A blood-red sea of poppies beckons in the heart of the Zone, but beauty here is deadly. In STALKER 2’s “The Poppy Field” quest, you’ll navigate a supernatural anomaly that lulls even the hardiest stalkers into a fatal sleep, all in pursuit of a lost religious icon-and the choices you make could earn you rare rewards or dangerous enemies. Will you trust the enigmatic Pomor, strike out on your own, or play both sides in this treacherous field where every step could be your last?
In this STALKER 2 guide, we’ll give you a full walkthrough of “The Poppy Field,” including where to find the Orthodox icon, where to find the root cellar, and whether you should give the icon to Pomor or Mitay.
Where to find the Orthodox icon in ’The Poppy Field’
To find the Orthodox icon in “The Poppy Field” quest in STALKER 2, head to the poppy field northwest of Zalissya, the first major town in the Lesser Zone. The icon is hidden inside a root cellar, which you can locate by moving towards the western side of the field, near the gap between two abandoned buildings or just east of the largest green patch on your map. Look for a simple hole in the ground-this is the entrance to the root cellar. Descend the ladder inside, and you’ll find the Orthodox icon resting on a shelf. Be cautious: the field has a sleep-inducing anomaly, so bring energy drinks or move quickly to avoid passing out before you reach the cellar.
The Orthodox icon is in a root cellar in The Poppy Field, which is an anomaly northwest of the first major town in the Lesser Zone, Zalissya. Carefully make your way to the marker on your map, being sure that you don’t accidentally trail some monsters behind you to the field.
Once you arrive, you’ll be contacted by a man named Pomor, who will offer to sell you information about how to reach the root cellar. He wants money up front or for you to do a quick job for him, which involves running around The Poppy Field and looting bodies. Ignore him for now, but we’ll potentially be coming back to him shortly.
Where to find the root cellar in ’The Poppy Field’
To find the root cellar in “The Poppy Field” quest in STALKER 2, head for the west end of the Poppy Field area. The entrance to the root cellar is an open hatch in the ground, located just west of the barn and the house that sit in the middle of the field. The most reliable route is to approach from the riverbank and make your way directly to the western edge, minimizing your time in the dangerous anomaly zone. You’ll need to use energy drinks to stay conscious as you cross the field, since the anomaly causes rapid fatigue and can knock you out if you linger too long. While Pomor, an NPC in a house near the field, offers to sell you the cellar’s location or give it as a reward for a side task, you can skip these steps and go straight to the hatch yourself. Once inside, look for the Orthodox Icon on the shelf to complete your objective.
As you walk into The Poppy Field, your character will start blinking excessively, heavily blurring the screen. Eventually, you’ll lose control completely, pass out, and wake up somewhere else, like in the barn or on the roof. If this happens too many times in a row, you’ll die.
In order to stay awake, you need to chug a Non-Stop Energy Drink. This will temporarily stop you from passing out, but you’ll need more than one to give you enough time to reach the cellar. There are two Non-Stop Energy Drinks in each of the main buildings in The Poppy Field.
Looking at the map, you want to make your way to the west side of the field, just to the east of the left-most green patch. Look at where the yellow circle is on the map above, if you’re having trouble. Here you’ll find the entrance to the root cellar just sitting in the grass and flowers (seen in the image above).
Drop down the hole and you’ll be safe from the poppies. Walk forward and pick up the Orthodox icon, which is the picture of a religious figure sitting on the shelf.
Should you give the Orthodox icon to Pomor or Mitay?
In “The Poppy Field” quest in STALKER 2, you’re faced with the choice of giving the Orthodox icon to either Pomor or Mityay. If you return the icon to Mityay, you’ll receive 1,000 coupons and witness the icon restored to his family grave, offering a morally satisfying conclusion and a small cash reward. On the other hand, giving the icon to Pomor nets you the Unknown Stalker’s AR416, a unique assault rifle, but it arrives at only 10% durability, requiring a costly repair (around 7,000 coupons) before it’s truly useful. For most players, returning the icon to Mityay is the more practical and ethical choice, as the weapon from Pomor is expensive to fix and quickly outclassed by other gear. However, if you’re a collector of unique weapons or have plenty of resources, trading with Pomor may appeal to you. Some guides even suggest a third, ruthless option: give the icon to Pomor, claim the weapon, then kill him to retrieve the icon and still return it to Mityay, thus gaining both rewards without any apparent negative consequences.
You have two choices on who to give the Orthodox icon to in STALKER 2: Mityay or Pomor.
- If you give Pomor the Orthodox icon, he’ll hand over the Unknown Stalker’s AR416 (seen in the image above). This is a pretty decent rifle, with a high rate of fire, decent range, and good accuracy. However, he’ll give it to you at 10% durability, meaning it’s essentially useless until you devote a lot of resources to repairing it.
- If you give Mitay the Orthodox icon, back in Zalissya, he’ll give you 1,000 Coupons (money).
The choice is ultimately up to you. Neither option is so tempting that you’re going to hurt yourself in the long run if you make the “wrong” choice. However, Pomor’s gun is essentially junk until you invest a lot of money into it. And while 1,000 Coupons isn’t much, it’s something tangible and useful early on in the game, so we’d recommend giving the icon to Mityay (who is also much nicer to you, if that’s any consideration).
What secrets does the supernatural poppy field hide in STALKER 2
Secrets of the Supernatural Poppy Field in STALKER 2
Deadly Anomalies and Survival Mechanics
The poppy field in STALKER 2 is more than a visually striking location-it’s a lethal supernatural anomaly. The field is filled with drifting poppy petals that induce sleep and can cause instant death if you linger too long or lose sight of the anomaly itself. To survive, you must keep the anomalous petals in your line of sight and rely on energy drinks to stave off unconsciousness as you make your way through the field. The environment itself becomes a test of your resourcefulness and awareness, with the constant threat of being knocked out and relocated-or worse, killed-by the anomaly.
Hidden Rewards and Moral Choices
At the heart of the poppy field lies a hidden root cellar containing a valuable Orthodox icon, a family heirloom requested by the quest giver, Mityay. Accessing this cellar requires either negotiating with Pomor, a local stalker who knows its location, or braving the field on your own. Pomor offers the information for a price, a favor, or can be bypassed entirely if you’re determined and well-prepared.
Once you retrieve the icon, you face a moral choice: return it to Mityay for a promised reward, or give it to Pomor in exchange for a unique but damaged weapon-the Unknown Stalker’s AR416. This branching outcome adds narrative depth and replay value to the quest.
Symbolism and Deeper Meaning
Beyond its gameplay mechanics, the poppy field is layered with symbolism. In Ukrainian folklore and history, red poppies represent the sacrifice of fallen warriors and the fleeting nature of beauty and youth. The field’s supernatural lethality is a metaphor for both the dangers of addiction-referencing the poppy’s association with opium-and the trauma of loss, with the religious icon symbolizing hope, faith, and the support of loved ones in times of hardship.
Summary Table: Poppy Field Secrets
| Secret/Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supernatural Anomaly | Causes sleep/fatality unless anomaly is watched or energy drinks used |
| Hidden Root Cellar | Contains Orthodox icon; location can be bought, earned, or found solo |
| Moral Choice | Return icon to Mityay (reward) or Pomor (unique weapon) |
| Symbolic Meaning | Represents sacrifice, addiction, and hope in Ukrainian culture |
The poppy field in STALKER 2 is a masterful blend of danger, lore, and symbolism, making it one of the game’s most memorable and intriguing locations for those who enjoy uncovering secrets and hidden meanings.
What is the true significance of the supernatural elements in the poppy field
The supernatural elements of the poppy field in STALKER 2 carry layered significance, blending cultural, historical, and psychological symbolism with gameplay.
At its core, the poppy field represents remembrance and sacrifice. In Ukrainian folklore, red poppies are believed to bloom where warriors have fallen, symbolizing both the bloodshed of past conflicts and the cost of freedom. This is echoed in the field’s haunting beauty and lethality, serving as a visual tribute to those who have given their lives for their homeland.
The poppy’s supernatural properties-inducing sleep or death-draw from ancient associations with Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, and Thanatos, the god of death, highlighting the thin line between rest and eternal slumber. This duality is reinforced by the gameplay mechanic where losing awareness in the field leads to fatal consequences, mirroring the seductive but deadly allure of the poppy.
Additionally, the poppy field serves as a metaphor for addiction and recovery. The poppy, as the source of opium, has long been linked to both medicinal relief and destructive dependency. The quest’s hidden religious icon, found amid the poppies, symbolizes hope, faith, and the support of loved ones-key elements in overcoming hardship and addiction. In the context of Ukraine, where many rehabilitation centers are faith-based, this intertwines personal recovery with cultural resilience.
Ultimately, the supernatural poppy field in STALKER 2 is not just a gameplay hazard, but a powerful symbol of memory, loss, temptation, and the enduring human quest for meaning and redemption amid adversity.
