The best armor in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 depends on what is hurting you: bullets, radiation, anomalies or Psi. This guide lists ten strong suits, where Prima Games says to find them, and what each is good for. Stat values are on a 0 to 5 scale from that guide, and weights and artifact slots come with them. Patches can change numbers, so check the item screen in your game. Checked October 16, 2026. Spoiler note: several locations are tied to story missions.
Key takeaways
- Diamond Exoskeleton is the top pick in the guide: physical 4, radiation 4, five artifact slots and +17.6 kg carry capacity. It is in Prypiat's Sunny Kindergarten.
- PSZ-12V Bulat is a strong early suit: 4 artifact slots, 9 kg, from the Army Warehouse in the Chemical Plant (code 0690) after siding with the Ward faction.
- SSP-99 Ecologist is the radiation specialist at only 3 kg, found during the quest "Answers Come at a Price".
- Cuirass Exoskeleton has the best physical protection (4.5) but weighs 10.5 kg.
- The Seva suits are good against anomalies and radiation but weaker against gunfire.
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All ten suits at a glance
| Suit | Best at | Weight / slots | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Exoskeleton | Everything, +17.6 kg carry | 9.5 kg / 5 | Sunny Kindergarten, Prypiat; or Spark Bunker during The Boundary |
| Corundum Suit | Physical 3.5, radiation 2.5 | 10 kg / 3 | Monolith drops; trader Bison in Prypiat; Engineering Room in "Just Like the Good Old Days" |
| Cuirass Exoskeleton | Physical 4.5 | 10.5 kg / 3 | SKD Factory, Cooling Towers (top catwalk) |
| Brummbar Exoskeleton | Physical 4, +8.0 kg carry | 9.5 kg / 4 | White House POI, Prypiat (6th floor) |
| Operator Exoskeleton | Physical 4, radiation 3.5, +6.4 kg carry | 9.5 kg / 4 | Fluoridation Station, north of Jupiter |
| SEVA-D | Balanced, early | 8 kg / 3 | CAGE point of interest, west of Slag Heap |
| SEVA-I | Radiation 3, anomalies | 8 kg / 4 | Yantar Production Complex; Duga's Arms Depot |
| PSZ-12V Bulat | Physical 3.5, early pick | 9 kg / 4 | Army Warehouse, Chemical Plant, code 0690 |
| SSP-99 Ecologist | Radiation 3, light | 3 kg / 2 | Detention Center lab during "Answers Come at a Price" |
| Ozk's Explorer Suit | Light early option | 6 kg / 2 | Sphere facility during "Behind Seven Seals" |
How to choose
For fighting people, pick physical protection: Cuirass, Brummbar or Diamond. For anomaly areas and radiation, pick the Ecologist or a Seva suit, and bring artifacts with radiation protection. For carrying loot, the exoskeletons add carry capacity, which pairs well with our carry weight guide. A heavy suit is slow, and none of these numbers include upgrades. The Diamond Exoskeleton has one catch noted in the guide: artifacts increase radiation buildup while you wear it.
Early suits worth grabbing first
If you are early in the story, the realistic targets are the Ozk's Explorer Suit, the Ecologist and the Bulat. The Bulat needs you to side with the Ward faction in "Behind Seven Seals" and deliver the Ward Sensors, so pick your faction knowing that. Our endings guide covers how choices matter later, and the safe codes guide lists door codes such as 0690 and 2765.
Armor locations in a live game can differ slightly between versions. Treat the coordinates described here as directions, not exact map markers, and look for stash icons on your map near each named location.
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