STALKER 2: All Factions, Ranked

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has a complicated world full of different groups, each with their own beliefs and goals that influence the Zone. These groups aren’t just background characters; they actively participate in the struggle for power and survival in the region. Players will encounter several factions. Each group has its own sense of right and wrong, making it difficult to say who is good or bad.

While you can’t officially join a faction, your actions affect how different groups view you. Helping one faction can gain their trust and provide access to special resources, while disrupting another faction can lead to hostile situations and missed opportunities. Be sure to learn how to repair your reputation with the factions, as this can be an important factor in surviving in the Zone, with this ongoing dynamic making every choice count.

12

SIRCAA

The Scientists

SIRCAA, the Scientific Research Institute of the Chornobyl Anomalous Area, is a government-supported organization focused on studying the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and its unusual characteristics in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They operate primarily in the Northern Perimeter and serve as the official research branch of the Ukrainian government. Unlike Ecologists, they have stronger ties to the military.

SIRCAA wants to understand and manage strange occurrences in the Zonewhich can be used for useful or exploitative reasons. They are pretty basic and don’t get as much attention as the main factions. Other than the basic view that they are from a government and want to research things, you learn little about them. Overall, they are quite one-dimensional.

11

Ecologists

The other scientists

Ecologists in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl are a group focused on studying the strange environment known as the Zone. The Ukrainian government supports themand work at bases in Yantar and Yanov. Your main goal is to learn about the unusual events happening in the Zone, hoping to find ways to protect it and possibly use its energy for good.

They often work together with Loners, such as they appreciate the information and artifacts these independent Stalkers can find. Although they tend to remain neutral, their desire for knowledge can sometimes lead to conflicts with other groups who want to exploit or destroy the Zone. They are like the other side of the SIRCAA coin.

10

Mercenaries

Guns for rent

In STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, mercenaries are hired gunmen who work in the Zone just to make money. They are usually former soldiers and skilled fighters, with no loyalty except to those who employ them. Motivated by money and resources, they take on a variety of tasks, such as carrying out assassinations, carrying out extractions, finding valuable items, and securing areas for the clients who pay them. These mercenaries are usually well armed and equipped, so be careful with them.

They are practical and resilient, and although they are not necessarily willing to reach everyone, they will not hesitate to confront anyone who stands in their way. As they do not have a clear ideology or long-term plans, they can be unpredictable and risky when they gather in the Zone. Other than that, they are not as developed as the main factions.

9

The International Perimeter Security Force (IPSF)

The military is back

The International Perimeter Security Force (IPSF) is a secret group introduced in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. This army represents the Ukrainian armed forces, whose function is to ensure the Zone and deter unauthorized visitors. They act as government agents, guarding the borders and carrying out secret missions within the exclusion zone.

They are generally hostile towards most Stalkers because of their duties, focusing more on maintaining control than exploring the mysteries of the Zone. The presence of the military makes the already dangerous situation even worse.since they are a strong and unpredictable force. They are also just a faction released to replace the military from the previous game.

8

Loners/Free Stalkers/Neutral Stalkers

The citizens of the area

Loners, also called Free Stalkers or Neutral Stalkers, are independent people in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They do not follow the beliefs or rules of larger groups and often operate alone or in small, temporary teams. Your goals vary, from using a detector to search for artifacts and exploring dangerous areas to just trying to survive another day. Although everyone loves freedom, Loners come from different backgrounds, including experienced individuals and newcomers, each with their own reasons for being there and their own sense of right and wrong.

Loners often band together with other Loners or groups like the Ecologists when it helps them, but your main focus is always on your own survival and needs. You can find them throughout the Zone, often in safer places like Cordon, Zaton, and Pripyat to exchange information, supplies, and stories. They’re just like the normal citizens of any other game, which is better than the previous ones, but it’s not really a bigger faction.

7

Bandits

The criminals

The bandits in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl are a tough group of criminals who live in the Zone. This is the generic faction made up of murderers, thieves and other criminals. They care more about staying alive and making money. They are known to be violent and often fight with other groupsusually about resources and land.

The Bandits operate mainly in Zaton and Yanov, establishing their bases in empty buildings and industrial facilities. They use these locations to plan attacks and ambushes. Unlike some other groups, they do not have large equipment and often rely on the weapons and armor they find. There are frequent power struggles between themleading to changes in leadership.

6

Freedom

The free faction

Freedom is a group of libertarian-minded anarchists and Stalkers who support the exploration of the Zone without any restrictions in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They strongly oppose government control and any efforts to limit access to the Zone, believing it should be available to everyone. Freedom members are generally well armed and prefer to use Western weapons.

They believe strongly in their cause, which leads them to oppose groups such as Duty, who want to destroy the Zone, and the IPSF, who try to control it. Although they are not automatically hostile, they are wary of newcomers and very protective of their independence. They are one of the most neutral factions players will encounter in the game.

5

Spark

The return of the Clear Sky faction

Spark is a new group introduced in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Scar, the main character of Clear skyleads. Spark is made up of former members of Clear Sky who are unhappy with their faction’s failure and want revenge against Ward and SIRCAA, whom they hold responsible for Clear Sky’s downfall.

They think these organizations exploit the Zone for their own benefit, hiding the truth and putting Stalkers at risk. Its members are very qualified and well equipped, motivated by a quest for justice and the belief that the Zone’s secrets should be discoveredeven if it means facing powerful enemies. You can technically say they’re still Clear Sky, but most of them are out for revenge.

4

Midday

Former Monoliths

Noontide is a group in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl composed of former Monolith members who managed to escape the cult’s brainwashing. After seeing how dangerous the Monolith’s beliefs can be they want to help others free themselves from their influence. Although their main goals are not entirely clear, they are generally seen as less aggressive than Monolith.

The group mainly works in a hidden location called Wild Island. Your leader, Strider, is important to lead the group and help them connect with other groups in the Zone. This group is one of the best factions, and Skif interacts with the leader a lot. Interactions with the Noon often lead to choices that can affect the power dynamics in the Zone.

3

Monolith

The Great Cult

The Monolith is a dangerous religious group in STALKER 2 who is fanatically loyal to the Wish Grantera mysterious entity that supposedly grants the wishes of those who can reach it. They are very protective of their territory and will aggressively attack anyone they consider strange. Members of this cult are often well armed and show blind loyalty to their beliefs, likely due to intense mental conditioning or brainwashing.

The Monolith faction operates mainly around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, especially in Pripyat and the Monolith Control Center. Finding them often leads to quick and deadly fightsmaking them one of the most dangerous groups in the region.

2

The infirmary

SIRCAA military

The Ward is a new group in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl which calls itself a peacekeeping force in the Zone. They are led by Colonel Alexander Korshunov. They mainly act as security forces for SIRCAA but they are interested in research. So a good description would be that they are the armed part of SIRCAA.

The Wing looks a lot like the military, but don’t be fooled. Unlike the military, the Wing won’t try to kill you on sight. This makes them a much better faction because you can work with them. However, they are super suspicious and if you mess with SIRCAA, they will start hunting you.

1

Obligation

Those who are trying to stop everything

Duty is a paramilitary group in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They want to control and finally get rid of the Zone because they see it as a serious danger to humanity. The duty is very organized and follows a strict military structure, with a focus on maintaining order and control. They generally patrol the edges of the Zone, dealing with mutants and other threats.

While they generally don’t trust Stalkers who are ignorant of the Zone’s dangers, they can work with those who have similar goals. Duty operates from a well-protected base called Bar Agroprom, where they remain active and organize their missions. Their strong dedication to their mission often puts them in conflict with other groupsespecially Freedom. They are very well developed and one of the best factions in the game.

There’s a bit of controversy about which faction is best, especially who to help, but it’s up to you to decide which one you like best. There is a lot of fighting, which makes it difficult to keep track of loyalties. Remember that it’s a much larger map than previous games, so it’s a good idea to know where the factions are. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.