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Behind Seven Seals is an integral mission in the Stalker 2 main story. Here’s a walkthrough to guide you through the experience.
Behind Seven Seals is the second main quest in Stalker 2 and sees you going after Solder. He sets you up during the first mission, so it only makes sense for you to go after him.
As soon as you reach the Zalissya Bar, a cutscene will play, and Warlock will ask you to talk to Gaffer for any ‘Stalker business.’ The cutscene ends with another conversation with the bartender here, and he reveals that you can either ask Cpt. Zotov or the Gaffer to help with Solder.
You can side with whoever you wish, but we went ahead with Zotov because his tasks are diplomatic and pretty straightforward. But those who enjoy the ‘Stalking’ mechanisms of this game are advised to head to Gaffer instead. Mind you, that part won’t be easy.
A Needle in a Haystack (Cpt. Zotov)
You can either pay a visit to Zotov or Gaffer. Zotov is located on the northwest of the Zalissya settlement. He will ask you to find Squint, another Stalker before he lets you in on Solder’s location. Head to the Warehouse that he marked on your PDA Map to begin A Needle in a Haystack quest.
Enter the front gate, but beware of the anomaly right outside. The ruined building northwest of here houses some bandits. Go in peacefully, and they won’t bother you.
Go upstairs and enter the room on your right. Talk to the mug in a black ski mask. Stay diplomatic and offer the money that he asks for, in exchange for information on Squint.
You will now have to visit the farmstead nearby. Squint will be in the windmill. Go in quietly and mind the tripwires here. Disarm them as you move upstairs. Squint is on the top floor but will only speak to threaten you and won’t actually do any damage.
You can tell him “Easy, I’m a friend,” followed by “Got any ideas?” and “I’ll get your artifact.” This will trigger the side mission Piece of Cake.
Doing Squint’s Job
Follow the marker and enter a nearby abandoned building. There will be a hole in the middle leading up to a cave. Beware of the Bloodsucker Mutant that resides below. They are not easy to take down.
After defeating it, you will make your way to an area covered with radioactive sludge. Your bolts may not work perfectly here, but the sludge in the center has the artifact if you can get close enough to interact with it.
Grab it, and make your way deeper into the cave to find a ladder leading up to the farmstead. Hand over the artifact to Squint. You can either attack him or let him go. Either way, he will hand over the Ward Sensors that Cpt. Zotov was after.
Report back to Zotov, and he will let you in on the information. Now, all you have to do is visit the Sphere.
Finding Solder
The Sphere is not an easy place to survive. The IPSF soldiers hang out here. When you reach the gate of the location, you can chat with Pvt. Plypchuck, who will warn you to keep your head down; otherwise, you can get shot right away.
Listen to him. Sneak your way into the building marked on your map and compass. Keep heading downstairs until you reach the lowest floor. Feel free to stealthily kill enemies that can be a threat to your safety. When you make your way to the end of the corridor, interact with the door, and a cutscene will play out.
In the end, you get the option to either shoot Solder or knock him out. We did the latter just to be safe. Regardless, there could be enemies swarming the place now, and you must follow the sewers to get out. There will be mutants there as well, but feel free to kill them as loudly as you want.
You can get out after avoiding a narrow radioactive sludge-covered path, and the mission will end. If you chose Gaffer’s side, however, the mission would have played out exactly the opposite. There would be no Squint in between.
Moreover, your infiltration would have started with the sewers and ended with you getting out of the main gate.
Now, let’s move on to the last part of Behind Seven Seals.
A Race Against Death
You now have to proceed either to the Northern or Western Checkpoint to progress the mission. Either way, you will receive a distress call about an incoming Emission. You will now have to reach Zalissya before the Emission arrives.
You have to reach the trader building and wait out the Emission as it passes. You can simply just walk out, and the mission will be concluded after that.
Northern Checkpoint or Western Checkpoint?
If you supported Gaffer, you would have to exit through the Northern Checkpoint. However, since we helped out Zotov, we had to visit the Pontoon Bridge (in the west) instead.
You can simply take the road from Zalissya, which is headed west. In the end, you will reach a small bridge with some soldiers on the other end of it. Once you cross it, you will be rewarded 2,699 Coupons, and the mission will be completed. (Had you supported Gaffer instead, the mission completion reward would have been 2,000 Coupons.)
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