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The subject of this article appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The subject of this article appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky.

A vast machinery graveyard. Right after the first accident whole heaps of radioactive waste were dumped there. Mostly ruins of old buildings infested with mutants. Much like the outskirts of the Zone, the place swarms with rookie stalkers, with an occasional bandit loitering around, always on the lookout for freebies. Some artifacts to be found here, but most of them are just not worth the effort. You'll be better off elsewhere. Going North, you will get to the Wild Territory, East lays the entrance to the Dark Valley, with the road to the Agroprom Research Institute to the West.
― Encyclopedia S.T.A.L.K.E.R

The Garbage is a location in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, north of the Cordon. It is the first treasure-hunting ground for most newcomer stalkers.

Overview[]

Described as a "vast machinery graveyard", the Garbage was in fact the main dumping ground for ruined machines and vehicles, as well as irradiated junk from after the 1986 disaster[1]. Because of this, the area is dominated by huge, heavily irradiated piles of discarded objects among which useful items or the occasional artifact can be found. Notable sites within the Garbage area include an old train hangar, a fenced-in scrapyard, and a ruined office building.

Due to the abundance of artifacts and valuable items, the Garbage attracts numerous prospecting stalkers[2], among them many rookies leaving the Cordon, and inevitably, Bandits[3].

Layout[]

The Garbage is a rather compact, square-shaped level. It is traversed by a main road extending from the south from the Cordon towards the north and Rostok, with a second road extending westwards towards the Agroprom and going through a large hangar. As noted in the above section, the area is littered with garbage stacked in various piles across the area. The level is surrounded by hills, and there is little vegetation save for some trees in the eastern side of the area, presumably due to the harsh environmental conditions. Dirt paths connect the area to the Dark Valley at the east. In Clear Sky, a concrete pipe in the southwest serves as an additional route to the Cordon.

The level has two major checkpoints located at the northern and southern ends of the map. Radiation and anomalies are abundant throughout the map in its two appearances. Several old buildings can be found there, namely the large central hangar, but also a ruined building to the northeast. Stalkers have built multiple checkpoints in the area, to guard the entrances to the Agroprom and the Dark Valley.

Locations[]

Major[]

Minor[]

Appearances[]

Shadow of Chernobyl[]

In Shadow of Chernobyl, the Garbage is the second area the player visits. Upon arriving at the Garbage, the Marked One immediately comes upon Yurik being held up by three Bandits. A couple of quests are available at the Garbage - namely helping Bes against the Bandits raid, as well as the story mission to contact Seriy.

It is a good place to harvest Artifacts, especially the top of the piles.

The northern area is the Duty checkpoint guarded by Duty officers, that lead towards Rostok. The central map area is the Train hangar guarded by Loners. The western area is usually occupied by Bandits.

Clear Sky[]

In Clear Sky, the Garbage is contested ground in the all-out factions war between the Loners and the Bandits, but also Duty and Freedom. Scar arrives there from the Cordon and can choose to aid either faction in the fighting. It is also where the player finds Fang's PDA. A number of quests are available, primarily from squad leaders, and three story mission objectives also take place in the Garbage.

The Flea Market is now a Loners location, led by Wild Napr. The Train hangar serves as the Bandits main base, and the former Duty checkpoint is guarded by Bandits. The eastern part is usually protected by Freedom and the western part by Duty forces.

A single location has been cut from the game, namely Black Digger's stash. Furthermore, originally, the player was intended to use the catacombs to reach Agroprom Underground and Yantar, which was not accessible by conventional means.

Call of Pripyat[]

In Call of Pripyat, the location does not appear in the game. Sultan once mentions the area[4], and other bandits may also talk about the "boys" in the Garbage and how they started the rumor surrounding the Oasis[5].

Inhabitants[]

The most prevalent enemy presence at the Garbage are the Bandits. In Shadow of Chernobyl, several Bandit gangs have made their home there and terrorize the outnumbered Loners.

In Clear Sky, the organized Bandit clan has actually built its HQ in the train hangar and it is there that Scar can join their ranks. Loners maintain a small presence in the area, at the Flea Market, but may become more numerous as part of the Faction Wars. Duty and Freedom are initially absent from the level, but may appear after the faction war is initiated, fighting for control over the eastern and western checkpoints.

The mutant threat is fairly light, consisting mainly of blind dogs, fleshes and boars. As part of a quest given by Wild Napr, the player may encounter Snorks which will later respawn at different locations throughout the Garbage area. Bloodsuckers are also known to sometimes wander into the area from Agroprom or the Dark Valley.

Notable characters[]

Trivia[]

  • There is a VL80s (ВЛ80с) locomotive near the railway hangar. Even though it is an AC electric locomotive, it doesn't have any pantographs.

See also[]

References[]

  1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Multiplayer description: "Part of a huge and stinky junkyard, where heaps of radioactive refuse were dumped after the 1986 disaster, full of decrepit cranes and various equipment."
  2. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Random dialogue: "Dude, the Garbage is where the reds once dumped all kinds of contaminated crap. Transistors, shmansitors, rotors, shmotors... you get the idea. Of course, they'd be no use to anybody if it weren't for our beloved Zone. You've probably noticed there're no hardware stores and no mechanics' stations, but we still gotta fix up our gear somehow. That makes this crap a gold mine! As for radiation, no one gives a damn about it anymore, so everyone and their dog is flocking here for some easy pickings. Some dig the stuff, some trade it, and some collect their dues - that's us."
  3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Random dialogue: "Well, listen. Everywhere you look it's a big stinking dump. After the accident in 1986 they brought radioactive waste, cranes and all the destroyed machinery here. Basically, it's full of useless crap and a few anomalies here and there. You can even find some artifacts, but they're not spectacular so that's why you'll mostly find rookies in this place. Lots of rookies means lots of bandits, so it's best not to hang around too long."
  4. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Sultan: "We watch over stalkers. You have to admit that a good half of you are more like little kids than men. You come to the Zone with some silly dreams, or to play heroes, or just because life's treating you badly. You don't realize all that's waiting for you in here - the grim reaper, mostly. That's the kind we look after. We find one at the Garbage, we take his gear and send 'im back to the Cordon. Some wise up and go back to the outside. Those with the stones to come back here, we put under our protection and we tax 'em. I'm tellin' ya, no one dares go on our territory - not the army, not the mercenaries, not even mutants."
  5. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Random dialogue: "Well, I heard a funny story once. Basically, the boys at Garbage started a rumor about where the Oasis is, and made it real believable, too. Then, they went to that location and waited. Well, what can I say? So many gullible losers showed up to share their stuff that the boys who started the whole thing left the Zone soon afterwards. And why not? Fellas were set for life. Only one of them stayed behind, some guy called Yoga..."
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