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PART 4 (LONER) - LIVING LEGEND: FOLLOWING THE TRAIL (& DISABLE THE MIRACLE MACHINE)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition

PART 4 (LONER) - LIVING LEGEND: FOLLOWING THE TRAIL (& DISABLE THE MIRACLE MACHINE)

Follow the trail in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition, get the psy-helmet from Sakharov in Yantar, and prepare to disable the Miracle Machine.

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Follow the trail in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition, get the psy-helmet from Sakharov in Yantar, and prepare to disable the Miracle Machine.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Head to Yantar, which is two jumps away from Rostok. You could have gone straight from Agroprom, but passing through the Wild Territory from 100 Rds Bar is faster.
  2. 2
    Once in Yantar, go down into the swamp to reach the southern Research Facility owned by the Ecologists.
  3. 3
    Enter the facility through the airlock and speak with Sakharov.
  4. 4
    To get a psy-helmet necessary to approach the Brain Scorcher, you have two options: pay 10,000 RUs for the basic version or wait 2 days and pay 17,500 RUs for the enhanced version.
  5. 5
    The basic version imposes a timer during the Disable The Miracle Machine mission, while the enhanced version does not. Both helmets weigh nothing and do not need to be equipped.
  6. 6
    If you buy the basic version and later upgrade it, Sakharov will charge 8,000 RUs, costing 500 RUs more than the enhanced version initially, and you still have to wait 2 days.
  7. 7
    Open your PDA (Personal Data Assistant) and check the Statistics tab to see the current day and know when to return to Sakharov.
  8. 8
    While waiting for the helmet, explore the Wild Territory and Yantar to earn money for repairs and upgrades. Aim to get 1000 reputation points with Free Stalkers or Duty for better gear.
  9. 9
    Ensure you have a strong primary weapon, good early-game armor, a mask and headlamp, and plenty of ammo and medical supplies before returning to Sakharov.
  10. 10
    After the waiting period expires, return to Sakharov to collect your chosen psy-helmet.
  11. 11
    Sakharov will then give you the critical quest: Disable The Brain-Scorcher, located in the Radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked) region. This is part of the Living Legend quest-line. A location in the Army Warehouses will be pinned on your map.
  12. 12
    Sakharov also offers an optional mission: Disable The Miracle Machine. To test your psy-helmet, visit Laboratory X-16 under the Industrial Complex in the north of Yantar; its entrance will be pinged on your map.
Tips
  • For weapons, a rifle is recommended over a shotgun. If you choose 5.45x39 ammo, the AEK-971 is recommended. For 5.56x45 ammo, consider an L85A (with an integrated scope) or an M16. Always take a scope. Human enemies south of the Radar primarily use 5.45x39 ammo. Monolith enemies in the Radar region use 5.56x45 or 7.62 variants, which can lead to ammo incompatibility and weapon jams if you use their weapons.
  • For armor, the Apocalypse Helm is recommended if you have 1000 reputation with Petrenko.
  • Look for a Combat Backpack to increase your maximum weight. The Veles Detector (second best detector) and PDA 2.0 / 3.1 (improves PDA detection, pinging Stalkers on the map) are useful but can be acquired later. PDA 2.0 has a 300m radius in the current region, while PDA 3.1 works throughout the current region.
  • If you gain 500 reputation with the Ecologists, Sakharov in Yantar will sell the Veles detector and PDA 2.0 for half price.
  • The psy-helmet is a key item that sits in your inventory and does not need to be equipped.

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