STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylhas a complicated world filled with different groups, each with their own beliefs and goals that influence the Zone. These groups aren’t just background characters; they actively take part in the struggle for power and survival in the area. Players will meet various factions. Each group has its own sense of right and wrong, making it hard to tell who is good or bad.
Although you can’t officially join a faction, your actions impact how different groups view you. Helping one faction can earn their trust and provide access to special resources, while upsetting another faction might lead to hostile situations and missed opportunities. Make sure to learnhow to repair your reputation with factions, because it can be an important factor in surviving the Zone, with this ongoing dynamic making every choice count.
12SIRCAA
The Scientists
SIRCAA, the Scientific Institute of Research of the Chornobyl Anomalous Area, isa government-supported organization focused on studying the Chornobyl Exclusion Zoneand its unusual features inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They mainly operate from the Northern Perimeter and serve as the official research branch for the Ukrainian government. Unlike the Ecologists, they have stronger connections to the military.
This is the faction protection by Ward, and you’re able to’t do much with them. However, they’re still separate, with distinct motivations, and are therefore their own faction.
SIRCAA wants to understand and manage the strange occurrences in the Zone, which could be used for helpful or exploitative reasons. They’re pretty basic and don’t get as much attention as the main factions. Other than the basic overview that they are from a government and want to research things, you learn only a little about them. Overall, they are pretty one-dimensional.
11Ecologists
The Other Scientists
The Ecologists inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylare a group focused on studying the strange environment known as the Zone.The Ukrainian government supports them, and they work from bases in Yantar and Yanov. Their main aim is to learn about the unusual events happening in the Zone, hoping to find ways to protect it and possibly use its energy for good.
SIRCAA, while actively exploiting its powers, isn’t opposed to “fixing” the Zone. This is the key difference between SIRCAA and the Ecologists, who believe the Zone should be preserved.
They usually work together with Loners, asthey appreciate the information and artifacts these independent Stalkers can find. While they tend to stay neutral, their desire for knowledge can sometimes lead to conflicts with other groups that want to exploit or destroy the Zone. They’re like the other side of the SIRCAA’s coin.
10Mercenaries
Guns For Hire
InSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl,mercenaries are hired guns who work in the Zone just to make money. They are usually former soldiers and skilled fighters with no loyalty except to whoever employs them. Motivated by cash and resources, they take on different tasks like carrying out assassinations, performing extractions, finding valuable items, and securing areas for clients who pay them. These mercenaries are generally well-armed and equipped, so be wary of them.
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They are practical and tough, and while they aren’t necessarily out to get everyone,they won’t hesitate to confront anyone who gets in their way. Since they don’t have a clear ideology or long-term plans, they can be unpredictable and risky when meeting in the Zone. Other than that, they’re not as well-developed as the main factions.
9The International Perimeter Security Force (IPSF)
The Military Is Back
The International Perimeter Security Force (IPSF) is a secretive group featured inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.This military represents the Ukrainian armed forces, whose job is to secure theZone and stop unauthorized visitors. They act as government enforcers, watching the borders and carrying out secret missions inside the exclusion zone.
Don’t bother trying to get on their good side; they’re going to shoot you on sight.
They are usually unfriendly towards most Stalkers because of their duties, focusing more on keeping control rather than exploring the Zone’s mysteries.The military’s presence makes the already dangerous situation even worse, since they are a strong and unpredictable force. They’re also just a faction thrown in to replace the military in the previous game.
8Loners / Free Stalkers / Neutral Stalkers
The Zone’s Citizens
Loners, also called Free Stalkers or Neutral Stalkers, are independent people inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.They don’t follow the beliefs or rules of larger groups and often operate aloneor in small, temporary teams. Their goals vary, fromusing a detector to search for artifactsand exploring dangerous areas to just trying to survive another day. While they all love freedom, Loners come from different backgrounds, including experienced individuals and newcomers, each with their own reasons for being there and their own sense of right and wrong.
By definition, Stalkers aren’t necessarily affiliated with a conventional faction, but their commonalities and prominence in the Zone qualify them as a faction, if only loosely.
Loners usually team up with other Loners or groups like the Ecologists when it helps them, buttheir main focus is always on their own survival and needs. You can find them all over the Zone, often hanging out in safer places like Cordon, Zaton, and Pripyat to exchange information, supplies, and stories. They’re like the regular citizens in any other game, which is better than those that came before, but not really a bigger faction.
7Bandits
The Criminals
The Bandits inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylare a tough group of criminals living in the Zone. These are the generic faction made up of killers, thieves, and other criminals. They care most about staying alive and making money.They are known for being violent and often get into fights with other groups, usually over resources and land.
They aren’t worth trying to get to know; they attack on sight most of the time, so it’s better to take them out whenever they are seen.
The Bandits mainly operate in Zaton and Yanov, setting up their bases in empty buildings and industrial sites. They use these locations to plan raids and ambushes. Unlike some other groups, they don’t have great equipment and often depend on the weapons and armor they find.There are frequent power struggles among them, leading to changes in leadership.
6Freedom
The Free Faction
Freedom is a group of anarchists and libertarian-minded Stalkers who support exploring the Zone without any restrictionsinSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They strongly oppose government control and any efforts to limit access to the Zone, believing it should be available for everyone. Members of Freedom are usually well-armed and prefer using Western weapons.
They believe strongly in their cause, which leads them to oppose groups like Duty, who want to destroy the Zone, and the IPSF, who try to control it. While they’re not automatically unfriendly,they are cautious around newcomers and very protective of their independence. They’re one of the most neutral factions players will find in the game.
5Spark
The Clear Sky Faction Returns
Spark is a new group introduced inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Scar, the main character fromClear Sky, leads it.Spark is made up of former members of Clear Skywho are unhappy about their faction’s failure and want revenge against the Ward and SIRCAA, whom they hold responsible for Clear Sky’s downfall.
They think these organizations exploit the Zone for their own benefit, hiding the truth and putting Stalkers at risk. Their members are very skilled and well-equipped,motivated by a quest for justice and the belief that the secrets of the Zone should be uncovered, even if it means facing powerful foes. you’re able to technically say they are still Clear Sky, but they are mostly all out for revenge.
4Noontide
Former Monolithians
Noontide is a group inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylmade up of former Monolith members who managed to escape the cult’s brainwashing. After seeing how dangerous the Monolith’s beliefs can be,they want to help others break free from its influence. Although their main goals aren’t entirely clear, they are usually seen as less aggressive than the Monolith.
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The group works mainly from a hidden location called Wild Island. Their leader,Strider, is important in leading the group and helping them connect with other groupsin the Zone. This group is one of the better factions, and Skif interacts with the leader a lot. Interactions with Noon usually lead to choices that can affect the power dynamics in the Zone.
3Monolith
The Large Cult
The Monolith is a dangerous religious group inSTALKER 2that is fanatically loyal to the Wish Granter, a mysterious entity said to grant the wishes of those who can reach it. They are very protective of their territory and aggressively attack anyone they see as outsiders. Members of this cult are usually well-armed and show blind loyalty to their beliefs, likely due to intense mental conditioning or brainwashing.
The Monolith faction operates mainly around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, especially in Pripyat and the Monolith Control Center.Meeting them usually leads to quick and deadly fights, making them one of the most dangerous groups in the area.
