Artifacts and You: 101 Guide by 【Okarin】

Artifacts are items that have been changed by the conditions in the Zone. Most artifacts have strange and useful characteristics. For example, when kept close to the body, some artifacts create a protective field that increases its user's resilience to damage. Others may increase the user's stamina or protect against fire, etc. Artifacts are also valuable scientific study material and outside corporations would pay a hefty price to obtain one of these artifacts from the zone.


Artifacts are formed from anomalies, exposed to certain objects or conditions: The combination of an ordinary object(s) and an anomaly, the degeneration and death of an anomaly or if the anomaly is exposed to certain conditions. An example is the Crystal where it is a combination of metallic substances and the Burner anomaly. Emissions are known to be the catalyst in the actual creation of an artifact, although scientists in the zone are still unable to explain how this happens.

Artifacts are very valuable and Stalkers commonly sell them to traders, who in turn sell them to high profile buyers ranging from the military, scientists, large business companies down to collectors. Scientists take great value of artifacts as they are great research materials and claim that they could be the key to answer the world's problems and the key to several technological advancements. The player can either use the artifacts by attaching them to armor, or as trade goods

Most Artifacts generate radiation, their radiation appears to be powerful as it could penetrate the radiation protection from any armor and artifacts that absorbs and destroys radiation (like the Crystal or Bubble, which vary from game to game though) are needed to be worn in tandem to safely wear these radiation generating artifacts for extended periods, unless one is willing to waste loads of Vodka and Anti-rad. The radiation though appears to only irradiate when placed very close to the body, placing them inside their back-packs or being near them does not seem to irradiate the carrier. (Perhaps emitting alpha radiation, but it would be unable to penetrate the skin and cause damage.) Most artifacts also might have some side-effects (e.g. Moonlight will increase one's endurance at the cost of one's resistance to electric anomalies). However there are a handful of artifacts with no negative effects which are both rare and expensive.

The small piece of metal traveled through the air and landed on the ground with a silent thud. Immediately the area was filled with a bright, blue light, as small lighting bolts shot up into the air. A figure calmly watched the light show, and took a small device from his belt. After pressing some buttons the device started to beep loudly. A grin formed on the mans face – an Artifact was near. The person took some more iron bits from a small bag on his belt as he took a few steps back. He prepared quietly as failure would result a painful death. A few seconds passed, and the Stalker threw another piece of metal, while starting to run. Swoosh – the lighting went off as the man sailed through the air, right over the glowing bolt. After landing the man let out a small laugh and took out the beeping device. He started to slowly turn around, all the while listening for louder beeps. At one moment he hit jackpot – the device became louder. Every step forward and the device went louder and louder, faster and faster, up to the moment when it turned into a nonstopping sound. At the moment the man calmly extended his arm and grabbed for something. At first there was nothing, but then a large, rock like thing appeared, that seemed to glow from the inside. Our Stalker turned around, made the jump over the Anomaly again and began his way back to the Bar, all the while thinking about the uses of the money he'll get from the Barkeep.


(Credit goes to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Wiki for bringing great information to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R Fan base)