Navigating the treacherous world of STALKER 2 is no small feat, with its myriad of dangers lurking everywhere in this open-world survival shooter. The Zone is rife with threats: armored groups of NPC stalkers, eerie anomalies, and the most deadly of all—mutants. These creatures, relentless in their pursuit, stalk the land, hunting anything that crosses their path.
In STALKER 2, you’ll face 16 distinct types of mutants. These range from humans warped by radiation and psi-waves to wild animals mutated into nightmarish forms. Overcoming them isn’t easy, but with the right gear and strategies, victory is within reach.
I’ve clocked over 70 hours in STALKER 2 and am well-versed in handling its mutant creatures. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide filled with tips and tricks for dealing with each mutant, alongside suggestions for best weaponry and tactics.
STALKER 2: Battling Rats
Even early in the game, you’ll encounter swarms of rats. Individually harmless, they become lethal when they swarm. Ammunition is precious, so avoid wasting bullets. Instead, climb onto nearby objects, like crates, and lob a grenade into the middle of the swarm to take them out effectively.
STALKER 2: Overcoming Rodents
These oversized, bipedal rats attack by lunging at you. They’re weak, so a pistol shot is sufficient. Don’t waste expensive ammo on them. If overwhelmed, climbing to high ground will cause these pests to scatter, offering you a brief respite to reload or heal before they return.
STALKER 2: Defeating Blind Dogs
Speedy and dangerous, blind dogs attack in packs. Their rapid advance means running isn’t an option. Listen for their barks and be prepared to backpedal while taking them down with a pistol or SMG. In case of encirclement, sprint to break free and create distance.
STALKER 2: Handling Fleshes
These pig-like mutants boast more health than blind dogs. They attack in groups and can cover ground quickly with a leap. Keep your distance and dodge their lunges while using similar tactics to those for blind dogs.
STALKER 2: Confronting Boars
Boars resemble wild pigs but are notably more aggressive. Charging directly at you, they’ll knock you down if they connect. Lateral jumps are essential to dodge these charges. Use pump-action or mag-fed shotguns, which are effective against these and similar melee mutants.
STALKER 2: Countering Bloodsuckers
Bloodsuckers are formidable foes, capable of becoming invisible. This mutant’s high speed and lethal strikes make patience and a keen eye essential. Look for shimmering cloaks and attack with shotguns as they charge you. Utilize high ground for temporary safety.
STALKER 2: Tackling Poltergeists
Appearing as flying balls of electricity, poltergeists hurl objects with force. Get close and aim for their electric form with a shotgun or rifle. Avoid ranged combat as it’s ineffective due to damage falloff, and keep an eye out for variations that deploy fiery anomalies.
STALKER 2: Eliminating Zombies
Psi-radiation has reduced these former stalkers to zombies. They can still shoot and need headshots to truly kill. Use their predictability to your advantage by taking cover and targeting heads as they approach.
STALKER 2: Defeating Controllers
Controllers, capable of psi-radiation attacks, distort reality, creating nightmarish illusions. Keep to cover and focus on headshots while avoiding their line of sight. Grenades are particularly effective against these mutants.
STALKER 2: Conquering Burers
Burders employ telekinesis to use your surroundings against you. Line-of-sight management is crucial—kite them around cover, aiming for headshots when vulnerable, and gather loose weapons to prevent them shooting you telekinetically.
STALKER 2: Overpowering Snorks
These nimble beasts strike hard but crumble under concentrated firearm fire. Engage them with strategic retreat and spurts of gunfire, taking advantage of their vulnerability mid-leap.
STALKER 2: Surviving Psy-Dogs
Psy-dogs perplex with their illusory counterparts. It’s usually best to avoid them, but if engaged, rush the real threat with a shotgun to minimize ammo waste.
STALKER 2: Challenging Cats (Bayun)
Cats lure players with baited voices before pouncing. Approach carefully with a shotgun ready, using open spaces for tactical maneuvers if attacked.
STALKER 2: Confronting Mutated Deer
Though resembling ordinary wildlife, these summoned minions complicate fights. Prioritize the deer itself, combating its hefty resilience with point-blank shotgun shots.
STALKER 2: Confronting Chimera
Known as The Zone’s apex threats, chimeras are a deadly combination of prowess and strength. Evade them if possible; otherwise, exploit terrain to gain the upper hand and aim for dual headshots with your best gear.
STALKER 2: Subduing Pseudogiants
These colossal beasts are relentless. Being heavily armored, pseudogiants require a strategic approach involving barricade usage, relentless shotgun fire, and heavy weaponry like RPGs and machine guns to stand a chance.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and stands out among this year’s finest gaming experiences. You can grab a copy at a discounted price on CDKeys or dive into its immersive world through Xbox Game Pass.
