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Stalker 2 walkthrough: How to complete Hot on the Trail mission

Set in a fictionalized version of the real-life Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Stalker 2's campaign takes place in a desolate wasteland overrun with unexplained phenomena, anomalies, and a whole lot of radiation. Playing through the campaign takes you across many areas of the map, one of which is Wild Island, where the mission Hot on the Trail takes place.

This mission involves traveling to a Noontide base in search of Strider. Below is a guide on how to complete it in the game, and the rewards it offers.

Also read: How to survive radiation in Stalker 2


Completing the Hot on the Trail mission in Stalker 2

Speak with Scar, and make your way toward the Noontide base. Once there, speak with Stone, who will be rather reluctant to let anyone pass. Show him the Ward Badge, and head in. Keep following the marker, which will lead you through a tunnel into an open area, and into another building.

Once there, head downstairs, and speak with the Steward. Offer him three Anti-Rad pills as per his request, and ask him for Strider's whereabouts. He will guide you in the direction of Dubny, Strider's right-hand man, due to Strider being unavailable.

Speak with the Steward (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)
Speak with the Steward (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)

Follow the marker, and head deeper into the compound. Go up the flight of stairs, cross the corridor, walk the plank, and, lastly, follow the marker to reach Dubny. Talk with him, and he will provide you with instructions on where to find Strider.

Head back the way you came, and use the ladder to climb up from the area with the planks, which are now broken. Go into the compound, and follow the marker until you reach a guard called Bass. Proceed through the door, and carefully cross the areas overrun with radiation.

To find Strider, go through the large pipe past the train car, and then the square ventilation unit. Go straight past both brick walls to the wall of the warehouse, and stick to the wall or crouch to avoid the radiation. Head through the open door of a train car to reach Strider.

Reach Strider after crossing the area overrun by radiation (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)
Reach Strider after crossing the area overrun by radiation (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)

Speak with Strider, and turn off the scanner by interacting with it. Exit the warehouse through the door found southeast, reach Lochodka's location, and speak with him. After the conversation concludes, reach the WPS marked on the map.

Once there, head into the small building on the edge of the compound where two people can be found. Speak with the Jumper to continue the mission, and also start the side mission, Shift Change. Head toward the WPS, and reach the roof via staircases and ladders.

Beware in this area, as many enemies will be waiting to attack you. Once on the roof, find three large, red pipes between buildings, and a corpse lying on the central red pipe. Interact with it, and collect the key.

Beware of enemies, and reach the roof to find the key by the corpse lying on the pipe (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)
Beware of enemies, and reach the roof to find the key by the corpse lying on the pipe (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)

Now, head downstairs from the main building into the basement area, which can be done by using stairs and ladders. Once on the lowest level, avoid hazardous areas, and head up the ladder on the northwest wall. Follow the marker, and beware of the many enemies that spawn here.

Fight through them and reach the boiler room, where a fight with a Controller enemy will take place. Defeat it, and head through the hole in the wall. Go straight on, and open the white door found when facing east. Inside the room, is the inductor.

The inductor is just behind the white door (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)
The inductor is just behind the white door (Image via GSC Game World || YouTube/@WoWQuest)

Now, head back to Strider; however, beware of enemies as you escape the area. Reach the Noontide base, where a long cutscene will follow with Faust speaking. At the end of the cutscene, give the inductor to Strider, who will offer you a Lynx sniper and 2699 Coupons in return.


Read more Stalker 2 articles below:

  • How to eliminate the Electric Poltergeist in Stalker 2
  • Can you change the difficulty in Stalker 2?
  • How to skip time in Stalker 2

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