In Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl, players face a key decision during the “Behind Seven Seals” mission: should they shoot or knock out Solder. This guide explores the pros and cons of each option, helping you decide which path will benefit you the most in Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl.
Should You Shoot Solder in Stalker 2
If the player chooses to kill Solder during the “Behind Seven Seals” mission, it’s a quick and easy moment – no fight or drawn-out struggle. You have already restrained Solder, leaving him completely at his mercy. The immediate result of killing Solder is that you can loot his body, but don’t expect anything valuable. He only carries a broken gun, some ammo, and a PDA. You can grab Solder’s PDA to uncover a secret message between him and Nestor.
The message reveals that Solder was involved in some questionable activities with Nestor, involving scanners they were trying to keep hidden from the Ward. With that, you can leave The Sphere – though not entirely free. If he’s spotted anywhere between Solder’s office and his chosen exit, the other NPCs will turn hostile, making it harder to escape. It’s best to pick a route and make a run for it.
Don’t get caught up in fights, as there’s not much space to maneuver, and you are probably running low on resources after getting this far. Staying around is just asking for trouble with little to gain. Don’t expect Solder or his allies to come after you later in the game for revenge. While Solder’s faction, the IPSF, will appear throughout the game, killing him doesn’t seem to have any lasting impact on how they interact with the player.
Should You Knock Out Solder in Stalker 2
If you choose to knock Solder out, the rest of the quest will play out similarly: Solder will be incapacitated, you will escape The Sphere, and depending on whether you sided with Richter or Zotov earlier, you will get their next instructions over the phone and move on to the next part of the main quest. The only real difference is that you won’t be able to loot Solder, but it’s not a big loss. The PDA isn’t needed for the upcoming quests, the gun is useless, and while the ammo is handy, it’s not worth the potential drawbacks.
Much later in the story, if you decide to spare Solder, he will reappear during the quest “The Hornet’s Nest.” In this mission, Solder’s unique skills will come in handy, making a tough combat sequence much easier with his help. While his involvement isn’t absolutely necessary, it definitely makes a challenging part of the game more manageable.
Conclusion
In the end, it makes more sense to knock Solder out and keep him alive so he can help in “The Hornet’s Nest.” While his involvement isn’t essential, having him as an ally during that mission makes a big difference. On the other hand, the loot you get from killing him is almost worthless – the gun barely functions, the PDA doesn’t offer much new information, and ammo is easy to find elsewhere. Also, Solder isn’t entirely to blame for betraying you. He’s more of a pawn in a larger scheme that you will take much longer to uncover.
