In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, facing mutants can be a real headache, especially if you’re unsure how to tackle them. One of the most bothersome mutants is the Psy Dog. This particular creature can be particularly challenging, especially in open areas, since it has the ability to create multiple illusions of itself.
Once you start the encounter, the Psy Dog will quickly generate copies that, while not real, can complicate the fight significantly. Even if you manage to take down all of its copies, it will just resurrect them. Fortunately, there’s a strategy to counter this tricky tactic.
Tips for Defeating Psy Dogs
When you first encounter a Psy Dog, it will quickly create copies of itself. While these duplicates may be illusions, they can still inflict damage. You can eliminate a copy with a single shot, but if you hesitate, the original will reset them. This is why the Psy Dog is considered one of the most frustrating mutants to battle.
It’s advisable to engage this mutant in a confined space. Fighting in open areas can make tracking the real Psy Dog challenging. If you find yourself in an open spot, try to gain higher ground to improve your visibility.
Using an assault rifle (AR) is recommended, as the real Psy Dog won’t participate in the fight right away. Distinguishing between the real one and its illusions can be tricky. Keep firing; if it’s an illusion, it will vanish with one hit. If you’re lucky enough to identify the actual Psy Dog, it will attempt to escape, so be ready to chase it down aggressively.
A grenade can be a useful tool to take out some of the copies quickly, helping you find the real Psy Dog faster.
If you manage to locate the real Psy Dog early on, using a shotgun to target it directly is effective. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to conserve ammo, consider retreating from the fight when necessary.
