The sprawling Exclusion Zone of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl invites you to wander its vast landscapes on foot, from lush green hills to radioactive swamps and eerie slag heaps. While most of your adventure will involve trekking through this dangerous terrain, a few helpful NPCs can offer a faster route to your destination. Here’s a breakdown of how the fast travel system works in the game.

Fast Travel: The Basics

Fast travel in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 revolves around a specific NPC type: the guide. This mechanic is reminiscent of earlier titles in the series, like Clear Sky, and adds a layer of strategy to your exploration.

Finding Guides in the Exclusion Zone

As you journey through the Zone, you’ll encounter settlements filled with various NPCs, including merchants and technicians. However, to unlock fast travel, you’ll need to seek out guide NPCs. They’re marked on your map with a distinctive icon resembling a star or crosshair.

Using Guide NPCs for Fast Travel

Once you locate a guide NPC in a settlement, speak to them to unlock the fast travel option. This will let you instantly travel to other settlements where you’ve already met guide NPCs.

However, convenience comes at a price. The in-game currency, coupons, is required to use this service, and the cost increases with the distance to your destination.

When Fast Travel Becomes Unavailable

Be warned: certain events in the story can disrupt your fast travel plans. For instance:

• A settlement might come under attack, and the guide NPC there may no longer be available.
• Another area might temporarily lose its NPCs, locking its doors and leaving you stranded.

While you can still fast travel to these locations if you’ve previously unlocked them, you won’t be able to fast travel from these areas until the situation stabilises.

With this knowledge in hand, you can make better use of the guides in the Zone, saving precious time (and energy) for the more perilous challenges ahead. Just remember to keep an eye on your coupons and stay alert for potential disruptions.