Many of your actions in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl have consequences, this can result in different rewards, upsetting certain factions, or getting follow-up missions. The Deceive the Deceiver side mission is a follow-up mission to A Big Score and gives you the opportunity get some cold, hard, revenge. Keep reading to learn more about this mission and maximize your rewards.

View Full-size

Deceive the Deceiver is a follow-up mission to A Big Score in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Table of Contents¶

If you want to jump to a specific section, click on the links below.

Deceive the Deceiver Mission Location¶

There are multiple steps you must first complete before you can begin the Deceive the Deceiver side mission, starting with making sure you have access to the Slag Heap in the Garbage region. You’ll be sent here as part of the Answers Come at a Price main mission to find a Technician named Diode.

Once you’ve reached the Slag Heap, you’ll need to wait until Zakhar Babay offers you the A Big Score side mission, one which goes about how you’d expect from the shady Zakhar. Fortunately, you’ve come out on the other end and another captive, Akopyan, has offered you an opportunity to get your revenge on him, beginning this mission.

Lure Zakhar Away from the Slag Heap and Take Sashko Cheery’s Gun¶

The first step of this side mission you may have already completed, you’re going to need Sashko Cheery’s Spitter gun if you’re going to be able to prove that Akopyan has survived the encounter. If you looted the bodies of the Bandits following the end of A Big Score, then you may have this already, if not, look closely at the bodies around you (pay attention to the “x” on the compass that indicates a corpse) to locate it. Not only can you not continue the mission without it, but it’s a unique weapon you’ll want to make use of after.

View Full-size

Return to Zakhar in the Slag Heap and show him the Spitter.

Take this gun with you back to the Slag Heap and you’ll find Zakhar in his usual position near the exit. There are a lot of things you can ask Zakhar, but the only one that matters and that will progress this side mission is “[Show Spitter] Akopyan says hi.“ where he will believe that he has taken out his men and coming for him next, thus giving him cause to leave the area. Zakhar, though, will offer you a job himself, asking you to escort him to his stash and he’ll pay you for it, this is perfect for you as you’ve been looking for a reason to get him out of the Slag Heap. When you’re ready to get the show on the road, choose “Let’s go.”

You’ll follow Zakhar a short distance from Slag Heap to where you’ll find many cargo containers, at this point, the objectives will update.

Escort Zakhar¶

Your first option is to continue to escort Zakhar, he’ll head into his stash and grab some items, none of these are especially noteworthy, although there is a full durability AKM-74S in there if you’re in need of a gun (or just want to sell it). Follow him from here and he’ll meet up with two other men, where he’ll mention he’s going to lay low for a while before handing over 2,500 Coupons for escorting him and ending the side mission.

View Full-size

1

2

(1 of 2) Escort Zakhar and after he gives you his Coupons, kill him.

View Full-size

View Full-size

Escort Zakhar and after he gives you his Coupons, kill him. (left), Then deliver the news to Akopyan at Slag Heap for double the reward! (right)

Kill Zakhar¶

The other, and more lucrative, option though, is to do what you came here for, get your revenge on Zakhar and kill him. Don’t be hasty about this though, there’s a way to walk away with the reward from both parties. After you follow Zakhar back to his two other men and he hands over the Coupons for escorting him, shoot him in the head along with his two buddies nearby. You will keep the 2,500 Coupons and update the objective for Akopyan, it’s then just a simple matter of returning to the Slag Heap, delivering the news, and pocketing another 2,500 Coupons!