Bandits

Wanted criminals and outlaws hiding from authorities in the Zone.

Bandits are wanted criminals and outlaws that have come to the Zone to hide from authorities. They are one of several organized factions present in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, though unlike Duty or Freedom, they lack a unifying ideology. Their presence is a constant threat to other stalkers, as they operate outside the law and are driven by self-interest and survival within the dangerous Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Quick Facts

First appearance: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Lore & Background

Bandits as "wanted criminals and outlaws that have come to the Zone to hide from authorities." They are one of the several organized factions present in the setting, alongside Duty, Freedom, Clear Sky, and the Monolith. Unlike Duty, which believes the Zone is a threat to humanity that must be destroyed, or Freedom, which believes the Zone is a gift that should be freely accessible, Bandits have no stated ideological goal. Their primary motivation is evading law enforcement and profiting from the chaos of the Zone.

Reader's Guide

In the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, Bandits are a hostile faction that players will encounter throughout the Zone. They are "wanted criminals and outlaws" who have come to the Zone to hide from authorities. "the military have an uneasy relationship with stalkers – while official orders are to shoot any trespassers on sight, military personnel are often bribed to look the other way," which may apply to Bandits as well, but this is not explicitly stated.