Journalist Stashes are pretty important in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. They are hidden places where players can find rewards and engage in side quests. These stashes aren't just random loot but are connected to the game’s story and background. You need to know where you're going to find them. The journey starts when players find a journalist's flash drive, which shows them where to look for these hidden caches on their map. From there, you go to each and grab stashes.

Finding hidden stashes in the game isn't always easy. You must plan your moves carefully, use special skills or gear, and deal with challenges like dangerous areas or enemies. The items you get from these stashes are connected to the main story and the difficulty of getting them. So, these hidden spots serve as fun side quests that encourage you to explore the game world more thoroughly. They also provide useful items that improve your abilities and chances of survival in tough conditions. Overall, discovering and opening these stashes adds extra excitement to the gameplay.

Where To Find Every Journalist Stash & All Rewards

All Locations And Rewards For The Journalist Stash

Finding every journalist stash starts when you find a journalist's flash drive in a stash early in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Your goal is to locate several hidden containers, called Journalist Stashes, that are spread out across the game world. These containers are placed in different locations, and you may need to explore and solve problems to get to them. Some of these stashes are easy to find, while others are harder and might involve navigating tricky areas or facing combat.

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Keep in mind that some locations won’t be accessible until you progress further in the main storyline and open up new areas. The Journalist Stashes have high-quality weapons and protective gear, often better versions of items you can find elsewhere in the game. These items can really help players by boosting their firepower and protection. The weapons usually come with modifications and their own ammo, while the suits provide better protection and sometimes allow you to carry more.

You're going to be dealing with a lot of issues on your journey to get journalist stashes, so make sure to know all status effects and how to cure them.

You don't need to find all the stashes to finish the main game, but doing so will improve your gear and make you better prepared for challenges in the Zone. It's a lot easier than many other quests in the game, making finding some high-quality items easy.

Is It Worth Finding All The Journalist Stashes?

Should You Look For Journalist Stashes In STALKER 2?

The player using their knife to poke holes into a can of condensed milk in STALKER 2.

Whether it's worth it to find all the Journalist Stashes in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl really depends on what you want. The main benefit is that you'll get some special weapons and suits with upgrades that are not easily found elsewhere. These items can give you a big advantage in the early part of the game, making it easier to deal with challenges. That alone is worth it to many players, and you should do it. The following table includes every Journalist Stash, its location, and its corresponding rewards:

Journalist Stash

Location

Rewards

Journalist Stash 1

Burnt Forest

SSP-100M SIRCAA Suit

Journalist Stash 2

Chemical Plant (Army Warehouses)

Lullaby Assault Rifle

Journalist Stash 3

Duga (southeastern part)

SA-U Gabon Assault Rifle

Journalist Stash 4

Duga (southeastern part, near previous entry

SEVA-1 Suit

Journalist Stash 5

Garbage (North) - Slag Heap

Tourist Suit

Journalist Stash 6

Garbage (South)

Monolith M860

Journalist Stash 7

Northern Checkpoint

Viper Monolith

Journalist Stash 8

Rostok (military barrack)

Riemann SMG

Journalist Stash 9

Sphere

Monolith AR416

Journalist Stash 10

Swamp (North) - Farmstead

Veteran VS Vintar sniper rifle

Journalist Stash 11

Swamp (South) - Barracks

Wanderer Suit

Journalist Stash 12

Yaniv (railyard)

Model Competitor

Journalist Stash 12

Zalissya (attic)

PTM Monolith, Mercenary's Light Suit

If you like optimizing your character and playing efficiently right from the start, it's definitely worth the effort. The better gear can make the beginning of the game smoother and help you tackle tougher challenges later on. Finding these hidden stashes has its downsides. Many are in hard-to-reach places involving risky activities like climbing and navigating dangerous areas. Some stashes are in conflict zones where you’ll have to fight, which can be tough, especially for newer players.

As you travel the map to get these, make sure to these mistakes to avoid in STALKER 2, because you'll need to make smart decisions on your journey.

Searching for and collecting all twelve stashes also takes a lot of time, which could take you away from the main story and other quests. If you want to focus on the story or prefer a more straightforward playthrough, looking for the Journalist Stashes might not be the best way to spend your time. The game is still enjoyable even without the extra gear, and for some players, succeeding through skill and strategy can feel more rewarding than just having better equipment.

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Ultimately, whether it's worth it relies on your play style and what you enjoy. Overall, it's worth the hassle it comes with, and you won't regret the time you took to find them. Even if you don't like the rewards, selling them the 10 best items to sell in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Released
November 20, 2024
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood, Use Of Drugs And Alcohol, Language, Crude Humor

Developer(s)
GSC Game World
Publisher(s)
GSC Game World
Franchise
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Platform(s)
PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X