Surviving Combat in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Essentials

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If you’re not busy exploring or chatting with NPCs in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you’ll likely find yourself battling rival factions and mutants. Engaging in combat is straightforward: shoot your enemies, avoid getting hit as much as possible, and heal when you do get hit. Understanding the fundamentals is crucial, but there are several tips to enhance your combat effectiveness and help you survive longer, regardless of the enemies you face.

A number of the strategies you’ll come across here may seem obvious, but some aspects of Stalker 2’s combat mechanics can only be understood through experience.

Focus on Headshots

Human enemies in Stalker 2 can absorb quite a few bullets to the chest and limbs before going down. Some can even withstand headshots if they’re wearing armor. However, if you can accurately target their heads, you’ll wrap up encounters much faster.

Achieving headshots can be tricky due to the game’s precise hit detection. You might notice that bullets don’t seem to be drawn towards targets at all, which means you’ll need to be spot-on with your shots to land a headshot.

Mutants also have vulnerable heads, but there are often better ways to deal with them without wasting too much ammo. For instance, certain creatures like Bloodsuckers, Poltergeists, and pigs can be handled more efficiently in different ways.

Rely on Your Pistol

In Stalker 2, pistols are surprisingly powerful. Using the PTM or Skif’s Pistol (which is the starting pistol) will mean you won’t have a hard time finding ammo, as a good portion of fallen human enemies will drop this ammunition.

This is especially important considering the game’s harsh weapon durability system. Assault rifles and SMGs may require more frequent repairs, and the costs can add up since they take more damage over time due to extensive firing.

By using a pistol for dealing with minor threats like dogs and wild encounters, you can save your main weapons for tougher fights, reducing the need for frequent repairs and conserving valuable ammunition.

Keep a Shotgun Close

While shotguns excel at close range, they can obliterate nearly anything when used within that distance. This effectiveness makes them particularly useful against mutants.

Each shot from a shotgun can deliver significant damage if most pellets hit their target, especially against large creatures like Bloodsuckers and wild boars that tend to close the gap quickly. A couple of well-placed shots with buckshot can take these foes down swiftly.

Shotguns also offer a better ammo economy compared to other weapons. If you can take out a Bloodsucker with just a handful of shells, you’ll save yourself from draining multiple magazines from your AR or SMG.

Make Use of Grenades

Enemies often travel in groups in Stalker 2, and they tend to stay together until they notice you. Throwing a grenade at them before a fight kicks off can help you whittle down their numbers. Even if the grenade doesn’t score any kills, it will inflict early damage, making it easier to take down heavily armored foes.

Using grenades also allows you to conserve ammo. Most human enemies carry spare grenades, which means that using one might not be as much of a loss as it seems.

Just keep in mind that tougher late-game enemies and mutants may require multiple grenades to eliminate. However, even if an enemy survives a grenade blast, they might be knocked down, providing an easier target for you.

Stockpile Healing Items

Always carry at least ten medkits and bandages. Fights can quickly become chaotic for numerous reasons—whether it’s an unexpected ambush, a mutant attack, or just missing a few critical shots. It’s vital to be prepared.

Healing items are relatively lightweight, allowing you to stack up without being weighed down. Bandages are especially useful out of combat, as they stop bleeding and heal a small amount of health. Medkits are better during fights, as they can restore a significant portion of your health, and some even completely stop bleeding.

Maintain Your Gear

The durability of your weapons and armor significantly affects your combat performance. Weapons in poor condition are more likely to malfunction, which can happen at inopportune moments.

Armor can also become quite costly to maintain. As its durability decreases, its effectiveness also declines.

Always visit a technician whenever you are in a settlement that has one, to keep your gear in top shape. This will not only enhance your combat capabilities but also lower repair costs. Ignoring even minor signs of wear and tear can lead to expensive fixes that add up quickly.

Use the Best Ammo Available

Use only the best ammo you can find in Stalker 2. The effectiveness of bullets varies based on where they come from—the more dangerous the area, the better the ammo tends to be.

More expensive ammo generally means higher damage output, which becomes crucial against well-armored foes. If you hit an enemy with a helmet or similar protection, even the most powerful bullets might struggle to penetrate their defenses.

Therefore, stock up on top-quality ammo and keep a reserve for when you switch to a new primary weapon. This way, you’ll have a good supply on hand without needing to purchase more.