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how to use the iDroid map to issue commands
From the iDroid’s map screen, you can issue a series of commands and requests using the D-Pad. From calling in a chopper for backup, deploying ammo, telling Quiet where to go (either in Scout or Attack) and disabling all previously placed markers, all can be done on the map.
This is a small but nice time-saver to avoid having to go into the mission tab and its various sub-menus, and plus you can immediately allocate where you want your backup to arrive.
Enemies adapt to your play style
Depending on how you choose to take on missions, soldiers will adapt to counter it. Players who make a lot of headshots will see troops begin to wear helmets, those who complete most of their missions at night will see soldiers soon wearing night vision goggles. To counter this enemy upgrade, you can use your combat units.
In the Combat Deployment section of the Missions menu, you’ll see some ops with symbols next to them. They look like helmets, cameras and handguns, depending on which equipment your enemies have an abundance of: send your troops to one of these to cut of their supply and even the battlefield a little bit.
You can read the mission description to see what exactly your soldiers will be doing, and it’ll say what equipment will be destroyed.
How to use The Phantom Pain’s posters
The Posters you collect from walls around the map can be attached to the cardboard box to distract enemies. As you equip the box with the D-Pad, highlight the box and press square/X to change the poster.
As you’re walking around, if you spot a soldier, stand up to have the poster visible. They’ll get distracted, walk up, gawk at it and leave you with an easy CQC takedown.
How to travel quickly around Mother Base
As you begin to expand Mother Base, getting around can take time, even in a truck or jeep. When you jump in the chopper, press square/X to select a different helipad from around Mother Base to visit one of the other struts.
This is a much quicker way to get around, especially if you’re planning on completing the side ops littered around the base, or collecting any hidden rough diamonds.
Use your Fulton to extract from missions
Once you’ve upgraded your Fulton to a point where you’re able to extract cars, tanks and supply crates from the field, this will also grant you the ability to extract from missions by standing atop a supply crate and using the Fulton on it.
In order to do this, stand on top of the crate, attach the Fulton, then press triangle/Y on the central balloon to hang on and fly off with it. If you don’t make Snake grab on to the Fulton, he’ll fall off the crate and you won’t be extracted.
This is a much cheaper way to get out of locations, as once you begin upgrading the helicopter, it becomes much more expensive to call in for extraction.
How to find rough diamonds
An easy way to find some rough diamonds is to interrogate your soldiers stationed on Mother Base. There’s a bunch of gems littered around the base, and grabbing them in a choke hold and forcing them to ‘Spit it out!’ will update your map with their location.
It’ll make you a terrible leader, but it’s worth the extra GMP.
Snake’s birthday surprise
When you create you character at the beginning of the game, if you make the character’s birthday that same day, or a couple of days following, when that day comes, a special cutscene will play with Snake on Mother Base enjoying a special birthday celebration with all of his troops, as well as Ocelot and Kaz.
If you can’t wait to see what happens, change the date on your console to the date you chose as the date of birth in the game. The next time you land at Mother Base will see the cutscene play.
How to use D-Horse’s command
The more you use each buddy, the closer the bond will be between you, which will grant additional commands to issue.
One of D-Horse’s commands is to make him defecate on command. While appearing as a useless gimmick at first, what you can actually do is make enemy vehicles spin off road, which will incapacitate any inside and give you some easy Fulton extractions.
D-Horse can be used as an impromptu roadblock
While enemies will run over wildlife without much consideration as they drive around Africa and Afghanistan, they’re not so inclined to do the same to D-Horse, which means he’s ideal for creating roadblocks.
Station D-Horse in the middle of the road, wait for an approaching car, and it’ll stop and begin honking the horn at D-Horse. This gives you an easy opportunity to steal the vehicle, and potentially the occupants within.
Other animals can join the fight
Wild wolves and other potentially dangerous creatures are all around Africa and Afghanistan, and are capable of attacking Snake should he get too close. To turn this to your advantage, and have these animals turn on guards, you can develop a bait bottle which can be planted near enemy camps as a nice distraction.
While foes are busy playing pest control, you can comfortably sneak past or pick them off.
Fulton balloons can be shot down before they return to Mother Base
The grace period where the balloon – and its cargo – hangs briefly before shooting into the sky can be used to pop the balloon and not alert nearby enemies.
How to fast travel in MGS5
Well, fast-er. Dotted around the world are orange shipping platforms (they look a little like industrial lift platforms). Grab the invoice off of these and you can then attach it to your cardboard boxes and be sent there.
What are the showers for on Mother Base?
The shower isn’t just good for washing blood off, it also stops Snake’s arm from trembling as much when he’s out in the field, which will help your aim, especially in hectic situations.
