STALKER 2 Lost Boys Mission: Dew Vs. The Ninth – Who to Side With?

Posted on the 26 November 2024 by Mejoress

Last Updated on 26 November, 2024

Which side to take in The STALKER 2 Lost Boys Mission and what will happen in each case.

The world of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is full of tough choices, and the Stalker 2 Lost Boys Mission has one of the most difficult moral choices in the whole game.

If you are a Stalker, your job is to help either Dew, a freelancer, or The Ninth, a soldier from the Monolith group.

This choice could have huge effects on your trip, changing your position in the Zone and how you play overall.

This guide will walk you through the task and talk about the pros and cons of following either Dew or The Ninth.

The Lost Boys Mission Overview

In STALKER 2 Lost Boys Mission is an early side quest that puts you in the middle of a dangerous fight between two groups.

Mercenary Dew wants to kill The Ninth, a soldier from the Monolith group who is up to no good and is involved in some strange and dangerous things.

As the main character, you have to choose whether to help Dew kill The Ninth or help it get away.

After a number of events in the game where you learn more about each character’s goals, the choice is made. Dew wants to kill The Ninth to get what he wants, but The Ninth, who is a fighter for the Monolith, has his own plans.

Not only will your choice affect the rest of this side quest, but it will also affect your image and how you get along with other groups in the Zone.

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Pros and Cons of Siding with Dew

Photo: GSC Game World

The Case for Dew

Being able to help Dew is nice. While The Ninth is heavily involved with the Monolith, Dew is a freelancer and a more neutral character. The Ninth has a history of religious fanaticism and violent behavior.

Dew’s goals are more clear-cut: he wants to get rid of a possible threat. This may make his cause seem more reasonable, especially to players who like to take a more practical view.

  • Faction Standing: If you side with Dew, you’ll get along better with the Stalker party, which is seen as a more peaceful group in the game. This can help you get better guns and gear, which will make your time in the Zone a little easier.
  • Immediate Rewards: If you side with Dew, you can get instant benefits like better guns and more money, which could be very useful as you explore STALKER 2’s hard world.

But taking Dew’s side also means facing the darker sides of the world of mercenaries. Helping Dew might not be the best idea, and it might come back to haunt you later in the game.

The Case Against Dew

The main problem with agreeing with Dew is that it can hurt your image with other groups.

There is a lot of history between many people and groups in the Zone and the freelancers. If you choose to side with Dew, they might not like it, especially if you later change your mind.

Dew isn’t always thinking of others; his main goal is to get rid of a possible enemy.

Also, Dew’s request to kill The Ninth makes us wonder what his real part is in STALKER 2’s bigger story.

In the short term, Dew might seem like the better choice. But in the long term, he could hurt your image and group ties more than help them.

Pros and Cons of Siding with The Ninth

Photo: GSC Game World

The Case for The Ninth

Choosing to side with The Ninth, on the other hand, can feel like defying the world of mules. The Ninth is a member of the Monolith party, which is known for having violent and extreme religious views.

The Ninth, on the other hand, might not fully agree with the Monolith’s main ideas. By helping him get away, you might learn more about the group’s inner goals and stories, showing that not all members are as devoted as they seem.

  • Blueprint Rewards: You will get a plan if you side with The Ninth. This can help you make things. These plans might help you make powerful or rare things that will come in handy later in the game. This is a long-term win that might be worth more than money or guns right away.
  • Reputation Gains: Even though the Monolith party has a bad image, joining The Ninth can help your standing with other groups that support the Monolith’s cause. If you want a wider range of friends and want to learn more about the Monolith’s history, this might be the best option for you.

The Case Against The Ninth

The worst thing about helping The Ninth is what might happen later in the game. Some people don’t like the Monolith group, and helping one of its soldiers could make you a target for other factions.

Also, working with The Ninth could put you at odds with Dew and his military friends, which could make it harder for you to get to some tasks or supplies.

Also, helping The Ninth doesn’t give you the instant military edge that Dew’s side does.

Fighting to protect The Ninth will be harder, and there’s no promise that you’ll get awards or perks right away if you do.

What Are the Outcomes of Each Choice?

Photo: GSC Game World

The choice you make in the “Lost Boys” task won’t have a big effect on the main story of STALKER 2, but it will change how you move through the Zone and how you interact with other people there.

Here are some of the things that could happen if you side with each group:

  1. Siding with Dew:
    • There will be instant benefits for you, such as coupons, better gear, and a better standing with the Stalker group.
    • But you’ll make other groups angry, which could limit your choices in the long run.
    • Your side will probably win quickly because Dew chose to kill The Ninth, but you might not be able to learn more about The Ninth’s past.
  2. Siding with The Ninth:
    • You will get useful plans and be in a better place with some groups.
    • But you will have to fight a harder battle because guarding The Ninth takes more work and resources.
    • This choice could also make future tasks and quests harder, since you’ll have to deal with the tensions between people who support Monolith and people who support other groups.

Enjoyed our STALKER 2 Lost Boys Mission guide? Learn more with our How to Fast Travel in STALKER 2 guide!