Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl - How To Defeat Bloodsuckers

One of the first super-powered mutants you encounter in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the Bloodsucker. These humanoid creatures resemble hairless people but with a series of tentacles for a mouth. Not that you can tell, because one of the main abilities they have is invisibility.

Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl - How To Defeat Poltergeists

Because getting hit in the face with a metal barrel isn't ideal.

They're fast, aggressive, and invisible. Not to mention they deal some heavy bleeding damage. How are you supposed to deal with that? Fortunately, like all things in the Zone, there is a way to deal with them that minimizes damage taken and ammo spent. Here's everything you need to know.

How To Kill A Bloodsucker

A bloodsucker's main ability is its invisibility, but this comes with limitations. First, they are not passively invisible. So a bloodsucker that hasn't noticed you will be visible. Second is that they need to drop invisibility in order to attack you.

Much like mutant dogs, bloodsuckers rely on fast, in-and-out attacks to disorient you and wrack up damage. This aligns with their high bleeding application, making extended fights against them a bad idea. They also have a screech attack that slows and disorients you. They only use this when you're at a distance and can be avoided by keeping to one place.

Their speed and invisibility make shooting at them while moving difficult and often a waste of ammo. Instead, let them come to you and unload your bullets once they get close. This makes receiving damage unavoidable but helps minimize time spent wasting ammo shooting at an invisible creature.

In most cases, the mutant will flee for a moment before your magazine is empty. There will be just enough time here to reload and use a medkit if needed.

There will be times that they don't flee and just keep hitting you. In those cases, run away as soon as your magazine runs out. Reload while you find a new corner to hunker in.

Using this method, you have one of two options, depending on the environment.

Are You Inside?

Are You Outside/Are There Multiple?

If there's a narrow hallway, go into it. Funnel them down the hallway, ensuring they only approach you from one direction.

If there isn't a hallway, back into a corner, minimizing the number of directions it can attack you from.

Move backward constantly in one direction. This 'kites' them into attacking you from one general side, minimizing side-swipes or ambushes.

Do this until you hit an obstacle and can't continue, after which, turn around and repeat the process.

Bloodsuckers don't have the best senses, potentially allowing for some stealth. You won't be able to sneak past one, but you can get in a good sniper shot or grenade toss before they know you're there to help lower their health.

Recommended Gear

Due to the rapid in-and-out attack style, you should use a weapon that has a decent ammo capacity and a relatively fast reload speed. While shotguns will deal excellent damage, you might find them too slow to reload. Accuracy is less of a concern, since we'll be waiting for them to get up close first.

The real difference will be in which Artifacts you have on. We strongly recommend having one that increases bleed resistance, like Mama’s beads, since their attacks will build up a lot of bleed. Otherwise, any defense-boosting artifacts will be beneficial.

You'll likely need to use a bandage or two after the fight to heal from the bleeding. Remember that bandages are better at healing bleeding than health hits.

Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl - How To Upgrade Weapons And Armor

If you want to get more damage and resistance in Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl, you'll have to get some upgrades for your gear.