All Factions in Stalker 2, listed and explained

The Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a dangerous and unpredictable place. The factions that inhabit it each have their own motivations, goals and methods of survival and play a significant role in the game’s storyline. In this guide, we’ll break down the most important factions you’ll encounter in Stalker 2, as well as who they are, and how they slot into the previous Stalker games. Learning about the world’s factions is another puzzle piece in starting a successful adventure in the Zone.

What are the Factions in Stalker 2?

Just like in the previous Stalker games, various factions vie for land and scarce resources in the Zone. Players are able to interact with them, gain favour, trade, or turn hostile. It all depends on how you align with their ideologies and perspectives. The devs have described their faction system as “dynamic”, meaning that they won’t wait around for the player to pursue their goals: “Factions can sometimes change their leader. Sometimes, they can break up. Sometimes, they can do something that will seem to the player that doesn’t match their ideology at all”. Here are the Factions you can encounter while working through quests and exploring the open world of Stalker 2:

Faction	Base locations in the Zone	Leader(s)
The Loners	Cordon, Zaton, Pripyat	Beard (in Zaton)
Duty	Bar, Agroprom	General Voronin
Monolith	Pripyat, Sarcophagus, Monolith Control Center	C-Consciousness
Freedom	Dark Valley, Rostok	Mikluha
Bandits	Yanov, Zaton	Sultan, Jack, Shishak
Mercenaries	Unknown (possibly Dead City)	Various leaders
Ecologists	Lake Yantar, Yanov	Prof. Skharov, Prof. Hermann
The Military	Unknown	Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Noon	Wild Island	Strider, Faust
Ward	North Perimeter	Unknown
SIRCAA	North Perimeter	Ukrainian Government, Dr. Dalin
Spark	Unknown	Scar

✓ Notable missing factions

Reading through the list, you’ll notice that some of the previous factions are missing. Namely, Clear Sky and Renegades which played a huge part in the Stalker: Clear Sky. It seems that their stories were self-contained to that game, explaining their exclusion.

The Loners (aka Free Stalkers, Neutral Stalkers)

The Loners are perhaps the most independent and all-encompassing faction in the Zone, representing the classic lone wolf archetype that many Stalker fans will recognize. Comprised of individual stalkers and wanderers who have no allegiance to any larger group, the Loners survive through self-reliance, scavenging, and opportunism. In many ways, this faction is the spiritual descendant of your original Stalker protagonist. In Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky, players could join the Loners or interact with them as neutral characters, and this tradition continues in Stalker 2. The Loners value personal freedom and independence above all else, often remaining neutral in the faction conflicts that rage around them. They avoid getting caught up in the ideological struggles between groups like Duty, Freedom, and Monolith, though their lone status doesn’t keep them from facing threats from all sides. In fact, the Loners often end up employed as mercenaries by other factions. 

Duty

Duty, the authoritarian military faction, first appeared in Shadow of Chernobyl, where they were seeking to contain the Zone’s horrors through brute force. They represent a direct ideological opposite to the Freedom faction and have been a part of every Stalker game to date. Duty’s soldiers believe that the Zone must be sealed off from the rest of the world, even if that means using military force to destroy or control anything that threatens their vision. In Stalker 2, the Duty remains focused on enforcing strict control over the Zone and attempts to keep its anomalies and mutants from escaping into the outside world. As a faction, they’re likely to be involved in combat-heavy missions that will require you to defend or assault key locations in the Zone. If you align with Duty, expect to battle rival factions and dangerous mutants, all in the name of preserving humanity’s safety.

Monolith

The quasi-religious Monolith is one of the most enigmatic and fanatical groups in the Zone, first introduced in Shadow of Chernobyl. The Monolith worships the mysterious artefact, Wish Granter, believing it to be a divine gift from a higher power. In the original games, the brainwashed Monolith soldiers were considered to be among the most dangerous and fanatical enemies, dedicated to guarding the artefact at all costs. In Stalker 2, Monolith continues to uphold their fanatical beliefs and still sees their artefact as the key to controlling the Zone’s chaos. This group is one of the central antagonists in the series, standing as a dangerous zealot faction that will stop at nothing to further their cause. Their role in Stalker 2 explores deeper theological and existential questions about the artefact’s true power, just as the original games hinted at its connection to the Zone’s anomalies. You will likely encounter hostile Monolith forces during your journey, making them a significant threat throughout the game – though it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they could be reasoned with.

Freedom

Freedom is a faction committed to individual liberty and resistance to control. They first appeared in Shadow of Chernobyl as the antithesis to Duty’s authoritarian militarism. Freedom’s ideology is rooted in their belief that the Zone should be free from the intervention of outside powers, like the government and military. They oppose the idea that the Zone should be sealed off, controlled by external authorities, and especially that what happened should be covered up. Instead, they promote the idea that it should be a place for exploration and that its resources should be protected. In Stalker 2, Freedom’s mission remains the same: to preserve the freedom of individuals in the Zone. Their members are often seen as rebels or outcasts who oppose the military presence and the attempts by factions like Duty to control the Zone’s resources. Aligning with Freedom could lead you into direct conflict with other factions, but also present opportunities for exploration and uncovering the Zone’s many secrets. They’re tailor-made for you if you’re someone who prefers a more rebellious or independent approach to the game.

Bandits

The Bandits are, as expected, one of the most infamous factions in the Stalker series. They first appeared in Shadow of Chernobyl as scavengers and criminals who preyed on weaker Stalkers. In Stalker 2, Bandits remain the anarchic, self-interested faction that thrives in the lawless corners of the Zone. Unlike more organized factions, Bandits operate on the fringes of the Zone’s fragile society, looting and extorting anyone they can. The Bandits’ brutal survival tactics and their tendency to ambush other Stalkers or groups make them one of the most dangerous factions to encounter in the Zone. In Stalker 2, they play the same antagonistic role as in previous games. They can offer morally grey interactions for players who may need to negotiate or ally with them in exchange for valuable resources. 

Mercenaries

The Mercenaries are a group made up of hired guns, appearing in both Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky as professional soldiers of fortune. Unlike the main military groups, Mercenaries are often motivated purely by financial gain, taking on contracts to carry out dangerous operations in the Zone for the highest bidder. This mercenary mentality has remained consistent in Stalker 2, where they continue to operate as a neutral, contract-based faction willing to work for whoever pays the most. If you interact with them, they could offer high-risk, high-reward missions and may provide services such as protection, extraction, or even sabotage. Their pragmatic approach allows them to move freely throughout the Zone, making them a key faction if you’re looking to exploit the Zone’s vast opportunities for personal gain.

Ecologists

The Ecologists first appeared in Clear Sky and Shadow of Chernobyl, where they were portrayed as government-sanctioned Ukrainian scientists focused on studying the Zone’s anomalies and their effects. Their goal was to research the strange phenomena within the Zone in order to exploit or eliminate their effects. The Ecologists continue this mission in Stalker 2, looking to learn more about the Zone’s unique ecosystem and research the various artefacts and mutations. If you choose to align with the Ecologists, your missions will likely focus on procuring samples, scientific research, and anomaly analysis. Much like in previous games, they are likely to offer valuable information that can help you against the dangers of the Zone and shed light on some of the surrounding mysteries. 

The Military (aka The Army)

The Military faction was first introduced in Shadow of Chernobyl and represents the Ukrainian soldiers sent to control and contain the Zone for the State. As a faction, the Military is responsible for maintaining security around the Zone’s perimeter, ensuring no one enters or leaves without their permission. They operate with a strict chain of command and view the Zone as a national security threat that must be contained at all costs. Players who choose to side with the Military in Stalker 2 will likely find themselves fighting to uphold control over the Zone and possibly take part in military operations to secure key locations or neutralize enemy factions. As with previous games in the series, the Military will often be hostile to other factions and may come into conflict with independent Stalkers, which can easily lead to them becoming an antagonist if you don’t follow their rules.

Noon

The Noon is one of the newer additions to the Zone’s faction landscape. While little is known about their inner workings, Noon formed as a splinter group from Monolith. They represent ex-Monolith members who have overcome their brainwashing and later banded together on Wild Island. While their agenda is unknown, Noon faces a splintering of their own in Stalker 2, with Strider and Faust leading the two groups. Players will have a chance to mediate or take part in the conflict. If left alone, it will be interesting to see which side comes out on top and how that reflects on the Zone and its surrounding groups. 

Ward

The Ward faction is another newcomer to the Stalker franchise, and much like Noon, their goals remain somewhat shrouded in mystery. However, what we do know is that Ward seems to represent a more passive, preservationist approach to the Zone. They’re focused on containing the anomalies and threats of the Zone rather than engaging in open conflict or research, seeking to maintain balance rather than to exploit or destroy. In contrast to factions like Duty or Monolith, Ward adopts a less aggressive stance in the game. While we can’t be certain how their goals will play out, it’s entirely possible that Ward has a more sinister motivation than what players are led to believe.

SIRCAA

SIRCAA (standing for Scientific Institute for Research of the Chornobyl Anomalous Area) is a faction that represents the scientific research effort of the Ukrainian Government. It was only briefly mentioned in Call of Pripyat, but Stalker 2 is the first time players actually get to see and interact with the group. While on paper seeming similar to the Ecologists, SIRCAA hides more sinister secrets. They seem to be involved in unethical experiments, coverups, and an overall more pragmatic approach to research in the Zone. Players who align themselves with this group might get their moral fiber tested by their requests – as not all of them are sparked by pure scientific curiosity.

Spark

Spark is another new faction added in Stalker 2. It is led by Scar, who players will remember as the protagonist of Stalker: Clear Sky. As such, this faction is highly opposed to SIRCAA and the Ward, among others. Instead, they take an almost overprotective role towards the Zone, seeing it as worth preserving in their own way. They will go to great lengths to fulfil their goals, including ambushing other stalkers to get their point across. If you side with them, you can expect to quickly come to blows with the other factions, though Scar will be thankful for your involvement.

After brushing up on all the factions, read about the game’s multiplayer options, as well as how long it takes to beat Stalker 2. Also, check out what you can do with broken weapons in the game.