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Discover all the best Artifacts that you can acquire in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl along with their effects and their usability.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, much like its predecessor, features a thrilling story about humanity and survival. Although the game’s primary focus is the moment-to-moment gameplay, it doesn’t come at the cost of its narrative. Similar to the original Stalker game, the sequel offers various Weapons, Armor, Attachments, and Artifacts that players can equip while progressing. Artifacts are essential for enhancing your character capabilities, allowing you to gain various passive bonuses. In this guide, we will tell you all the best Artifacts that you should use in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl along with their effects and their usability.
Artifacts Overview in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Artifacts are the equipment items that you can equip to Skif’s gear alongside the suit/armor, mask, two main weapons, a pistol, and and an echo detector. Each Artifact offers various bonuses to certain Status Effects and Resistances. Bonuses like Weight, Radio Protection, Bleeding Resistance, Thermal Protection, etc. Moreover, Artifacts also have negative effects, such as Radiation. The Zone is a dangerous place filled with numerous kinds of Mutants and Bandits. To have an increased chance of survival during the adventure, it is best that you keep certain Artifacts in your inventory to gain certain bonuses.
Artifacts play a crucial role in survival in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The game introduces the Artifact mechanic to you in the opening hour of the game. During the Prologue mission, you will come across an Echo Detector that will help you track down any nearby Artifact. It is best that you understand the process of finding the Artifact as you will be repeating the same procedure for almost all the Artifacts in the game.
7 Best Artifacts in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl That You Must Use
There are over fifty Artifacts in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl that you can come around while exploring the various anomaly sites. However, your character can only equip up to 5 Artifacts max depending on the currently equipped armor/suit. Upgrading your armor/suit is essential for increasing the number of Artifact slots and applying Lead to the slots. One of the best suits that you can have with all 5 artifacts equipped is the SEVA-I Suit as it provides great protection for all anomalies and maximum Radiation protection which is essential for equipping all artifacts.
Here are the five best Artifacts that you should use in your playthrough in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
- Thunderberry: It increases maximum Endurance (Stamina) replenishment speed, requiring you no longer to drink Energy Drinks, even while heavy.
- Compass: It grants maximum Physical Protection at the cost of maximum radiation effect. However, with maximum Radiation Protection from the suit or Liquid Rock artifact, the negative effect no longer affects you.
- Hypercube: It grants maximum Bleeding Resistance with maximum Thermal Protection at the cost of maximum radiation effect.
- Liquid Rock: It grants maximum Radiation Protection and maximum Chemical Protection.
- Weird Ball: It reduces the bullet damage while standing still.
- Weird Water: It increases the weight capacity by 40 kg and gives radiation protection at the cost of minor camera shake.
- Weird Flower: It makes it harder to get detected by enemies. However, the effect is more prominent after a fresh sleep. The effect diminishes over time.
7. Weird Flower
One of the legendary “altered items” often mentioned in hushed tones by stalkers around the campfire. If you sleep with this flower on your belt, its fragrance will mask your scent, though the effect diminishes over time. You can find it in the northern part of Poppy Field in the Lesser Zone. Use the Energy Drinks often to stay awake while in the Poppy Field.
- Unique Effect: Sleeping with this flower will cause its fragrance to mask your scent, though the effect diminishes over time.
This artifact is perfect for someone who wishes to be silent and stay undetected while eliminating the threat in the area.
6. Weird Water
One of the legendary “altered items” often mentioned in hushed tones by stalkers around the campfire. You can’t drink this stuff, but strap it to your belt. and radiation won’t bother you as much. It makes moving around a bit smoother too, although you might go a little weak in the knees from time to time. You can find it under one of the Wandering Lights in the Zaton region. The Wandering Lights only appear in the night. Go around the Wandering Lights quickly to pick up the artifact and leave.
- Unique Effect: Radiation won’t affect you as much. Makes moving around a bit smoother too, in exchange for weaker knees from time to time.
It lets you carry 40 kg more which is a great improvement for increasing the weight limit. Moreover, it provides some protection against radiation. We suggest equipping this artifact only when you are heavy-lifting.
5. Weird Ball
One of the legendary “altered items” often mentioned in hushed tones by stalkers around the campfire. A child’s ball, oddly weighty. Equipping it seems to reduce bullet damage in combat, particularly when standing still. You can find it in the Bulba Anomaly in the Lesser Zone. Crouch next to the vehicles and move up to find it between the van and the ambulance.
- Unique Effect: Reduces bullet damage when standing still.
If you adapt to shooting enemies while standing still, then this artifact will allow you to take less damage. However, there is a downside the artifact weight increases as you take more bullet damage.
4. Liquid Rock
It is a legendary artifact you can find in Acid Anomalies. Among its less apparent properties, the Liquid Rock exhibits an analgesic effect for migraines. To ensure the desired result, it is necessary to carry the artifact on one’s person. It grants maximum Radiation Protection and maximum Chemical Protection.
- Positive Effects
- Radio Protection (Maximum)
- Chemical Protection (Maximum)
If your armor/suit does not have maximum radiation protection, then this artifact will help you mitigate the radiation negative effects from other artifacts.
3. Hypercube
It is a legendary artifact you can find in Thermal Anomalies. The full potential of this artifact has yet to be discovered. It emits ultra-long radio waves and has potential applications in space navigation. It grants maximum Bleeding Resistance with maximum Thermal Protection at the cost of maximum radiation effect.
- Positive Effects
- Thermal Protection (Maximum)
- Bleeding Resistance (Maximum)
- Negative Effect: Radiation (Maximum)
This artifact is a must-grab for your whole playthrough. As you face bleeding in almost every encounter, equipping this artifact will make you immune to bleeding.
2. Compass
It is a legendary artifact you can find in Gravitational Anomalies. Stalkers hold the belief that whoever discovers and holds onto the Compass will gain the ability to safely navigate the Zone’s most treacherous areas. It grants maximum Physical Protection at the cost of maximum radiation effect. With maximum Radiation Protection from the suit or Liquid Rock artifact, the negative effect no longer affects you.
- Positive Effect: Physical Protection (Maximum)
- Negative Effect: Radiation (Maximum)
If your armor/suit does not have maximum physical protection, then this artifact is a must-grab.
1. Thunderberry
It is a legendary artifact you can find in Electro Anomalies. When gradually heated to 78 degrees Celsius, it induces vibrant collective hallucinations portraying a utopian theme.
- Positive Effect: Endurance (Maximum)
- Negative Effect: Radiation (Maximum)
This is the best artifact in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl as it removes the need to use Energy Drinks to replenish Stamina. Even while you are heavy, the stamina regenerates quickly while this artifact is equipped.
FAQs about Artifacts in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
1. Question: What is the best overall Artifact in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Answer: Thunderberry is the best overall Artifact that you can find in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. It massively increases the Endurance (Stamina) replenishment speed but with maximum Radiation negative effect. However, you can mitigate the radiation negative effect with an armor or suit that provides great radiation protection. Moreover, you can equip another Legendary Artifact like Liquid Rock, that grants massive Radio Protection.
2. Question: Where can I find artifacts?
Answer: Artifacts mainly spawn in the numerous types of Anomalies in the Zone. To get the Artifacts, you will have to use the Echo Detector to track the Artifact in the Anomaly. After that, as you get to the location of the Artifact within the Anomaly, it will drop on the ground and you can pick it up. Moreover, special Artifacts (Legendary) only spawn in certain locations.
3. Question: Should I Sell or Keep Artifacts?
Answer: Artifacts are valuable equipment items that can net you a high amount of coupons (main currency). However, the Artifacts are essential for gaining various passive bonuses that can improve your gameplay. It is better to keep Artifacts with you, but if you farm Artifacts and get duplicates of Artifacts, you can sell the duplicates for money.
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