Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl – The Lost Boys Mission Walkthrough
Key Takeaways:
- The Lost Boys mission is an eerie, suspenseful early side quest that immerses you in Stalker 2’s terrifying world of anomalies, mutants, and moral dilemmas.
- Strategic exploration, decision-making, and survival tools like medkits, screws, and careful combat tactics are essential for success.
- Your choices in the mission profoundly shape its conclusion, making it a prime example of Stalker 2’s player-driven narrative.
In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, The Lost Boys mission perfectly encapsulates the game’s chilling atmosphere. This side quest isn’t just about shooting enemies or looting supplies; it’s about navigating a bleak world filled with anomalies, uncovering a tragic mystery, and making decisions that shape your journey. While it’s one of the earlier side missions, it delivers enough tension and moral complexity to keep you on edge throughout.
Ready to dive into this suspenseful mission? Let’s walk through every step, from finding Mastiff’s missing squad to making a critical decision about the enigmatic Monolithian, The Ninth.
How to Start The Lost Boys Mission
To begin The Lost Boys quest, travel to Zalissya and speak with Lens, who’s visibly distressed about a missing group of diggers. He explains that Mastiff’s squad hasn’t returned from their expedition and tasks you with investigating their last known location.
Agree to help Lens, and the quest marker will guide you to the diggers’ last destination. Ensure you’re well-equipped with medkits, screws, ammunition, and food before embarking you’ll need them to survive what lies ahead.
Investigating Mastiff’s Group
Reaching the Bunker
Follow the waypoint through desolate fields and abandoned tunnels until you arrive at a small shelter with an open door. Enter the building and head downstairs into a bunker. Here, the game shifts to its signature tension-filled exploration. While enemies are scarce, anomalies abound, so have your screws ready to navigate safely.
Uncovering Clues
Inside the bunker, take a sharp left down a narrow walkway and approach a corpse lying on the ground. Beside the body, you’ll find a small device that provides crucial information about what happened to the squad. This discovery marks the first piece of the puzzle.
Navigating the Bunker
Finding the Fuse
Follow the main northern pathway until you come across a bag lying on the ground near a shotgun. Loot the bag for supplies, including a critical item: a Fuse. Nearby, you’ll spot a fuse box. Place the Fuse inside it won’t be immediately useful, but it will unlock something important later.
Surviving Anomalies
As you move deeper into the bunker, you’ll encounter a room filled with Electricity Anomalies. Toss screws into these anomalies to temporarily deactivate them and create a safe path. Progress cautiously, as the anomalies can be lethal if you’re careless.
Battling Rats and Saving Max Saturday
In the next room, you’ll face a swarm of aggressive rats and a transparent orb-like anomaly. Use your screws to expand the anomaly, killing most of the rats. Finish off the survivors with your firearm.
At the far end of the room, you’ll hear someone in distress. Rush to their location and use a medkit to heal them. This is Max Saturday, a surviving member of Mastiff’s squad. Speak with Max to learn what happened he reveals that the Monolithian ambushed the group, kidnapped Mastiff, and killed everyone else. Agree to track down Mastiff, and Max will mark the Monolithian’s location on your map.
Looting the Secret Room
Before leaving the bunker, head back to where you first found the corpse. You’ll now notice a newly unlocked room nearby, thanks to the Fuse you placed earlier. Inside, you’ll find valuable loot, including healing items, ammunition, food, and an Aurora Gas Mask. This gear will come in handy for the challenges ahead.
Once you’ve gathered everything, proceed to the exit, which is guarded by another set of Electricity Anomalies. Use screws to disable them and make your way outside.
Finding Mastiff
The House in the Forest
The Monolithian has taken Mastiff to a lone house southeast of the bunker. As you approach the eerie location, you’ll notice tombstones and skulls surrounding the house, hinting at the horrors within. When you attempt to open the front door, you’ll trigger an ambush by a pack of Blind Dogs.
These five ferocious creatures can overwhelm you quickly, so aim carefully and conserve your ammo. Once they’re dealt with, circle behind the house to find a locked shed. Break the padlock with your knife and enter.
Entering the Underground Tunnel
Inside the shed, you’ll discover a cave entrance leading to an underground tunnel. Follow the tunnel until you emerge inside the house. Push forward into the next room to find Mastiff lying wounded on a bed.
Confronting The Ninth
Above Mastiff’s room, a ladder leads to the attic. Ascend the ladder to confront the Monolithian, who introduces himself as The Ninth. He claims that he saved Mastiff after a mutant killed the rest of the group.
However, The Ninth’s motives remain ambiguous, and you’re presented with a choice: trust him or wait for external events to unfold. If you don’t attack him immediately, another group led by Dew will arrive outside, demanding justice for The Ninth’s past actions.
Making the Final Choice
Option 1: Side with Mastiff and Dew
If you choose to side with Mastiff, you’ll team up with Dew’s group to eliminate The Ninth. This option paints The Ninth as a villain who deserves retribution, ensuring Mastiff’s safety.
Option 2: Side with The Ninth
Siding with The Ninth means fighting Dew and his group, effectively dooming Mastiff to his captor’s mercy. While this path reveals more about The Ninth’s perspective, it comes at a moral cost.
Option 3: Stay Neutral
Choosing not to get involved spares you from conflict but leaves Mastiff’s fate uncertain.
For the best outcome, we recommend siding with Mastiff and Dew. This aligns with the mission’s goal of rescuing Mastiff and delivering justice.
Returning to Lens
With The Ninth defeated, search his body for a PDA that sheds light on his motives. Then, make your way back to Zalissya to report to Lens. Tell him everything that transpired in the bunker, including Mastiff’s fate and the Monolithian’s actions.
If you saved Mastiff, Lens will reward you with 1,000 credits a hefty sum that makes the harrowing journey worthwhile.
The Lost Boys mission is a standout moment in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, blending suspenseful exploration, combat, and meaningful choices. It exemplifies the game’s ability to immerse players in a hauntingly atmospheric world where every decision matters.
Whether you chose to confront The Ninth, save Mastiff, or uncover the secrets of the bunker, this mission leaves a lasting impression one that reminds you why Stalker 2 is a masterpiece of survival horror.
FAQ
1. How do I start The Lost Boys mission?
Head to Zalissya and speak with Lens, who will assign you the task of finding Mastiff’s missing squad.
2. What equipment should I bring for this mission?
Ensure you have medkits, screws, ammunition, and food. These items are crucial for navigating anomalies, healing wounded NPCs, and surviving combat encounters.
3. Should I side with Dew or The Ninth?
We recommend siding with Dew to save Mastiff and eliminate The Ninth. This choice aligns with the mission’s objectives and rewards you with a satisfying conclusion.
4. Is there any special loot in this mission?
Yes, you can find an Aurora Gas Mask, healing items, ammunition, and more in a secret room within the bunker. Don’t forget to explore thoroughly!
5. Can The Lost Boys mission affect the story?
While it’s a side quest, the decisions you make in The Lost Boys can influence your overall experience and the relationships you form in the game.
