Let’s be real for a second. The Zone is a total nightmare. You're walking through a field, the air starts shimmering like a cheap special effect, and suddenly your ribs are being crushed by a gravity anomaly. If you’re playing Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you know that feeling of desperate relief when you finally see a flickering light in the distance that isn't a Bloodsucker's eyes. Those are the hubs.
Finding stalker 2 settlement locations isn't just about having a place to dump your looted vodka and bread. It’s basically the only thing keeping you from a "Game Over" screen every twenty minutes. But here's the kicker: not every settlement is actually "safe." Some are temporary, some are faction-locked, and some—honestly—are just waiting for the right moment to get overrun by Monolith zealots.
Zalissya: Your first taste of "Home"
You start in the Lesser Zone, and pretty quickly, you'll stumble into Zalissya. It’s the quintessential starter town. It's got that muddy, depressing, "we’re just trying to survive" vibe that the series is famous for.
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Basically, this is where you’ll meet the core crew. You’ve got Hamster, the trader who probably charges way too much for bandages but is essential early on. Then there’s Lens the technician. If you don’t keep your gear repaired in this game, your gun will jam at the worst possible moment. I’ve had it happen mid-fight with a Snork, and it’s not pretty.
One thing you’ve gotta watch out for? The "On the Edge" quest. Midway through the game, Zalissya gets hit hard by Monolith forces. If you aren't careful, you can actually lose your Guide NPC here. If Uncle Lyonya dies or turns out to be a traitor (spoilers, sorry!), fast traveling out of Zalissya becomes a massive pain. Keep your eyes peeled and maybe don't trust the old guys living in isolated shacks as much as you'd like to.
Rostok: The concrete heart of the Zone
If Zalissya is a village, Rostok is the closest thing to a city. It’s an industrial maze of brick walls and rusted pipes. In previous games, it was the Duty faction's fortress, but in Stalker 2, it feels more like a free trade hub.
You’ll find the Arena here. Honestly, if you’re short on coupons (the Zone’s currency), the Arena is the place to go. You fight mutants, you fight stalkers, you earn money. Simple. Just don't expect it to be easy. The rounds with the rabid dogs are surprisingly annoying because of how fast they move in the tight space.
- The Bar: This is where you talk to the Barkeep and pick up the "A Job for the Barkeep" missions.
- Safety Level: High, but the surrounding "Wild Territory" is a death trap.
- Traders: Eugene is your man here. He usually has a solid stock of 9x39mm ammo if you’re running a Vintar or a Val.
Rostok is also a great place for urban exploration. There are stashes hidden on rooftops and inside ventilation shafts that most people just walk right past. Look for the old water tower near the Arena; there’s a backpack up there that saved my life during a particularly nasty emission.
Slag Heap and the Garbage
North of the starter area, you hit the Garbage. It’s a literal wasteland of scrap metal and radiation. The main settlement here is Slag Heap. It’s a massive concrete building perched on a hillside.
It’s not as cozy as Zalissya. It feels cold and temporary. But it’s a crucial midpoint. You’ll find a technician named Diode here. You sort of have to talk to him as part of the main quest to get through the Northern Checkpoint. Most people think the Garbage is just a transition zone, but Slag Heap is a solid place to rest if you're weighed down by all the heavy scrap you've been looting.
The Twin Ships of Zaton: Skadovsk and Shevchenko
Zaton is where things get interesting. If you played Call of Pripyat, you'll remember the Skadovsk. It’s an old cargo ship sitting in the dry mud. In Stalker 2, it’s still there, but it’s part of a duo.
You have the Skadovsk (Sultansk) and the Shevchenko. They’re like rival siblings. Stalkers generally run the Skadovsk, while bandits have a heavy presence over at the Shevchenko.
Here is what most people get wrong: they think they have to pick a side immediately. You don't. You can actually trade at both, though the Sultansk generally has the better shops. If you’re looking for a guide, you’ll be sent between these two ships frequently. Also, keep an eye out for Beard at the Shevchenko. He’s got a side quest called "Bullseye" where you have to shoot apples off people's heads. It’s weirdly wholesome for a game about nuclear disaster.
Other notable outposts you shouldn't ignore
The Zone is huge—over 64 square kilometers—so there are plenty of smaller camps that don't quite qualify as "major hubs" but are still vital.
- Yaniv Station: Located in the Yaniv region, this is a classic spot for those heading deeper north. You'll find Hawaiian the trader and Wreck here.
- Chemical Plant: This is the Ward faction's headquarters. If you aren't on good terms with the Ward, don't even bother trying to get through the front door. They will turn you into Swiss cheese.
- Cement Factory: The main base for Duty. It’s a fortress. If you need heavy armor or want to join the guys who think they can "stop the Zone," this is your spot.
- Clear Sky Base: Tucked away in the Swamps. It’s hard to reach and dangerous to stay in, but it’s essential for the "Ad Astra per Aspera" mission.
Why these settlements actually matter for your playstyle
You can’t just "wing it" in Stalker 2. Your choice of hub dictates your survival. If you’re an artifact hunter, you want to stay near Zalissya or Zaton because the anomalies nearby are more predictable. If you’re a combat junkie, Rostok and the Cement Factory provide the best weapon upgrades.
The technicians at different hubs actually have different specializations. You’ll notice that some can't perform high-tier upgrades until you find specific toolkits for them. This means you’ll find yourself trekking back and forth across the map just to get that one specific suppressor or night-vision scope.
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Survival tips for the weary Stalker
Never enter a settlement with a full inventory. It sounds counter-intuitive, but you want space to buy the supplies the local trader has. Also, always check the Personal Stash boxes. They are linked. You can dump your heavy loot in Zalissya and pick it up later in Rostok. It’s a literal godsend.
- Talk to everyone: NPCs by the campfires often have "rumors." These aren't just flavor text; they often mark new stashes on your map.
- Watch the clock: Some traders give better prices during the day, or certain NPCs only appear at night.
- Don't start fights: If you fire a gun inside a hub, everyone turns hostile. You will die. Quickly.
The Zone is a place where "safety" is a relative term. Even the most fortified stalker 2 settlement locations can be breached by a mutant tide or a Monolith raid. Your best bet is to treat every hub as a temporary reprieve, not a permanent home.
Now that you know where the major hubs are, your next move should be heading to the Garbage to find Diode. He's the key to unlocking the mid-game gear upgrades you're going to need once you move toward the center of the Zone. Grab some Anti-Rad meds before you go; you're gonna need 'em.