All That Is Left is a STALKER 2 side quest that sends you into the Chemical Tanks to recover an artifact for Ward officer Lt. Mateus. The mission becomes more complicated when Professor Zaretskyi asks to use the artifact for research, creating several possible outcomes. The best route lets you earn Coupons, obtain a Soul artifact, and complete an additional objective involving a fallen Ward soldier.
How to Start All That Is Left in STALKER 2
All That Is Left becomes available after resolving the conflict between the Ward and local stalkers in Zalissya.
Once the western pontoon gate opens, travel toward the Chemical Plant. Lt. Mateus will contact you over the radio as you approach. Speak with him and accept his request to recover an artifact from the nearby Chemical Tanks.
Head south toward the objective to begin the search.
How to Find the Artifact in the Chemical Tanks
Enter the Chemical Tanks compound through the guardhouse at the main gate. A Pseudodog will attack shortly after you arrive, so deal with it before continuing deeper into the facility.
Follow the quest marker toward the tanks. Around the central section, look for an opening in the floor beneath an anomaly and drop into the underground area.
Several Snorks are waiting below. Shotguns work particularly well at the ranges involved, while grenades can quickly thin out the group before you move farther inside.
Once the area is safe, look for the body of a dead Ward soldier. There’s also a stash nearby containing additional loot. Remember this body, as it becomes important if you’re aiming for the quest’s best reward path.
Continue through the nearby doorway and follow the route until you’re back above ground.
From there, look for a ramp leading toward the artifact’s position. Climb onto the lid of the nearby tank and jump past the damaged guardrail to reach and collect the quest artifact.
Should You Give the Artifact to Mateus or Zaretskyi?
On your way back through the Chemical Tanks’ main entrance, you’ll encounter Professor Zaretskyi. The ecologist wants the artifact for scientific research, opening several ways to finish the quest.
You can sell the artifact to Zaretskyi and give up Mateus’ reward, ignore the professor and return directly to Mateus, or refuse Zaretskyi and deliver the artifact to the Ward as originally requested.
There’s also a more rewarding alternative.
Instead of immediately handing over the artifact, accept Zaretskyi’s research request involving the dead Ward soldier you found underground. He wants you to bring the body outside and place it inside the anomaly near the ramp.
This route provides the strongest overall set of rewards.
How to Get the Best All That Is Left Outcome
For the best outcome in All That Is Left, don’t sell the artifact to Zaretskyi.
Return underground and retrieve the fallen Ward soldier’s body. Carry it back toward the surface and drop it into the anomaly near the underground exit as requested by Zaretskyi.
After completing the experiment, speak with the professor again to collect your reward.
You should also retrieve the PDA from the dead soldier. Take it back to Lt. Mateus, who will provide an additional small Coupon payment.
Following this route allows you to keep the valuable Soul artifact rather than sacrificing it to one of the quest’s other outcomes.
All That Is Left Best Rewards
The recommended route effectively gives you multiple benefits from the same side quest:
- Complete Professor Zaretskyi’s experiment using the fallen Ward soldier
- Collect Zaretskyi’s reward
- Retrieve the dead soldier’s PDA
- Give the PDA to Lt. Mateus for additional Coupons
- Keep the Soul artifact
The Soul is particularly useful because equipping it increases Endurance, making it a worthwhile reward beyond the immediate monetary payout.
Unless you specifically want to role-play one of the alternative choices, completing Zaretskyi’s research without surrendering the artifact and then returning the PDA to Mateus offers the most valuable outcome for All That Is Left.
