How to use consumables in Stalker 2

The recent release of Stalker 2 marks the return of the Stalker franchise after a gap of over 15 years, with the last release being in 2009 in the form of Stalker: Call of Pripyat. The first-person shooter survival horror game is set in a fictionalized version of the real-world Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where a devastating nuclear disaster took place many decades ago.

Being a survival game, players must use consumables and heal at various points during gameplay. With that being said, this guide explains how to use these items.

Also read: Can you change the difficulty in Stalker 2?

Using consumables in Stalker 2

Consumable items in the game include medkits, bandages, food items like bread, alcohol, and energy drinks. Should a consumable item be found while traversing the game's world, interact with it and press the appropriate key to consume it. For instance, if a food item, such as a sausage or piece of bread is found on a table, consume it or store it in your inventory.

You can also open the quick access menu found at the bottom of the screen to use consumables. Keep healing items – medkits or bandages – equipped in the quick access slots to use these consumables quicker by pressing or holding the designation button. An item in the inventory can also be consumed by pressing the "use" button when it is selected.

Use consumables by finding them in the world, using them from the inventory, or the quick access slots (Image via GSC Game World)

There are four quick access slots: open the inventory and assign an item to a specific slot. Consumable items, such as medkits, bandages, and food items can be equipped in these slots and used by pressing or holding the designated button. Items can be moved between the inventory and quick access by dragging them to the desired slot from the inventory.

Quick access items can be used either by pressing or holding the buttons. For instance, the 'Q' key on PC and the left D-pad button on consoles are bound for the first and third slots. Pressing the key/button will use the first item in the list while holding it will use the third item. The same applies to the other slots, with 'E' and the right D-pad doing the same for the second and fourth consumables.

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