Should you kill Shah or Roosevelt?

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited sequel to GSC Game World STALKER series. Despite this, the game is independent and can be played without familiarity with the initial trilogy. Set in the “Chornobyl Exclusion Zone,” players navigate a post-apocalyptic world as the protagonist, Skif, where their choices shape a non-linear story and determine the fate of the Zone. One of these choices may come with the “King of the Hill” mission, which is obtained at the beginning of the game and involves making a deal with Varan.

Varan will offer the player the option of handing him 20,000 coupons or having him eliminate one of his two rival gang leaders – Roosevelt or Shah.. Many players won’t have that many coupons at this point in the game, and even if they did, it would soon become clear that this is the worst choice players can make in this situation. This leaves them with the undeniable choice to kill somebody. However, there may be more options in this scenario than seems obvious at first glance.

What happens if you kill Shah

Killing the leader of the litter

If players decide to go after Shah, they will face the boss of the Brood, a vicious gang found west of Slag Heap. Shah’s base is filled with gang members ready to defend him. and there are a few ways to approach this obstacle. One option is to first visit Huron, a character near the player’s Stash in the Slag Heap, who offers the “No Honor Among Thieves” side quest. While the side mission isn’t necessary to take down Shah, players who prefer a more stealthy approach should be sure to complete it.

Once the quest is complete, Huron will provide instructions for a hidden route to the Brood’s lair, offering a safer and more strategic entry point. On the other hand, players who prefer direct combat can choose to attack immediately, using the northeast tower to shoot or facing him head-on. No matter which method they choose, players must take Shah’s PDA from his body and return to Varan. to continue the plot if this is the path they choose.

What happens if you kill Roosevelt

Killing the Commissar Leader

When targeting Roosevelt, players face the Commissar leader, located north of Slag Heap. The paths of the Shah and Roosevelt are very similar, as again there is an option to Gather information for a more careful approach before attacking the base. This involves talking to Borodulin, a drunk and eccentric character who will eventually help the player if they decide to embark on his side quest. Players will first have to help him kill some mutants while making sure he doesn’t get killed, as this will prevent him from providing the information and failing the mission.

Afterwards, Borodulin will make another request to the player before helping him. They then must endure 60 seconds of avoiding gunfire while Borodulin shoots at them, which is his weird way of having fun. – a reminder that STALKER 2 is a horror game as much as it is an FPS survival experience. After the challenge, he will reveal a hidden path to the Commissioner through the pipes surrounding the building. Roosevelt is then found in his room and can be taken out along with his men.

Between killing Roosevelt and Shah, the two missions don’t have many differences. The only notable items found on both the Brood and the Commissar are the PDAs found on the two gang leaders, which can then be returned to Varan. Whatever the players choose, none of them will have a very large impact on the game’s plot, not affecting other quests and side quests. Furthermore, there isn’t exactly a more morally correct path to choose, since both are as bad as each other. However, the option that proves most beneficial to players may not be the simplest.

Probably the best choice for the player

For players who want to maximize loot and fully explore the setting, eliminating both crime lords is an attractive option.. The order doesn’t matter, but clearing the Brood and Commissar will allow the player to collect extra items, including food, ammo, and weapons. This means that players inclined to kill Roosevelt can still acquire exclusive items like “Shah’s Mate” from Shah’s stash. Whether you decide to kill Shah, Roosevelt, or both will have no major impact on the story; however, the following events will always occur in the same way.

Varan will always betray the player, regardless of their choices. He will lure the player into a trap, sending them to speak to a prisoner who is dead, leading to an ambush by Varan’s men. For progression-focused players who would rather not deal with Shah and Roosevelt’s plot, killing Varan outright may be the best option. Sparing Roosevelt and Shah limits the loot available to the player, as they do not clear their bases or obtain unique items, but it prevents some unnecessary fights.

If the player decides not to kill one or both of Varan’s rivals for him and kill him before he has the chance to ambush them, then they can still continue with the story as normal. The cell key can be stolen from him, which gives players access to the dead prisoner and the “unusual PDA” found on his corpse. In STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl In the “King of the Hill” quest line, the real question is not whether players should kill Shah or Roosevelt, but rather whether killing both or neither is best suited to their interests.

Source: OFFICIAL STALKER/X