You aren’t the only one with an impressive arsenal in the Exclusion Zone. Claws, teeth, and bullets will shred an unprepared Stalker. Although good armor is expensive, nothing eats into your profits like dying. Cut corners on your suit, and it’s only a matter of time before an anomaly or fellow Stalker punishes your hubris. Take the time to repair and upgrade your protection, and you’ll make mincemeat of mutants from Prypiat to the Swamps. Let’s see the Bloodsuckers chew through these. Here are the best armor suits you can get in Stalker 2 and how to acquire them.
Stalker 2 Armor Guide
Good armor can cost a fortune in coupons. Broken armor is even worse, requiring costly repairs before it’s even worthwhile. Yet there’s no skimping on protection if you intend to survive the Exclusion Zone. Unfortunately, you can’t have it all. You’ll have to compromise on weight if nothing else. Ignoring good options while you wait for the best to fall into your lap is unwise, so we’ve broken down some of the best early-game and end-game options.
SEVA-I Suit, OZK Explorer’s Suit, and PSZ-20W Convoy
- SEVA-I Suit: Pure tankiness isn’t everything. Armor strong against bullets and explosions often struggles with elemental damage. The SEVA-I is a flexible, lightweight suit ideal for navigating hazardous anomalies. The Psi Protection it offers is also key to buffing a defense that new Stalkers struggle with. You’ll find better eventually, but there’s a good argument for being one of the best early-game armor suits in Stalker 2. You can find the SEVA-I Suit in the Arms Depot (Duga).
- OZK Explorer’s Suit: In some ways the opposite of the rad-denying Ruby Exoxsuit, the OZK offers minimal protection against radiation. In exchange you get some of the best early-game defense you’ll find against both Chemical and Thermal damage. Given how common those anomalies are (and how tricky avoiding them in tight confines can be), the OZK is an easy pick. It doesn’t hurt that you can get this suit so early. You can buy the OZK Explorer’s Suit from Huron in Slag Heap.
- PSZ-20W Convoy: No Psi Protection? No problem, at least in the early game. Since you’ll be tiptoeing around the Zone’s more dangerous anomalies until you get better gear anyway, the Convoy is a solid, economical pick for the early game. Decent Rad and Physical protection are enough to get you out of the most common predicaments you’ll face. You can find this suit beneath the building featured in the “The Road to Salvation” quest (outside Zalissya).
Ruby Exosuit, Liberty Exoskeleton, and Cuirass Exoskeleton
- Ruby Exosuit: Hate radiation? Giger Counter crackle of rads send you into a rage? Try the Ruby Exosuit. It’s nose-to-nose with other exosuits in terms of elemental defense, but it offers much better Rad Protection. You’re losing some Physical defense in exchange, but that’s no big deal. The Ruby isn’t about tanking bullets. It’s about strolling up through nuclear waste like you own the place. You can get this armor in the Enerhetyk Palace of Culture (Prypiat).
- Liberty Exoskeleton: One of the best (and priciest) armor suits in Stalker 2, Liberty provides almost unmatched protection. Radiation? Shrug it off. Bullets from OP guns? Shrug them off. Featuring five Artifact slots and incredible protection against the most common damage types, this suit is freedom incarnate. It’s heavier than most armor, but unless you’re carting around a backpack full of broken guns, that shouldn’t be an issue. You can find this armor in the bookstore in Prypiat.
- Cuirass Exoskeleton: Having just three Artifact slots holds it back a bit, as does its heaviness. Even so, high Physical and Rad protection makes the Cuirass a certified stomper. It also offers good Psi Protection, helping you keep your head together when the anomalies get a bit too anomalous. The Cuirass is worth its weight in coupons as well, so if you don’t need its protection, it’s an excellent trade. You can get the Cuirass Exoskeleton from the SKD Assembly Unit (Cooling Towers).
An armor’s cost, maintainability, Artifact slots, and defensive buffs all matter, but your playstyle is the biggest factor. Snipers can get away with a lot that shotgunners in the trenches can’t, so keep your personal needs in mind. With the right suit, all you need are the perfect Artifacts to make your loadout shine. Now get out there and glow (with style, not radiation).
