Artifacts are some of the most important items in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and they’ll help you throughout your journey in the mysterious world. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Artifacts in the game and how to get them.
What are Artifacts in Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl
Artifacts are rock-like items that give you both positive and negative side effects. You can equip multiple Artifacts to increase your resistance to different status effects in the game. Still, it comes at the cost of other negative effects, such as a decrease in radiance resistance.
These Artifacts are found near Anomalies in the Zone and can only work when inside the Zone. You can receive damage from getting close to one, but you will need to make use of them to survive the unforgiving world of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
How to Get Artifacts in Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl
During the tutorial mission of the game, you will have learned how to use the Echo Scanner, which is the device required to scan for nearby Artifacts. You can only detect the nearby Artifacts with the Echo Scanner, and this is the only way for the Artifact to appear for you.
Now that you know how the Echo Scanner works from the tutorial mission, you can head towards an Anomaly in the Zone. You will only find the Artifacts near an Anomaly, so make sure you are well-equipped to enter the area.
Press 7 on your Keyboard to pull out the Echo Scanner or open the Weapon Wheel and select the Echo Scanner from the bottom left. With the Echo Scanner in your hand, you will see a blue light on it, which indicates your distance to the Anomaly. The closer you get to the Anomaly, the faster the light on the scanner will start blinking. The beeping sound of the scanner will also become more aggressive as you get close.
Once you are right next to the Anomaly, it will pop out of the ground, and the blue light on the Echo Scanner will disappear. You can then interact with the Artifact to pick it up and store it in your backpack.
Where to Find Artifacts in Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl
The most common spot to find Artifacts in the game is in the Zone near the Anomalies. Every Anomaly is likely to have at least one Artifact in it. However, you might come across some Artifacts outside the Zone, but that is a pretty rare occurrence, and these will mostly be lower-quality Artifacts.
Another way to find Artifacts is by completing the quests. The first Artifact that you get in the game will also come from the quest There and Back Again, where the game will ask you to find an Artifact as you leave the mobile lab. There are other story and side quests you can complete to guarantee an Artifact.
How to Equip Artifacts in Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl
Once you get your hands on your first Artifact in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you can equip it from your Inventory menu. Select the Artifact you want to equip and drag it to the Artifacts slot of your Armor in the Equipment window.
The starting armor in the game will have only one slot for an Artifact, which you can increase by upgrading your armor or by getting a better armor that offers more Artifacts slots.
How to Upgrade Your Echo Scanner in Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl
If you are struggling to find Artifacts with the default detector, then you can upgrade the Echo Scanner by replacing it with a better one. There are two side quests you can complete to get a better detector:
- A Sign of Hope – During the side quest, you will have some choices to make. However, regardless of your choice, once you finish the side quest, you will receive an upgraded detector that tells you the direction and the distance to the Artifact.
- Budmo! – Another side quest where you will find an upgraded detector inside a stash near the power transmission pylon. The detector tells you the distance to the Artifact up to 100 meters.
And that is all you need to know on how to find and equip Artifacts in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. For more guides on the game, take a look at how to adjust FOV or how to fast-travel in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
