Best Weapons and Armor to Get Early in Stalker 2

As a seasoned Stalker myself, I can’t durability Boomstick by helping out ol’ Mityay and retrievin’ the north checkpoint. Yep, you’ll find a bandit named Leshy on the catwalk, an’ it, take Leshy’s Boomstick. Now, repairin’ durability but it’ll cost ya a pretty penny for a new one.

Making sure you have reliable equipment is crucial for survival in Stalker 2, but finding top-tier, high-quality gear can sometimes be a challenge. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of hidden (and not so secret) loot scattered across the Zone that players can discover and utilize effectively.

Here’s a brief overview highlighting some top-tier loot players could acquire before departing from the Lesser Zone. Some of these items may not be immediately beneficial, but they will certainly make your journey smoother once you complete the initial main quests in Stalker 2.

Free Debut Suits

In Stalker 2, the Debut Suit serves as your initial upgrade for protection. You can acquire this suit by completing the “Needle in a Haystack” quest and delivering the Ward sensors to Captain Zotov. Another option is to get a free Debut Suit early in the game by visiting the Old Mill and searching one of the houses. In the living room, you’ll find the suit on top of a drawer.

As a gamer, I can tell you that the Debut Suit is a game-changer when it comes to protection in this game. Compared to the standard Leather Jacket, the Debut Suit provides significantly enhanced defense against just about everything you’ll face in your battles. If you’re finding it tough to stay alive during enemy encounters, I highly recommend heading over to the Old Mill ASAP to snag that suit. It could very well be the difference between victory and defeat!

Free Gas Masks

To finish off your novice Stalker equipment, you require a gas mask. One possible location for it is an Aurora Gas Mask, which can be found on top of a backpack stashed northeast of Zalissya. This stash is situated on the rooftop of a square-shaped compound near the northern checkpoint. To reach it, start from the main gate and proceed to the right side of the building at the back, then use the ladder to ascend to the rooftop. Once there, you’ll find the stash and the gas mask on a ledge.

There’s also an Optician Gas Mask in a stash in the Cowsheds just west of Zalissya. You’ll find the stash tucked in a corner in one of the sheds. This mask offers better ballistic protection compared to the Aurora, though it is slightly worse against elemental hazards.

Explorer Suit

Moving forward, the armor upgrade that surpasses the Debut Suit is the Explorer Suit. You’ll find this particular suit in the tunnels situated beneath the Dome. To access this location, you need to advance through the Behind Seven Seals quest and make it to Solder. Following your confrontation with him, ensure you defeat all approaching adversaries, then explore the nearby tunnels. The suit is placed on a table hidden in a dimly lit corner.

The Explorer suit is better than the Debut Suit in almost every way, especially when fully upgraded. It’ll naturally get overshadowed by other suits you can find later on, though.

Valik Lummox’s AKM74-S

In the game ‘Stalker 2’, you can acquire Valik Lummox’s AKM74-S by climbing the water tower located north of Zalissya. This scoped AK is in great condition, making it one of the best early-game weapons for reliability. If you’re looking to gather additional loot or money alongside this gun, chat with Warden at the Zalissya Bar and accept the ‘Warden’s Debtor’ quest. In this mission, you’ll assist Valik Lummox personally, which could potentially lead to more rewards for you.

Weapons and Supplies from the Tutorial

In the finale of Stalker 2’s prologue, Skif encounters an unexpected attack by unidentified attackers, resulting in him being robbed and left with only his reliable knife and pistol. However, if you had wisely hidden some of those weapons and all your acquired supplies in a nearby safe during the tutorial, you can retrieve them later to help you better prepare for what lies ahead. After regaining consciousness, make your way back to the stash and collect everything you’ve stored.

In this approach, both the AKM74-S and AR416 from the tutorial might vanish, yet the AKM-74u carbines belonging to the soldiers in the prologue will persist.

Full Durability Boomstick

In this survival game, you’ll find that shotguns are crucial for defending against mutants. If you prefer not to rely on bandit drops that may be in poor condition, you can obtain a top-tier Boomstick. To do so, head over to the windmill at the Old Mill Point of Interest (POI). There’s a Boomstick rigged to a trap on the stairs. Make sure to disarm the trap before grabbing the shotgun. This Boomstick boasts an impressive damage stat, matching that of all other shotguns in the game. However, it falls short when it comes to range and can only carry two shells at once.

M860 Cracker Shotgun

In essence, the success of finding a pump-action shotgun, known as the Cracker, largely hinges on chance. It’s possible that bandits may possess one of these superior shotguns in comparison to the break-action ones found in the Lesser Zone. If you do come across one, ensure it reaches Zalyssia’s technician for repairs. The Cracker is significantly more effective against Stalker 2 mutants like Poltergeists and Bloodsuckers compared to other shotguns. Repair costs are expected to be reasonable, making this investment a valuable one.

Unknown Stalker’s AR416

In the side mission known as The Poppy Field, Mityay in Zalissya offers a potential quest reward. To find it, make your way to the poppy field and locate Pomor, a Stalker residing in one of the houses. Help him by collecting some weapons and ammunition from the field. In return, he will disclose the whereabouts of Mityay’s sacred icon. Additionally, Pomor requests that you hand over the icon to him instead, and in exchange, he will give you a gun. To obtain the weapon, simply deliver the icon to Pomor.

In simpler terms, the AR416 you’re looking at is a customized model with some built-in enhancements such as a grip designed to reduce its recoil. However, its robustness is quite poor, and fixing it will cost you between 14,000 to 18,000 Coupons. Earning money in Stalker 2 can be tough initially, but once you move beyond the Lesser Zone, it should become less of a struggle.

SVD Sniper Rifle

To obtain an SVD, make your way to a depot situated near the northern checkpoint instead. From the closed gate of the checkpoint, move eastward until you come across a massive warehouse. The building is riddled with dangerous traps, and there’s a bandit named Leshy stationed on the catwalk overhead. Disable the traps, then eliminate Leshy to secure his rifle.

Regrettably, Leshy’s SVD is in a dilapidated state and mending it will be quite expensive in terms of Coupons. Despite this, given its design as a long-range weapon, you’ll still be able to employ it effectively to some extent. The good news is that the likelihood of your weapon jamming won’t be much of a concern if your adversary doesn’t know your location. However, the potential for the gun to jam could complicate subsequent shots if your initial bullet fails to eliminate your target.

2024-11-24 09:34