Rare Random Encounters

The three rare random encounters in S3 and how to find them.

The three rare random encounters

Unlike in the original Silent Storm, there are very few rare and/or rewarding random encounters in Sentinels. There are three, however: The bank robbery, the Swiss prison, and the T.H.O. satellite. The former two can really help you early on, and the third is more of an easter egg at the end of the game.

The Bank Robbery

This is a very unique random encounter in that it is one of the few that actually is worth something in loot--50,000$+ worth, in fact.

This random encounter can be found in Germany any time once Germany has been unlocked. It spawns rarely but can easily be found; it is the only random encounter that spawns to the southeast of the plane:

Seen in-between and to the south of the plane and my selected mission (The Scientist).

If you find it taking too long to spawn, just keep camping and leaving. This resets the random encounters on-screen and may just eventually spawn the bank robbery in front of you.

The Bank Robbery


You will immediately spawn in to the left of the bank while it is under attack by T.H.O. mercenaries. Enemies include the mercenaries themselves, as well as the armed civilians defending the bank. The mercenaries are more heavily armed in the sense that they carry rifles compared to the civie's pistols, so I suggest taking them out first.

Enemies are mainly on the ground floor, but there are armed civilians on both the lower and upper levels of the building, and there is one T.H.O. mercenary behind the bank in the nook that can easily surprise and kill you if you try and flank. Once everyone is dispatched, go to the basement where the safes are:


In the room I am standing in, on the wall next to the desk, there is usually a key there to unlock the safe in the right room. However, I appear to have destroyed it. If this happens to you, fret not: The safe in the left room is always unlocked.

In it, you will find your loot. It is not possible to carry all of it on one character, however you can grab most of it.



I HIGHLY recommend doing this encounter as soon as possible, as it allows you to flesh out your squad and equipment early. As demonstrated, it is also entirely possible to do solo as well.

Swiss Prison

As the name suggests, this odd random encounter spawns in Switzerland. In fact, it is the only random encounter to spawn in Switzerland. It can take over 5 minutes to spawn and can spawn anywhere on the map, so I suggest doing my aforementioned technique of camping and leaving until it spawns.


You might have heard of "Shade" if you pay attention to the Silent Storm community. Well, this is how you get him: in prison. The mission is pretty straight forward; a cutscene plays showing Shade being interrogated/tortured or the like in a cell. You then spawn outside the prison with two watch towers. This is a cake-walk if you completed the bank robbery first, as you should be fully equipped.



Shade is in the center cell to the left of the prison. Interact with him/pick him up and he will join your squad permanently (unless he dies, of course), even if you already have 6 squad members! Interestingly enough, his class is "Ninja," whose skill tree is identical to the scout's but he gains skills much slower. As a trade-off, he starts at much higher skills, most notably being hide and melee.



He does not speak, nor does he have a background. Since he is not found in the filing cabinet, the only way to dismiss him is for him to die--or have him killed.

T.H.O. Satellite

If you have finished the original Silent Storm you might be familiar with the satellite at the end of the game if you fail the final mission. Said satellite wreaks havoc upon the Earth. Well, apparently the fate of the satellite is different if you win the game, as in Sentinels it has crashed in the far western portion of Egypt. This random encounter appears to spawn at the same frequency as others, but most players don't go hunting for random encounters in Egypt at this stage of the game.


It spawns in different areas along the far west, but the one in this picture is nearest to my icon.

Egypt itself can be unlocked once the player selects either "The Stash" or either of the final missions. The Stash allows you to unlock Egypt sooner.

The satellite itself is not in good shape, however, you have bigger concerns. 5 panzerkleins and some infantry have set up around the site, presumably to guard it's secrets. Some of these panzerkleins are returning from previous encounters, such as Hel's panzerklein, the skeleton, and the medic. There are some new faces as well--the wolf-insignia'd and red arrow panzerkleins. In total there are three lazer and two rocket/machine gun panzerkleins. Hopefully you came prepared.



After having dispatched the enemies, feel free to look around the base camp that they set up. There is good loot.

Conclusion + after-thought

As previously stated, the former two random encounters are best done as soon as possible. However, there are strategic times to choose one or the other. For example, if you're near the end of the game and need money to unlock the final mission, then the bank robbery is a life saver.

Likewise, I would only suggest saving Shade once you have 6 squad members, as it effectively gives you an extra squad member. Unfortunately, he still counts for a slot--if you have 5 or less squad members, taking him still takes up a slot and it still means you can only hire up to 6 in your squad.

And lastly, the panzerkleins on Egypt can annihilate even a well-equipped squad. Tread wisely.

[Corvus Umbranox]

Really good guide, thanks. I can't think a reason to replace Shade with another scout, except maybe if one really wants to use silent SMG's (Shades Shoot / Burst / Snipe Skills suck).

[rompier02]

Hi. Thanks for this. Just found out about the Egypt secret encounter via your guide. In my version there is a key in the Robbery encounter. Near the table to the south of the stair in the basement. However even with it I still cannot interact with the safe in the room to the right. Can sell it for $1 at the base. Gave you a thumbs up for this.

[Tamerlane]

I recall some versions of the game have very minor differences. The Steam version actually doesn't have the key and the other safe like you said can't be interacted with, which explains why I didn't find it in the guide. I believe the key and being able to open the safe is only applicable to the disc versions.

[XfoXshoX]

With the Bank Robbery, what's the point of the key? Every time I do the mission, all that's open is the left safe. The closed safe in the room with the second open safe can't be reached or interacted with. Is there something I'm missing?

[perfectdaemon]

There is a way to speed up Shade encounter.
1. Camp at 'Bern' point
2. Leave camp
3. PROFIT

Worked for me.

[Tamerlane]

I do not believe any of the random encounters listed here are repeatable, unfortunately.

[Greenbird]

Is the bank robbery encounter repeatable? Or does it occure only once?

[stcaFylnO]

Ok, thanx, his role will be complete after the insane mine spectacle ;)

[Tamerlane]

Just remember you can't get Axel back unless you go back down to 5 squaddies again.

[stcaFylnO]

Thanx for headsup on the bug, this is my first game with 7 squaddies. I'm just training Axel to plant a zillion mines at the base defense mission; should be a riot with AIEC ability. I'll dump him before the factory.