Stalker 2 walkthrough: How to complete Subtle Matter mission

The campaign of Stalker 2 is set in a fictional recreation of the real-life Chernobyl exclusion zone, a place where a deadly nuclear disaster took place in 1986, leaving the area uninhabitable for the next thousands of years. In the game, the disaster has created anomalies, poltergeists, and other enemies that attack you en masse, along with the survivors of the zone also battling over resources.

One of the main missions in the game is the Subtle Matter mission, which takes place late into the main campaign and takes place in the Burnt Forest region of the map. Below is a guide on completing this quest in the game.

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Subtle Matter mission in Stalker 2

Once the mission is activated, head toward Orbita Station located in the Burnt Forest region. Professor Kaimanov will get in touch to instruct you on the calibration of the large central antenna. Head into the facility, and keep a weapon handy as many hostiles will be ready to attack you. You do not mandatorily need to clear out all the enemies here but ensure to be vigilant and not lose health.

Head into the building, immediately turn left, and head south. A keypad will be visible on a wall, so head up to it and use the code "1995" to enter Kaimanov's office. Head into the office, and through the first room to enter a room with some items kept on the table. These belong to Kaimanov, and include items such as an audio log, a diary, and the all-important key to the X15 facility.

The keypad to enter Kaimanov's room (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoW Quests)

Head east from the table to enter a new room, and from there, head west to reach another room with a door to exit the building. Once outside, follow the marker as it leads you up a ladder to the roof. Avoid being damaged extensively by the electricity on the roof, and head toward the antenna and flip the lever.

Return to the door used to exit the building near Kaimanov's room, and find a staircase leading downstairs. Head down and swipe the keycard on the reader to unlock the door. Follow the marker to reach the facility, which will begin a long phase of taking down the mutants in the area, so keep your weapons and grenades ready.

Head downstairs from the left staircase and swipe the keycard to gain access. (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoW Quests)

Do note that these enemies can cause a lot of damage, so make sure to keep healing as needed at all times. Once all enemies have been defeated, head toward the control room, which will also be marked on the map. Install the cartridge into the machine, head outside, and get into the pod just outside the room.

Enter the control room and install the device, then head into the pod. (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoW Quests)

A long cutscene follows, which includes a conversation with Strider and culminates with Scar showing up. After some conversation, you will reach a very critical point in the story when presented with choosing between the dialogue choices "Eternal Spring" and "Life is for the living", which affect the game's ending.

Below are the endings made possible as per the options chosen here.

• Choosing "Life is for the living": The Strelok, Ward, and Kaimanov/Project Y endings remain active.
• Choosing "Eternal Spring": The Spark ending can be achieved.

Make your choice. (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoW Quests)

Also check out: A detailed guide on achieving all endings in Stalker 2 and the necessary dialogue options.

When you pick the "Life is for the living" prompt, it results in a cutscene with Scar locking you back inside the pod, which Skif will eventually break out of. Once he breaks out, the mission updates to now escape the facility, while optionally completing it stealthily.

It is suggested to use a suppressed weapon, such as a pistol to take out all the enemies that stand in the way to avoid an unnecessary gunfight.

Exercise discretion while exiting to avoid an unnecessary gunfight. (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoW Quests)

Now, it is time to leave the facility, which can be done by exiting via the door found by heading west. Head through the two doors straight ahead after exiting the pod, and turn right at the electric box found on the wall. Follow the path until a door on the left appears, and keep heading upstairs and retrace your steps to exit the facility. Once outside, leave the compound area to end the mission.

Note: The consequences of choosing the Eternal Spring prompt will be updated at a later date.

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Read more Stalker 2 articles below:

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• How to survive emission in Stalker 2
• Stalker 2 walkthrough: How to complete Hot on the Trail mission