When that trader told you togo kick rocksafter you asked for a discount, he did not mean your average pebble.
Artifacts are the heart of the Zone’s economy, coveted by stalkers, traders, and scientists for their mysterious looks and unique properties.
Whether you plan tomake a livingoff ofartifact huntingor just pick up a few of these funny rocks along the journey, it is important to know the best artifacts inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
The artifacts on this list have the best balance of propertiesto help protect you from the Zone’s many dangers.
Stack them right, and you will become indestructible. Or you can ignore this and die a horrible slow death of radiation poisoning, it’s your call.
8Magic Cube
Physical Protection
The Magic Cube is the poor man’s Compass. This artifact appears around gravitational anomalies and gives the wearera significant boost against bullets, mutants, and falls.
Despite being worse than the Compass at this, it still emits a crazy amount of radiation, so ensure to have something to balance that out or a lead container on your belt.
Radiation Protection
While the Skipjack appears around chemical anomalies, it does jack against them, but that’s OK.
The Skipjack offersthe second-best protection against radiationamong the artifacts inSTALKER 2. It lacks additional protective effects, making it primarily an enabler for rocking more powerful but radioactive artifacts.
6Thunderberry
Endurance Boost
Despite being natural to electrical fields, the Thunderberry does not protect you against violent discharges.
STALKER 2: Best Artifact Detectors, Ranked
Finding spicy rocks means free money, so long as you have the right detector.
This artifact gives youa strong endurance boost, which is a godsend when trying to outrun a Chimera. It is also useful if you are riding heavy, as your stamina will go a little further.
Electrical Protection
If you find one of these guys chilling inside an electric anomaly, put them in your belt fast, then run away.
The Glare isthe only artifact inSTALKER 2to rank above weak or medium electrical protection, making it extremely valuable considering how electro anomalies can kill you faster than any others.
4Night Star
Weight Boost
Ah, the loot goblin’s favorite. The Night Star is an artifact coveted by most stalkers trying to make a living that does not rely on killing people.
The Night Star appears around gravitational anomalies.Itboosts your carry weightby 9kg, which makes a huge difference whether you are trying to bring more loot back home or leaving camp with enough ammunition to fight an army.
3Hypercube
Thermal Protection
Bleeding Protection
Finding a Hypercube feels nearly impossible, but if you come across one in a thermal anomaly, your life becomes a lot easier.
In exchange for irradiating you obnoxiously, the Hypercubehelps keep your blood inside your bodywhere it belongs, while also shielding you from thermal anomalies.
STALKER 2: Best Armor, Ranked
You know that feeling when your friends are all waiting for you but you are still choosing what to wear?
With a pair of lead containers (or one plus a Liquid Rock), you can slap this and a Compass on your belt to become the supersoldier you have always dreamt of being.
2Liquid Rock
Chemical Protection
Most artifacts will offer you a significant boost while also trying to kill you in horrifying ways, but the Liquid Rock is a team player.
This enigmatic rock gives youmaximum protection against acid anomalies, while also making you nigh invulnerable to radiation.
If your favorite suit does not have lead-lined artifact containers, the Liquid Rock still lets you use otherlegendary artifactswithout slowly dying.
If you pop into a gravitational anomaly field and come out with a Compass, you lucked out in life.
This legendary artifact is said to guide the owner through the Zone’s darkest corners. While that claim might be exaggerated,it does make you nearly bulletproof.
Having a Compass on your belt makes some of the fightslater in the gamemuch more palatable, allowing you to live out your radioactive Terminator fantasy.
STALKER 2: 10 Best Weapons, Ranked
The only way to make it in the Zone is with a bolt in one hand and a good gun in the other.
