Hard difficulty Stealth Master walkthrough

A guide for beating the game with stealth master rating on the hardest difficulty with the least kills and shots fired through video.

The basics

On hard difficulty there are more guards, meaning that openings that were previously a mile wide will now be much tighter.
It also means openings that previously existed won't be there without kills you could otherwise avoid, meaning some openings are no longer viable for a stealth master playthrough.

Remember that walking and crouching are silent, running is audible to guards and that cameras don't detect you, just dead bodies.

Level by level videos and outlines

Each of these videos demonstrates the most practical, minimal route I've been able to find in every level.

Mad Marco's

The only major difference from completing this mission on normal is that two guards are with Lex that you'll have to wait on, and one guard patrols in and out of Marco's room so you'll need to time your shot accordingly.
Otherwise the mission is largely identical to a normal difficulty run.
Gameplay @ 5:05

The Kellers

The house across from the street now has a single civilian patrolling the dining room and back yard, so be careful while stealing the invitation.
The guards can now spot you poisoning Katherine's drink.
Richard has a guard who periodically enters his office before leaving, so time your assassination accordingly.
The basement now has two extra guards placed.
This mission is identical strategically to a normal run, just much slower and more precise.
Gameplay @ 3:45

Boobsies Club

You won't be getting the achievement for not killing anyone but the targets from now on.
This mission is largely identical save for the fact that

• Juan has a single guard that walks into the room with him, overlooks it and leaves.
  Time kill accordingly.
  
• There is no spare VIP guard costume, at all, meaning you will need to kill an isolated guard either on the staircase or next to the garage dumpster for his clothes.
  
• Hector has a guard staying close to him during his time in the office, meaning you'll need to make use of his time overseeing the D-Pain production for an assassination instead.

Gameplay @ 3:33

Ciccio's Spa

There is no longer a spare hotel membership card in the spa, necessitating a kill on an isolated member either in the bathroom or in the isolated outside area next to the showers.
A guard is now constantly following Luca, so closing the courtyard shutters and killing him while isolated is no longer a possibility. You now need to use poison on his drink to get an opening.
A spare construction worker disguise can no longer be found, necessitating the death of one for his clothes.
Gameplay @ 4:05

The Dungeon

The police station no longer has spare police or technician uniforms, necessitating the death of a police officer.
There are two guards who don't move from the top floor, meaning to kill Skinner you will have to retrieve the memory stick beforehand to lure him out into the alley for an isolated kill.
Reaching Jack Trinch while isolated will no longer be possible due to no spare bodyguard uniform in the Dungeon. You will now need to snipe him from the adjacent window when he presents himself separate from his guards.
Gameplay @ 3:20

Vindict Hotel

There are no longer spare uniforms for basement guard, janitor or waiter.
There also are no longer spare staff room cards and janitor keys available in floor 2.
This necessitates a lot of alternate routing and kills for each of the disguises.
Aside from this one extra guard is now patrolling the basement, as well as an extra guard patrolling the D-Pain device.
Remember to kill cameras (or the singular camera) before setting off explosives, as there is now a camera overlooking the soundproof room.
Gameplay @ 4:49

End results

Hopefully this guide results in a stealth master run for you.
So the results are 7 non-targets killed, 4 shots fired, 1 suitcase bomb detonated.
If you can get these numbers lowered let me know!

Hit like and comment if you found this guide helpful, it's appreciated more than you'd think!

[MonkeyDudes]

Ciccio's Spa has a spare hotel room key (room 24) in the pool area next to a robe

[ȺđȺm Ꝁɇsħɇɍ]

Thank you for this guide. Last mission made me sweat. On 3rd floor 2 guards solve the problem with getting hotel uniform. Guard suit got from guardian opposite of B2 door. Just aggro him through pistol without shooting and hiding behind the door. He won't shoot and will run after you, so there is no alarm. Kill him on stairs, result: 3 kills out of assignments and i got achievement.

[Niles]

Thanks for the guide! I've had a lot of fun testing out the ways of trying to stealth master the levels on hard, but yea there are solid walls preventing that. This guide helped me confirm my conclusion.