Where to Find the Icon in the Poppy Field Root Cellar in Stalker 2

In the early hours of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Miyay in Zalissya offers “The Poppy Field” side mission. This quest tasks you with retrieving a Religious Icon hidden in a root cellar within The Poppy Field, a location that makes you incredibly sleepy. Here’s how to find the icon quickly and which character — Mityay or Pomor — to return it to for the best rewards.

Talk to Pomor (optional)

As you approach The Poppy Field marked on your map, a character named Pomor will ask you to visit him. Oblige him by entering his house to the east and having a quick chat.

During your conversation, Pomor will offer to mark the cellar’s location on your map in exchange for 2000 coupons or a handful of items. While you will want to return to Pomor for a secret reward, you can ignore his tips and use this guide. We won’t charge you!

How to find the Icon in the Poppy Field Root Cellar in Stalker 2

Head to the southwest border of the Poppy Field. Then, unequip your weapons and sprint towards the marker to find the open root cellar. You may want to drop some items if you’re over-encumbered to avoid falling asleep.

Once inside, pick up the Religious Icon from the shelf. After retrieving the icon, loot the body (if you have room) and exit the cellar. Like before, sprint from the cellar back to safety

How to avoid falling asleep in The Poppy Field

Staying in The Poppy Field for too long causes your stalker to fall asleep, and nodding off outside your bed results in death. To avoid this, make your character as light as possible so you can enter and exit the field quickly. I highly recommend bringing an energy drink or two to restore your stamina if needed.

Should you give the Religious Icon to Mityay or Pomor in Stalker 2?

Like many of Stalker 2‘s side missions, The Poppy Field presents you with two options. Once you obtain the Religious Icon, you can return it to Mityay for 1500 coupons or give it to Pomor for the Unknown Stalker’s AR416 — or you can do both.

The best outcome is to give the Religious Icon to Pomor first. Then, you can kill him to retrieve the icon and return it to Mityay. By doing this, you can receive both rewards and the scraps of loot Pomor drops. Pomor dies with a single pistol shot, so there are no downsides to this method. Except for crushing guilt weighing on your conscience, maybe.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available on PC and Xbox Series X/S.