You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
The Weird Ball is one of a few legendary ‘altered item’ tier artifacts that you’ll find in arch anomalies, also known as marked anomalous areas, on your journey through the irradiated plains, forest, and swamps of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Unlike standard artifacts that you track down using your detector, getting the Weird Ball involves navigating a pulsing gravitational bubble. One wrong move and you’re done for. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get the Weird Ball artifact in Stalker 2.
Where to find the Weird Ball artifact in Stalker 2
To get the Weird Ball artifact, you’ll need to visit the Bulba anomalous area to the east of Zalissya in the Lesser Zone region. It’s roughly 300 meters from the camp and just southwest of the Old Mill point of interest. We recommend making a manual save near the edge of the anomaly in case your first attempt ends badly.
Approach the Bulba from the northwest and stand behind the tree on the edge of the water. This will allow you to survey the anomaly and its behaviour without sustaining damage or dying. The large bubble at the center swells and retracts rhythmically. Every time it retracts it pulls in everything in its vicinity, crushing the vehicles you see in the water. When it swells, it pushes everything out. The key to getting the Weird Ball is timing your approach based on this rhythm. Do it wrong and you’ll get sucked in and killed.
Use the tree as cover, then dart to the rock and crouch. Captured by VideoGamer
Head to the right of the rock and run to the ambulance. Captured by VideoGamer
Crouch behind the ambulance. Captured by VideoGamer
The Weird Ball is near the front of the ambulance. Captured by VideoGamer
Wait for the bubble to swell and run to the large boulder ahead, then crouch. It’s vitally important that you crouch, otherwise you’ll get sucked in. Wait for the bubble to retract then as soon as it swells, run and crouch behind the ambulance. Wait for another retract-and-swell cycle, then follow the side of the ambulance right. The Weird Ball is near the front of the ambulance. Grab the artifact, then retract your steps, again, waiting for the swell and retract cycle to move between cover.
Weird Ball stats
Unlike normal artifacts, the Weird Ball doesn’t list clear benefits and downsides. Instead, we have the following item blurb: ‘A child’s ball, oddly weighty. Equipping it seems to reduce bullet damage in combat, particularly when standing still.’ In other words, having the Weird Ball equipped reduces incoming damage from bullets, notably when you’re at a standstill. More specifically, the artifact encases that damage, increasing in weight every time you take damage up to a maximum of 5 kg. It then reduces its weight over time back to the base 0.5 kg.
About the Author
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter, Survival Horror
