STALKER 2 Cost of Hope: How to Get Rifled Barrel

The Rifled Barrel is one of the new unique weapons in STALKER 2, exclusive to the Cost of Hope DLC. It is the new variant of the SPSA-14 Shotgun. This variant is designed for close- to medium-range combat. While exploring the new regions, especially the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP), this weapon can help you take out some of the stronger mutants with ease. In this guide, we will explain how to get the Rifled Barrel weapon in STALKER 2: Cost of Hope DLC.

Rifled Barrel Location in STALKER 2: Cost of Hope

The Rifled Barrel shotgun weapon is located inside a chest next to Otter in the Ventilation Stack. To get to the Ventilation Stack, players must pursue the Forgotten side mission of the DLC. This quest triggers automatically by reaching the Loner’s Hideout in the CNPP region.

How to Get the Rifled Barrel in STALKER 2: Cost of Hope

The Rifled Barrel is only attainable once you have access to the Ventilation Stack. You can reach the Ventilation Stack by following the clues from the Loner’s Hideout. To reach the Loner’s Hideout, you have to enter a cave that leads to the basement of the Garage and Car Wash POI. While going through the cave, disarm the traps.

Once you have reached the hideout, interact with the drawing on the wall. This will update the quest, marking the portal at the Auxiliary Boiler. Head up the ladder and take the portal to reach the Ventilation Stack. Here, you will meet an NPC named Otter. Tell him to figure things out calmly, and then head up to him.

As you reach Otter, there will be a blue chest on the floor. Interact with it to loot the Rifled Barrel Shotgun. After that, you can speak with Otter to offer him your help and pursue the rest of the quest. It is a difficult quest, but a crucial one that removes the Flare Anomalies from the Zone.

However, you would have to collect all five Flickering Flare artifacts and upgrade your suit to 5 artifact slots to pursue the quest.