Updated August 24, 2026
The Forgotten is one of the more unusual missions in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope. Instead of simply following a marker from one location to another, you'll deal with Otter, the Flare anomaly, hazardous underground areas, environmental navigation, and the quest's artifact-related progression.
This walkthrough explains the quest from start to finish, including how The Forgotten progresses, what to do during the Flare anomaly section, how to navigate the hazardous areas, how to obtain Flare Time and Flare Light, and what to watch out for along the way.
If you're specifically looking for the locations of every new artifact rather than the mission walkthrough, see our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Cost of Hope: Flickering Flare & The Forgotten Guide. That guide focuses on the artifact collection and locations.
📋 Table of Contents
- How to Start The Forgotten
- The Forgotten Walkthrough
- Find and Speak With Otter
- Explore the CNPP Area
- Follow the Flare Anomaly
- How to Survive the Flare Anomaly
- Cross the Flooded Area
- Deal With the Anomalous Barrier
- Navigate the Collapsing Floor
- Cross the Large Industrial Pipes
- Reach the Destroyed Generators
- Obtain Flare Time
- Return to Otter
- The Otter Encounter
- How to Get Flare Light
- Important Tips
- Is The Forgotten Missable?
- Walkthrough Checklist
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
How to Start The Forgotten
The Forgotten takes place during the later stages of Cost of Hope and is tied to the expansion's CNPP and Flare artifact storyline.
The quest involves Otter and eventually sends you into a dangerous area affected by the Flare anomaly.
Before committing to the more hazardous sections, make sure you have enough healing items, ammunition and radiation protection. It's also worth making a manual save before entering the most dangerous part of the quest.
Before starting the mission:
- Plenty of healing supplies
- Enough ammunition
- Radiation protection
- A suit with sufficient artifact slots
- The required Flickering Flares
- Several spare consumables
- A manual save
The Flickering Flare collection is especially important because the artifacts become part of the mission's progression.
For the complete locations, use our Flickering Flare & The Forgotten artifact guide rather than searching for each pickup while you're already inside the dangerous section.
The Forgotten Walkthrough
The mission can be broken down into five major stages:
Otter → CNPP exploration → Flare anomaly → Flare Time → Otter confrontation
The most difficult part for many players isn't combat. It's figuring out where the game expects you to go once the environment becomes increasingly hazardous.
The following sections focus on that progression.
Find and Speak With Otter
The quest's story progression brings you into contact with Otter during the CNPP section.
When you encounter him, pay attention to the dialogue and the objective updates rather than immediately leaving the area. Otter's storyline eventually leads into the artifact-related investigation surrounding the Flare anomaly.
What to do:
- Locate Otter in the relevant CNPP area.
- Speak with him.
- Follow the updated PDA objective.
- Continue through the surrounding underground/industrial sections.
- Search the area for useful supplies before moving deeper.
The mission then shifts from ordinary exploration into the much more dangerous Flare-related section.
Explore the CNPP Area
After progressing through Otter's objectives, you'll spend time moving through the industrial areas surrounding the CNPP.
Expect a mixture of:
- Underground corridors
- Flooded sections
- Industrial machinery
- Pipes and elevated walkways
- Anomalous hazards
- Damaged structures
- Mutant encounters
Don't rush through these areas. The environment itself is effectively part of the puzzle. If a normal-looking route suddenly appears blocked, check above, below and around the structure before assuming you've missed a quest marker.
Follow the Flare Anomaly
Eventually, the mission takes you toward the Flare anomaly. This is where The Forgotten becomes considerably more dangerous.
The area contains powerful anomalous effects and broken industrial structures that force you to move vertically rather than simply following a conventional corridor.
A useful rule here is:
When the obvious path disappears, look for pipes, ladders and elevated structures.
The route isn't always obvious from ground level.
How to Survive the Flare Anomaly
The Flare anomaly section is the part of The Forgotten most likely to cause confusion.
You'll move through a combination of flooded passages, broken walkways, industrial pipes and anomalous fields.
Don't try to sprint directly through every dangerous area. Instead, use the environment for protection and look for the next stable piece of infrastructure.
General route:
Flooded section → industrial cover → ladder → blocked passage → unstable floor → large pipe → generator structures
That sequence gives you a useful mental map when the area starts becoming confusing.
Cross the Flooded Area
The first major section involves moving through flooded industrial areas. Watch your surroundings carefully. The water and surrounding anomalies make it easy to lose sight of the intended route.
Look for:
- Concrete structures
- Industrial pipes
- Ladders
- Raised platforms
- Openings in damaged walls
If you reach what appears to be a dead end, don't immediately turn around. Check whether there's a vertical route nearby.
Deal With the Anomalous Barrier
At one point, the route is blocked by an anomalous obstruction. The surrounding environment provides clues about how to proceed.
Look around nearby rooms and structures rather than repeatedly attempting to push through the obstruction. The section includes environmental interactions that can be easy to overlook when you're focused on the anomaly itself.
Take your time here. The intended solution isn't simply to tank the anomaly's effects.
Navigate the Collapsing Floor
One of the trickier traversal sections involves unstable flooring. Parts of the floor can disappear or collapse, leaving gaps below.
The safest approach: Stay toward the stable edges and structural supports rather than walking directly across the center.
Look for:
- Concrete beams
- Supported edges
- Metal framework
- Stable sections around the outside of the room
Don't treat the entire floor as one continuous platform. Move from one stable section to the next.
Cross the Large Industrial Pipes
Eventually you'll need to use a large industrial pipe as part of the route. This is another section where the game expects you to think vertically.
If you're stuck: Look for the large cylindrical pipe and associated metal structures. Use it as a bridge toward the next elevated section. Move carefully, particularly when anomalous or electrical hazards are active nearby.
The important thing is not to drop back down into the lower area unnecessarily.
Reach the Destroyed Generators
After crossing the pipe section, continue toward the destroyed generator structures.
You'll need to use:
- Rusted ladders
- Broken platforms
- Pipes
- Elevated structural sections
- Damaged concrete
The route can initially look like a dead end. If you can't see a doorway, look upward. The next part of the route is often above your current position.
Once you've reached the generator area, you're approaching the next major stage of the mission.
Obtain Flare Time
The Flare anomaly section eventually leads into the progression required to obtain Flare Time.
This isn't simply a normal artifact sitting inside a container waiting to be picked up. Instead, it is tied to the mission's environmental progression and the required Flare Time components/shards.
Your objective: Continue through the anomaly area and collect the required components as the mission directs you. Don't worry if you're expecting a conventional artifact spawn. Flare Time is part of The Forgotten's progression. Once the required pieces have been collected, continue following the PDA objective.
Return to Otter
After completing the dangerous section, the mission sends you back toward Otter.
This is an important transition point. You have now completed the main environmental challenge, but The Forgotten isn't finished yet.
Follow the objective back through the area rather than assuming that obtaining Flare Time ends the mission. Keep your weapon ready. The return trip leads into the quest's final confrontation.
The Otter Encounter
Returning to Otter eventually triggers the final part of his storyline. This section transitions from exploration into combat.
Make sure you're prepared before approaching the final objective.
Recommended preparation:
- Reload your main weapon
- Heal if necessary
- Check ammunition
- Equip your preferred combat artifacts
- Create a manual save if possible
The final encounter can be considerably more dangerous than the earlier exploration sections because you're no longer simply navigating the environment.
How to Get Flare Light
The conclusion of Otter's storyline rewards you with the Flare Light artifact. The artifact is obtained at the end of the Otter sequence after the confrontation.
Basic sequence:
- Complete the Flare anomaly section.
- Obtain Flare Time.
- Return to Otter.
- Complete the final confrontation.
- Search the relevant body/reward location.
- Collect Flare Light.
Flare Light is one of the important unique artifacts introduced with Cost of Hope. For a complete overview of its effects and the other DLC artifacts, see our Cost of Hope Flickering Flare & The Forgotten Guide.
The Forgotten: Important Tips
1. Keep your Flickering Flares: Don't sell or dismantle them just because they don't appear particularly valuable at first. The mission uses them as part of its progression. If you're collecting all five, keep them together in your stash until they're required.
2. Check your artifact slots: The Flare section requires multiple artifacts to be equipped. If you don't have enough available artifact slots, upgrade your equipment before committing to the mission's dangerous section. This is one of the easiest problems to avoid before starting the quest.
3. Make a manual save: The Flare anomaly section contains dangerous traversal. A manual save gives you a safety net if you fall, run out of supplies or take too much environmental damage.
4. Look up when you're stuck: This is perhaps the most useful traversal tip. The Forgotten frequently uses vertical navigation. If you can't find the next objective: Look up.
Check for: Pipes, Ladders, Broken platforms, Upper walkways, Generator structures. The intended route isn't always at ground level.
5. Don't rush through the anomaly: The Flare section isn't a conventional combat arena. Your objective is primarily to navigate the environment safely. Use cover and structural objects where possible instead of trying to run through every hazard.
Is The Forgotten Missable?
The biggest concern is not necessarily the entire quest disappearing from your game, but missing individual progression items or collectibles while moving through the expansion.
The safest approach is to treat the quest as a completion run:
- Collect the Flickering Flares
- Keep them
- Have enough artifact slots
- Search side rooms
- Make a manual save
- Don't leave unique-artifact encounters unchecked
The Heart of a Shadow Chimera is a separate particularly important missable artifact from Shadow of the Past. If you're collecting everything in the DLC, make sure you obtain it during that mission. Our Cost of Hope artifact guide has the dedicated collectible checklist.
The Forgotten Walkthrough Checklist
Use this quick list while playing:
Before the Flare section:
- ☐ Stock healing items
- ☐ Check ammunition
- ☐ Prepare radiation protection
- ☐ Have enough artifact slots
- ☐ Keep your Flickering Flares
- ☐ Make a manual save
Flare anomaly:
- ☐ Enter the flooded section
- ☐ Follow the industrial structures
- ☐ Deal with the anomalous obstruction
- ☐ Cross the unstable floor
- ☐ Use the large industrial pipe
- ☐ Climb toward the destroyed generators
- ☐ Collect the required Flare Time components
Ending:
- ☐ Obtain Flare Time
- ☐ Return to Otter
- ☐ Complete the confrontation
- ☐ Search the reward/body
- ☐ Collect Flare Light
- ☐ Confirm The Forgotten is complete
FAQ
Where does The Forgotten start in Cost of Hope?
The quest is connected to Otter and the later CNPP portion of the expansion. Follow the relevant PDA objectives to progress into the artifact and Flare storyline.
What do I need for The Forgotten?
The most important preparation is having the required Flickering Flares, sufficient artifact slots, healing supplies and protection against the Zone's hazards.
How many Flickering Flares are needed?
You need five Flickering Flares for the relevant Flare anomaly progression. For their individual locations, see our Flickering Flare locations guide.
How do I get through the Flare anomaly?
Follow the elevated industrial route through the flooded sections. Use concrete structures, pipes, ladders and broken platforms to navigate around the anomalous hazards. If you're stuck, check above your current position.
How do I get Flare Time?
Progress through the Flare anomaly section and collect the required Flare Time components/shards. They form part of The Forgotten's quest progression.
How do I get Flare Light?
Complete the later Otter sequence. Flare Light is obtained at the conclusion of his storyline after the final confrontation.
Should I sell the Flickering Flares?
No. Keep all five until you've completed the relevant portion of The Forgotten.
Do I need five artifact slots?
You should have enough artifact slots to equip the required Flickering Flares simultaneously before entering the relevant Flare anomaly section.
Final Thoughts
The Forgotten is best approached as a navigation and progression mission, not simply another artifact hunt.
The basic route is:
Otter → CNPP exploration → Flare anomaly → flooded area → collapsing floor → industrial pipes → destroyed generators → Flare Time → return to Otter → final confrontation → Flare Light
The most important preparation is to keep your Flickering Flares, have enough artifact slots, carry sufficient supplies and make a manual save before the dangerous traversal section.
If you're using this walkthrough specifically to complete the DLC's artifact collection, pair it with our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Cost of Hope: Flickering Flare & The Forgotten Guide for the individual artifact locations and collection checklist.
And if you're working through the DLC's branching storyline, our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Cost of Hope Endings: Duty vs Freedom & Point of No Return covers the later faction decision and the save point you should make before committing to an ending.
Guide for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 – Cost of Hope
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