Tips For Beginners & Newcomers To STALKER 2

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize essential items during travel to sustain in The Zone.
• Explore the map for valuable resources and complete side missions for rare items.
• Manage ammunition wisely, use anomalies strategically, and pay attention to Geiger Counter.

STALKER 2 offers players an immersive experience in a post-apocalyptic setting filled with dangers, mysteries, and various unexpected challenges that must be faced. Therefore, for those who wish to explore The Zone, courage and sharp skills are necessary, as small decisions can mean the difference between surviving the perils of this universe or triumphing over them.

For those beginning their journey through the chaotic environment of The Zone, survival requires utilizing various mechanics to one’s own advantage, both to withstand the hostile environment and to confront challenges ranging from creatures mutated by radioactivity to other humans. Thus, some beginner tips for STALKER 2 are essential for those just starting their journey.

10 Prioritize Essential Items During Travel

Inventory Management Is Crucial In STALKER 2

One of the main tips for beginners in STALKER 2 is to learn how to manage the game’s inventory as soon as possible, since expeditions to The Zone are long and filled with items that can be obtained. Therefore, players should avoid carrying excess items each time they explore the area, bringing only what is essential, such as some food and vodka for radiation.

The Zone also has resources that can help characters sustain themselves during exploration, so the focus should be on carrying items only for emergency situations. This way, the character’s inventory remains free to extract valuable items from the region, like guns in good condition, which can be used to finance repairs or better equipment.

9 Explore The Map As Much As Possible

Sometimes, Valuable Resources Can Be Found In Unimaginable Places

Being a game that encourages map exploration, players should not ignore this possibility, and whenever characters are in good condition, they should search for resources in all possible locations. Sometimes, houses or places that initially seem empty may hide valuable loot for survival in the Zone.

Therefore, STALKER 2 newcomers should not be afraid to go to certain locations, fearing they will only waste ammunition and find nothing; in most cases, exploration is recommended with useful items. Medkits, ammo, and other loot can be used by Skif to survive or traded for other resources later.

8 Choices Matter In The Game

STALKER 2 Has 4 Endings And Various Small Changes Based On Choices

Being a game focused on immersion during the journey, STALKER 2 offers different choices for players to make throughout dialogues, both in main and side missions. The main quest, for example, can conclude in four different ways, also ensuring some replayability, since seeing each ending will require fulfilling different objectives.

However, players also need to pay attention to the choices they make during side objectives of the story, because even though some may not impact the story in the long term, they can grant rare items that may be important at that moment in the game. Therefore, it’s vital to save whenever in doubt about a certain event or live with the weight of the choices made.

7 Dedicate Yourself To Side Missions

They Complement The Game’s Lore And Grant Rare Items

STALKER 2, like many other open-world games, offers a considerable amount of content for players to pursue outside of the main missions, so for newcomers to the series, an important tip is to explore these optional missions whenever possible. This is because, besides complementing the lore of the entire setting, they also reward the protagonist with good items.

These items can also be important to help players progress in STALKER 2, since if they advance only in the main story, there may be moments when they don’t have enough resources to face its challenges. Side missions can be found in outposts but also in other locations in the game, so it’s important that players to stay alert.

6 Manage Available Ammunition

It’s Not A Scarce Resource, But It Can Run Out

Although not a scarce resource in The Zone, beginners in STALKER 2 should consider the idea of not wasting this ammunition carelessly, because it’s possible to run out at important moments. So, whenever there’s a situation or combat that can be avoided, players should stay out of it.

This is more important during the first hours of STALKER 2, because players won’t have many resources available in their inventory, so ammunition management needs to be better worked out. Saving to use them mainly when dealing with groups of mutants is one of the best options, since they are resistant to knife blows.

5 Use Anomalies To Gain Advantage In Combat

An Excellent Way To Save Ammunition

Despite mutations and humans being the biggest dangers in the Zone, players exploring the region also need to deal with anomalies, phenomena that appear on the map and can be fatal. However, despite the danger they represent, it’s possible to use them for one’s own benefit in STALKER 2.

This is because they are not a hazard only to players but also to anyone who enters them, so it’s possible to lure enemies to where the anomalies are located and save some ammunition. However, despite being quite a useful trick, the probability of it working is higher with mutants, since humans are smarter and can move away.

4 Pay Attention To The Geiger Counter

It’s The Protagonist’s Greatest Ally In The Game

One of the most important items players will have throughout the journey in STALKER 2‘s universe is the Geiger Counter, as it reveals what the radioactivity of a place is like before contamination becomes a real danger. Thus, both veterans and beginners to STALKER 2 need to pay attention to its information whenever possible.

If the Geiger Counter starts making noise, it’s a sign that the character is entering a region with high levels of radioactivity, and it’s time to turn back or drink vodka to withstand all the contamination. So, players should always weigh the risks before making this decision, since a wrong choice can mean a premature death in the Zone.

3 Always Have A Shotgun Available

A Reliable Gun In Different Situations

STALKER 2 features a different selection of weapons, with many capable of being modified and adapted to the play styles each player prefers; however, in some situations, none can be as useful as a shotgun. They are relatively easy to repair and can deal a lot of damage to enemies.

So, keeping one of these in the inventory is essential for most who wish to venture through the Zone in STALKER 2, since, when well used, they can facilitate combat. The player just needs to get close to the desired targets and make a few shots to resolve the situation, which can prove to be excellent in moments when enemies are in defensive positions with a lot of cover.

2 Damaged Guns Can Still Be Useful

Just Take Advantage Of What They Have To Offer

There will be moments when players find themselves in critical situations in the Zone of STALKER 2, with few resources and broken equipment. However, even if completely damaged, these weapons are still capable of firing and saving the protagonist’s life in critical situations.

Moreover, even those damaged guns can be relatively useful to players, since it’s sometimes possible to find ammunition in equipment spread throughout the maps. So, even if there is no interest in taking them, it’s important to always check if they have any loot before leaving them behind.

1 When In Doubt, Walk Along The Roads

It Can Prevent Some Problems And Challenges In The Game

The Zone doesn’t offer many places that can be considered safe zones, where players can be assured that dangers won’t affect them there; however, for players who wish to avoid problems, a tip for STALKER 2 is to stay close to the road. This is because these regions offer less danger during travel between two points.

Not that it’s totally safe, but the chance of a player encountering an anomaly, mutant, or other challenges becomes greater from the moment they decide to leave the roads and explore other regions of the map. So, if players are interested in a calmer journey, they should opt for these paths whenever possible.