Stalker 2: Best Artifacts To Get Early (& Their Locations)

There are several player stats in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl and artifacts can help you improve them in exchange for some radioactive side effects. Finding an artifact in an anomaly is a hassle, at least with the default echo detector that players get at the start of the game. However, you can grab some great artifacts early on in the game without using the artifact detector at all.

Best Artifacts to Get Early in Stalker 2

There are some artifacts that players can get early on in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl without having to use the Echo detector. Although they can be acquired early, they can be a little tricky to get and might require players to do some searching, or a mini-quest to finally get them. Here’s all of them listed below.

Weird Ball Artifact

The Weird Ball is a legendary artifact that can be found towards the eastern side of Zalissya under a large Bulba anomaly. The Bulba contracts and expands constantly, pulling in everything in its surroundings. So, players will have to maneuver behind large objects in their vicinity and grab hold of the Weird Ball artifact right under it.

It’s one of the best artifacts in the game that reduces the damage taken from bullets, especially when standing still.

Weird Flower Artifact

Weird Flower is the second artifact players can get early on Stalker 2 without using an echo detector. It’s another legendary artifact that can be found in the Poppy Field southwest of Zalissya base. Players arrive at the area during the side question, “The Poppy Fields.”

However, it doesn’t matter if you complete the mission or not. You can simply venture into the field and grab the Weird Flower artifact at the designated location marked in the image above. It’s a useful artifact that buffs stealth for players, decreasing their rate of detection by 10%.

Acid Anomaly Based Artifact at Eastern Checkpoint

Artifacts tied to a particular anomaly require the use of detectors to acquire them. However, that’s not the case with the artifact in the Eastern Checkpoint in Stalker 2.

Players can head east from the Zalissya base and over to the Easter Checkpoint. Instead of entering the checkpoint, follow along its wall to the right and go around the boundary. After reaching a section with a boundary wall fallen down, players will spot a dead body and an acid-anomaly based artifact right next to it.

This could be any one of the artifacts that can be found in acid anomalies and in most cases will be a common artifact. Even if you don’t like what you got, you can always sell it for a decent amount of Coupons.

Rat King Artifact

The last artifact on this list is the Rat King, which players can get from Vova Amalgam in the Garbage region of Stalker 2. He’s a lonely stalker stuck in the electrical field south of the Detention Center. After helping him escape the anomalous field, he’ll ask Skif to choose a reward for his help. Selecting the artifact option will reward Skif with the Rat King artifact.

The Rat King artifacts offer both electrical and bleeding resistance with weak radiation side effects. It’s a great starter artifact if you get into gun fights a lot or are often caught getting damaged by electro anomalies in Stalker 2.

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Systems

Released

November 20, 2024

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Engine

Unreal Engine 5

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood, Use Of Drugs And Alcohol, Language, Crude Humor

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