Filters

Don't get caught without air! Learn where to buy and find gas mask filters in Metro 2033, how to check their time, and when to change them.

Alright, so you've got your gas mask, but it's pretty useless without filters, right? Think of them like ammo for your lungs. You can't just find these things everywhere, so knowing where to get them is key to surviving those nasty, irradiated tunnels.

Where to Buy Filters:

Your main spots for stocking up are Riga Station (that's the first level you hit in Chapter 2) and Market Station (the fifth level of Chapter 2). Don't bother looking at Armory Station, Hole Station, or Polis Station – they won't have any. You'll have to rely on finding them out in the wild for those.

Understanding Filter Time:

Every filter you find or buy has a number on it, telling you how many minutes of breathable air you've got left. You can carry a decent amount, maybe around 35 minutes total, though this can change a bit depending on the level. To check how much time you've got, just hit the [T] key. Look at the red hand on your filter gauge:

• 0-5 minutes left: The gauge will be red. Time to start looking for more!
• 6-10 minutes left: It'll be yellow. You're getting close, but you've still got a little breathing room.
• 11+ minutes left: Nice! The gauge is green, meaning you've got plenty of time.

Changing Filters:

As your filter starts to run out, your gas mask will get foggy. You can manually swap out a filter by tapping the [G] key whenever you notice it fogging up. If you don't swap it yourself, the game will do it automatically once the current filter is completely used up. Warning: If you run out of filters completely and don't have any left to swap, your character will rip the mask off. You've only got about 30 seconds before you start choking if you're in a toxic area or outside, so this is a death sentence if you're not right next to fresh air!

Finding Filters in the Wild:

You'll mostly find filters when you're running low, usually with less than 5 minutes of air left. It's like the game knows you're in trouble! However, there are some filters you can always pick up, no matter your current filter time. These found filters can give you anywhere from a few minutes up to 5 or even 10 minutes of extra air. Keep in mind, if you're already sitting pretty with more than 15 minutes of filter time, the filters you find will tend to give you less time, usually under 5 minutes. It's a balancing act, so always keep an eye on that gauge!