STALKER 2 endings explained: how to get all four

Spoiler warning: this guide reveals major story choices of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Close it now if you want to find out for yourself. According to a Sportskeeda guide checked on October 13, 2026, the game has four main endings, decided mainly by choices in the missions Subtle Matter, Dangerous Liaisons and The Last Wish, plus your standing with factions. The Cost of Hope expansion runs in parallel and does not change these endings, according to the official FAQ.

Key takeaways

• Four endings: Strelok, Ward, Kaimanov and Spark.
• Save a separate file at the start of each key mission.
• Choices in Subtle Matter, Dangerous Liaisons and The Last Wish matter most.
• Because choices lock out other endings, plan before you pick.

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The four endings at a glance

How to get each ending

Strelok

1. In Subtle Matter, when Scar catches you with the visiograph, choose "Life is for the living." This locks out the Spark ending.
2. In Dangerous Liaisons, choose "Escape." Do not choose "I'm not your enemy," which leads to the Ward ending.
3. In The Last Wish, choose "[Fire]" to kill the Doctor.

Ward

1. In Subtle Matter, choose "Life is for the living" and avoid "Eternal spring."
2. In Dangerous Liaisons, choose "I'm not your enemy" to side with the Ward.

Killing Doctor Faust earns Korshunov's trust, even if you aligned with Noontide or Spark earlier.

Kaimanov

1. In Subtle Matter, choose "Life is for the living."
2. In Dangerous Liaisons, choose "Escape."
3. In The Last Wish, choose "[Lower the gun]" to spare the Doctor.

Spark

1. In Subtle Matter, choose "Eternal spring" when Scar confronts you.
2. In Dangerous Liaisons, choose "Escape."

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Which ending is best?

There is no single best ending. Each one matches a different idea of what the Zone should become. If you want the most complete picture of the story, play once for the choice that feels natural, then reload a save for a different one. Avoid guides that claim a canon ending unless the developer has said so. GSC has not told us which ending is canon, as far as we could verify.

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Next steps: see how to start Cost of Hope or the artifacts guide, or visit the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. hub and watch the Zone on live streams.