If you’re having a tough time making your way through the Poppy Fields in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl to locate the relic, you’re definitely not alone. Early in the game, players embark on a side quest where they need to navigate the Poppy Fields to retrieve a relic for another stalker. The challenge arises when they realize just how tricky the fields are to navigate, reminiscent of the whimsical challenges faced by Dorothy. To assist you in traversing these fields without incurring excessive costs, here’s a guide on locating the cellar within the Poppy Fields without getting overwhelmed.
With the game’s rising popularity, many players are likely to find themselves in the initial stages feeling lost and facing potential danger. The game is full of challenges with various obstacles and foes, not to mention the task of surviving the harsh terrain. Players must ensure they stay fed, healthy, and energized to make it through the Zone, and maintaining that energy is crucial when it comes to the quest for the missing relic.
The Poppy Field Side Quest In Stalker 2
Why It’s Challenging & Alternate Routes
The Poppy Fields present a tough early-game quest that can be quite daunting. A character named Mityay assigns players this task early on, in the building where Hamster the Trader operates. This quest seems like an ideal side venture while you wait to discover Squint in Stalker 2 and gain some valuable experience and weapon upgrades along the way.
However, this is no simple stroll through the flowers; players need to be well-prepared for the quest. The game advises you to stock up on Energy Drinks or any items that can boost your stamina. This guidance is essential, as once you enter the Poppy Fields, you quickly realize it’s a vast area teeming with enemies, draining your stamina, and causing hallucinations. Additionally, players may experience temporary blackouts and be teleported to different spots within the fields, making it easy to lose your bearings.
There’s another character named Pomor dwelling in a house near the fields. Speaking with him can provide hints about the cellar’s location, but it comes at a cost of 2000 Coupons or requiring another side quest. At the early stages of the game, this amount is significant, and undertaking his side quest will be just as challenging as finding the cellar due to having to navigate through the fields.
Paying 2000 Coupons for a hint is not worth it, as it exceeds the value of either the relic or the weapon (after repairs) from this quest.
It’s a poor trade-off; only consider it if you aim to wrap up the quest swiftly.
Participating in the side quest involves locating four distinct bodies scattered throughout the Poppy Field and looting them while consuming your Energy Drinks, which drains your stamina. Plus, the swirling Poppy wind poses a risk of causing a swift knockout, which you must avoid at all costs. Managing your resources while attempting to find the cellar can be quite difficult. However, if you already know where the cellar is located, you can skip the side quest and Pomor entirely and head straight for it.
Poppy Field Cellar Location
Exact Location on the Map & Steps to Find It
As depicted on the map, the cellar’s location, identified by the green player arrow, is situated not far from the four bodies you need to loot. Furthermore, small hills obscure it on all sides, making it even more challenging to find, especially with the deadly poppy winds frequently swirling around. Here’s the best route to reach the cellar based on my experience:
- Avoid or eliminate the enemies on the ridge above to ease your journey.
- If it’s dark, enter Pomor’s house and wait until daylight.
Do
NOT
attempt to search for the cellar in the Poppy Fields during the night. Even with a waypoint, good visibility is crucial to avoid the wind; you might miss the depression in the hills where the cellar is located.
- Stay on the outskirts of the Poppy Field. You can navigate behind Pomor’s house and keep along the east side of the field or choose the west side. Either path, do not venture into the field; stick to the edges until you reach the northeastern spot near the river.
- Once you reach the location closest to the map marker shown in the image above, check that you’re not heading straight into the wind, then sprint directly to the position. You should spot the hills with a deep valley in between. The cellar is located in that valley.
- Once you arrive at the cellar, drop down inside.
Once you’re inside the cellar, you are safe from the dangers of the Poppy Field. Take a moment to recover, drink an Energy Drink if necessary, loot the body, and grab the relic. When you’re ready, head back up and sprint back to your initial entrance point. From here, you can return the relic to Mityay or bring it to Pomor, who will show interest even if you’ve chosen not to complete his side quest.
If you don’t finish Pomor’s side quest the first time around, you can
still loot the bodies later
or even complete the quest after returning the relic.
For returning the relic, players can expect to receive around 1000 Coupons from Mityay, or Pomor will offer a broken AR416. You can upgrade or sell the weapon after repairing it, but the profit will be equivalent since repair costs about 7000 Coupons. Mityay will then also mention his intent to search for relics in the Poppy Fields himself, leaving you with a sense of guilt, especially if he ends up in trouble.
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The AR416 is a decent assault rifle, but it won’t drastically change the game or make future quests any simpler. Considering this, opting to return the item to Mityay is a more straightforward option that won’t deplete your resources significantly. Plus, if you managed to swiftly locate the cellar, you’ll have conserved plenty of supplies for your upcoming adventures in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
