As you venture through the dangerous Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you’ll come across unusual items known as artifacts, which can be found using Echo Detectors. These artifacts, shaped by the Zone’s anomalies, provide various benefits (with some drawbacks at times) when equipped.
Artifacts are crucial to your survival and progression as a Stalker, especially as you upgrade your armor and gain the ability to equip more of them. Here’s everything you need to know about what Artifacts are, how to find them in the Anomalous Field, and how to make the most of them in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Stalker 2: Artifacts Explained
In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Artifacts are unique items created by the Zone and its mysterious phenomena. These objects, once ordinary, now possess special abilities that can assist you in your exploration.
Notably, Artifact spawns are a bit random. While certain Artifacts tend to appear near specific anomalies, the exact Artifact you find in these areas could vary, making the process of obtaining them somewhat unpredictable.
Below is a list of 15 Artifacts and what they offer:
- Goldfish
- Weight +
- Radiation –
- Steak
- Bleeding resistance +
- Radiation –
- Jellyfish
- Physical reduction +
- Radiation –
- Spinner
- Bleeding resistance +
- Radiation –
- Flytrap
- Weight +
- Radiation –
- Chocolate Bar
- Electrical protection +
- Radiation –
- Weird Ball
- Reduced bullet damage in combat
- Rat King
- Electrical protection +
- Bleeding protection +
- Radiation – –
- Dead Sponge
- Bleeding resistance + +
- Radiation – –
- Crystal Thorn
- Radiation protection +
- Droplets
- Thermal protection +
- Radiation –
- Ciliate
- Chemical protection + +
- Radiation – –
- Moonlight
- Electrical protection + +
- Radiation – –
- Soul
- Endurance + +
- Radiation – –
- Metal Chunk
- Chemical protection +
- Radiation –
Finding Artifacts in the Anomalous Field: What You Need to Know
First, you’ll need an Echo Detector to locate artifacts. In the “There and Back Again” main story mission in Stalker 2, you’ll eventually obtain a Detector by looting the body of a deceased scientist, Petro Yerokin. Once you have the Detector, you’ll need to use its signal to locate a nearby anomaly.
To use it, equip it from the menu to your inventory wheel, then hold it in your hand. As you approach an anomaly field, the detector will begin flashing, signaling the presence of a nearby artifact.
Using The Echo Detector to Find Artifacts in the Anomalous Field
As you approach the anomalous field, your detector should start flashing. It’s important to stay near the acid, but you should also keep a safe distance to avoid any damage. Navigate carefully between the acid piles and aim for the center.
The detector should start flashing quickly and emitting louder beeps. Once you reach the pile of cement at the center of the anomalous field, move forward and search for the acid pile that triggers the strongest beeping. Standing near it will cause the artifact to pop out.
The key challenge is ensuring you’re close enough to the anomaly. If you don’t get close enough, the artifact won’t be released, and you won’t be able to proceed.
Tip: Tracking down artifacts can be challenging, as they may vanish if you move too far from their spawn point. If this occurs, you’ll need to search the nearby area again, as the artifact will have respawned in a different location nearby.
Important to Remember When Looking for Artifacts in the Anomalous Field
It’s important to remember that, unless specified otherwise, most common and uncommon artifacts are randomly obtained depending on the type of anomaly in which they are found. Here’s a list of the five most popular anomalies:
- Thermal
- Radiation
- Gravitational
- Electrical
- Chemical
Although discovering artifacts within anomalous fields is the most reliable way to acquire them, some can also be traded or looted. So, make sure to stay alert for any stray artifacts you come across.
