“Poppy Fields” is one of the early side quests in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which can be challenging due to the deadly mechanics of the location itself. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest and fastest way to find the item you need, and we’ll also cover two possible endings, one of which will reward you with an excellent unique weapon.

How to start the quest

The quest is accepted upon your first visit to the settlement of Zalissya.

  1. Go to the local inn, where you’ll find your storage and a place to sleep.
  2. In the corner of the room, a stalker named M (in the English version) sits alone.
  3. Talk to him. He’ll tell you about a lost family heirloom—a religious icon that’s very important to him. Tell him to get to the point so the quest appears in your PDA.

How to Safely Cross the Poppy Field

The quest marker will lead you to a large field overgrown with blue poppies.

⚠️ Important: Just running into the field is a bad idea. Being among these flowers causes fatigue to build up quickly. If you stay there too long, your character will fall asleep and die.

Near the field, in a small shack, you’ll find a character named Pomor. He’ll offer to help you with your search:

  • Pay him 2,000 coupons for the exact coordinates.
  • Complete a task for him (collect various loot on the field) in exchange for information.

The fastest and free route

You don’t have to pay Pomor or spend time on his errands. You can run to the destination on your own if you know the route:

  1. Stand right next to Pomor’s shack. It’s a great starting point.
  2. Start sprinting in a straight line across the field toward the quest marker.
  3. Run along the side wall of the ruined house.
  4. You will immediately see a staircase leading down to the cellar. Jump down there—you’ll be safe inside.
  5. Take the religious icon from the table.

To make it back alive, just climb out of the cellar and sprint back along the exact same route to Pomor’s shack. You should have enough stamina.

Who to Give the Icon To: Choosing the Ending and Reward

Once you have the relic in your possession, the game will offer two options for completing the quest. Your choice will determine your reward.

Option 1: Give the icon to Stalker M (Worst option)

You can return to Zalesye and give the family heirloom back to its rightful owner. M will thank you for restoring a piece of his past life and reward you with money (vouchers). This is a reasonable choice if you urgently need currency, but in terms of unique loot, it’s a loss.

Option 2: Give the icon to Pomor (Best option)

Instead of returning to Zalesye, give the icon to Pomor right at the exit from the field. He’ll praise you for your “Stalker’s wits” and your ability to put your own interests above those of others.

As a reward, Pomor will give you a unique assault rifle—the Unknown Stalker AR416. This is a fantastic custom weapon for the early game that cannot be found or purchased anywhere else in the Zone. We highly recommend choosing this ending!