Save The Ninth if you want the Rubber Layer blueprint; kill him or side with Dew if you would rather take Lens’s full quest payment. Before the fight, make a manual save: The Ninth can die during the encounter, which can cost you the blueprint.
Where the choice happens
The decision comes during The Lost Boys, an early side mission from Lens in Zalissya. Lens sends Skif to investigate missing stalkers and find Mastiff. The trail leads to The Ninth, a Monolithian who, according to the quest guides, was trying to protect Mastiff.
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What each choice gives you
| Choice | Immediate result | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Save The Ninth and fight Dew’s men | The Ninth can give Skif the Rubber Layer blueprint, which unlocks an armor upgrade at technicians. | Lens gives a smaller quest payout; PC Gamer describes it as half the reward. |
| Kill The Ninth or side with Dew | You lose the Rubber Layer blueprint. | PC Gamer says Lens pays the full reward. Shacknews describes the kill reward as 1,000 Coupons, so the guides do not agree on an exact payout. |
The practical trade is therefore a potentially lasting armor upgrade versus more money from Lens. The blueprint is exclusive to saving The Ninth in this encounter.
How to save The Ninth and secure the blueprint
- Save before speaking with Dew. The Ninth may die during the fight, and reloading can be necessary if you want to keep him alive.
- Fight Dew’s group while tracking The Ninth. He can move into your line of fire, so check his position before shooting.
- After the fight, confirm The Ninth survived. His survival is needed for the blueprint reward.
Does the decision affect the story later?
The guides do not establish a specific later mission branch caused by this choice. PC Gamer reports that Lens warns the Gaffer may disapprove of helping a Monolithian, and that favoring Monolithians can affect reactions from factions and settlements. Shacknews characterizes the decision as having no further story impact. Treat any broader consequence as uncertain rather than as a confirmed outcome of this quest.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
#1 Best Overall
- Gameplay combining FPS, horror and immersive simulator
- Nonlinear history with various paths leading to its multiple endings
- Cutting-edge graphics developed with the latest photogrammetric and scanning technology
- AI systems that will keep even the most seasoned gamers on track
- Dynamic day and night and weather cycle gives even more realism to the gameplay experience
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