This walkthrough covers “A Needle in a Haystack,” the Lesser Zone main mission in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which follows “Behind Seven Seals.” Your goal is to find Squint, recover the Ward Sensors, and decide whether to hand them to Richter or Captain Zotov. The mission title is also used for a different Kingdom Come: Deliverance quest; those instructions are not for this mission.
Start the search for Squint
In Zalissya, speak with the Gaffer to begin the search. Gamer Guides says Squint was last seen at a warehouse northeast of town. Follow the road in that direction and use bolts to disrupt anomalies along the way, as the guide recommends.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Legends of the Zone Trilogy (Multi-Language) | $59.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | $31.19 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
There are two routes to Squint: investigate the warehouse, or head to a farmstead and the Old Mill southeast of it. The route details below are reported by Gamer Guides; they are not confirmed here for a particular game build or platform.
Recommended Free Tools
Choose a route to Squint
Warehouse route
The warehouse complex has dogs, and bandits occupy the warehouse, according to Gamer Guides. The guide describes an option to pay Mug 1,500 K for information or fight. Refusing to pay fails that objective segment, but the guide says you can still find information elsewhere and continue by taking the farmstead route.
#1 Best Overall
- The first console reported version of the survival horror FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series that has sold over 15 million units worldwide
- Chornobili, its tragedy doesn't end
- Genre: Open World FPS
Farmstead and Old Mill route
If you do not get the information at the warehouse, travel southeast to the farmstead and Old Mill. Gamer Guides warns that traps are set on the stairs inside the mill and recommends making a quick save before climbing. Watch for lanterns, which the guide says can signal nearby traps, and proceed cautiously up the stairs.
Speak with Squint and recover the Ward Sensors
Find Squint at the Old Mill and talk through what happened before agreeing to help him escape. Helping him triggers the “Piece of Cake” side mission, which leads to the Ward Sensors. Complete that mission, then return to Zalissya to hand the sensors to either Richter or Captain Zotov.
Richter or Zotov: who should get the sensors?
Gamer Guides reports that either recipient gives the same immediate rewards: an Optician Gas Mask and Debut Suit armor. It also says choosing Zotov makes the next mission easier because he has a contact inside the Sphere. That downstream effect is reported by the walkthrough, rather than confirmed by official developer documentation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #2
| Choice | Reported immediate reward | Reported effect on next mission |
|---|---|---|
| Richter | Optician Gas Mask and Debut Suit armor | No special advantage is specified by Gamer Guides. |
| Captain Zotov | Optician Gas Mask and Debut Suit armor | Gamer Guides says his Sphere contact makes the next mission easier. |
Choose based on the downstream help you want: the guide reports no difference in the listed immediate reward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Don’t confuse it with the Kingdom Come quest
Kingdom Come: Deliverance also has a quest called “A Needle in a Haystack.” PowerPyx’s walkthrough, published February 19, 2018, concerns identifying Pious in the monastery and says the quest can be completed without killing him, which it associates with the Merciful achievement. That is a separate game and mission, not part of the STALKER 2 search for Squint.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
