Kill Lyokha the Legend or Negotiate in Stalker 2

Lyokha the Legend in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a character who prefers talking more than acting. When you first encounter him, you will have a choice: eliminate him or try to negotiate. In this guide, we will discuss the consequences of each decision and explain which one is the most appropriate.

This character is located in the Flea Market area, in the Garbage region. When you arrive here for the first time, you will hear the loud conversations of Lyokha and his friends, who are having fun by the fire on the second floor of a ruined building. The easiest way to reach this place is from the Terrikon, following through the pumping station.

After talking to Lyokha, it becomes clear that he can only offer empty advice for inexperienced stalkers. He will give the first piece of advice to Skif for free, but you will have to pay with coupons for all subsequent ones.

If you decide to eliminate Lyokha, you will have to fight five stalkers, including him. Their main weapons are assault rifles like the AK-47 and AR 416. In this battle, long-range tactics will be most effective, helping you preserve your health and save medical supplies.

After dealing with the bandits, you will have the opportunity to take the PDA from Lyokha the Legend's body. Upon opening it, you will find correspondence between him and Varan, where Lyokha asks for patronage and talks about schemes to deceive people. In these letters, he shares details of his machinations, revealing how he skillfully manipulates others for profit.

During the dialogue, you will have two options: engage in a fight with the character or try to negotiate. If you choose the peaceful path, the man, despite his talkativeness, will give you the coordinates of a legendary stash located west of the Flea Market area.

It is worth noting that the location of the stash is radiation hazardous, so if you don't have vodka or other anti-radiation drugs with you, you shouldn't stay here for long. The stash itself is on the roof of a yellow tractor. After interacting with the cache, you will find a piece of bread and a note titled Advice from the Legend.

Opening the PDA and going to the Notes tab, you can read the note, which says: "This is probably not what you expected. But be thankful it's not a bullet in your head. The Legend generously lets you go. Appreciate it, next time you might not be so lucky."

Of course, like you, we were not too pleased with this outcome. When you return, Lyokha and his friends will no longer be by the fire, but you will find a note saying: "Legend, are you okay? Teacher, I recently saw you near the Swamp Tram with some suspicious characters. If you're in trouble, just say the word — the guys and I are behind you. P.S.: Just curious, why did those bandits call you Koryaga?"

Now that you feel deceived by Lyokha and are determined to take revenge, you will find a note where Lyokha informs you that he is waiting for you in the northeastern part of the Zaton region, at the Swamp Tram location.

When you arrive at the location, during the dialogue, don't forget to remind Lyokha about your agreement. However, as expected, he is not the kind of person who is used to keeping his promises. Instead of fulfilling the agreement, Lyokha and his henchmen will attack you, and players will have to fight back. After you defeat the bandits, you will be able to take this NPC's PDA and review the information about the deceived people.

Based on all the above, it can be concluded unequivocally: under no circumstances should you spare Lyokha the Legend when you meet him for the first time. In both cases, whether you choose peace or conflict, no significant reward is expected. All you can get is the PDA and gear from the bodies of his henchmen. So if you want to minimize risks and avoid unnecessary trouble, it's best to deal with this cunning character right away.