In the perilous landscape of STALKER 2, surviving The Zone is a constant battle against a variety of threats. As an open-world survival shooter, the game challenges players to contend with dangerous factions of armed and armored NPC stalkers and surreal anomalies. However, the most treacherous adversaries you’ll face are the mutants—vicious creatures that prowl The Zone and mercilessly hunt anything that crosses their path.
The game features an impressive roster of 16 different mutant types, ranging from former humans mutated by radiation and psi-waves to ferocious animals transformed by mysterious genetic alterations. Some blend both elements in their horrific forms. While dealing with these mutants is no simple task, properly equipped players armed with the right strategies can prevail.
Having spent over 70 hours exploring STALKER 2’s rich environment and having extensive experience with the franchise, I’ve acquired valuable insights into tackling the game’s mutant menagerie. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide detailing tactics and weapon recommendations for each creature, designed to make these encounters more manageable.
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### STALKER 2: How to deal with rats
Encountering rats in The Zone might seem trivial at first, but underestimating these vermin is a mistake. While a single rat poses no threat, their large swarms can quickly overwhelm and dispatch you if not managed from a safe distance.
Ammo conservation is key, as shooting dozens of rats individually is inefficient. Instead, your best bet is to gain elevation by climbing onto crates or pipes, then deploying a grenade right in their midst. A well-placed explosive will typically take out the entire swarm—or at least most of them.
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### STALKER 2: How to handle rodents
Rodents, oversized and hopping on two legs, present another early-game challenge. Individual rodents aren’t particularly durable, but they often come in packs, eager to leap and claw at you.
Given their low health, any pistol will efficiently dispatch them with a single shot—save your more powerful ammunition for bigger threats. When surrounded, retreat to high ground only to heal or reload since they will hide otherwise but resume their attack once you reengage.
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### STALKER 2: Strategies against blind dogs
Blind dogs appear much like regular dogs but move with unsettling speed, charging hungrily towards players. Their agility allows them to circle around you, complicating combat significantly.
Listen for their warning growls and backpedal while unleashing shots from a pistol, SMG, or rifle. Shotguns work well with their stopping power, but avoid double barrels due to the lengthy reloads. If surrounded, sprint in one direction to break free, then turn to dispatch the pack following you. Luring them into anomalies can be an unexpected boon.
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### STALKER 2: Facing down fleshes
Fleshes, ghastly pig mutants sporting insect-like legs, are more resilient than dogs but slower. Their high-pitched cries give away their presence.
Combat tactics are similar to those for blind dogs, but watch out for their surprising leap attack. Keep them at range and dodge laterally to avoid it. Maintaining a safe distance is crucial as you wear them down.
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### STALKER 2: Tactics for boars
Boars, resembling their non-mutated counterparts but with increased aggression, are best faced with strong lateral movements, as direct charges are brutal and can leave you vulnerable.
Shotguns are ideal, providing necessary stopping power to counter boar charges. Pistols are less effective unless ammunition supply dictates their use. Take advantage of their inability to jump by climbing onto objects for a breather.
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### STALKER 2: Battle plan for bloodsuckers
Bloodsuckers epitomize The Zone’s deadliest with their invisibility and ferocity. These tall, tentacled mutants circle before striking hard and fast.
Patience is key; track them by watching for shimmer and use a good shotgun as they charge. With precise timing, you can fend off their attack. Elevated positions can provide crucial respite when defending against their continuous onslaughts.
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### STALKER 2: Tips for poltergeists
Poltergeists, strange entities surrounded by electrical energy, attack by telekinetically flinging nearby objects. This attack circumvents armor, causing heavy damage.
Approach them closely to overcome damage falloff from a distance, using cover and moving in erratic patterns to avoid their throws. Rifles and shotguns work best at close quarters to exploit their brief vulnerability.
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### STALKER 2: Overcoming zombies
Zombies, former human stalkers ravaged by psi-radiation, are soulless yet persistent in battle. They are vulnerable only to headshots, as body hits will see them return to the fray.
Use their predictability to your advantage by engaging from cover and eliminating them one by one. Stay away from open areas to keep their incompetent aim at bay while focusing on precision shooting.
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### STALKER 2: Controller confrontations
Controllers are iconic mutants with a unique ranged psi-wave attack that disorients and packs a psi-radiation punch, creating hallucinations.
Minimize their abilities with psi-block consumables and target them from cover, dodging their line of sight and aiming for headshots. Explosives also yield effective results, thanks to their slow movement.
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### STALKER 2: Dealing with burers
Burers are telekinetic mutants that shield themselves after taking damage and can disarm you or use floating weapons against you.
Using cover effectively prevents their telekinesis from disrupting your offense. Sniper rifles are particularly effective for picking off burers, though be prepared to reclaim your weapon if disarmed.
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### STALKER 2: Managing snorks
Snorks, humanoid mutants with worn gas masks, move on all fours and strike powerfully when attacking en masse.
Their low health balances out formidable offensive capabilities, so employ hit-and-run tactics with rifles or shotguns, taking advantage of their glass canon vulnerability.
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### STALKER 2: Handling psy-dogs
Psy-dogs add a psychic twist to combat, conjuring clones that force you to fend off multiple apparitions along with the real threat.
Focus on the real psy-dog once identified. Run or seek allies when confronted for better handling of these distractions.
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### STALKER 2: Tackling cats (bayun)
Cats, innovative in their attack strategies and devious tactics, mimic human cries to lure victims. Their ambushes are potent but predictable once discovered.
Approach potential traps with caution and a ready shotgun. An open space provides an advantage in dodging assaults and ensuring your counterattack lands solidly.
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### STALKER 2: Besting mutated deer
Rare yet formidable, the mutated deer can summon thralls to overwhelm. Its primary attacks parallel those of a boar, supplemented with control abilities.
Targeting the deer directly is crucial to prevent further reinforcements from appearing. Get in close with a shotgun, making every shot count.
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### STALKER 2: Dealing with chimeras
Chimeras represent apex threats within The Zone, combining durability, speed, and power. Evasion is the best strategy unless you’ve prepared adequately for a fight.
If necessary, draw the chimera into terrain it can’t navigate and deal heavy damage with RPGs or high-powered shotguns. Patience is paramount, requiring careful dodging and strategic firing.
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### STALKER 2: Defeating pseudogiants
Pseudogiants are monstrous, telekinetic behemoths. They employ overwhelming strength and psychic powers, presenting a formidable challenge.
Tackle these titans with RPGs and steady bursts from machine guns when kiting them strategically around cover. Avoid open spaces where their assaults can connect unimpeded.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl provides thrilling gameplay on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, standing out as one of the year’s top games. While priced at $59.99, it’s available at a discount through CDKeys and accessible via Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
With these strategies in mind, continue your journey through The Zone equipped to face the mutants’ myriad challenges. Enjoy the hunt and may your stalker live to see another day!
