How to Get to the Repeater in Stalker 2: Cost of Hope (Unexpected Alliance)

TL;DR

• The repeater is part of the Unexpected Alliance main mission in Cost of Hope.
• Find Nitro at the Testing Ground POI southwest of the Freedom Camp.
• Climb the ladder in front of Nitro, cross the broken platforms, and use electro-orbs (not bolts) on the electrical anomaly blocking your path.
• Reach the top of the tower, interact with the repeater — a Poltergeist spawns immediately.
• Kill the Poltergeist, then reactivate the repeater to complete the objective.
• Take it slow — falling is almost always fatal on this climb.

How to get to the repeater in Stalker 2: Cost of Hope is one of those things that looks simple on the map but gets tricky fast. The climb is full of gaps, narrow beams, and anomalies that will knock you off if you rush. This guide walks you through every step of the Unexpected Alliance repeater objective — from finding Nitro to defeating the Poltergeist at the top.

How to Get to the Repeater in Stalker 2 Cost of Hope Unexpected Alliance

What Is the Repeater Objective in Stalker 2: Cost of Hope?

The repeater comes up during Unexpected Alliance, one of the main story missions in the Cost of Hope DLC. It becomes available after you complete Terra Incognita and the missions that follow it. At that point, you have already met Zulu at the Freedom Camp in the Iron Forest.

The mission sends you to Nitro, a stalker who wants you to find out why the repeater on a nearby tower has gone quiet. The repeater sits at the top of a tall rusted metal tower rising out of the fog. The only way up is through the broken framework around it — there is no shortcut and no other route in.

It is a slow, careful platforming section followed by a surprise fight at the top. If you know the route and what to expect, the whole thing takes just a few minutes.

If you are still getting settled in the DLC, check out our Stalker 2: Cost of Hope beginners guide to get your bearings first.

Where to Find Nitro in Unexpected Alliance

After speaking with Zulu, head to the Testing Ground POI, located southwest of the Freedom Camp. Nitro is standing on a roofed platform attached to a building inside the power grid area, slightly west of camp on your map.

Talk to Nitro and choose the dialogue option “I can help you find her.” He will explain that the repeater stopped responding and ask Skif to go up and check it. That is when the climb begins.

How to Get to the Repeater — Full Climb Route

This is the part most players struggle with. The path is not always obvious, the fog limits your view, and one wrong step usually means death. Here is the full route step by step:

Step 1 — Climb the Ladder in Front of Nitro

Directly opposite Nitro there is a ladder. Climb it to get up onto the first platform. From the top, turn right and start making your way across the broken metal structure. Move carefully — do not chain sprints up here.

Step 2 — Cross the Platform and Jump the First Gap

Head along the platform to the left and sprint before you jump to clear the first gap. Throw metal bolts at any anomalies you encounter along this section to temporarily clear them before you move through. Wait for each anomaly to settle after a bolt lands before crossing.

Step 3 — Climb the Next Ladder and Cross the Beam

After the first gap, move carefully to the left and climb the next ladder. At the top, walk across the narrow beam. Take this slowly — the walkway is thin and the drop below is long.

Step 4 — Use an Electro-Orb on the Electrical Anomaly

This is where many players get stuck. After the beam, you need to jump a gap to the left. But there is an electrical anomaly blocking the path — and here is the important part: throwing a metal bolt will not disrupt it.

You need to use an electro-orb to shut it down for a limited time. Once the anomaly is disabled, move quickly through the window it gives you before it reactivates. Do not hang around.

Step 5 — Cross to the Far Ladder

Keep crossing the structure all the way to the ladder on the far side. There may be another anomaly along this stretch — throw a bolt to clear it, let it settle, then move. Sprint forward, clear the last gap, and climb the ladder to gain more height.

Step 6 — Jump to the Tower and Climb to the Top

From the elevated position, jump across to the tower on the right. Use its ladder to climb all the way to the top. The repeater is mounted on the platform at the very top of the tower. You will see a clear interaction prompt when you get there.

Note: Falling from any point on this route is almost always fatal. Move deliberately and do not rush any of the jumps.

What Happens When You Reach the Repeater?

Once you reach the top and interact with the repeater, it malfunctions immediately. The device glitches out and your objective changes to “Deal with the causes of malfunction.”

A Poltergeist attacks right away. This is the actual cause of the interference — not a technical fault.

How to Beat the Poltergeist at the Repeater

The Poltergeist is a fast-moving electrical mutant. The Iron Forest fog makes it harder to track than usual. Here is how to deal with it:

• Follow the electric sparks. The Poltergeist appears as a fast, erratic ball of electricity. Track the cloud of sparks with your firearm and fire whenever it comes into view.
• Shoot the thrown objects. The Poltergeist will lift nearby tools and scrap and hurl them at Skif. Shoot the incoming objects out of the air to cancel the attacks, or dodge sideways.
• Keep firing when it is exposed. The Poltergeist moves quickly and ducks in and out of visibility. Focus your shots on the electrical core whenever it stops moving or slows down.
• Bring plenty of ammo. This mutant soaks up damage. Do not expect a quick kill — be ready to spend a full magazine or more.

Once the Poltergeist is dead, interact with the repeater again to fully reactivate it. That completes the repeater objective inside Unexpected Alliance.

What to Do After the Repeater

After reactivating the repeater, climb back down the tower. Use the ladder on the right and work your way back across the lower platforms to return to Nitro. Report to him to advance the mission.

Unexpected Alliance does not end here. Nitro will then send you west to find Chief, who is inside a metal bunker further west of the power grid. Chief will point you toward Mavka, who needs your help at the vehicle workshop rooftop in the eastern Iron Forest. That leads into a wave defense fight before the mission wraps up.

Completing Unexpected Alliance rewards you with 2,500 Coupons and pushes the Cost of Hope story forward into the next major section.

Tips for the Repeater Climb

• Bring electro-orbs before you start. The electrical anomaly on the climb cannot be cleared with bolts. Without an electro-orb, you are stuck.
• Throw bolts and wait. After a bolt lands on an anomaly, let it fully settle before you walk through. Walking in too early still gets you hit.
• Do not sprint the whole way. Some sections are narrow beams and short ledges. Walk those parts and only sprint for the actual gap jumps.
• Save before you climb if you are playing on a harder difficulty. A fall from the upper sections is almost always a death.
• Have a weapon ready at the top. The Poltergeist spawns the second you touch the repeater. You will not get time to swap loadouts.

Related Guides for Stalker 2: Cost of Hope

If you want to get the most out of the Iron Forest, do not miss the secret Puncher quiz at the Kurin base. Answering correctly earns you ammo and a key that leads to a hidden cache. Read our full guide on correct Puncher answers and the Key with a Ripped-Off Tag to grab that loot before moving on.

You can also check your machine against our Stalker 2: Cost of Hope PC requirements page if you are running into performance issues in the Iron Forest.

The game is available on Stalker 2’s official website, on Steam, on Xbox, and through the Epic Games Store.

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