“The Poppy Field” is one of the early quests you’ll encounter in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. You’ll come across a character named Mityay in Zalissya, the first town you’ll visit. He’ll task you with finding an Orthodox icon, an heirloom tied to his family.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about “The Poppy Field” quest. From locating the Orthodox icon to deciding who to hand it over to, either Pomor or Mitay, we’ve got you covered.
### Where to Find the Orthodox Icon in ‘The Poppy Field’
To start, you’ll find the Orthodox icon in a root cellar. This area is located within an anomaly northwest of the first main town in the Lesser Zone, Zalissya. As you make your way toward this location on your map, be cautious not to attract unwanted attention from any lurking monsters.
Upon arrival, a man named Pomor will approach you with an offer. He’s willing to sell you some insider info on reaching the root cellar — but, of course, it’ll cost you or require a quick side job. This involves scavenging bodies in The Poppy Field, but you might want to put that on hold for now.
### Where to Find the Root Cellar in ‘The Poppy Field’
As you get closer to The Poppy Field, your character will start blinking excessively, distorting your view until you lose control and pass out. You might wake up somewhere random, like on a roof or inside a barn. Repeat this a few times and you’ll meet an untimely end.
To maintain consciousness, grab a Non-Stop Energy Drink. It’ll keep you awake temporarily, but you might need more than just one to make it all the way to the cellar. You’ll find two of these energy drinks inside each main building in The Poppy Field.
Navigating the map, make your way to the western side of the field, specifically to the east of the green patch on the far left. If you’re struggling, check the map and locate the yellow circle—there lies the entrance to the root cellar amidst the grass and flowers.
Drop down through the opening, and you’ll be safe from the effects of the poppies. Venture forward to retrieve the Orthodox icon, a small religious image perched on a shelf.
### Should You Give the Orthodox Icon to Pomor or Mitay?
With the icon in hand, it’s decision time—should you give it to Mityay or Pomor?
– Handing over the icon to Pomor will earn you the Unknown Stalker’s AR416 rifle. Despite being a fairly powerful weapon with a high rate of fire, good range, and solid accuracy, it arrives in your hands with only 10% durability, requiring significant resources to repair.
– On the other hand, returning the icon to Mitay in Zalissya will net you 1,000 Coupons (the game’s currency).
Ultimately, the decision is yours. Either choice won’t drastically impact your game in the long term. However, considering Pomor’s gun comes heavily damaged, and 1,000 Coupons can be quite handy early on, you might lean towards siding with Mityay. Besides, he’s a much more amiable character, if that helps sway your decision.
