A Needle in a Haystack is a main mission in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Read on for a complete walkthrough of A Needle in a Haystack, as well as the rewards for completing the mission.

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A Tough Awakening	A Race Against Death

A Needle in a Haystack Walkthrough

List of Objectives
1	Explore the Warehouse with the Radiation Hazard Signs
2	Find Squint
3	Retrieve the Sensors from Squint
	Option 1	Option 2
	Help Squint	Kill Squint
4	Return the Ward Sensors
	Option 1	Option 2
	Give the Sensors to Richter	Give the Sensors to Captain Zotov

Explore the Warehouse with the Radiation Hazard Signs

Map Image	Overworld Image

You have the option to find intel on Squint's location. Head to the warehouse northeast of Zalissya and find the tallest building within the warehouse. However, you can totally skip this step and head straight to Squint's location at the Old Mill to the east.

Watch out for the dogs inside the area. You can use climb up the ladder on the building east to get to safe ground and loot the backpack to get the Aurora Gas Mask and consumables.

Pay or Kill Mug

Once you head up the building, you will enter a conversation with Mug. You can choose to pay 1500 Coupons to get information on Squint's location or the [Attack] dialogue option to kill him.

Find Squint East of Zalissya

Map Image	Overworld Image

You can skip going to the warehouse and head straight to the windmill east of Zalissya where Squint is hiding. Head straight inside the windmill to avoid dogs and the mutants that roam near the surrounding area.

Be careful while making your way up the windmill as it is filled with numerous shotgun traps. You can disarm the traps by interacting with the thin ropes by the staircases.

Retrieve the Sensors from Squint

Choices
Help Squint	Kill Squint

You can choose to help Squint retrieve a Mold artifact in a nearby cave in exchange for the Ward Sensors or you can simply just kill him and loot the Ward Sensors from his dead body.

Help Squint

Agreeing to help Squint will begin the Piece of Cake side mission. During this mission, you'll have to enter a nearby cave, defeat the Bloodsucker guarding the entrance, before scouring the mini acid anomaly field for the Mold artifact that Squint needs.

Once you have the Mold artifact, exit the cave and return to Squint. During your conversation, you'll have the option to keep the artifact or actually give it to Squint like promised. If you want the Ward Sensors without a fight, surrender the artifact to get them in exchange.

Piece of Cake Walkthrough

Kill Squint

Another option would be to kill Squint and then loot the Ward Sensors from his dead body. Choose the [Attack] dialogue option to fight him, however, do note that he will immediately become hostile upon doing so.

Should You Help or Kill Squint?

Return the Ward Sensors

Choices
Give Ward Sensors to Richter	Give Ward Sensors to Captain Zotov

After getting the Ward Sensors, you can return it to either Richter or Captain Zotov. The missions that you'll get in the Garbage region will heavily depend on who you give the Ward Sensors to.

Give the Sensors to Richter or Captain Zotov?

Give the Ward Sensors to Richter

Return the Ward Sensors to Richter in Zalissya to end the A Needle in a Haystack mission.

Giving the Sensors to Richter prevents the Wardens from cracking down on the stalkers in Zalissya. Siding with Richter also has you exit through the North Checkpoint and affects the set of missions you'll be getting once you reach the Garbage region.

Give the Ward Sensors to Captain Zotov

Return the Ward Sensors to Captain Zotov to end the A Needle in a Haystack mission.

Giving the Ward Sensors to Zotov aligns you with the Ward faction, who you will then start quests for. Siding with Zotov will have you exit through the Western Checkpoint and will affect the set of missions you'll be getting upon reaching the Garbage region.

A Needle in a Haystack Rewards

Mission Rewards

Rewards
・Debut Suit x1 ・Optician Gas Mask x1 ・2000 Coupons (Stalker Difficulty)

A Needle in a Haystack Overview

Location and Mission Info

A Needle in a Haystack Mission Info
Starting Location	Zalissya, Lesser Zone
Quest Giver	Richter / Captain Zotov

STALKER 2 Related Guides

List of All Main Missions

All Main Missions

	List of All Main Missions
1	There and Back Again
2	Behind Seven Seals 2-1. A Tough Awakening 2-2. A Needle in a Haystack 2-3. A Race Against Death
3	Answers Come at a Price
4	The Price Goes Up
5	Deal with the Devil 5-1. King of the Hill (Optional)
6	Back to Slag Heap
7	Hot on the Trail
8	Chasing Ghosts
9	Dead Frequency 9-1. Like a Moth to the Flame
10	In Search of a Guide
11	Ad astra per aspera
12	Extreme Simplicity
13	In Search of a Miracle 13-1. A Long Overdue Visit 13-2. The Forge of Progress 13-3. Wishful Thinking
14	Spark Faction: To the Last Drop of Blood Ward Faction: Law and Order
15	Just Like the Good Old Days
16	The Hornet's Nest
17	An Invisible Threat
18	Dawn of a New Day
19	The Assault on the Duga
20	A Minor Incident
21	In Search of Past Glory
22	Spark Faction: Happiness for Everyone Ward Faction: Once More Unto the Breach
23	Visions of Truth
24	Dark Times
25	An Act of Mercy
26	Legends of the Zone
27	Subtle Matter
28	Dangerous Liaisons
29	Escape from the Cage
30	The Boundary
31	The Road to the Foundation
32	Down Below
33	The Last Wish / Eye of the Storm / Through the valley of the shadow of death
34	Let No One Leave Unsatisfied / The Last Step / The Eternal Shining