You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

Contents hide How to leave the underground facility How to find Mastiff

As part of the Lost Boys side mission, Lens sends you out into the Lesser Zone to track down a group of diggers led by Mastiff. They are investigating abandoned stashes left by dead stalkers, but Lens thinks they were ambushed on their last run. Off you go to find them. Your first stop is a dingy underground spot full of mutant rats and anomalies. After making your way through, you’ll heal Max Saturday, a digger who will give you a clue as to Mastiff’s location. But, leaving the underground stash is a little tricky. We’ll walk you through how to leave and find Mastiff in the Stalker 2 The Lost Boys mission.

Climb the stairs next to where you found Max. Captured by VideoGamer

Hit the switch. Captured by VideoGamer

Loot the bag on the floor in the corridor. Captured by VideoGamer

Install the Fuse in the junction box. Captured by VideoGamer

Loot the room near the entrance to get a gas mask. Captured by VideoGamer

Exit through the now-open door at the back. Captured by VideoGamer

Use bolts to pass the anomaly and exit the tunnel. Captured by VideoGamer

Previous Next 1 of 7 Previous Next

How to leave the underground facility

Once you’ve spoken to Max, climb up the stairs at the back of the room and activate the switch on the green and white panel next to the door. Next, backtrack towards the entrance of the facility, past the electric anomaly, and into the corridor. There’s a bag on the floor not far from the corpse propped up on the wall. Loot it to get a Fuse. Go into the small room with a junction box on the wall next to the bag. Install the fuse.

Leave the room, take a right past the body impaled on the wall, and head through a now-unlocked door straight ahead. Loot the room to get an Aurora Gas Mask, AKM-74U, ammo, and healing items. Exit the room and make your way back to Max. Climb up the stairs at the back and head through the now-open door next to the switch. Clear the anomaly with bolts then exit the tunnel through the door ahead to reach the outside.

Head to the mission marker in southeast of the Lesser Zone. Captured by VideoGamer

You’ll come to an abandoned wooden house. Captured by VideoGamer

Break the lock on the shed behind the house. Captured by VideoGamer

Follow the tunnel into the house. Captured by VideoGamer

Mastiff is on a bed, injured. Captured by VideoGamer

Speak to The Ninth in the attic. Captured by VideoGamer

Talk to the Stalker leader then take out the gang. Captured by VideoGamer

The Ninth needs time to fully heal Mastiff. Captured by VideoGamer

Previous Next 1 of 8 Previous Next

How to find Mastiff

Now that you’re back out in the open, head to the blue marker on the map, which is located in the southeast of the Lesser Zone region, northeast of the Modest Hiding Place stash. You’ll reach an abandoned house. Clear out the dogs in the yard, then head to the shed at the back of the property. Break the lock using a melee attack with a gun, then head down into the tunnel. 

Go through and you’ll come up into the main house. Mastiff is on a bed in the next room. Talk to Mastiff and he’ll tell you to check the attic to find an NPC called The Ninth. Climb the ladder and talk to him. It turns out the digger group broke into the lair of a deadly mutant and were ambushed. You’ll have the option to kill The Ninth on the spot or help him deal with the bandits tracking him. Killing him will please Lens as the Stalkers are staunchly opposed to the Monolith, saving him will get you some choice words but there are no lasting consequences. If you help The Ninth, Mastiff will show up in Lens’ workshop a little later and give you the coordinates of the Dead Stalker’s Drop stash in the southwest of the Lesser Zone as thanks for helping save him.

If you decide to help, head outside and talk to the Stalker leader. Choose ‘I’m here for Mastiff.’ Then select any of the two options – the outcome is the same. Prepare for a fight then take out the Stalkers around the house. The Ninth will run out to help. Once the battle is over, head inside and The Ninth will let you know that he needs a few days to get Mastiff back on his feet. Make your way back to Zalissya and talk to Lens to wrap up the mission.

About the Author

Tom Bardwell

Tom is guides editor here at VideoGamer.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

  • Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter, Survival Horror

    Related Topics

    • STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

    Subscribe to our newsletters!

    By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

    Share