Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Walkthrough (Part 1) – Lesser Zone Main Missions Guide

In my journey through Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, I’ll be your guide as we explore the starting area, known as the Lesser Zone region. We’ll delve into the tutorial, then tackle all the main missions, a few side quests, and collect enough stashes, artifacts, and other items to set us up for success in the Zone. The main missions you can expect are “There and Back Again,” “A Tough Awakening,” “A Needle In a Haystack,” “A Race Against Death,” and “Behind Seven Seals.” Let’s step into the Zone together!

00:15 – Intro cutscene

06:20 – There and Back Again (start of tutorial mission)

09:56 – AKM-74S (full durability)

12:35 – AR416 (full durability)

13:00 – Find Nehoda (There and Back Again update)

13:40 – Information about the scanning points (There and Back Again update)

16:08 – Grabbing the first artifact (There and Back Again update)

17:55 – Scanning point 1 (There and Back Again update)

21:45 – Scanning point 2 (There and Back Again update)

24:08 – Before reaching checkpoint 3, feel free to store all your items in the conveniently located safe. This way, you’ll be able to collect your gear once the tutorial is over, avoiding the need to begin anew with an empty inventory.

25:20 – Scanning point 3 (cutscene and end of tutorial)

28:56 – A Tough Awakening (main mission start)

29:07 – Behind Seven Seals (main mission start)

33:00 – Go get your gear back if you dropped it off before the end of the tutorial

37:00 – Give the med kits to Zhorik if you want to get coordinates to another stash

39:05 – Dangerous Visitors (side mission start)

39:40 – Hidden loot on roof

41:00 – Zhorik’s Stash (100 percent durability AKM-74S)

46:05 – Hidden loot on top of chimney

47:00 – Find that the Gloomy (side mission for Dangerous Visitors has been finished), obtain a new Echo Detector (if you had stored your equipment prior to the tutorial, you might have an extra one to sell)

48 minutes and 20 seconds – The Viper-5 is operational following our conversation with Gloomy, and you have a silencer for your initial firearm.

49:25 – Where we’ll head for another artifact (Droplets)

52:10 – Where we’ll go for more loot and a usable Boomstick (Dire Thicket location)

58:24 – A tunnel location for another usable AKM-74U

1:02:45 – Progressing towards the initial significant campsite, specifically Zalissya Bar (as part of the primary mission update titled “A Tough Awakening”)

1:03:37 – Where to heal in camp

1:05:40 – Where to sleep and store your gear in this town

1:10:45 – In which part of the town can you enhance your equipment? (It’s advisable to have at least one holographic sight on a weapon, however, repairing weapons with low durability for resale is usually not profitable.)

1:14:40 – Go to the bar (Behind Seven Seals main mission update)

1:19:15 – Warlock’s Debtor (side mission start)

1:23:55 – Reaching Valik Lummox (Warlock’s Debtor side mission update)

1:24:10 – Play it cool with everyone and then go and climb the tower

1:27:00 – Valik Lummox’s AKM-74S acquired (Warlock’s Debtor side mission update)

1:29:50 – Have Valik send money to Warlock (Warlock’s Debtor side mission COMPLETE)

1:31:17 – Location to acquire a 100 percent durability gas mask (Cowsheds)

1:33:30 – Location to acquire a Debut Suit (Old Mill)

1:38:45 – Careful of all the traps at the Old Mill

1:42:40 – Inquire from the Gaffer regarding Soldering (For the main mission update of Behind Seven Seals, this will be our chosen path, though it’s not mandatory for you to do so)

1:45:45 – Inquire from Captain Zotov concerning Soldier (Additional mission update for Behind Seven Seals primary objective)

1:48:45 – Completing the side mission “The Poppy Field” (which involves obtaining the Weird Flower artifact and a firearm)

1:52:40 – Speaking with Pomor (Poppy Field side mission update)

1:56:31 – Sleeping with the enigmatic Poppy Field artifact nearby will revitalize it. Whenever the bloom fades, simply repeat the process to bring it back to life once more. (As a devoted enthusiast, I find myself drawn to this mysterious item and its magical properties.)

1:57:12 – Location of the cellar with the quest item (Poppy Field side mission update)

1:58:25 – How to platform to second story of farmhouse for loot (start sprinting as you jump)

1:59:03 – Mission in Poppy Field’s side area FINISHED (avoid killing Pomor for his gun and key item. It’s wiser to take the damaged gun instead, if you don’t already have an AR416 from the tutorial, or keep the quest item and return to the original quest giver to collect your credits.)

2:00:09 – Missing Person’s Stash at the Pol Depot

2:07:51 – Ordinary Stash at Zalissya Bar

2:08:52 – (Commencement of the side quest known as “Invisible Nets”, which is additionally a segment within the main mission “Behind Seven Seals” for the group called the Stalkers)

Or, more casually:

2:08:52 – The side task called “Invisible Nets” begins here. This task also ties into the larger mission for the Stalkers called “Behind Seven Seals”.

2:14:00 – Invisible Nets (side mission location 2)

2:17: 00 – The Invisible Nets side quest is now finished, providing the location for finding Squint (A Needle In A Haystack’s primary mission).

2:18:52 – If you visited the Old Mill previously, you’ve handled the traps before, but if not, exercise caution and take care of them now (Regarding the main mission “A Needle In A Haystack” update)

2:20:35 – Acquired the “Piece of Cake” side quest from Squint, which is an update related to the “Needle In A Haystack” main mission.

Or, more informally:
2:20:35 – Got a new side mission called “Piece of Cake” from Squint, part of the “Needle In A Haystack” main storyline.

2:23:35 – Location of loot and artifact

2:25:45 – Piece of Cake side mission COMPLETE (Needle In A Haystack main mission update)

2:28:47 – Handing over the sensors back to Richter (Mission “Needle In A Haystack” completed, new update on “Behind Seven Seals” mission, head to Ribs for additional details)

2:32:15 – Artifact location at Ribs (won’t be the same spot for everyone so follow your sensor)

2:34:00 – Entering Sphere’s abandoned comms hub (Behind Seven Seals main mission update)

2:35:00 – Fight this enemy by following the shimmer in the fog

2:37:50 – Code to get into the bunker (2765) (Behind Seven Seals main mission update)

2:39:40 – Secret bunker entrance to avoid detection

2:40:25 – Alternatively, place a piece of fresh meat here to divert some of the rats while you run, saving your ammunition.

2:48:10 – Confronting Solder (cutscene, Behind Seven Seals main mission update)

2:51:15 – An extended mag for your starter pistol

2:58:05 – For a smoother departure from the starting point, consider taking this path (after completing the primary mission of Seven Seals)

3:03:15 – Leaving the Sphere (Behind Seven Seals main mission update)

3:06:52 – When the storm begins, make your way to the bunker (Completion of the main mission “A Race Against Death”)

3:09:45 – Before leaving this region, grab the artifact (Weird Ball) at the Bulba anomaly

3:13:50 – Exit the Minor Region through the Northern Border Control Point (Mission of Seven Seals has been successfully completed)

For more on Stalker 2, head to our iggn.ru wiki @ https://www.ign.com/wikis/stalker-2/