One of the most central conflicts inSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylrevolves around the power struggle between the Ward andvarious independent Stalker factionsspread throughout the Zone. Power-hungry and authoritarian, the Ward repeatedly attempts to seize control of small tracts of territory and independent settlements, hoping to understand all the Zone’s secrets and use them for its own nefarious purposes. Each independent faction has its own territory and purpose, but each of them resists the Ward’s attempts at conquest on principle.
In particular, Simon Dubny is a heavy hitter in Noontide, a faction of former Monolith cultists who broke free from its brainwashing and established their own society. During the main mission “Wishful Thinking,” afterdetermining Professor Hermann’s fate, Skif will run into Dubny, who forces him to decide then and there whose side he’s on. He suspects the Ward has something to do with the Monolith, and he wants to put a stop to them no matter what. So, he finally asks Skif, “Are you with the Ward, or are you with us?”
What Happens If You Side With Dubny?
Pros & Cons Of The Noontide Side
If Skif chooses “I’m with you,” he’ll have a simple task before him. The room behind Dubny is absolutely crawling with Ward troops. Skif will have to head through that door after it swings open, and kill every last one of them. It’s a difficult fight (not unlike most fights inSTALKER 2), but with the right resources and clever use of the environment, it is very much winnable. That alone isn’t a reason to side against Dubny, but it may factor into the player’s decision.
In effect, Skif is also voicing implicit support for Spark here, and for the ideology embodied by independent Stalkers throughout the Zone, pivotal figures like Richter, Strider, and Scar. Over time,repeatedly siding against the Ward will affect the ending ofSTALKER 2. This decision alone doesn’t determine the entirety of the ending, but if the player has been a staunch enemy of the Ward thus far, siding with Dubny here may eventually become another thorn in their side, bringing them closer to the Richter/Spark end of the conflict.
Note that this may be considered a point of no return forSTALKER 2.Choosing either side in this decision will fail any incomplete side quests in the Lesser Zoneregion - things like “Nightingale’s Hunt” and “Lost Boys.” This marks a turning point in the conflict between the Ward and the independent Stalkers, much of which is playing out in the settlement of Zalissya. Taking the story any further here means that conflict will move forward. Therefore, players should complete as many Lesser Zone side quests as possible before taking on or progressing “Wishful Thinking.”
STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl - More Than Another Cult Classic
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an ambitious and engrossing open-world immersive sim, putting you in the Zone, an unnerving and unfathomable place.
Afterward, Skif will need to proceed into a nearby elevator, which will take him to floor X11 of the SIRCAA facility. From there, he’ll need to detonate a wall to enter a bunker, and from there, a lengthy cutscene will begin.That’ll end “Wishful Thinking” and start the next main quest, “Law and Order.” This section of the game is largely the same regardless of the choice Skif made in the previous section; after the fight, the remainder of the quest is identical.
Monetary rewards for this quest will remain the same regardless, as those are only affected by the difficulty level of the game.
Nor does the decision between Dubny and the Ward affect mission rewards here. Yes, whichever side the player chooses, they’ll have a lot of enemies to fight, and that means a lot of bodies to loot after the fact. They’ll find lots of random weapons and armor, and plenty of consumables and ammo. However, don’t expect tofind any unique weaponsor one-of-a-kind artifacts on Dubny and his allies.
What Happens If You Side With The Ward?
Pros & Cons Of Siding Against Dubny
If the player chooses to side with the Ward instead,their first objective will be to kill Dubny and all his allies in the room. However, they’ll get a warmer reception when they step through the door at the back to find the Ward troops inside. The quest proceeds in much the same manner, with Skif heading to floor X11 and entering the bunker toseize the artifact inside.
Again, this option doesn’t seem to affect quest rewards or mission progress in the short term. It does, however, representa major move towards the Ward’s side of the conflict. While this isn’t the end all be all in determining which ending occurs, it is a pretty pivotal moment in deciding which side Skif will ultimately take. If the player wants the Ward to rule the Zone in the end, then they’d better side with them here. Still, there’ll be further opportunities to side with either major faction later.
One Of STALKER 2’s Most Important Features Isn’t Worth Using
STALKER 2’s most important feature, weapon repairs, comes with a hefty price tag and isn’t worth using yet. That could change in the future, though.
Regardless,any remaining side quests in the Lesser Zone will failas the story hurtles forward. Make sure to complete as much early game side content as possible before proceeding with “Wishful Thinking.”
You Should Side With Dubny
A Better Story Result
Even though it doesn’t have a major impact on the immediate outcome,it’s best to side with Dubny during “Wishful Thinking.“This eventually leads to a better story outcome. The game is pretty transparently sympathetic to Richter, Spark, Noontide, and the other independent Stalker factions throughout. Its members often demonstrate mercy, courage, and kindness where the Ward only shows cruelty. Dubny is clearly presented as one of the good guys, so siding with him is better in the long run.
That said, this decision has very little immediate impact, and there’ll be plenty of chances to get on Richter and Spark’s good side later. In effect,players are free to choose whatever makes the most sense to them here. Killing Dubny outright won’t destroy the player’s chances of getting a good ending, though it will certainly hurt them.
And even so, this is a role-playing game at the end of the day. Players can choose whatever makes the most sense to them and their playthrough ofSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl- there’s no harm in taking either route.
