S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Guide | How to Get the Whirlwind Artifact

Here’s how you can get the Whirlwind Artifact in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Game Guide by Joyramen on Nov 27, 2024

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Warlock, a trader in the Zalissya bar, offers one of the highest-paying jobs: retrieving the Whirlwind artifact. While many players report finding it in specific anomaly fields within the Lesser Zone, this guide provides an alternative method for obtaining the artifact, especially if the usual locations don’t work.

Commonly Suggested Locations

Death Meadow (Northeast of Zalissya)
Ribs (South of Zalissya)

These are anomaly fields where the Whirlwind Artifact is reported to spawn.

Strategy

Use the quick save/reload trick to reset artifact spawns if it doesn’t appear.

Personal Experience: After over 250 attempts at both locations, the Whirlwind Artifact never spawned. Instead, the same artifact (likely Stone Blood) consistently appeared.

Alternative Location

North of Garbage Zone

If Whirlwind doesn’t spawn in the Lesser Zone, try this alternative location in the Garbage Zone:

Progress the Story

Advance the main storyline to access Garbage Zone, the second area after the Lesser Zone. Head to the Poisonous Hole

Location

South of Poisonous Hole.
West of The Maze (a main quest area).
Northwest of Slag Heap (your base in Garbage Zone).

Look for a fallen electrical pylon-like structure near the marked area.

Radiation Warning

This area is heavily irradiated. Enter quickly, locate the artifact, and exit immediately.

Artifact Spawn

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, PC, Gameplay, How to Get the Whirlwind Artifact, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Use your detector to locate the Whirlwind Artifact.

In this spot, Whirlwind Artifact was found on the first visit, along with a bag containing extra loot.

Notes on Artifact Spawns

No Guaranteed Drops: Artifact spawns vary between playthroughs.
Saving and Reloading: While this method or waiting for an emission may work for some, extensive testing showed no change in spawns at Death Meadow or Ribs.
Persistence: If Whirlwind Artifact doesn’t spawn in the suggested Lesser Zone locations, advancing to Garbage and checking this new site is a reliable alternative.

For players struggling to find the Whirlwind Artifact in Death Meadow or Ribs, exploring the area near Poisonous Hole in Garbage Zone provides a strong alternative. With persistence and careful planning, you’ll increase your chances of securing this valuable artifact.

Also, check our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review and other guides below: