Surviving in the Zone is a daunting task, particularly when you are trying to scrape together funds to cover the costs of your destroyed apartment back on the Mainland. In STALKER 2, your journey begins with “The Price Goes Up,”your inaugural quest that draws you into one of the most hazardous areas dominated by bandits: the Garbage region.
Welcome to the Slag Heap
The centerpiece of this area is the Slag Heap, a notorious lair ruled by a criminal overlord named Nestor. As previously mentioned by Solder, Nestor orchestrates the troublesome scheme of scanning and pilfering, posing a significant challenge during your exploration.
Finding Diode
Your adventure in the Garbage area kicks off by entering the Slag Heap. You have two potential entry points: the northwestern route, which is laden with radiation, or the southeastern approach, where you might encounter anomalies.
If you take the southeastern path, be on the lookout for a unique AKM-74S firearm. Upon entering the Slag Heap, navigate through the long corridor on the left side of the bar and turn right to find Diode seated at his desk. Although serving as Nestor’s temporary replacement, Diode is primarily a technician, providing you with an excellent opportunity to repair your weapons and suit before continuing your quest.
Diode’s Workshop
Diode will instruct you to visit his old workshop to acquire a keycard. He had fled the site due to a bandit ambush, utilizing a scanner to teleport anomalies to escape. The workshop lies southwest of the Slag Heap, but tread cautiously as plasma anomalies pose a deadly threat.
Although the main entrance is secured, you can access the workshop by breaking the planks in front of the ventilation shaft. It is recommended to disable the scanner to safely inspect the bandits for the keycard before returning to Diode.
Nestor’s Stash
The subsequent objective is to locate Nestor’s secret stash, containing records of his illicit dealings. Depart the main Slag Heap building and head over to the scaffolding on the left. Midway through the second tier, you can loot a small stash nestled in the corner before advancing towards the collapsed crane.
Proceed along the wreckage until you reach a bus, keeping the cliff’s edge to your left. As you near the summit, turn right, traverse the bus, and venture into a cave full of acid anomalies. Caution is crucial here; a misstep could lead to costly repairs!
At the end of the cave, crouch and jump to ascend the levels, eventually reaching a ladder leading you to the crane towering over the Zone. Engage in a conversation with your acquaintance Richter, then carefully crawl across the narrow gap to access Nestor’s stash.
Don’t forget to grab the modified M860 shotgun from the stash, as its enhanced magazine adapter allows for quicker reloads. Once you’re ready to descend from the crane, avoid the radioactive route directly in front of you. Instead, follow the safer path indicated by a traffic sign.
Leap through the tunnel marked by another sign, then crawl out and descend the scaffolding to report back to Diode.
Diverging Paths
Selecting your next course of action presents two distinct paths: the vehicle Labyrinth to the northwest or the dig site to the east of the Slag Heap. Regardless of your choice, anticipate entering an area, being ambushed by foes, and then blasting your way to safety.
The Labyrinth
Choosing the Labyrinth route means facing a substantial bandit ambush, accompanied by a swarm of rats. It may seem overwhelming at first due to the high enemy count, but ample cover exists to navigate your way through the chaos. Stay mobile and utilize your pistol to take down the rats while the bandits are distracted, shortening the skirmish.
After dispatching the bandits, thoroughly search their bodies to uncover clues pointing to Varan, a local bandit leader with ambitions to dethrone Nestor. Additionally, a free artifact can be claimed from the trunk near the heap of broken scanners.
The Dig Site
Alternatively, opting for the dig site leads to a confrontation with a single formidable foe—a Burer. This humanoid mutant wields telekinesis and boasts a health pool sufficient to challenge even seasoned stalkers.
The Burer can hurl objects at you, disarm you, strike with phantom blows, and temporally shield itself from attacks. Overcoming this adversary demands patience and a significant amount of ammunition, which is scarce early in the game. For those who dislike overwhelming odds, the Labyrinth route may be preferable.
Once the Burer is defeated, offer assistance to the injured stalker within the cave (it aligns with Tolik’s wishes) to obtain crucial information connecting Nestor’s scanner operations to Varan.
Before pursuing the next quest, ensure you’re stocked up on ammunition and medical supplies at the Slag Heap, as they will be essential for your continued survival.
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