The Budmo quest in STALKER 2 is one of those missions that test your morality and priorities in the Zone. On the surface, it seems simple: deliver vodka to three hidden stashes used to deliver drinks to friends for a Stalker. But soon after that, you’ll find out these stashes are loaded with valuable gear, leaving to keen to take it for yourself instead the delivering the drinks. The choice is yours—help Panas and stick to the plan, or loot the stashes and face the consequences.
So what happens if you steal the stashes and should you get them? This guide explains everything you need to know.
How to Complete the STALKER 2 Budmo Quest
I picked up the Budmo! quest in the Slag Heap, where I ran into two drunk Stalkers who needed a favor. Their buddy Panas, wandering the Zone, was expecting some supplies stashed for him, and they wanted me to drop vodka bottles in three locations so he could find them later. Sounds simple, right? But when you check out these stashes, you’ll realize they have great loot.
You can choose to leave the vodka and walk away, help friend by giving him anti-rad meds, or—here’s the juicy part—help yourself to the stashes, which have some rare and valuable items waiting for you to collect. But stealing comes with end results, and not everyone’s going to be happy about it. Let me break it all down for you.
All Budmo Stash Locations and Loot Inside Them
There are three stashes to visit, and they’re spread across the Garbage region with each something worth considering—whether for your personal use or to sell later for cash.
1. Concrete Block Stash
This stash is hidden under some wooden planks in a hollow concrete pillar. Smash the planks, and inside, you’ll find:
- M10 Gordon SMG
- RNBW 2X Scope
- Pistol Suppressor
If you like SMGs or plan to go sneaky, this stash is worth a lot, even early on in the game.
2. Poisonous Hole Stash
This one’s in a cave near a toxic anomaly field. Be careful—there’s usually a mutant Flesh lurking inside. Once you clear it out, you’ll find:
- Buket S-2 SMG
- 20 rounds of pistol ammo
- Grenade
- Optician Gas Mask
For me, the gas mask was a lifesaver. If you don’t already have one, it’s a solid grab you should not need to miss.
3. Power Transmission Pylon Stash
This stash is high up on a transmission tower on the bird’s nest – climb a fallen tree near and some planks to get to it. It contains:
- HILKA Detector (upgraded with better range and artifact tracking)
- Flash Artifact (weak electric protection, emits weak radiation)
- Moonlight Artifact (medium electric protection, emits medium radiation)
The HILKA detector alone makes this stash valuable. It’s perfect for hunting down artifacts, as it makes tracking much easier.
What Happens When You Steal the Stashes?
If you loot the first two stashes, Panas will appear at the third stash you visit—angry and ready to fight. So, the last stash will always be empty because he gets there first, and not thrilled about your “help.” You’ll have to kill him, and the mission will technically “fail,” meaning you won’t get any extra rewards apart from the items you looted.
You need to carefully think about the stashes you should first visit and which ones to skip as you won’t get anything from the last one. I looted the Pylon stash first (because of that HILKA detector), then the Concrete Block stash, and left the Poisonous Hole stash for last. Losing the gas mask was a bummer, but I felt the other stashes were more valuable.
What Happens If You Don’t Steal the Stashes?
If you overcome your stash loot thirst and stick to the plan, you’ll meet Panas at the third stash. He reveals that he doesn’t even want vodka—he’s trying to quit drinking. What he really needs are anti-radiation meds. At this point, you’ve got two options:
- Give him anti-rads: Panas thanks you and pays you 1,300 coupons on the spot.
- Insist on vodka: He reluctantly takes it, heads back to his friends, and they’ll eventually give you 1,300 coupons.
Either way, the reward is the same, but helping the buddy with anti-rads is more satisfying if you’re going for the good guy route.
Should You Steal from the Stashes in STALKER 2?
It all comes down to what kind of Stalker you want to be.
By stealing, you’ll get much more valuable gear than the 1,300 coupons NPCs offer. The SMGs, detector, and artifacts are hard to pass up when the storyline is still in the early part where you need to pounce on every available resource. There is only a small encounter with the guy when he confronts you.
On the other hand, you keep your reputation intact and avoid unnecessary conflict by offering the drinks. If you’re roleplaying as a helpful Stalker or don’t want to make enemies in the Zone, this is the better choice. The given amount of coupons is still enough to go a long way.
For me, the loot was too good to pass up. The Zone is a brutal place, and sometimes you’ve got to look out for yourself. I don’t regret stealing two of the stashes, even if it meant putting Panas down. That said, it’s worth considering your playstyle and how you want to handle relationships in the game.
Final Tips for the Budmo Quest
- Plan the stash order carefully and visit the one you’re okay losing last.
- If you’re looting, grab the Pylon stash first for the HILKA detector.
- Watch out for the Flesh mutant near the Poisonous Hole stash—don’t let it catch you off guard.
- If you do help the friend, bring anti-rad meds with you to complete the mission easily.
Whatever path you choose, make it count. Budmo! Cheers to surviving another day in the Zone!
