Stalker 2: Science Quest Walkthrough Guide

After speaking to the C-Consciousness Representative during the Visions of Truth main mission, players will receive a call from Dr. Shcherba, requesting Skif's help in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. By accepting this request, you'll initiate the side mission "In The Name of Science," where your objective is to locate electronic collars from various mutants.

In The Name of Science is a comprehensive side mission with multiple choices that can influence its outcome. Let's delve into the complete walkthrough of the mission, including all the choices you'll need to make.

How to Find All the Electronic Collars for Dr. Shcherba

The initial phase of the In The Name of Science quest involves collecting all five electronic collars from specific locations marked on the map in Stalker 2. If fewer than five locations appear, you may have already picked up some collars during other missions or while exploring The Zone. Below are the locations and details for each collar:

Once you have collected all the collars, return to Dr. Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant region.

Note: The mission may encounter bugs if you've previously collected and sold the collars to a merchant. If you're unable to pick up a collar, you can use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to move forward.

Should You Disable or Recalibrate the Jamming Device?

After handing over the collars to Shcherba, he'll discover a jamming signal affecting their functionality. He'll then ask Skif to locate and disable the source of this signal.

Head to the Storage on the Hill, west of the Roofed Warehouse, to find the device causing the jam. Inside the warehouse, you'll encounter poltergeists, zombified soldiers, and rodent mutants before reaching the device.

Here, you face a choice:

• Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended): This action will advance the mission, allowing Shcherba to activate the collars. You'll receive coupons from Shcherba and encounter multiple bloodsuckers later, leading to another decision.
• Recalibrate the Jammer: This choice will end the mission with coupons from Dvupalov as a reward.

Should You Kill or Let Shcherba Go During the "In The Name of Science" Quest?

If you opt to disable the jamming device, Shcherba will inform you that the collars are now operational and send you coupons, promising to call again when needed. The mission objective will then change to "Wait for your reward from Shcherba."

You can either complete other missions or rest to pass time until Shcherba calls again. If he doesn't call, use the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab" to progress.

Upon returning to Shcherba's lab, you'll receive two bottles of Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov. Heading to the lower floor, you'll find Shcherba with three Bloodsuckers. He'll send you to a room for your reward, which turns out to be a trap exposing you to PSI-Radiation in an attempt to awaken Faust-like abilities. Drinking the Magic Vodka will counteract the radiation's effects.

After escaping the room and defeating the Bloodsuckers, you'll confront an armed Shcherba threatening Dvupalov. You must decide whether to kill Shcherba or let him go. Both choices yield the same rewards, but letting him go is recommended to maintain good relations with the scientists and Dvupalov.

Following the confrontation, you'll receive a Gauss Gun from Dvupalov and unlock the On a Leash trophy in Stalker 2.