Huge difficulty spike in Garbage

[Fried Noodles]

I've finished up what I can (I think) in the Lesser Zone and moved up to the region north called 'Garbage'.
I stopped by a prison and picked up a mission to sneak into a laboratory and also rescue some people or something.

I've tried stealth here and there, but always seem to get spotted no matter how many times I save/load.

And combat seems to not be an option at all.

The guards around that location absolutely melt my health.

I've fought larger numbers in a few locations in the Lesser Zone, but I literally burned through 17+ medkits and still ended up dying.

[Zebedee]

That place can be a bit tough although getting to the lab should still be very doable with just a silenced pistol and headshots if you can find a route through which doesn't leave you tanking every guard. Worth heading on straight to the hub and doing a pickup quest or two? Have a look around for some new gear.

[SpidersInABirthdayCake]

Find a way to funnel them to you. A long room that they can't throw grenades all the way to the other end would make a good hold out point. If you are out in the open find a big rock you can use as cover.

[OGPG]

If you think the difficulty bump is bad in Garbage, wait until you get to Duga.

[nabbed]

Originally posted by Fried Noodles:

I've finished up what I can (I think) in the Lesser Zone and moved up to the region north called 'Garbage'.
I stopped by a prison and picked up a mission to sneak into a laboratory and also rescue some people or something.

I've tried stealth here and there, but always seem to get spotted no matter how many times I save/load.

And combat seems to not be an option at all.

The guards around that location absolutely melt my health.

I've fought larger numbers in a few locations in the Lesser Zone, but I literally burned through 17+ medkits and still ended up dying.

Could be a skill issue. Are you good with a mouse to make headshots? If so, Skif's default pistol can carry you through the first half of the game. It takes almost no koupons at all to repair it, and the ammo is the cheapest/lightest, so it helps a ton at the beginning.

There's also an excellent starter suit that can carry you the first half of the game in a junkyard called Maze, a stone throw away from Slag Heap. Add to that some physical protection artifacts and radiation protection artifacts that can be farmed from gravitational anomalies and acid anomalies, respectively, and you should have no issue with enemies' damage to you.

[Sharkitect]

It's possible to get in and only have to deal with two guards in you go around the back and wait for a patrolling guard to pass by. And those two go down easily to headshots if you load Skif's pistol with AP rounds.

[insert food here]

Originally posted by nabbed:

Could be a skill issue. Are you good with a mouse to make headshots? If so, Skif's default pistol can carry you through the first half of the game. It takes almost no koupons at all to repair it, and the ammo is the cheapest/lightest, so it helps a ton at the beginning.

Not to mention the 9x18mm AP ammo for Skifs pistol is also bugged to give way more AP power than it should compared to all other AP ammo. Makes all guns using that ammo type very strong if you can aim well.

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by nabbed:

Originally posted by Fried Noodles:

I've finished up what I can (I think) in the Lesser Zone and moved up to the region north called 'Garbage'.
I stopped by a prison and picked up a mission to sneak into a laboratory and also rescue some people or something.

I've tried stealth here and there, but always seem to get spotted no matter how many times I save/load.

And combat seems to not be an option at all.

The guards around that location absolutely melt my health.

I've fought larger numbers in a few locations in the Lesser Zone, but I literally burned through 17+ medkits and still ended up dying.

Could be a skill issue. Are you good with a mouse to make headshots? If so, Skif's default pistol can carry you through the first half of the game. It takes almost no koupons at all to repair it, and the ammo is the cheapest/lightest, so it helps a ton at the beginning.

There's also an excellent starter suit that can carry you the first half of the game in a junkyard called Maze, a stone throw away from Slag Heap. Add to that some physical protection artifacts and radiation protection artifacts that can be farmed from gravitational anomalies and acid anomalies, respectively, and you should have no issue with enemies' damage to you.

Your suggestion to find better armor deeper into the area is admitting it isn't a skill issue. After all, part of the difficulty spike is running into more enemies with 2 penetration weapons like pump actions and Bucket SMG. Along with the AR146 while being the weakest 5.56, still the strongest 1 penetration assault rifle.

So many, many random behind me spawns of blue camo idiots ambushes in the garbage, all armed with a broken red pump action and not even six shells between all their corpses.

That ♥♥♥♥ punches through an early game debut or Ozk's like paper. Which is part of why I started using my unlocked DURING the garbage (working for spark faction) PSZ-7 armor, which you are gifted after the mission the OP is talking about.

PSZ-7 is the cheapest it gets for repairs on non-paper armor on that note, even if going from under 15k (less than an upgraded AKM) to "almost 50k!?" sounds like a lot at first, that is nothing compared to how inflated other suits get once you get their weight removal upgrades.

compare: piece of ♥♥♥♥ marauder armor that ends up nearly 90k for less protection. An idiot tax for if you are desperate for 1 lead pocket plus 1 normal pocket,.

Originally posted by insert food here:

Originally posted by nabbed:

Could be a skill issue. Are you good with a mouse to make headshots? If so, Skif's default pistol can carry you through the first half of the game. It takes almost no koupons at all to repair it, and the ammo is the cheapest/lightest, so it helps a ton at the beginning.

Not to mention the 9x18mm AP ammo for Skifs pistol is also bugged to give way more AP power than it should compared to all other AP ammo. Makes all guns using that ammo type very strong if you can aim well.

complaining AP ammo actually penetrates enemy armor worth a damn is kinda sad. And also shows how many people are not giving the .45 a chance (you can find a free silencer for it under some breakable boxes early past north checkpoint bridge) which is much better for killing blue camo ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ spawns behind you in the garbage with standard ammo during moments of enforced dizzy camera wobble "♥♥♥♥ it I'm shooting them in the ♥♥♥♥" finishes. The main issue it has is you won't be swimming in free .45 as much /you can't buy 100 standard .45 for the price of ten shotgun shells like 9x18 standard. (These enemies brought a .45 UZI, but only 2 bullets!?)

Without AP ammo, skif pistol can struggle without anything but headclicks when any human tougher than a T-shirt and jorts bandit attacks you. you want to save your early AP stockpile for magdumping into a psychic or cultist, not fodder.

[Jet]

Originally posted by Fried Noodles:

I've finished up what I can (I think) in the Lesser Zone and moved up to the region north called 'Garbage'.
I stopped by a prison and picked up a mission to sneak into a laboratory and also rescue some people or something.

I've tried stealth here and there, but always seem to get spotted no matter how many times I save/load.

And combat seems to not be an option at all.

The guards around that location absolutely melt my health.

I've fought larger numbers in a few locations in the Lesser Zone, but I literally burned through 17+ medkits and still ended up dying.

Google "stalker 2 operator exoskeleton location" and "stalker 2 saiga location".

[Scuba Steve]

I went into that same lab and none of those soldiers were hostile to me. Was my game bugged? I didn’t even have to stealth.

[n0mad23]

Originally posted by Scuba Steve:

I went into that same lab and none of those soldiers were hostile to me. Was my game bugged? I didn’t even have to stealth.

Did you side with the Ward before you left for Garbage?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally posted by n0mad23:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve:

I went into that same lab and none of those soldiers were hostile to me. Was my game bugged? I didn’t even have to stealth.

Did you side with the Ward before you left for Garbage?

I dont think so. I gave the ward sensor to Richter. I rescued a hostage at the lab and they just stood there as I shot the lock off and talk to the hostage and looted their base. Was really confused

[WooKie]

^ F anyone that said sKiLl IsSuE, or iT's JuSt BrOkEn, they can do better. And don't ruin exploring or the joy of finding gear by googling where it is, I get why people do but to me it just robs value from the game you paid for.

There's pipes on the outside that lead up to the second floor. Sneak up to that entry, HEAD LIGHT OFF AT NIGHT very important, preferably raining. Go up the pipes and round to a hole in the wall, you will be able to get to the soldier without killing anyone. Well... one outside the door but that shouldn't agro anyone. Then you just run to the basement (no need to fight anyone) and once your through the door your'll be ready to fight a bloodsucker and carry on.

Stealth is a bit buggy, it's also just hard, but you and the game will get there. This game is very punishing for rookies in the zone, don't worry we've all been there once. Believe me some missions wouldn't be doable if stealth was completely broken.
I'm waiting for a new patch or three to start another play through after finishing my first on STALKER difficulty. So if you still need a guide in the zone after that, feel free to leave me a note

[McLovin]

You don’t have to fight them, just run through them into laboratory

[Way She Goes]

Just u wait lol

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Lesser Zone, Cordon, Garbage are all the easiest areas. WTF are you even on about.