The world of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is packed with challenges, anomalies, and treasures, but few are as exciting (and tricky) as obtaining the legendary Weird Bolt artifact. It is available to pick up within a deadly tornado anomaly in the Yaniv region. Although you don’t want to get even closer to this massive vortex in normal times but this artifact forces you to go. Collecting Weird Bolt is worth the effort as it brings good power to your arsenal. Here’s how to find and safely get the Weird Bolt artifact without putting your character in danger.
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Where to Find the Tornado and the Weird Bolt
The Weird Bolt artifact is located in the northwest corner of the Yaniv region, not far from the Yaniv Station. This area is open to visit once you get to this part of the map, though it becomes more accessible later in the game. The artifact lies at the center of a giant tornado anomaly swirling around a shipyard among a lot of containers. This massive anomaly is impossible to miss—you can see it from far away of Zone.
Important: Entering the tornado without a plan is deadly. It knocks you back, drains your health, and can kill you almost instantly if you’re unprepared. You’ll need to solve a puzzle-like parkour path to reach the artifact safely. Find out how to get Weird Water artifact in STALKER 2.
Before heading into the tornado, you should stock up on these resources to survive:
- Energy Drinks
- Health Kits and Bandages
- Light Inventory (Being overburdened will slow you down and make survival much harder)
Tip: Save your game frequently during this mission. If something goes wrong or the artifact doesn’t spawn, you can reload and try again.
How to Get the Weird Bolt Artifact in Stalker 2
Start by heading to a large warehouse near the tornado. This warehouse has an open door, Ukrainian writing on the wall, and a crate of energy drinks just closer to doors. This will be your starting point. Wait here until the tornado comes close to the warehouse and then moves away. Once the tornado shifts position, quickly make your way toward a nearby red catwalk outside; this is where your path to the artifact begins.
From the catwalk, complete a parkour challenge to reach the center of the tornado. Climb onto the catwalk and move toward a stack of boxes near a train carriage. Use the boxes to jump onto a nearby container, and from there, follow a series of wooden planks and markers guiding you across more shipping containers. Remember to stay in the tornado’s center as it moves, touching the edges will knock you back and could even kill you.
Going ahead, you will reach a large crane in the area. Climb onto the crane using the left ladders and stairs, and reach its arm. Halfway across the crane, save your game. This is a critical checkpoint because if you miss the artifact or die, you can reload from here. As the tornado passes over you, it will hit you back, but heal yourself if gets damaged and keep going.
Once at the crane’s top end, look at your front in the air. The Weird Bolt artifact will be floating through the air toward you. It moves quickly, so you’ll need to grab it at just the right moment. If you miss, reload your save and try again. Once you’ve successfully obtained the artifact, jump down from the crane. There’s a wind anomaly beneath it that will cushion your fall and this lets you land safely.
With that, return to the warehouse and wait for the tornado to move away. Once it’s safe, you can leave the area with your new artifact in hand.
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What Makes the Weird Bolt Artifact Special?
The Weird Bolt artifact is a legendary item in STALKER 2 with a powerful ability: it reduces damage from anomalies by up to 70% when equipped with your gear. It glows red when charged and means ready to use, but after absorbing too much damage, the charge drains. A discharged one increases your stamina consumption, so it’s better to unequip it when you not using it.
To recharge the artifact, try these methods:
- Survive an Emission: Many players report the artifact recharges during emissions that happen every two in-game days.
- Visit Anomalous Zones: Entering certain anomaly-heavy areas, like the Cooling Towers in the northeast, may also recharge the artifact.
- Experiment with Other Activities: While some players suggest running or interacting with anomalies, the recharge mechanics might vary or be bugged in the current game version.
Beyond its anomaly damage reduction, the STALKER 2 Weird Bolt is a strong valuable find, worth 80,000 coupons. Its special ability can make surviving the Zone’s hazards a way easier, especially in late-game areas when you have to face many dangerous anomalies.
