“The Poppy Field” is one of the first side quests you’ll come across in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. As you navigate the game, you’ll meet a man named Mityay in the initial town of Zalissya. He’ll entrust you with the task of finding an Orthodox icon that holds sentimental value for his family.
This guide is designed to walk you through “The Poppy Field” side quest. We will detail the steps to locate the Orthodox icon, where exactly you can find the root cellar, and help you decide whether the icon should be given to Pomor or Mityay.
### Where to find the Orthodox icon in ‘The Poppy Field’
The icon you are searching for is hidden in a root cellar within The Poppy Field, a puzzling area northwest of Zalissya, the first significant hub in the Lesser Zone. Make sure you check your map carefully to stay on course and avoid attracting unwanted attention from lurking monsters as you make your way to this location.
Upon reaching the destination, you’ll encounter a fellow named Pomor. He’ll propose to sell you instructions on accessing the root cellar, though it comes with the expectation of either upfront payment or completing a small task for him. His task involves scavenging among The Poppy Field’s perimeters. However, our advice? Set him aside for the moment; you might circle back to him later.
### Where to find the root cellar in ‘The Poppy Field’
As you venture into The Poppy Field, expect your character to experience heavy eyelid blinks and a blurred screen; eventually, this leads to blacking out and reawakening in different places like a barn or a rooftop. Go through this cycle too frequently, and it spells your demise.
To counteract these effects and keep yourself sharp, make sure to drink a Non-Stop Energy Drink. It won’t be enough just to have one, though—you’ll need two to have ample time to reach the cellar. You can find pairs of these energy drinks in each main building within the field.
Look at the map and direct yourself to the west side of the field, just east of the farthest green patch on the left. If you’re struggling, the yellow circle on the map should be your guiding point. That’s where you’ll spot the cellar’s entrance camouflaged among the flowers and grass.
Drop through into the cellar, and voilà, you’re safe from the poppy field’s trap. Go forward and grab the Orthodox icon, easily recognizable as a portrait of a religious figure perched on a shelf.
### Should you give the Orthodox icon to Pomor or Mitay?
Your mission here branches into two clear paths: return the icon to Mityay or hand it over to Pomor.
Should you choose Pomor, you receive the Unknown Stalker’s AR416—a solid rifle with excellent firepower, range, and accuracy. However, it’s handed over with a mere 10% durability, making it unusable until you sink significant resources into repairs. Alternatively, if you hand the icon back to Mityay in Zalissya, he rewards you with 1,000 Coupons—valuable game currency.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Neither option drastically influences the game’s course. Nevertheless, consider that Pomor’s weapon remains ineffective without major investments in repair, whereas the 1,000 Coupons from Mityay are immediately practical. Plus, Mityay is possibly the more amicable of the two, which might sway your decision. For these reasons, our suggestion is to let Mityay have the icon.
