The AKM-9B is a unique assault rifle added to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl with the Cost of Hope expansion. Unlike several other unique weapons in the DLC, the AKM-9B is not tied to a faction choice or a difficult quest reward. Instead, it is hidden inside a locked safe in the Iron Forest.
The rifle is especially useful because it comes with a silencer and an underbarrel grenade launcher already installed. If you are exploring the new area, the AKM-9B is worth picking up.
Where to Find the AKM-9B
The AKM-9B is located in an unmarked building in the Iron Forest. You need to travel toward the SWYD-West Checkpoint and look for the building positioned to the east of the checkpoint.
Once you reach the structure, you will find that its entrance is locked with a padlock. Break the padlock with a knife or shoot it, then enter the building. The weapon is not immediately accessible because the safe inside needs electricity before its keypad can be used.
How to Restore Power
After entering the building, look for the blue safe with a keypad. If the power is off, the keypad will not work. You must first find the control room and activate the electricity.
To reach it, head toward the western side of the building and look for a small passage behind the server racks. Jump over the racks and enter the narrow tunnel. Follow it until you reach the control room.
Activate it to restore electricity to the building. There is also an important clue nearby that reveals the combination needed for the safe.
How to Reach the Safe
Restoring power creates another problem. The floor around the safe becomes electrified, so simply walking toward it can damage your health.
Look for boxes and shelves near the affected area. Break the boxes blocking your route, then climb onto the shelves. You will also need to destroy the metal sheet blocking the path. This lets you move around the electrified floor without taking unnecessary damage.
Once you have safely crossed the area, approach the blue safe and prepare to enter the combination.
AKM-9B Safe Code
The safe code for the AKM-9B is:
- 3546
Enter 3546 into the keypad and the safe will open. You can then take the unique AKM-9B assault rifle from inside.
There is also a backpack next to the safe, so make sure to search it before leaving. It can contain additional useful supplies, making the detour worthwhile.
AKM-9B Features and Performance
The AKM-9B is based on the AKM-style assault rifle platform, but its unique configuration makes it more versatile than a standard weapon. Its built-in silencer is useful when you want to reduce attention during combat, while the underbarrel grenade launcher gives you a powerful option against groups of enemies.
Its listed statistics are:
- Damage: 1.9
- Handling: 2.7
- Rate of Fire: 2.9
- Range: 2.2
- Accuracy: 3.5
The rifle has quite good overall accuracy overall for an assault rifle, making it a practical choice for players who prefer controlled bursts instead of constantly firing from the hip.
Do You Need a Specific Faction?
No. The AKM-9B is not locked behind the Mavka, Zulu, Freedom, or Duty paths. You can collect it regardless of which faction-related decisions you make during Cost of Hope.
That makes it one of the easier unique weapons to add to your collection. You only need access to the Iron Forest area and enough time to explore the building near SWYD-West Checkpoint.
