The world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl hides a multitude of powerful artifacts and weapons. In this guide, we’ll break down the locations of 7 unique items, including the absolute damage record-holders and the best story-based gear.

⚠️ Important warning: This guide contains plot spoilers. Obtaining some items on this list depends directly on your decisions at the game’s conclusion, and you may miss them permanently. Additionally, be aware that the generation of some artifacts may currently be glitchy due to bugs in the release version.

Location: Pripyat

1. Gauss Gun

Technically, the Gauss Cannon isn’t entirely “unique,” since in the later stages of the game it can be looted from random Monolith faction fighters in Pripyat. However, it does have a guaranteed spawn location. It’s one of the most destructive weapons in the game, and it’s worth picking it up as early as possible.

  • Where to find it: Inside the Prometheus movie theater.
  • How to get it (Glitch): You can enter the building the standard, long way, but there’s a trick. Approach the locked door of the hideout and throw a grenade so that the explosion hits the door’s textures—this will instantly unlock the lock.

2. The “Bulwark” Exosuit

Right next to the movie theater is a music school where some excellent heavy armor is hidden.

  • Where to find it: In the music school building in Pripyat (Music school).
  • How to get it: The same trick works here as with the Gauss gun. While outside, throw a grenade through the window of the room you want to enter to blow the lock off the door. After that, just go upstairs and grab the exoskeleton.

Location: Jupiter & Zaton

3. Texan Shotgun

According to many players, this is the most effective and powerful weapon in the game, providing the ultimate solution for close-range combat.

  • Where to find it: In the Jupiter region, right on the outskirts of Pripyat.
  • How to get it: Look for an abandoned research complex. The weapon is freely accessible inside one of the three Science Center pods.

4. The “Weird Water” Artifact

  • Where to find it: In the Lights anomaly on Zaton.
  • How to get it: You must search strictly at night. Enter the anomaly and run from one light source to another. The artifact should be located right inside one of the lights. The exact spawn location is random, but it most often appears on the rocks around the central boulder.
  • Note: The search shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes. If you’ve checked all the lights and haven’t found anything, then a bug has occurred (which happens frequently in the current version).

Story Items: “Down Below” Mission

The following three items can only be obtained in the final stage of the game, after passing the “point of no return.” Access to these unique weapons depends entirely on which side you choose in the conflict: Colonel Korshunov or Richter.

🚨 SPOILERS: How not to miss out on unique weapons

If you side with Colonel Korshunov, you will permanently lose the chance to obtain two unique barrels. To complete the collection, you must side with Richter.

5. Beast Gun

  • How to obtain: By siding with Richter, during the “Down Below” mission, you will engage in combat with Colonel Korshunov and his soldiers. After defeating the Colonel, search his body—the unique weapon “Beast” will be in his inventory. (If you kill Richter, he will not drop anything unique.)

6. The “Sotnyk” Weapon

  • How to obtain: If you chose Richter’s path, after completing the “Down Below” mission, search the reward room. The “Centurion” will be on the table right next to the chest. If you chose Korshunov’s path, this weapon will not be on the table.

7. X7 Armor

  • How to obtain: This is the only guaranteed item from the final list. The X7 armor cannot be missed. It is located in a chest (in the same room as the table with the “Centurion”), and you will receive it as part of the story reward regardless of which side you chose.