and the character's future in the Zone. For players seeking less difficulty while exploring the map, various mistakes in STALKER 2 can be avoided, making the experience of adventuring through the game's incredible map more satisfying.
1 Not Unloading Broken Weapons
Players Can Acquire Extra Ammunition
The Zone is filled with weapons, many of them broken. However, a good stalker knows how to take advantage even of these adverse situations. Although these items typically fail when used or have no commercial value, they can still be useful because they usually hold some ammunition that can serve other weapons.
Therefore, after finishing a shootout against bandits or other armed enemies, it's important for players of STALKER 2 to always check each weapon on the ground or in the inventory for ammunition. Even if the number of bullets found isn't large, repeating this process several times can help the protagonist save some coupons with merchants.
2 Carrying A Full Inventory
Managing Carry Weight Is Key To Success In STALKER 2
One of the main mechanics the game offers is inventory management, where a mistake to avoid in STALKER 2 is picking up every item found along the way. Broken weapons, for instance, don't need to be considered when looting since merchants won't buy them, and repairs are usually very expensive.
Players should prioritize items that have some value, either for personal use during explorations or to sell when reaching a settlement. Thus, high-quality weapons, ammunition, medications, or even food should be the priority in a stalker's bag when exploring the Zone.
3 Ignoring Artifacts
Radiation Can Be Controlled
Artifacts are extremely important items in STALKER 2, providing significant benefits to characters in exchange for challenges, such as increased radiation levels faced by the protagonist. Initially, managing this trade-off can be complex, but in the long run, equipping artifacts in the inventory proves to be much more advantageous.
The game offers various resources to mitigate the radiation generated by these items, along with buffs that reduce damage or increase carrying capacity, essential for survival in the Zone. Therefore, artifacts should not be discarded or sold indiscriminately, as they are fundamental for the character's sustenance throughout the game.
4 Keeping Equipment Without Upgrades
Another Important Factor For Survival In STALKER 2
Early in the game, players meet Lens, a technician capable of repairing or improving the equipment the character uses during the game. While it might be tempting to save coupons to use only on more powerful items, this is a mistake players should avoid in STALKER 2.
STALKER 2: 7 Weapons You Should Not Upgrade
Despite being solid overall, these weapons quickly lose their relevance once players move beyond the Lesser Zone region after the opening hours.
This is because the game is balanced in a way that the character should always be upgrading the equipment available at the moment. Even during the early game of STALKER 2, it's necessary to continually seek ways to enhance weapons or armor to withstand the challenges and combats offered in the Zone.
5 Not Sleeping When At A Base
An Easy And Cheap Way To Heal The Character's HP
Upon reaching settlements or other safe places, some actions are obvious, such as going to the nearest shop to sell equipment and other items in exchange for coupons, as well as buying anything missing from the stalker's inventory. However, players should not ignore the opportunity to sleep whenever possible.
Sleeping is a way to fully restore the character's HP without using any items, saving them for moments when they are truly needed, like during a frenetic shootout in the zone. So, if Skif isn't fully healed upon reaching a safe area, it's better to look for a bed than to use precious medkits from the inventory.
6 Neglecting Side Quests
Where Most Of STALKER 2's Content Lies
The main mission of STALKER 2 is indeed interesting and well-developed, but the true essence of the Zone is revealed when engaging in side quests. These additional quests not only enrich the narrative but also allow for deeper immersion into the game's universe, unveiling stories and secrets not covered in the main mission.
Moreover, side missions often reward players with valuable equipment and essential resources for survival. Ignoring these quests means missing important opportunities to stay well-equipped and prepared for the challenges of the main story, fully enjoying all the secondary content that STALKER 2 offers.
7 Not Exploring The Zone
One Of The Best-Designed Maps Ever Produced
One of STALKER 2's greatest strengths is its settings, with the Zone being a place that challenges players to explore its secrets and hidden locations. Therefore, whenever there's an opportunity, Skif should thoroughly explore some of the open-world content the game has to offer.
Many of the main or side quests that STALKER 2 provides don't cover every different corner of the map, so there will always be houses or containers to discover. Exploring the entire Zone not only reveals fascinating secrets but also offers valuable essential rewards that enrich the gaming experience with various adventures.
8 Don't Try To Win Every Fight
Sometimes Fleeing Is The Best Option
Whether in the main story or through random encounters, STALKER 2 is filled with confrontations that challenge the player's firearm skills. However, as enjoyable as shootouts may be, one of the smartest choices for the protagonist is knowing which fights to engage in.
STALKER 2: 8 Best Mods To Try
From weapons to performance, to stamina adjustments, these mods for STALKER 2 are ideal for those who want to tweak their gameplay experience.
There's no shame in fleeing when the situation becomes critical, such as low health or scarce ammunition. Even heading in another direction upon spotting hostile NPCs are intelligent moves. These encounters can often drain important resources, like medkits, leaving Skif unprepared for more significant confrontations.
9 Shooting While Moving
The Fastest Way To Drain Skif's Ammunition
Combat in STALKER 2 requires patience to master, as many common actions a player might take are not beneficial. One of them is shooting while moving, which reduces shooting accuracy and can lead to Skif's premature death.
Positioning is one of the most important mechanics to master in STALKER 2, as this tactical advantage against enemies is crucial in various moments. Being protected by cover, for instance, provides a significant advantage. Additionally, using weapons correctly, and knowing the right moment to employ rifles for long-distance combat or shotguns for close encounters, is also essential.
10 Not Keeping Weapons Loaded
Especially After A Big Shootout
One of the biggest mistakes a Stalker can make while exploring the Zone is being unprepared, such as not having enough ammunition in the magazine. Without bullets, the character becomes vulnerable to unexpected attacks, significantly increasing the risk of being quickly defeated if surprised by a bandit or mutant.
Therefore, it's crucial for players to always reload their weapons after major confrontations. During long shootouts and while looting bodies, it's easy to forget this action, but it can lead to dangerous surprises in new battles. Those few seconds are vital for Skif's survival in the Zone.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Released
- November 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Open-World, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
