Bloodsuckers are a rare type of mutant that can turn invisible for short periods of time, but their eyes glow. Bloodsuckers are more common in underground or hidden areas, such as labs and Agroprom Underground.

The Garbage Checkpoint is located between Garbage and Rostok. Duty controls this checkpoint.

The Garbage is a machinery graveyard. After the 1986 disaster, vehicles and radioactive waste were dumped here. There are a few small anomaly fields. Most rookie stalkers come here to search for artifacts in the anomaly fields. There are also a few bandits.

Ecologists are scientists trying to study the Zone. They are funded by Ukraine, and sometimes protected by the military. The Ecologists hire many stalkers as guards for their bunker in Yantar, and they also have a base near Yanov Station.

A comet is a rare anomaly. A comet is a moving ball of fire, much hotter than a burner. Comets are usually found alone, and they create no artifacts.

An abandoned military base near a small village. The village is abandoned now, and the military base is used as Freedom's main base. The village is filled with mutants, mostly Bloodsuckers.

Most Stalkers have a PDA. A PDA is used to communicate and store information.

Anomaly detectors beep when anomalies are nearby. Some anomaly detectors can also find artifacts, and most anomaly detectors include a Geiger counter. Anomaly detectors are usually expensive.

Dark Valley is a former agricultural area. There are a few anomaly fields and some valuable artifacts, but there are many bandits. There is also a large bandit base here.

Fleshes are mutated pigs and are usually in small groups.

Blind Dogs are mutated dogs that have lost their eyesight, but they have improved senses of hearing and smell. They are usually in packs. They usually hunt Fleshes.

A whirligig is a common and very dangerous anomaly. Whirligigs are revealed by small amounts of flying dust and leaves. When activated, a whirligig will pull the victim upward until it discharges. A whirligig's discharge is powerful enough to dismember the victim's body. Whirligigs create artifacts that are related to health and chemical protection. Artifacts created by whirligigs usually make the user more vulnerable to impacts and cuts.

A fruit punch is an uncommon anomaly that is usually found underground or in buildings, but sometimes it can be found outside. A fruit punch is a puddle of extremely corrosive green liquid. Fruit punches create artifacts that can help control bleeding, but they make their user more vulnerable to chemical anomalies.

A burnt fuzz is a common type of chemical anomaly. It seems to be a mutated plant. It is usually found outdoors, and it looks like moss. It reacts to rapidly approaching objects by releasing a cloud of projectiles. Burnt fuzz is usually considered the least dangerous anomaly. Artifacts created by burnt fuzz are usually related to radiation protection, but they make bleeding harder to control.

Anomalies are dangerous areas where the laws of physics have been corrupted. Anomalies can burn, corrode, or electrocute anything that enters them, and some can affect gravity. Anomalies can be triggered by throwing bolts or other objects into them. They are usually found in groups. Some anomalies are burners, boilers, comets, vortexes, springboards, whirligigs, fruit punches, burnt fuzz, gas, electros, teslas, space anomalies, and teleports.

The Yanov Train Station is a neutral area for Duty and Freedom. It is an abandoned train station. Many other stalkers stay in it, and the Ecologists have a base about 500 feet away from Yanov Station. The leader of the Duty stalkers at Yanov is Lieutenant Colonel Shulga. The leader of the Freedom stalkers at Yanov is Loki. Hawaiian is the trader, Nitro is the technician, and Bonesetter is the doctor.

The Barrier is a checkpoint between the Army Warehouses and the Red Forest, and it exists to prevent Monolith from attacking southern parts of the Zone. It is controlled by Freedom.

Snorks are very hostile mutated humans that walk on their hands and feet, and they can jump long distances.

Pripyat was built for the workers at the Chernobyl power plant. Now it is abandoned, and there are many mutants here. Monolith has a base in Pripyat, at the Palace of Culture. The laundromat is used as a base for experienced stalkers who are in Pripyat.

An abandoned Soviet Palace of Culture. It is located near the center of Pripyat. It is now used as a base by Monolith.

Wild Territory is an industrial area west of Rostok. There are many mercenaries and mutants here. Many stalkers met their death here.

Tushkano are small mutated rats.

Zaton is a river that was drained to contain the radiation after the 1986 Chernobyl explosion. Zaton has many grounded ships, and it is now a swamp.

A forest with many anomalies and mutants. The Monolith faction patrols the Red Forest often. The Red Forest is one of the most common ways for stalkers to get to the northern areas of the Zone. The Red Forest got its name when the 1986 Chernobyl disaster killed the trees and turned their needles a bright red color.

A springboard is a common anomaly. Springboards are revealed by air fluctuations and flying leaves, similar to a vortex. When activated, the springboard will send out a powerful shockwave. Springboards are safe to pass through for a second after activation. Springboards create artifacts that are related to ballistic protection, psi protection, and carrying more weight. Artifacts created by springboards are usually radioactive.

A vortex is one of the most common anomalies. It is very easy to see because it creates air fluctuations above it and there will usually be leaves flying around inside it. When activated, it will pull anything within 10 meters towards its center. Objects that are pulled into the center of the vortex will be constricted into a tight lump, then blown up in a discharge of energy. Vortexes create artifacts related to cut protection, and some of them allow their user to carry more weight.

Cordon is an area near the edge of the Zone. Many stalkers enter the Zone here, and there are many soldiers.

A boiler is a burner that is created underwater.

A burner is a very common anomaly type. It is revealed by a very faint haze. When activated, it will shoot out a tall pillar of fire. Burners are usually found in clusters. Burners can emit temperatures up to several thousand degrees Celsius. Burners create artifacts related to fire and radiation protection.

Bolts are usually thrown into anomalies to activate them, making them easier to see. Electric anomalies can be passed through safely just after being activated.

Zombified stalkers, also known as zombies, are stalkers who were turned into zombies by a psi field. Zombified stalkers are very stupid because their brain was damaged by a psi field. Most zombified stalkers can use guns and reload them, but they can't aim well and will miss most of their shots.

Boars are mutated boars that are usually found with groups of fleshes.

Limansk is an abandoned city that was built for Soviet researchers. There aren't many artifacts, anomalies, or mutants. There are many Mercenaries here.

Bandits are criminals in the Zone. Many Bandits came to the Zone to escape from the law or trade weapons. There are many Bandit gangs, and Bandits are hostile to anyone not in the same gang. Most bandits work for Sultan.

The Mercenary faction is a group of private military contractors working in the Zone. Their client(s) are unknown, but many stalkers think the Mercenaries work for NATO because of the weapons they use.

Rostok is an abandoned factory that is now used as the Duty base. There are also 2 businesses there: The 100 Rads Bar and the Arena. The 100 Rads Bar is the most popular bar in the Zone. The Arena is where Stalkers can watch each other fight mutants and sometimes other Stalkers.

The Rookie Village is a small abandoned village near the edge of the Zone. The Military has been bribed to avoid it. The Rookie Village is where most new Stalkers start because it is near the edge of the Zone, as there aren't many dangerous mutants or anomalies. Sidorovich is one of the most important traders in the Zone, and his bunker is in the Rookie Village.

Emissions happen every few days in the Zone. Emissions will kill anyone who is outside, sometimes turning them into zombies or forcing them to join Monolith. Emissions change the location of anomalies and create artifacts. Humans must find shelter to survive emissions.

Monolith is a cult that is hostile to all other Stalkers. Monolith believes in a "Wish Granter" that exists in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Monolith has a base in Pripyat, and they also control the Red Forest. Members of Monolith are immune to emissions and don't need shelter to survive them. Monolith has the best equipment in the Zone. Monolith armor is usually painted with urban camouflage. Monolith stalkers are brainwashed by psy fields and emissions.

Pseudodogs are large mutated dogs that usually lead packs of Blind Dogs. They usually hunt Fleshes. Pseudodogs can be tamed, but it isn't common.

A large abandoned factory in Yanov. Jupiter factory was used to create the rare Gauss Rifle.

Yanov is the area around Yanov Station. Jupiter factory is also in Yanov. Yanov doesn't have many dangerous mutants, and the anomaly fields in Yanov have many artifacts. Because of this, there are many stalkers in Yanov, but also many bandits.

Psi fields are areas with large amounts of psi energy. If a stalker enters one without protection, they can be turned into a zombie or forced to join Monolith. Controllers create psi fields around themselves.

Controllers are very rare mutants that can take control of a human's mind. They look like humans with a large head. They can also turn humans into zombies. Controllers are usually found close to the center of the Zone.

Pseudogiants are large and drop shaped and have 2 large limbs that act as arms and legs. Adult Pseudogiants can be 2 meters tall and weigh 2 tons.

The Skadovsk is an abandoned ship that is in Zaton. It is used as a base by Stalkers in the northern part of the Zone. The bar in the Skadovsk is one of the most popular in the Zone. All stalkers are allowed at the Skadovsk, including bandits. The leader of the stalkers at the Skadovsk is Beard. The leader of the bandits at the Skadovsk is Sultan. The main trader is Owl, but Nimble sells higher quality weapons and equipment. Tremor is the doctor at the Skadovsk.

An electro is a common electric anomaly. It is almost always found in clusters, and an electro is about 10 meters in diameter. It creates a blue gas and small bolts of electricity. When activated, an electro will discharge all of its electricity, sometimes activating other electros nearby. An electro can be passed through safely for a second after activating. Electros usually create artifacts related to stamina and electric protection, and they are usually radioactive.

Freedom is an anarchist faction that is at war with Duty, and Freedom wants the Zone to be free to access. Freedom has a base in the Army Warehouses, and they control the Barrier. The leader of Freedom is Lukash. Freedom usually uses NATO weapons. Freedom armor is usually painted green and orange.

Stalkers are people who enter the Zone illegally. They come to the Zone for many reasons: To make money selling artifacts, escape the law, or start a new life. Stalkers who aren't a member of any faction are called loners or free stalkers.

They are soldiers sent to the Zone. They guard roads into the Zone, hunt mutants, and try to arrest Stalkers. Spetsnaz is a group of elite soldiers who conduct rescue operations and other dangerous missions. The Ukrainian Military is very corrupt. Ukrainian soldiers use Soviet weapons.

Artifacts are formed near groups of anomalies. When held close to the body, artifacts have useful properties. Artifacts are very valuable. Most artifacts emit radiation.

Mutants are animals or humans that have been altered by the Zone, changing their appearance and usually making them more hostile. Some mutants are Fleshes, Snorks, Blind Dogs, Pseudodogs, Tushkano, Pseudogiants, Poltergeists, Burers, Chimeras, and Controllers.

Duty is one of the most powerful factions in the Zone. They see the Zone as a threat, and they want to contain it. Duty has a base in the Rostok factory. The leader of Duty is General Voronin. Members of Duty hunt mutants often. Duty was created by former soldiers sent to the Zone. Duty usually uses Soviet weapons. Duty armor is usually painted black and red.

A gas cloud is very similar to a fruit punch, but it is in gas form. Gas clouds create the same artifacts fruit punches do.

Loners are Stalkers who haven't joined any of the other factions.

An area near Cordon. The Agroprom factory is located here, and it is used as a base by the Ukrainian Military.

Yantar is a lake that was drained to make space for a factory. The factory is now abandoned, and the Ecologists have a bunker near it.

Poltergeists are an uncommon mutant usually found in old buildings and underground areas. They can throw objects at people using telekinesis, but they are killed very easily. A poltergeist appears as a floating ball of electricity.

Chimeras are a rare type of mutant. Chimeras are hairless creatures around the size of an adult lion with 2 heads. Chimeras are strong and fast. Chimeras are one of the most dangerous mutants. Chimeras usually hunt other mutants, but they also attack humans.

Burers are a very rare type of mutant. Burers are short stocky mutants that usually stay in underground areas. They wear black trenchcoats and usually travel in pairs. Burers have telekinesis and they usually attack by throwing things. They can also pull a weapon out of a stalker's hands. A burer's telekinesis also allows it to create a shield around itself for a few seconds, but it can't do anything else during this time. Burers are one of the most dangerous mutants, but also one of the rarest.

A teleport is a rare anomaly, and it is completely harmless. Teleport anomalies appear as blue lights floating a few feet above the ground. Anything that enters a teleport will be instantly transported to another location. Teleports create no artifacts.

A compass artifact is very rare. The compass artifact can allow its user to navigate safely through anomaly fields. The compass artifact can also allow its user to escape from a space anomaly.

A space anomaly is an uncommon anomaly. Space anomalies look like bubbles. Anything that enters a space anomaly will be trapped inside or teleported somewhere else. If someone tries to walk out of a space anomaly, they will be teleported back to the center. The rare compass artifact can be found inside space anomalies. The compass artifact can allow its user to escape.

A tesla is a rare type of electric anomaly. It is very similar to the electro anomaly, but it is mobile. Teslas create no artifacts.

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a 60km area around the abandoned Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. In 2006, a second explosion happened due to a failed experiment. This explosion caused Anomalies, Artifacts, and Mutants to be created. It is illegal to enter the Zone. The Ukrainian Army blocks all entrances to the Zone. People who enter the Zone illegally are known as stalkers.