As you explore The Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you’ll find various items to collect, from PDAs and Artifacts to weapons like the Lullaby and Riemann. Some of the guns you come across may have a red shield icon, indicating they are broken.
If you’ve found these damaged weapons and aren’t sure what to do with them, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a guide on handling broken weapons in Stalker 2 and recommendations based on your goals.
What Can Be Done With Broken Weapons in Stalker 2?
When players come across a broken weapon, the first step is to decide if it’s something they want to use or sell. If they choose to keep it, they should take it to a Technician for repairs.
Read along to figure out what can be done with broken weapons.
Selling Broken Weapons with Red Shield Symbol
Broken weapons, or those with a red shield icon, can only be sold to Ragman or Toad in the Rostok base in Stalker 2. No other traders accept red shield items, so it’s often best to unload weapons for ammo and drop them if you need space for other resources rather than selling them.
- Selling Broken Weapons to Ragman: You’ll find Ragman in the shed outside the large building upon entering Rostok, where traders Birch and Eugene are also located. While Ragman doesn’t offer much for broken guns (marked with the red broken shield icon), you’ll frequently come across plenty of them while looting corpses. Selling these to him can become a steady way to earn cash over time, even if the individual payouts are modest.
- Selling Broken Weapons to Toad: A guide named Toad in Rostok provides fast travel to and from other locations with a guide. This makes it easy to return to Rostok, offload any broken weapons you’ve gathered during missions, and keep your cash (coupons) flowing as you progress through the game.
Reaching Rostok
To reach the Rostok POI in Stalker 2, head west from the Slag Heap. The first point of interest you’ll come across is Shah’s hideout, which you may have already visited during the “King of the Hill” main mission, where you were tasked with eliminating either Shah or Roosevelt.
Continue west from there to arrive at Rostok. This area features three vendors, including Ragman, a medic, and a technician. Rostok also offers a convenient sleeping bed to pass the time and a Private Stash for storing or retrieving items.
Repairing Broken Weapons with Red Shield Symbol
After spending several hours in The Zone, battling mutants and human foes alike, your weapon will start to show signs of wear and tear. You can’t repair it on the go, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on its condition and carry a backup weapon or two. Fortunately, repairing weapons in Stalker 2 is relatively simple, though it may come at a steep cost.
The guns that have gone through constant wear and tear or the guns that you pick up with a red shield symbol, indicating its brokenness can be repaired at Zalissya. When you arrive at a safe hub like Zalissya or the Slag Heap, you’ll meet a technician who can repair your weapons for a fee. In Zalissya, this technician is Lens. To restore your weapons in Stalker 2, just locate one of these technicians and pay with coupons to have your guns fully repaired.
The same applies to any equipment that experiences wear and tear, including gas masks and outfits.
Note: The cost of repairs depends on the weapon, its level of degradation, and how much you’ve upgraded it. If it’s a fully upgraded, high-performance weapon with only 10% health left or a red shield symbol, repairing it will cost you thousands of coupons.
Taking the Ammo but Leaving the Weapon Behind
When you defeat an enemy or come across a weapon, inspect its condition. If you see a red shield symbol, it would be best to leave it behind.
Though, if you decide the broken weapon can be worth something, then you should unload it to collect the ammo and leave it. This is recommended since weapons marked with red shield symbols are hard to sell and are deemed essentially useless. Although not a wise strategy (as the repair costs will exceed the price vendors are willing to pay if you sell the weapon), some Stalker fans may still be tempted to repair broken weapons or sell them and it’s already mentioned in the guide where you can sell/repair the broken guns.
But remember, ammunition is a key area where you can save valuable coupons, so be thorough in collecting it rather than purchasing it from traders.
Note: If the weapon has a cracked yellow shield or no symbol, consider adding it to your inventory as a potential item to sell.
Stalker 2: Should You Keep Your Broken Weapons?
Many games suggest that repairing weapons or selling them for scrap is highly profitable. However, this isn’t the case in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The only time repairing a weapon is truly worthwhile is when you’ve become attached to it and can’t bear to part with it. Even then, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before rushing off to find a Technician.
Additionally, holding onto broken weapons in your inventory takes up valuable space, leaving no room for new, potentially better gear.
Conclusion
In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, broken weapons with a red shield icon are best sold to Ragman or Toad for modest payouts or stripped for ammo. Repairing them is costly and rarely worth it unless the weapon is a personal favorite. Prioritize inventory space for better gear and essential resources.
