Stalker 2 is a tough game, and you need every advantage that you can get when trying to explore and survive in the Zone. This includes trying to get the best equipment and gear very early in the game, which can be a bit inconvenient – since all the late-game areas, which contain the best equipment are region locked. These become available for exploration as you progress through the story. But sometimes, you can just book it to the next region to unlock a new path in your story.
And that is what you can do for Pripyat, one of the late-game regions, and one with some of the best weapons and gear that Stalker 2 has to offer. In this guide, we tell you exactly how to get to Pripyat early in Stalker 2, and the best gear to collect once you reach Pripyat.
All Methods To Reach Pripyat Early In Stalker 2
There are two unconventional methods we will be looking at to get to Pripyat during the early stages of Stalker 2. For both methods, you can only reach Pripyat after getting into Garbage first, which you will get to do during the main story. Once here, visit Slag Heap and make a save.
Route 1
Run all the way to Yaniv Station. You will find a broken down train here, jump over and through the gap between the broken trains, and head further north towards Pripyat. We have marked the location of where you need to go to find the opening between the trains and make it to the other side easier.
Route 2
The second route involves heading over to Yaniv Station and heading down the tracks a bit to the east to northeast. The exact location is marked above. Once you are here, hop on to the wheel or any structure sticking out beside the train and try to get up on the roof of the train. Head west till you find a building in the north, then get down and make a run towards the building. From there, follow the main path to reach the entrance to Pripyat in the northwest section of the map.
Note: In both paths, you will be affected by radiation and encounter mutants and anomalies, so you need to run down the path marked above till you reach Pripyat to have a better chance of survival. Avoid stepping foot on the grass and gun it down the dirt path.
Which Is The Better And Easier Path?
Both paths offer the same challenges, so it is hard to pick which path would be the better of the two. You might find jumping through the gaps between the trains a bit easier than trying to climb on top of the train, but besides that, you still have to travel an equal distance to reach Pripyat.
How To Survive Radiation In Stalker 2
The best way to reduce radiation is to carry vodka and consume it whenever required. You can also pick up artifacts like the Slug, which you get during the There and Back Again quest. This will help minimize some amounts of radiation by applying Radio Protection. While picking up suits, look for blueprints or upgrades that offer radiation protection, such as the Lead Container blueprint or upgrade. You can also equip artifacts if your suit has artifact slots, which will offer better radiation protection.
What To Do Once You Reach Pripyat?
Once you step foot in Pripyat, you can pick up some rare weapons and suits and check out the Enerhetyk Palace of Culture base. We recommend that you get the Texan Shotgun, Diamond Exoskeleton, Gauss Gun, and meet Bolero now that you are here in Pripyat. The locations for the gear have been detailed out for you below
Texan Shotgun Location
One of the best weapons in the game, the Texan Shotgun can be found if you head south of Pripyat, towards the Abandoned Science Campus. It is just at the border of Jupiter, you can’t miss it. Below are the stats of the Texan Shotgun.
- Damage: 5
- Penetration: 3
- Rate of Fire: 5
- Range: 1.2
- Accuracy: 3.2
- Caliber: 12″/70
- Magazine: 14
- Weight: 4.62 KG
Diamond Exoskeleton Location
The next place you should go is to the Sunny Kindergarten right at the center of Pripyat. You can find the exoskeleton on the upper levels of the building. This is considered one of the best armors in the game, hence why you need to get it soon. Below are the stats for the Diamond Exoskeleton.
- Thermal Protection: 2
- Electrical Protection: 2
- Chemical Protection: 2
- Radiation Protection: 4
- PSI Protection: 2
- Physical Protection: 4
Gauss Gun Location
Another epic weapon that you can grab early is the Gauss Gun, which can be found inside the Prometheus Movie Theater. But you don’t need to head out all the way to Pripyat just to find this gun, as you can get it a bit earlier while exploring Yaniv.
Bolero Location
One of the best late-game technicians is Bolero, and he can be found inside Enerhetyk Palace of Culture. You can find this building on the northwestern section of Pripyat, just follow the dirt path till you reach a large building. Head up the stairs and get inside the building to find him. He also offers some better end-game weapons and gear, so do check out his wares to see what he has to offer.
