This is a guide on how to kill Bloodsuckers in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Read on to learn the best methods of dealing with and killing Bloodsuckers in-game.

How to Kill Bloodsuckers

Sidestep Bloodsucker Melee Attacks

While Bloodsuckers are invisible and highly aggressive, all of their attacks can be avoided by simply sidestepping as they start the lunge animation. For this to work, keep the invisible outline of the Bloodsucker within your line of sight. Then, when it gets near to attack, sidestep left or right to move out of the way.

Do note that this method can be difficult to pull off, especially when facing off against groups of 2 or 3 Bloodsuckers or when you're fighting in a poorly lit area.

Pay Attention to the Moving Distortion to Spot the Invisible Bloodsucker

You can spot invisible Bloodsuckers by paying attention to the environment and observing the moving distortion around you. That moving distortion is the Bloodsucker and you should always pay attention to it in order to avoid its next attack.

Shoot Back While They Recover

After a Bloodsucker lunges at you to attack, they will have a small refractory period where they're visible and recovering from their attack animation. If you dodged or avoided getting knocked back, you can take this chance to shoot at the Bloodsuckers.

Use Shotguns to Deal a Lot of Damage

For players who struggle to ADS and fire under pressure, make sure you bring along a Shotgun since it can deal a lot of damage while also being accurate even when fired from the hip. While exploring the Lesser Zone, stick to a Boomstick since it'll be easier to see your target due to its smaller gun profile.

Once you start exploring the rest of the Zone, an M860 Cracker or SPSA-14 should work as your general purpose, mutant exterminator. However, if you have the chance, make sure to get a Saiga D-12 since its rapid fire and high penetration stat make it the ultimate mutant (and Bloodsucker) deleter in STALKER 2.

List of All Shotguns

Use Height to Buy Time for Heals and Reloads

Climbing up objects or structures that prevent enemies from following you will break their AI. When you're in a spot unreachable by mutants, they will hide until you go back down to their level. Use this tactic to take a break from combat, especially when getting ganked by more than one Bloodsucker.

Pop a medkit, use a bandage, or reload your guns while you're safe. However, do note that mutants do move from cover to cover when taking damage, so using height to cheese fights may sometimes not work.

List of All Mutants

Equip Bleed Resistance Artifacts to Shorten the Bleed Debuff Duration

Since Bloodsuckers are very aggressive, you won't really have time to both bandage up and shoot when fighting them. To prevent yourself from Bleeding out, you can equip artifacts with Bleed Resistance like Mama's Beads to shorten the time before Bleed goes away without you having to bandage yourself. During late game, a Hypercube will do wonders for your loadout.

All Bleed Resistance Artifacts
Maximum Bleed Resistance	Hypercube
Strong Bleed Resistance	Petal
Medium Bleed Resistance	Mama's Beads Dead Sponge Starfish
Weak Bleed Resistance	Flaw Rat King Harp Spinner Sapphire Steak Shop Class Cavity Lyre

Best Artifacts Tier List

Stay in a Corner or Keep Yourself Mobile

If you're fighting Bloodsuckers and you don't have the best aim, then it will be better to park yourself in a corner and wait for them to charge you. Tank the hits and shoot back, topping up your health with a medkit or two until they're dead. While you take a lot of equipment damage this way, it'll be easier than shooting invisible, moving targets.

If you're a bit more confident in your footwork, you can opt to keep moving around the area especially when getting ganked by 2 or more of these mutants. By moving in circles, you'll usually be able to dodge their linear lunge attacks, minimizing the damage you take during the fight.

How to Kill the Bloodsucker in the Old Mill?

Corner Camp with a Toz-34 or a Boomstick

During the main mission, A Needle in a Haystack, you'll get the Piece of Cake side mission if you decide help Squint. During this short jaunt in the tunnels beneath the Old Mill, you'll encounter a Bloodsucker.

To kill it easily during the early stages of the game, it's best to simply park yourself in a corner and wait for it to come to you. Use a Toz-34 or a Boomstick if you have either to deal a lot of damage to the mutant at close range. If you have neither gun, then Skif's Pistol will be good enough.

A Needle in a Haystack Walkthrough

STALKER 2 Related Guides

Beginner's Guide: Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks