A good set of armor can spell the difference between life and death in Stalker 2, and unfortunately, the Leather Jacket that players start with does a terrible job at keeping teeth and bullets away from your internal organs. Luckily, there’s a free Debut Suit that players can grab early on, and while it’s not much better, it’s still a significant upgrade.
Normally, players need to buy armor for a pretty penny from the right traders. However, much like in the first Shadow of Chernobyl game, there’s a free suit waiting for players close to the starting area. It’s not exactly a premium armor set, but it should keep you from bleeding all over the place in Stalker 2. Here’s where to find it.
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Where to Get Better Early Game Armor in Stalker 2
You can get the aforementioned free Debut Suit by going to the Old Mill area just east of Zalissya. You can head there as soon as you finish the game’s opening sequence, though we recommend paying the town a visit first so you can stock up on side quests or sell any loose loot you may have found. You can also pass the time here, in case you don’t want to go out at night.
Once you reach the village, look for the house in the image above. Its front doors are boarded up — hit them with your knife or the butt of your gun, then enter the living room. You’ll find the Debut Suit on a table in the corner, and it should be in perfect condition.
Bring a shotgun, as you might get jumped by a Bloodsucker or other mutants.
Is The Debut Suit Any Good?
As its name suggests, it’s designed for Stalkers who have just made their debut in the Zone. It offers basic protection for everything except Psi damage, which shouldn’t be an issue, since there are no psychic hazards in the starting regions. More importantly, it has more upgrade options and slightly better Physical Protection compared to the Leather Jacket, which is great considering how the majority of active threats here deal Physical damage (bandits and mutants).
Where to Get Free Bandit Jacket Early
A slightly worse alternative to the Debut Suit is the Bandit Jacket, which players can find in a cellar in the depot northwest of Zalyssia. Look for a cellar entrance with a white house symbol painted on its side. Go down the stairs, through the hallway, and into the makeshift safe room. The jacket should be somewhere inside.
The Bandit Jacket is slightly better than the Leather Jacket, but also slightly worse than the Debut Suit. However, this armor piece is worth getting just for its sell value. You can get good money by selling this and the Leather Jacket at Zalyssia, giving you plenty of money to upgrade or repair your gear in Stalker 2.
A big group of bandits might ambush you right by the cellar entrance. Be prepared for a long fight.
- Released
- November 20, 2024
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood, Use Of Drugs And Alcohol, Language, Crude Humor