Within the vast and treacherous Zone of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a wide variety of formidable mutants reside. Each one presents a challenge that stalkers must overcome, either to survive or deplete their resources before another menace strikes. This guide outlines different types of mutants you may encounter, along with effective strategies to defeat them. Happy hunting, stalkers!
14. Rodent
Death By A Thousand Bites
Affectionately dubbed Tushkano, these little fiends are not to be underestimated. Although they die easily and inflict minimal damage individually, their strength lies in their numbers, often swarming in packs of over 20.
These rodents thrive in cramped spaces like sewers and corridors, capable of leaping significant heights, making escape challenging. A spray of buckshot from a shotgun is your best bet for dealing with them, though beware; this will inevitably draw the attention of nearby stalkers and other mutants.
13. Blind Dog
Not Your Mama’s Puppy
The Blind Dog may resemble an ordinary stray, but it has traded its sight for enhanced senses. These agile creatures can navigate through anomalies and are persistent once they track a target.
Although they possess lower health and can be easily injured, their biting attacks lead to bleeding, which can be fatal in a pack fight. Elevation is key to survival; climbing onto structures and shooting from above greatly increases your chances of success.
12. Flesh
The Leaping Crab Pigs
Once a running joke among stalkers, the flesh has morphed into a legitimate threat. These crustacean-swine hybrids usually travel in packs of four to six and can quickly close the distance for an attack.
Their ferocity means repeated assaults until one side is eliminated. They have no unique vulnerabilities; even lower-caliber weapons like Skif’s PTM can manage a kill. Alternatively, exploiting their lack of awareness towards anomalies can provide a tactical advantage.
11. Boar
Hostile, Hungry, And Tanky
One of the more unaltered creatures in the Zone, the boar has developed a taste for human flesh. Typically seen in small groups, these creatures can be bypassed thanks to their poor sensing abilities.
In combat, they rely on tusks and headbutts, with the latter being particularly damaging. Their tough skulls make traditional headshots challenging; attacking from the side with shotgun shells proves more effective.
10. Snoring
Decomposing Harbingers of Doom
Snorks are human corpses twisted by mutation, often appearing in packs. Their attacks may not seem threatening individually, but their charging strikes and exceptional jumping abilities can catch you off guard.
Attack them mid-jump to quickly negate their threat, or prepare to dodge their powerful leaps while unloading your firepower.
9. Cat
Murder-Parkour Enthusiasts
Despite their rarity, mutated cats are among the most lethal of the Zone’s inhabitants. Their agility allows them to dodge incoming fire, making them exceedingly difficult targets.
Style your strategy around ambush attacks using shotguns or submachine guns to increase your hit probability against these nimble foes.
8. Poltergeist
Violent Interior Designers
Inside confined spaces, poltergeists can become overwhelming. These invisible monsters utilize telekinesis to hurl objects, inflicting substantial damage.
While they lack straightforward aggression, their considerable health can wear you down. Approach with a crouched movement to sneak past them; alternatively, if you’re packing heat, chase them down with a relentless assault.
7. Mutated Elk
A Hunter’s Dream
This seemingly ordinary elk is anything but. Its mutations have gifted it with armor-like skin and a large health pool. When provoked, it charges with ferocity, aided by disorienting shrieks that confuse prey.
Keep track of your ammo when facing them, as they can summon allies in a fight. Attacking from a distance works best against this powerful foe.
6. Cages
The Deadliest Master of Telekinesis
The Burer is notorious for its sadistic nature, wielding telekinesis to launch objects or even snatch weapons from stalkers. They can become invulnerable when injured, requiring strategy to overcome.
Staying mobile is crucial to evade their dangerous melee attacks. Trigger their barrier using any weapon, then unleash your heavy arms to finish them off while they are vulnerable.
5. Bloodsucker
The Invisible Vampire
Challenging even the most experienced stalkers, the Bloodsucker possesses a huge health pool and the ability to blend seamlessly into its surroundings before attacking. This mutant can drain significant health with its strikes.
Optimal engagement requires powerful, rapid-fire weapons, especially when it reveals its position just before a strike. Semi-automatics or high-cyclic shotguns are invaluable tools for defeating this elusive predator.
4. Controller
Fighting With Brains
Controllers are a formidable presence found lurking in abandoned installations. Their psi-bolts can inflict significant damage, forcing stalkers into a daze. When they spot a target, they can summon zombified stalkers to fight on their behalf.
Your best chance for victory is to consume psi-block drugs to mitigate their psychic assaults, followed by a relentless attack to finish them off before they can summon their minions.
3. Psy-Dog
When One Is Too Many
These creatures, a blend of wolf and psychic energy, produce phantom projections that can overwhelm a stalker. While the real psy-dog conceals itself among these illusions, its attacks are no less dangerous.
Killing the phantoms might only prove a temporary solution; eliminate the psy-dog swiftly before it can conjure more apparitions.
2. Pseudogiant
Because Size Does Matter Here
This powerful and rare mutant is a true danger in the Zone. Pseudogiants possess immense health and strength, along with the ability to create shockwaves that topple stalkers.
If avoidance isn’t feasible, seek higher ground and utilize a steady strategy to chip away at its health. Prepare for an enduring battle!
1. Chimera
The Top of the Food Chain
The Chimera stands as the pinnacle of the mutant hierarchy in the Zone. Rare to encounter but incredibly dangerous, it boasts dual heads, high regenerative capabilities, and exceptional agility.
Your safest strategy against a Chimera is to retreat indoors, as its size limits its movement in tight spaces. Take opportunistic shots through windows or doors until it is downed—assuming you’ve managed your ammunition wisely.
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