STALKER 2: Should You Side With Dubny Or The Ward?

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One of the most central conflicts in revolves around the power struggle between the Ward and various independent Stalker factions spread throughout the Zone. Power-hungry and authoritarian, the Ward repeatedly attempts to seize control of small tracts of territory and independent settlements, hoping to understand all the Zone's secrets and use them for its own nefarious purposes. Each independent faction has its own territory and purpose, but each of them resists the Ward's attempts at conquest on principle.

In particular, Simon Dubny is a heavy hitter in Noontide, a faction of former Monolith cultists who broke free from its brainwashing and established their own society. During the main mission "," after determining Professor Hermann's fate, Skif will run into Dubny, who forces him to decide then and there whose side he's on. He suspects the Ward has something to do with the Monolith, and he wants to put a stop to them no matter what. So, he finally asks Skif, ""

If Skif chooses "" he'll have a simple task before him. The room behind Dubny is absolutely crawling with Ward troops. Skif will have to head through that door after it swings open, and kill every last one of them. It's a difficult fight (not unlike most fights in ), but with the right resources and clever use of the environment, it is very much winnable. That alone isn't a reason to side against Dubny, but it may factor into the player's decision.

In effect, Skif is also voicing implicit support for Spark here, and for the ideology embodied by independent Stalkers throughout the Zone, pivotal figures like Richter, Strider, and Scar. Over time, repeatedly siding against the Ward will affect the ending of . This decision alone doesn't determine the entirety of the ending, but if the player has been a staunch enemy of the Ward thus far, siding with Dubny here may eventually become another thorn in their side, bringing them closer to the Richter/Spark end of the conflict.

Note that this may be considered a