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To complete Hot on the Trail in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, get into Noontide Base, speak with Dubny, disable the scanner, then fetch the Inductor for Strider. Your route into the base depends on your choice in Back to the Slag Heap; the Inductor’s location depends on whether you completed Shift Change earlier.
How to get into Noontide Base
Check your inventory and active quests before heading to the gate. Your choice during Back to the Slag Heap determines how you enter:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | $31.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Riders Republic Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Standard Edition | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Xbox One S | $198.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Xbox: The Making of a Bad-Ass Machine | $2.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Earlier choice | What to do | Route consequence |
|---|---|---|
| You showed the Unusual PDA to the Ward | Check for the Ward Badge and use it to enter Noontide directly. | No additional cargo-clearance detour is needed. |
| You took the other route | Return to the Sawmill and speak with Mute to receive A Heavy Burden. Retrieve the cargo and deliver it to Prof. Lodochka at Noontide. | The cargo grants clearance, but the base remains wary of you. |
Once inside, you can use the stash, although vendors are not yet available.
Look for Strider: find Dubny first
If you entered through A Heavy Burden, deliver the cargo to Prof. Lodochka in the southeast and ask him about Strider. He points you toward Dubny. Find Dubny in the main building to the northwest; the route described by Gamer Guides proceeds through the connected buildings and tunnel:
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- Head back toward the tunnel and enter through the white door.
- Go down the stairs on the left and follow the hallway.
- Take the stairs up, continue through the corridors, then cross the wooden plank into the tunnel.
- Follow the tunnel to Dubny and speak with him.
Backtrack after the conversation. The plank falls, so drop down, avoid the anomaly, and climb the ladder. At the main hub, go past the bed and stash; the guard moves aside after Dubny authorizes passage.
Disable the scanner
Proceed through the anomaly area toward the carriage to reach Strider. The walkthrough warns about poisonous anomalies and mentions supplies off the main path. It recommends equipping a bolt to navigate anomalies and says Foma can exchange healing supplies for Anti-Radiation Drugs; treat these as route guidance from the walkthrough, not independently verified mechanics.
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- Reach Strider through the carriage.
- Interact with the scanner to shut it down.
- Speak to Strider again and show him the Unusual PDA.
- Consult Prof. Lodochka for the next lead.
Get the Inductor: account for Shift Change
Ask Prof. Lodochka about tracing a Monolithian PDA. You need an Inductor, and where to look depends on when you completed Shift Change:
| Shift Change status | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Completed before Hot on the Trail | Check the backpack behind crates near a storage area. |
| Not completed yet | Complete Shift Change, then check the storeroom shelf to the left of the stash. |
Return to Strider and continue the story
Bring the Inductor back to Strider at Noontide. Gamer Guides says this advances the story to Chasing Ghosts. Game8 lists the Lynx unique SVDM-2 and 10 rounds of 7.62x54mm LPS as rewards, plus 4,000 Coupons on Stalker difficulty specifically. Its listed coupon amount should not be assumed to apply on other difficulties.
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The route details are from Gamer Guides’ walkthrough, listed as updated 3 January 2025; Game8’s walkthrough result lists an update date of 9 January 2025 and reports the reward set. Those page dates do not establish compatibility with every later game update, and the sources differ on the precise endpoint or reward timing. The shared progression is clear: return the Inductor to Strider to advance the mission and story.
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