How to Boost Your Carry Weight in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl throws you into the perilous Exclusion Zone, brimming with treasures and deadly dangers. While scavenging for loot is thrilling, limited carry weight can quickly turn your adventure into a frustrating struggle. With your character, Skif, capped at 80 kilograms (kg) by default, managing inventory is key to survival.

This detailed guide uncovers every method to boost your carry weight and keep you running, jumping, and looting like a true Zone veteran.

Why Carry Weight Matters

In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, exceeding your carry weight leads to:

• Reduced Stamina: Sprinting, jumping, and melee attacks deplete stamina faster.
• Slower Stamina Regeneration: Recovery takes much longer, hindering your ability to escape dangers.
• Over-Encumbrance: Exceeding 80 kg renders you immobile, leaving you defenceless.

Managing your weight effectively is essential to maintaining your agility, especially during intense firefights or when navigating anomaly-laden terrain.

1. Armors with Carry Weight Bonuses

Certain armour suits offer bonus carry weight alongside better protection. These suits are scattered throughout the Zone, and finding one can significantly ease your inventory woes. Two notable examples include:

• Wanderer Suit: Adds a +8 kg carry weight bonus. This lightweight suit is ideal for explorers.
• Bulwark Exosuit: Provides a hefty +12 kg bonus, perfect for heavy looters or prolonged expeditions.

Tip: Keep an eye out for these suits in high-loot areas or as quest rewards. Pairing them with other carry weight-boosting tools amplifies their benefits.

2. Hercules Pills: The Quick Fix

Hercules pills are the MVPs for temporary carry weight boosts. These rare consumables increase your carry weight by 20 kg for 300 seconds (five minutes). They’re perfect for:

• Sprinting back to base after a successful loot run.
• Carrying extra supplies during extended combat missions.

Where to Find Them:
Hercules pills are typically found in stashes, purchased from traders, or earned as quest rewards. Always keep a few in your inventory for emergencies.

Pro Tip: Use Hercules pills strategically when exploring areas with limited storage options or during intense missions.

3. Artifacts That Lighten the Load

Artifacts in Stalker 2 provide various buffs, including enhanced resistance and carry weight boosts. One artifact worth hunting is the Flaw, which:

• Increases maximum carry weight by +3 kg.
• Improves bleeding resistance (weak).
• Slightly reduces radiation resistance (medium).

How to Find Artifacts:
Artifacts like the Flaw can be found in anomalies scattered across the Zone. Use high-quality detectors to locate these treasures, but beware of anomalies guarding them.

Pro Tip: Balance the benefits of carrying weight-boosting artifacts against their drawbacks, like reduced resistance to specific hazards.

4. Lightweight Upgrades for Gear

Technician NPCs at various bases can modify your equipment to reduce its weight. These upgrades include:

• Lightweight Materials: Reduces armour weight.
• Milled Parts Replaced with Stamped Parts: Decreases weapon weight.

How It Works:

1. Visit a technician with the required coupons.
2. Open the upgrades panel and select the “Lightweight” option for your gear.
3. Pay the upgrade cost to enjoy reduced item weight.

Pro Tip: Focus on upgrading frequently used gear to maximize the benefits of these modifications.

5. Tips for Efficient Inventory Management

Even with carry weight boosts, managing your inventory is crucial. Here are a few strategies to avoid overloading:

• Prioritize High-Value Items: Leave behind low-value loot like junk ammo and focus on weapons, armour, and rare consumables.
• Utilize Personal Stashes: Store items you don’t immediately need at your base.
• Sell Unused Gear: Regularly trade unnecessary equipment with vendors to free up space and earn currency.
• Recycle Consumables: Use medkits, food, and repair items when necessary to lighten your load.

6. Fast Travel Considerations

While fast travel in Stalker 2 is limited to guiding NPCs and specific settlements, you can reduce the burden of carrying excess items by planning your routes strategically. Use guides to:

• Transport heavy loot to storage points.
• Avoid long treks that drain stamina and expose you to ambushes.

Pro Tip: Unlock as many guide NPCs as possible early in the game to make fast travel more accessible.

Best Locations for Weight-Boosting Gear

1. Zalissya: Early in the game, search stashes for armour with carry-weight bonuses, such as the Wanderer Suit.
2. Garbage: Check abandoned vehicles for Hercules pills and artifacts like the Flaw.
3. Swamps: Explore ruined buildings and anomalies for additional carry-weight gear.
4. Rostok and Yaniv: These mid-game areas often house technician NPCs and stashes containing valuable upgrades.