How to Extract Skull Soldiers in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
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Extracting the formidable Skull soldiers in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a crucial step toward unlocking powerful upgrades, particularly the Parasite Suit. Unlike regular enemies, these parasite-enhanced super soldiers require specific strategies and equipment for successful extraction. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you capture these elusive foes.
The core method involves depleting their health or stamina and then using a Fulton device with specific upgrades. You cannot simply approach them after a battle; they will quickly recover and flee. Timing is paramount, and the correct tools are essential for extraction. In essence, you have two options: either extract them during the battle while the mist is present (with a reduced success rate), or be quick to capture them in a very short window of opportunity after they are defeated. Using the Wormhole Fulton or a Fulton Cargo Upgrade is mandatory for this process.
Essential Gear and Preparations
Before confronting the Skulls, it’s crucial to equip yourself properly:
- Wormhole Fulton or Fulton Cargo Upgrade: These are absolute requirements. The standard Fulton device will not work on the Skulls.
- Tranquilizer Sniper Rifle: Though you can extract them lethally, using a tranquilizer sniper rifle can make it easier to manage their stamina and initiate the extraction process, especially if attempting to capture them during battle.
- Powerful Weapons: You’ll need weapons capable of taking down the Skulls quickly, whether lethal or non-lethal. Rocket launchers, sustained fire weapons like the Gatling Gun, and high-powered sniper rifles like the Brennan LRS-46 work exceptionally well.
- Quiet as a Buddy: Equipping Quiet with the Brennan sniper rifle can be an incredible asset, allowing her to eliminate the Skulls while you focus on extraction or dealing with other threats.
The Extraction Process: Timing and Techniques
The Skulls’ behavior makes extracting them a challenging task. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Engage the Skulls: During missions, you’ll encounter Skulls, either as a group or as sniper variants. Engage them using your powerful weapons, making sure to break their shields before inflicting direct damage.
- Deplete their Health/Stamina: Reduce the Skull’s health or stamina to the point where they are vulnerable. If using lethal means, they will drop to the ground briefly. If using non-lethal means, they’ll stagger and be temporarily subdued.
- Extract Quickly: Once defeated or subdued, you must act quickly. Don’t wait until the end of the battle, as they will regenerate and escape. If attempting to extract during the battle, you’ll face a reduced extraction success rate, but it is often the only option as they will stand up and run away almost immediately. The Wormhole Fulton has a higher success rate during this period.
- Aim and Fulton: Approach the fallen Skull and use your Wormhole Fulton or a Fulton Cargo Upgrade to extract them. It is very time sensitive so it is important to do this very quickly.
Specific Skull Types and Extraction
There are several types of Skulls, but the extraction process remains largely the same:
Sniper Skulls
These Skulls are particularly challenging as they stay in elevated positions. You’ll need to use your sniper rifle to pinpoint their positions, indicated by their targeting lasers, and take them down. The Fulton Cargo Upgrade or Wormhole Fulton is required to extract these snipers.
Armored Skulls
These Skulls typically engage in close-quarters combat. You need to use powerful weapons or sustained fire to break their shields and then damage them directly.
Mist Skulls
These Skulls can manipulate the mist around them for stealth and defense. You can see their position by looking for distortions in the air. They are no different in terms of extraction procedure but are often more difficult to find due to their mist abilities.
Overall Extraction Tips
- Don’t Be Afraid to Take Chances: The Skulls’ volatile behavior forces you to take calculated risks with the Fulton extraction.
- Use the Environment: Leverage your surroundings to gain positional advantages, and use cover to avoid their attacks.
- Be Prepared to Repeat: Extracting the Skulls is often not a straightforward process. Be prepared to attempt missions multiple times.
Unlocking the Parasite Suit
Capturing the Skulls is not just for bragging rights; it unlocks significant in-game advantages. Specifically, extracting them is essential for crafting the Parasite Suit. The suit itself unlocks after completing Mission 28: Code Talker and having your R&D and Medical Teams reach level 25. You then need to extract Skulls with the Wormhole Fulton to gather parasites, which you can use to activate the suit’s abilities.
By following these steps and tips, you can successfully extract Skull soldiers in Metal Gear Solid V, gain access to the powerful Parasite Suit, and improve your odds in future encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why can’t I extract the Skulls?
You must use the Wormhole Fulton or the Fulton Cargo Upgrade to extract Skulls. Standard Fulton devices will not work. Furthermore, you must be quick and attempt the extraction very shortly after the Skull is defeated, or attempt to extract during the battle, otherwise they will get back up and run away.
2. When can I extract the Skulls?
The ability to extract Skulls is unlocked after completing Mission 29. You do not need to use non-lethal means; lethal approaches are also effective.
3. Do I need to use non-lethal weapons to extract Skulls?
No, you can extract them using either lethal or non-lethal means.
4. How do you eliminate Skulls quickly?
The most effective methods for eliminating Skulls quickly include using a rocket launcher, high-powered sniper rifles, the D-Walker with a Gatling Gun, or Quiet using the Brennan LRS-46. Sustained fire is better than burst damage.
5. Can I avoid the Skulls?
Yes, you can avoid the Skulls by changing the landing zone. In some missions, selecting a different extraction point will bypass their encounter.
6. What are the abilities of the Mist Skulls?
The Mist Skulls can create mist around them, essentially forming a personal sandstorm, going invisible, and utilizing enhanced armor. This makes them tough and challenging to see clearly.
7. What are the different types of Skull soldiers?
The main types are armored Skulls, sniper Skulls, and mist Skulls.
8. What is the Parasite Suit?
The Parasite Suit is a special suit you can unlock by reaching level 25 with your R&D and Medical teams after mission 28, then by extracting parasites from the Skulls. It grants the user the abilities of the Skulls, such as stealth, mist, and armor boosts.
9. How do you use the Parasite Suit?
The Parasite Suit requires extracted parasites from the Skulls to activate its various abilities. For every Skull of the same type extracted, you get one parasite and therefore one use of that ability.
10. How do you get the Parasite Suit?
The blueprint for the Parasite Suit is unlocked after beating Mission 28: Code Talker and reaching level 25 with your R&D and Medical teams. You then need to extract Skulls to acquire parasites for suit abilities.
11. Can Sleeping Gas work on the Skulls?
While you can use sleeping gas to subdue Skulls, you will not be able to fulton them with this method.
12. Can you extract the Skull snipers?
Yes, the sniper Skulls can be extracted, but only with the Fulton Cargo Upgrade or Wormhole Fulton. Only one sniper needs to be extracted to complete the objective in most missions.
13. Do I need a Wormhole Fulton to extract Skulls?
Yes, the Skulls can only be extracted with a Wormhole Fulton or a Fulton Cargo Upgrade.
14. Is it better to extract during battle or after?
During the battle, extracting them will result in a reduced success rate. Waiting to extract after they are defeated only provides a very short window of opportunity before they run away. Most players extract during the battle, as the brief window after defeat is often too small to react.
15. What’s the fastest way to take down Skulls?
Using the Brennan sniper rifle with Quiet, or using a multi-homing rocket launcher, or D-Walker with Gatling Gun are some of the fastest and most effective ways to take down Skulls.