After over a decade of waiting, Stalker fans finally have their newest obsession.Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyldropped in November 2024, and it’s been a hit ever since. Like its predecessors, Stalker 2 reels you into a post-apocalyptic world of nuclear surrealism. You’re forced to survive in the center of Chornobyl’s warped Exclusion Zone, and nobody is coming to save you.
It’s a brutal and terrifying experience, and you’re alone for the vast majority of your journey. Only your wits, weapons, and carefully scrounged upgrades can keep you alive. Considering your highly radioactive location, your basic survival kit must also include a mask, and you’ll stumble upon many as you traverse the warped urban ruins.
11Ballistic Helmet
Despite its name, the ballistic helmet is considered a mask. While it offers protection against all damage types, the boosts are modest. Only its physical defense is truly formidable. Still, it hasamazing early-game potential.True to the in-game flavor text, it’s a decent and cheap way to protect yourself from stray bullets.
Considering its reliable but modest capabilities, ballistic helmets are scattered throughout the Zone. you’re able to snag some as random loot and find them on shelves. Vendors may also randomly offer these tactical items for a relatively low price. Paired with somehandy combat tricks, it’s a good option for anyone seeking basic armor.
10PA-10 Gas Mask
If you want to look stylish while fighting for survival, snag a PA-10 gas mask. The self-proclaimed “cost-effective revision” of requisite military equipment has all the rustic charm of old aviator gear. It also boasts decent stats, including a 2.2 physical protection factor. Unfortunately, itdoesn’t protect you from PSI or radiation damage. Bummer.
The P-10’s lack of PSI and radiation damage appears to be a bug. Subsequent upgrades promise to boost these stats, but the built-in formula doesn’t appear to work.
Nonetheless, it’s a fairly lightweight essential that’s not too uncommon. You’ll find a guaranteed spawn atop a building west of the main structure in theGarbage region. Alternatively, you can snag one from a Rostok vendor for 16,100 coupons. Like other military items, it can be upgraded with the right materials and knowledge.
9Aurora Gas Mask
The Aurora gas maskis as visually offputting as it is practical. At just 2 kilograms, this functional piece of armor can protect you from most hazards. It boasts a 0.9 thermal defense stat and 1.1 radiation buffer. However, ithas minimal PSI protection.
Like most items in Stalker 2, you’ll find Aurora gas masks scattered throughout The Zone. Scrounge around loot hotspots; you might just find one. Alternatively, one guaranteed spawn spot is in an unlocked room of the underground tunnels you’ll traverse during the Lost Boys mission.
8PA-7 Gas Mask
The PA-7 gas mask is part of The Zone’s extensivecollection of military surplus. Its weight is offset by its 2.5 physical defense stat and all-around decent protective factors. The PA-7 is also a stylish addition to your armor set, though itlacks formidable radiation protection..
you’re able to find a PS-7 in loot stashes. You may even find some lying in forgotten storage rooms. However, your most consistent source for these nifty masks will be the Rostok merchant in STC Malachite. Assuming you have 19,800 coupons, you’ll be able to take one with you for your journey.
7Sphere M20
Visually, the Sphere M20 helmet closely resembles modern military equipment. Its glass lenses keep debris from your eyes, while its built-in respirator filters out nasty toxins. Fittingly, it has a remarkable defense stat of 3, and it affords you some decent protection against other damage types. However, ithas little radiation protection.
Aside from scrounging sprees in theopen world of the Zone, you’ll find a guaranteed Sphere M20 helmet in a tunnel beneath a lake in Yantar. Once obtained, consider keeping this handy piece of kit in your back pocket. It’s a worthwhile defense against stray headshots.
6Optician Gas Mask
For anall-around protective boost, snag yourself an Optician gas mask. These commonplace bits of kit are — at least according to their flavor text — popularly used throughout the Zone. Fittingly, you’re able to sometimes scrounge some from fallen explorers. It’s also given as a reward for completing part of the main story. However, it can also be bought from Birch in Rostok.
Notably, despite its decent protection against basic hazards, the Optician mask is on the low end for PSI resistance. Late-game players will likely swap the mask out for something heftier as they progress. Still, consider the mask’s accessibility a strength. If you ever lose this stylish helm, just snag another from Birch.
5Aeroprotection Gas Mask
The aeroprotection gas mask is a nice all-around option for your travels. It hasmodest protection against all forms of damage, including PSI, and its 2.6 physical buffer is well worth the inventory space. According to its in-game flavor text, these masks are used by Ward soldiers. Their protective power comes from reinforced visors that prevent stray bullets from shattering the mask’s casing.
Of course, you won’t stumble upon many of these at random. You’ll need to work to get yourself a guaranteed spawn. One can be found behind a locked door in Wild Island’s waste processing plant. If you happen upon a second copy, you may sell it for a decent stack of coupons.
4Tactical Helmet
Every piece of armor in Stalker 2 is technically “tactical,” but the aptly named tactical helmet is particularly handy. It’s found beneath an overpass in Rostok, and you may stumble across others as you wander through the Zone. Its camo print helmet betrays its military background, and it’s far from flimsy.
Practically, the tactical helmet hasuniversal protective factorsand a notably high PSI damage resistance stat. It’s perfect for long, dangerous treks through the mind-bendinghorrors and anomaliesof the Zone. As an added bonus, it’s one of the more stylish picks in Stalker 2’s armory.
3PG-4 Facehugger Mask
Visually, the PG-4 Facehugger is perfect horror movie fodder. Its blood-red lenses are set against slate gray armor, and the accompanying sparseness of its design is the spine-chilling cherry on top. Its striking appearance matches its stats, as the Facehugger hasgood all-around protective qualitiesand a particularly high chemical resistance.
You won’t find one of these modified masks at a vendor. Instead, you’ll have to scavenge it from the wreckage. One is guaranteed to spawn in the Garbage region’s slag heap. It’s expertly squirreled away in a tangle of ladders and scaffolding.
2Mask-1 Helmet
The Mask-1 helmet is an impressive bit of military tech found in The Zone. The heavy-duty armor has a formidable physical defense stat of 3.65 and a hefty radiation defense factor of 2.1. Its other stats are modest, but this mask ultimately offersall-around protectionagainst every damage type.
Thanks to their high quality, Mask-1 helmets are rare finds. Your best bet for finding one is to follow the main story. One spawns in a bag near the beginning of the “To the Last Drop of Blood” quest. You can also upgrade these helmets with an Aramid lining to improve your odds against The Zone’s horrors.
