STALKER 2: Where and How to Upgrade Weapons?

Guns are the bread and butter of STALKER, and that remains the case in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl as well. While most any gun will eventually kill most any kind of enemy, specific ammunition types and weapon profiles do fare better in specific engagements, and this counts doubly so when you start customizing and fine-tuning your gear.

Now, weapon upgrade systems aren't a new thing for STALKER. Heck, we've had a rudimentary gun upgrade feature even back in Shadow of Chernobyl, though it was limited to two different optics systems, a silencer, and a NATO/Warsaw grenade launcher variant.  This time around, the selection is far broader than ever before, and there's quite a bit of nuance present. Let us explain!

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How to Upgrade Weapons in STALKER 2?

Curiously, STALKER 2 actually has two disparate weapon upgrade systems in place. One of them is the in-depth fine-tuning system featured in the screenshot above, and the other is the attachment system. Let's go through them one by one!

Firstly, the fine-tuning screen is only available via technician NPCs, who you can find at any major settlement. Their icons pop up well enough (the cog icon, specifically) if you zoom in on specific settlements, and there's usually a sign of some sort outside of their operation. Finding them isn't the hard part, though: actually sourcing enough Coupons to pay for their services is.

Specifically, Technicians both upgrade and repair your weaponry, and repairs are absolutely crucial if you want your guns not to fall apart at the seams. In fact, repairs are generally costlier than the upgrades themselves, so you'll need to find the right balance between the two. Now, weapon upgrades are node-based stat improvements that sometimes come with visual tweaks. For example, technicians will be able to add rail systems, aiming modules, compensators/flash hiders, and foregrips to your guns. They will also be able to change the ammo they fire and fine-tune their stats.

On the other hand, STALKER 2 also has a Crysis-like weapon modding feature in place. Its default key is 'T' on the keyboard, and it supports suppressors, underbarrel attachments, and Picatinny-based sights. You can toggle these on or off to your heart's content, while the same cannot be said about Technician upgrades.

In fact, Technician upgrades are often permanent and some of them even lock out other upgrades that come into the same slot. So, you're often going to need to pick-and-choose what niche you want your gun to cover. It's a lovely feature, really, and it works perfectly in tandem with the game's other survival loops.

Get your STALKER 2 Steam key here at 2Game!