In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, there are few things deadlier than an Emission. These disasters hit with little warning, and should you pause for a second or take a wrong turn, it’ll be curtains for your playthrough. The Take Shelter from Emission objective is specifically there to drum into you a crucial lesson in how to survive within the Zone: “When the sky gets angry, everything else gets stopped.”
This guide breaks down what the quest is, how emissions work, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to survive during the occurrence of an emission.
The Take Shelter from the Emission Quest
Shortly before an Emission, a new main objective will pop up: “Take shelter from the Emission.” Side by side with this, an NPC will broadcast a message over the radio, warning all surrounding characters that an Emission is about to happen.
This is your signal to stop whatever you are doing and follow up on the given information. Whether you are in the middle of combat, looting, travelling, or engaging in any activity, nothing else is now relevant to the situation. Your number one concern is to get to a safe location.
This is a mission that acts as a constant situational task instead of a mission conducted only once. After the mission emerges, all you have to do is reach a safety location and wait there until the Emission is completed. The mission will automatically finish as soon as the threat disappears.
What Is an Emission?
Emission: A massive and inexplicable burst of power that surges across the Zone. Not a lot is known about the nature of Emissions, only that they are very deadly. When an Emission occurs, everything that’s caught outside will die instantly, except for a few mutants.
When the wave hits you, you have only one chance. The only things that will save you are speed and alertness.
How to Survive an Emission
As soon as the warning light illuminates, you should begin searching for a completely enclosed area. Such areas can be found in:
- Locked or Sealed Rooms
- Underground Basements
- Caves or tunnels
- Well-fortified buildings
Open roofs, open structures, or partially open interiors will not protect you. If the area doesn’t protect one from the outside environment, it’s not a safe area.
However, some individuals in the Zone are actively searching for Emissions. Once found, the nearest safe location will be highlighted on the map of your PDA if you are not familiar with the layout. Once inside, remain where you are. Avoid stepping back outside too quickly.
Wait instead until the Emission process passes, at which time the objective will automatically complete, and exploration can continue as normal.
