MULE/Stealth

[Oakhouse]

I just want to start by saying that this is an absolutely brilliant game and I'm loving playing it. Every aspect of the game is perfect, except for one:

MULES.

I don't know if it's just me but the system around MULES and stealth doesn't seem well put together. I'm a fan of stealth games and the range of options they provide you to tackle an objective, but at the moment it feels like the system just constantly pushes you to fight them. Which I can't stand.

I'm in chapter 3 so I don't yet have the scanner disruption device. I have the decoy cargo, bola gun, smoke grenades etc. but only the bola gun seems to actually help. I always take my time, avoid the scanners, use watchtowers and everything else that you would automatically do in a stealth game, all to end up in them still somehow finding me (which I can never work out how) and I have to fight or run. Makes the whole thing worthless.

Anything I'm missing here? Does it get better later on? The rest of the game is fantastic but every time MULES are involved it seriously ruins my enjoyment. Any tips or suggestions are greatly welcomed.

[Orion Invictus]

MULE scanners won't detect you if you're not carrying any cargo marked for delivery. Furthermore, the MULEs themselves will leave you alone in that situation.

[Lithurge]

Being able to disrupt the scanner does make it a lot easier for the initial approach, but as soon as one sees you it seems to trigger off a general alert.

You can hide from them in tall grass so long as you don't have cargo piled too high on your back, hideable shows up green when you scan.

[ウィッチ（？）]

Crouch, hold breath if needed - to reduce chance to get detected.
Use cover wisely because they can see you from miles away. If you got detected, all you can do is fire away your Bola gun and kick around to make sure they are all sleeping.

[Two_Chicken_Soup]

Unfortunately the combat/stealth is the weak part of the game. It's not like MGSV where you have a plethora of tools to use and accomplish your objective in several ways. I've never used the decoy or smoke bomb.

if you want stealth, the bola gun and rope is your best bet. Once you gain the tool to negate the pings it will become easier but later at greater risk because of spoilers.

[Oakhouse]

Thanks guys, have tried all the suggestions already, but appreciate the responses.

My main issue is that I can stealth pretty close to the camp and then at random I'll get a ping on my direct location (small circle around me) and then all hell breaks loose. Every time it's happened and I've not been able to see what's causing me to get noticed - any ideas?

[shoopy]

Originally posted by Oakhouse:

Thanks guys, have tried all the suggestions already, but appreciate the responses.

My main issue is that I can stealth pretty close to the camp and then at random I'll get a ping on my direct location (small circle around me) and then all hell breaks loose. Every time it's happened and I've not been able to see what's causing me to get noticed - any ideas?

If they spot you and lose sight of you, they may ping you. Also if they pinged you before and didn't find you at that spot, they may ping for you again after a bit.

[MasterDrake]

Originally posted by Oakhouse:

Thanks guys, have tried all the suggestions already, but appreciate the responses.

My main issue is that I can stealth pretty close to the camp and then at random I'll get a ping on my direct location (small circle around me) and then all hell breaks loose. Every time it's happened and I've not been able to see what's causing me to get noticed - any ideas?

I would say, face them and bola gun them, kick them and rob them
No need for stealth

[Oakhouse]

So if they do ping me again, what's the best thing to do? Ignore it and carry on or move away from it and try and hide?

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by Oakhouse:

So if they do ping me again, what's the best thing to do? Ignore it and carry on or move away from it and try and hide?

With some ingenuity and situational awareness you can use the pings to your advantage. You know where they're going to search you and you know where they're coming from, so you can sneak up behind them or even around them and go get whatever it is you're there for.

As for why they scan for you, as mentioned they may do it if they saw you and lost track of you, but also the "spikes" marking their territory detect you when you're too close to them and send an alert to the MULEs. A few seconds later, they MULEs will scan for you.

[joxertm22]

1. Just started the game? Run towards them then spam V, a few hits and they're KOed.
2. Unlocked bola gun? Shoot them, get closer then knock'em with V to KO them.
3. Unlocked nonleathal assault rifle? Recycle bola gun and use AR. No need for using V.

[Vrede]

Originally posted by joxertm22:

3. Unlocked nonleathal assault rifle? Recycle bola gun and use AR. No need for using V.

I find that the ammo reserve is kinda low on the assault rifle. I run out of ammo fairly quick, so I tend to use the bola anyway.
The ammo puch that you can put on your back, how much extra does it give? I don't know if its worth reducing my number of grenades for some extra ammo.

[Myyrä]

Why would you even try to stealth against them, it's easier to just beat them or make the encounters trivial with the bola gun, do not use lethal force against them or you'll just make everything far worse.

And i play the game on very hard.

[MasterDrake]

Originally posted by KMA Vrede:

Originally posted by joxertm22:

3. Unlocked nonleathal assault rifle? Recycle bola gun and use AR. No need for using V.

I find that the ammo reserve is kinda low on the assault rifle. I run out of ammo fairly quick, so I tend to use the bola anyway.
The ammo puch that you can put on your back, how much extra does it give? I don't know if its worth reducing my number of grenades for some extra ammo.

i agreee, one bola gun lv1 = 12 men down, if you don't miss ;)

[joxertm22]

I had no problems with AR ammo. If you do, bring two with you when in MULE/terrorist camps.
Ammo puch doubles the ammo, but as it's a situational item I don't like the hassle and an automatic rest (that passes the time and quickens the buildings decay) if I go switching it. You need a blood pouch, grenade pouches and a reserve battery on your back almost all of the time.

EDIT:
Note that I'm playing the game with K+M so I'm biased towards the ammo waste, I rarely miss and headshots are not complicated to perform.