Guide to Resolve Three Captains Quest Bugs in STALKER 2

In STALKER 2, the Three Captains Side Quest has been a source of frustration for many players, plagued by various bugs that hinder both the initiation and completion of the quest. This guide aims to address these issues comprehensively and provide you with effective solutions for the STALKER 2 Three Captains quest bugs.

How to Access the Three Captains Quest

The Three Captains Quest is initiated by Sonya Kalyna, who assigns the task of eliminating two characters: the Sultan and Beard. To embark on this quest, players must locate a sniper’s nest overlooking the meeting point of these two targets. Ensure you select the dialogue option “That’s my kind of job” to formally trigger the quest. Keep in mind that completion of the preceding side quests, The Mysterious Case and Bullseye, is mandatory before this quest becomes available.

STALKER 2 Three Captains Quest Location — Location of the Three Captains Quest in STALKER 2. Screenshot via Twinfinite

Possible Outcomes of the Three Captains Quest

Completing the Three Captains Quest can lead to one of four distinct outcomes:

Successfully eliminate both Beard and Sultan after taking out the sniper.
Disable the sniper but avoid further actions; this will trigger an attack from the mercenaries, allowing you to save both Beard and Sultan for their future assistance.
Engage in a frontal assault on the base using standard weapons.
Neutralize the sniper, then allow Sonya’s men to eliminate Beard and Sultan.

Bugs Affecting the Three Captains Quest

Many players report a critical bug where the quest automatically completes upon initiation. The NPC may state, “it’s in bad taste to leave a job unfinished,” as her mercenaries take matters into their own hands to eliminate the targets without player involvement. This situation should only arise if you abandon your position in the sniper’s nest.

STALKER 2 Quest Auto-Complete Bug — Bug that causes auto-completion of the quest. Screenshot via Twinfinite

Another prevalent issue involves the failure of Beard and Sultan to spawn, resulting in a frustrating softlock of the quest. This bug may be alleviated by proper in-game actions, as leaving the nest alters the quest conditions.

Additionally, post-quest players have difficulty re-entering their ship, which can be attributed to a temporarily unavailable door rather than a game-breaking bug. This is manageable; you simply need to avoid combat when trying to re-open the door.

Solutions for Fixing Three Captains Quest Bugs

Here are the recommended fixes for the known bugs associated with the Three Captains Quest:

If the quest completes itself, players can still loot the bodies of Beard and Sultan for unique rewards, despite Sonya’s mercenaries finishing the job. While this is not the intended outcome, it still provides some closure.
In cases where Beard and Sultan fail to appear, increasing the rendering distance in your game settings might resolve the issue. If this does not yield immediate results, saving and reloading your game is advisable.
If you leave the sniper’s nest after disabling the sniper without eliminating Beard and Sultan, expect to be attacked by mercenaries — this is a designed aspect of the quest, not a glitch. You can still proceed to confront Beard and Sultan for full rewards.
For those facing locked doors immediately after completing the quest, remember that doors cannot be opened while in combat. This restriction is a feature rather than a bug.
It’s worth noting that the secondary objective in the Three Captains Quest frequently remains bugged, persisting on the map even upon quest completion.

These insights cover the prevalent bugs and their solutions regarding the Three Captains Quest in STALKER 2. For additional game guides, consider learning about Quiet’s location, discovering how to locate the Whirlwind Artifact, exploring all Anomalies, or acquiring Coupons swiftly.

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