Stalker 2: Which Gloomy rewards should you choose

Choosing the right Gloomy rewards in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl can give you a crucial advantage early on. After rescuing Gloomy from his captors in the Dangerous Visitors side quest, you’re offered a selection of rewards. While the mission itself is straightforward, picking the right reward can provide you with valuable tools or extra cash to help you survive in the harsh world of Chornobyl.

Let's break down your options and help you make the best choice.

Gloomy rewards options in Stalker 2

Gloomy's three choices in Stalker 2 (Image via GSC Game World)

After saving Gloomy, you’ll have three choices:

Echo Detector: The Echo Detector can be sold for around 600 credits, which might not seem like much, but early in the game, every bit helps — whether it’s for some extra bullets or a first aid kit. Plus, it’s a useful item for exploration. Regardless of your choice, make sure to take all the other items like the Viper-5 rifle, canned food, ammo, etc from the shelf.
Magnetic cave stash reveal: If you pick this, Gloomy keeps the Echo Detector but reveals the location of a stash in the Magnetic Cave. The stash is available regardless of which option you pick, so it’s just a matter of getting the information.
Reward: Got anything else? This option for Gloomy rewards is similar to the second one, offering the stash location in exchange for not getting the Echo Detector.

Other items on the shelf behind Gloomy (Image via GSC Game World)

Tip: Be cautious, though — there’s a fire anomaly in the cave that can cause some serious damage, so keep your wits about you while you grab all the goodies.

Also read: Stalker 2 Patch Notes 1.01: Fixes, updates and more

Should you skip helping Gloomy?

You can still grab Gloomy rewards without completing the full mission. Here’s how:

Zhorik’s stash: Located inside a crashed plane, but expect to face two Bloodsuckers during the loot.

Magnetic cave rewards (Image via GSC Game World)

Magnetic cave: Use the Echo Detector to find a stash, even if you don’t help Gloomy. Doing this means Gloomy’s crew dies, but there’s no impact on your relationship with Richter.

Which Gloomy rewards are the best

If you want extra cash, choose the Echo Detector and grab all the items including Viper-5 from the shelf behind Gloomy. If you prefer loot, go for the Magnetic Cave stash. Both options work well, so it depends on whether you want a quick financial boost or prefer loot without helping Gloomy.

Also check out: All Stalker 2 Stash locations and their rewards