In Stalker 2, your journey through the Zone is filled with tough decisions, and one such moment comes during the Unhealthy Competition quest. This particular mission, set in the Cordon area, presents you with a choice that has consequences. Should you follow through with the contract given to you by Sidorovich, or should you help a group of merchants and take a different route? Here's a breakdown of the quest, your choices, and the rewards associated with each path.
Starting the Unhealthy Competition Quest
To kick off the Unhealthy Competition quest, head to the Cordon and speak with Sidorovich, the shady trader and quest-giver. He will ask you to head north of the Cordon to find The Wick, a place where things have gone awry. The area is crawling with mutants, so prepare for a fight before you can access the remains of La Mèche and recover a PDA.
Once you’ve added the PDA to your inventory, you’ll be directed to a tunnel to find a group of merchants. Here’s where the real decision-making happens, and depending on what you choose, the quest will play out differently.
The Two Paths: A Choice with Consequences
If you choose to talk to the Swedish (the leader of the merchant group), you can warn him about Sidorovich’s intentions. By doing so, you’re effectively betraying the contract you’ve made with Sidorovich. Here’s what happens next:
- Immediate Reward: You will receive 1080 coupons for your help.
- The Conflict: After you’ve helped the Swedish and the merchants, Sidorovich’s mercenaries will attack you once you try to leave the tunnel. But don’t worry—you’re not alone. The merchants will fight with you against the mercenaries.
- Extra Reward: Once you’ve helped the merchants take out the mercenaries, you’ll receive an additional 2024 coupons.
- Quest Outcome: The quest ends when you defeat Sidorovich’s mercenaries, and you get the extra loot from the enemies you’ve taken down.
Option 2: Complete the Contract and Eliminate the Merchants
If you decide to stick with Sidorovich and eliminate the merchants, you’re essentially completing your end of the deal. In this case:
- Eliminate the Merchants: You will be tasked with killing all the merchants in the tunnel.
- Reward for Compliance: Once the merchants are eliminated, Sidorovich will contact you, and you will receive 3374 coupons as your payment for completing the contract.
- Loot: You’ll also have the chance to loot the merchants’ bodies for valuable items, though the moral cost of the action may weigh on you.
Which Path Should You Choose?
So, should you help the Swedish and risk Sidorovich’s wrath, or should you eliminate the merchants and stick to your contract? Let’s break down the pros and cons of each choice:
Helping the Merchants: If you enjoy the thrill of a battle and the chance to receive more loot from the mercenaries, this option gives you the opportunity to rack up 3104 coupons in total (1080 from the Swedish, 2024 from the mercenaries). However, you’ll make an enemy of Sidorovich, which could have long-term consequences in future quests.
Eliminating the Merchants: If you’re looking for a straightforward path with fewer risks and a bigger payout upfront (3374 coupons), then sticking to your contract is the way to go. However, there’s no extra loot from the mercenaries, and you’ll miss out on the chaotic showdown that the other choice offers.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and while the rewards are different, the consequences don’t seem to drastically impact your progression in the game. Stalker 2 is all about exploration and choice, so it’s up to you whether you want to stick to your moral compass or embrace the more chaotic, mercenary side of things.
Final Thoughts
In the grand scheme of Stalker 2, the Unhealthy Competition quest isn’t a major game-changing decision. Both choices offer decent rewards in terms of coupons and loot. However, if you value your relationship with Sidorovich and prefer a clean, if morally gray, completion of the contract, sticking with him might be the best option. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a bit more action and want to rack up a higher total coupon count, helping the Swedish and siding with the merchants could be more satisfying.
In the end, this is just one of many decisions you’ll face in the Zone. Whichever path you choose, you’ll find that each decision adds to the complex web of choices and consequences that make Stalker 2 such an intriguing game to explore.
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