STALKER 2 Cost of Hope: How to Get All Flickering Flare Artifacts

Exploring the Iron Forest and CNPP regions of the Zone can be terrifying, especially if you do not have any Psi-protection. During your exploration, you might stumble upon the Flare Anomaly that zombifies you with Psi-radiation. Although even the high-level Psi-protection cannot stop 2 waves of Psi-radiation, getting your gear up to the max Psi-protection is essential for the Forgetting mission. It is a side mission that you can pursue to remove all the Flare Anomalies, making your exploration easier. However, to get through this mission, you must attain 5 Flickering Flare artifacts. In this guide, we will explain how to get all Flickering Flare Artifacts in STALKER 2: Cost of Hope.

How to Get All Flickering Flare Artifacts in STALKER 2: Cost of Hope

There are 5 Flickering Flare artifacts scattered across the Iron Forest and CNPP regions of the Zone. Almost all of these artifacts are in areas with the Flare Anomaly, requiring you to dodge the flare to get them.

1. Ventilation Stack (CNPP)
2. Flare Fragment (Iron Forest)
3. Bridge to CNPP (CNPP)
4. Sentry Building (CNPP)
5. Industrial Site (CNPP)

Although the tactic to maneuver the Flare is to take cover, the spacing in all of the sites is tight, allowing you to move and cover quickly to not get zombified by the Flare. Below, we have mentioned the details for all the locations and how to get the Flickering Flare.

Ventilation Stack (CNPP) – The Forgetting Mission

It is the easiest and simplest Flickering Flare artifact to get. All you have to do is start and pursue the Forgetting side mission in the Cost of Hope DLC. As you make your way to the Ventilation Stack, you will meet Otter. Speak with him and agree to help him, and he will give you a Flickering Flare.

NOTE: To complete the Forgetting mission, you have to get all five Flickering Flare artifacts, which is why you need to go and get the rest.

Flare Fragment (Iron Forest)

Head to the Flare Fragment POI, located southwest of the Iron Forest region. You need to head up the railings to get to the valve with a Flickering Flare sitting on it. Follow these steps to avoid the Flare and reach the artifact.

• As you arrive at the Flare Fragment, take cover behind the electric boxes to reach a railing leading up.
• Shoot the wooden boxes and electric anomalies to clear the path, run up the railing, and hide behind the coil.
• Jump to the right, sprint to the next railing, and hide behind the vertical railing.
• Throw the bolt to activate the tornado anomalies and run to the next safer railing.
• Jump down and reach the valve to pick up the Flickering Flare.

Once you have the artifact, you can jump to the right on the gravitational anomaly for a safe landing.

Bridge to CNPP (CNPP)

Head to the Bridge to CNPP POI and take cover to dodge the flare’s line of sight. If you are coming from the Iron Forest, go around the bridge from the right side. If you are coming from the CNPP, then head straight while taking cover behind the cars to reach the bridge pit.

Once you are in the pit, climb up the car and take cover. The Flickering Flare will be right there for you to grab. 

Sentry Building (CNPP)

Head to the Sentry Building POI and make your way inside the building. Go down the hallway and enter the room on the right at the end. Break the boxes in the room and go through the hole. Go up the stairs, turn right, and then left through the hole. Head into the room in front, and the Flare will be in the room on the left.

Now, before you jump through the hole in the room with the flare, there is only one cover in this room, and that is the bookshelf. You can easily get stuck on other items, so plan your run straight to the bookshelf. After reaching the bookshelf, look to the left and pick up the Flickering Flare.

Industrial Site (CNPP)

Head to the Industrial Site POI and carefully make your way to the truck. Jump up on the truck and align yourself behind a tree to avoid the flare. Now, jump onto the crane and take cover. Lastly, jump onto the trailer and pick up the Flickering Flare artifact from the tree.

After acquiring all five Flickering Flare Artifacts, you can put them in your suit to pursue the Forgetting mission.