In the quest titled “A Needle in a Haystack” in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, players will meet the character Squint. At this juncture, you are faced with a critical choice: to help Squint or eliminate him. This comprehensive guide outlines the potential outcomes associated with both decisions.
Helping Squint: Potential Outcomes in Stalker 2
Opting to assist Squint by selecting the “What’s your escape plan?” dialogue will reveal vital information about an artifact crucial for his escape. He will direct you to a nearby cave, which will be marked on your map once you accept the side mission entitled “Piece of Cake.”
To access the cave, enter the house at the designated marker. Prepare for a challenging exploration, as you will be confronted by an invisible Bloodsucker immediately upon entering the cave.
You can choose to confront the Bloodsucker or evade him. This choice depends on your resources—ammo usage may not be worth engaging this formidable creature unless absolutely necessary.
As you navigate the cave’s narrow passages, you will eventually enter a chamber with hazardous acid pools. Equip your Echo Scanner to locate the artifact by immersing yourself in the puddles. Listen for the scanner’s beeps—an increase in frequency indicates proximity to the artifact.
Upon approaching the artifact closely, it will emerge from the ground, allowing you to collect it into your inventory. With the artifact secured, return to Squint to complete your mission.
In gratitude, Squint will reward you with Ward Sensors, as he has no further use for them.
Consequences of Killing Squint in Stalker 2
If you choose to eliminate Squint upon your meeting, you will immediately gain access to his Ward Sensors and additional loot from his body.
However, by taking this path, you forfeit the opportunity to undertake the Piece of Cake side quest, which involves retrieving the artifact. Additionally, you’ll only be able to deliver the Ward Sensors to Captain Zotov, unlike the potential to give them to Richter if Squint remains alive.
Keeping Squint alive grants you the side quest opportunity. After acquiring the artifact, you have the option to either give it back to him or choose to kill him later, allowing you to keep both the Ward Sensors and the artifact.
What Option Should You Choose?
It is generally more advantageous to kill Squint right away and continue to the cave alone. Squint offers nothing more than the Ward Sensors, which are readily obtained through elimination.
Moreover, the artifact you retrieve from the cave is the Mold, which is not particularly valuable and provides minimal chemical resistance. The challenge of confronting the Bloodsucker for such a low-tier artifact may not justify the effort involved.
Notably, neither Richter nor Captain Zotov will question your actions concerning Squint, as long as you deliver the Ward Sensors to them. Consequently, the repercussions of killing Squint are minimal, mainly limited to the inability to hand the sensors to Richter. Thus, feel free to eliminate Squint early to streamline your progress.
In essence, this guide presents all possible outcomes regarding your choice to assist or eliminate Squint. For additional insights and strategies in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, explore our resources on artifact collection and efficient gameplay tactics.
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