Ensuring your weapons are well-maintained in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is essential—after all, stumbling through the dangerous wasteland with malfunctioning gear is far from ideal.
In this guide for STALKER 2, I’ll walk you through the process of repairing weapons and handling broken ones.
## Repairing Weapons and Gear in STALKER 2
As you explore and survive in the wasteland, your gear will naturally suffer wear and tear. You’ll notice a small yellow icon pop up when an item is starting to wear out. That’s your cue to either repair it or consider selling it. Ignoring this warning leads to further degradation until the item breaks.
To prevent this, head to a technician, easily spotted on your map by a wrench icon in any major settlement. Your first encounter with a technician will be in Zalissya, the first village you visit in STALKER 2, which is also where you kick off “The Poppy Field” side quest. This particular technician goes by the name of Lens, and he’ll give you the lowdown on using a technician’s services.
When you meet Lens, check the lower right corner of your screen and hit the button to access his upgrade menu. Besides upgrading, you can pay him to repair your gear. Remember, the more broken an item is, the higher the repair cost, so make a habit of visiting a technician to avoid letting expenses pile up.
## Handling Broken Gear in STALKER 2
Ideally, you want to avoid letting your gear break altogether, but sometimes things don’t go as planned.
If you see a red shield mark over an item, it indicates that its durability has plummeted to the critical “broken” zone. At this point, vendors won’t entertain buying these from you, and fixing them is no small feat—it’ll cost you thousands of Coupons per item.
When you come across a broken item during your travels, or if something you’re using breaks, your best bet is to unload any ammo it holds (you’ll find this option by hovering over the item in your menu), drop it, and continue your journey.
Now, if a weapon or gear piece holds significant value to you, toss it in your stash until you can muster up the resources for repairs. That said, be selective about what you deem “precious,” as broken items can quickly drain your resources.