Should You Extract Every Soldier in MGSV? A Deep Dive

The short answer? Yes, absolutely. In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, extracting every soldier you encounter is not just a good idea, it’s a core mechanic that fuels your progression, expands your options, and ultimately makes your playthrough much more enjoyable. While the game doesn’t explicitly force you to collect every last soldier, the benefits far outweigh any perceived limitations or time investment. This article delves into why maximizing your Fulton extractions is crucial for success in MGSV, and answers some frequently asked questions to help you get the most out of the game.

Why Fulton Extraction is Key in MGSV

The Metal Gear Solid series has always been about tactical espionage, and MGSV elevates that concept to a new level with its Mother Base management system. Your Mother Base acts as your central hub, where extracted personnel are assigned to different teams based on their skills. The more soldiers you extract, the more powerful your base becomes, allowing you to:

• Develop better equipment: Highly skilled personnel in your R&D team are essential for developing new weapons, tools, and upgrades, such as silencers, night vision goggles, and advanced Fulton devices.
• Enhance your combat capabilities: A larger Combat Unit means more opportunities for dispatching teams on combat deployment missions, which can earn you resources and even unlock rare items.
• Expand your support options: Better Intel and Medical teams allow you to gather more information on enemy locations, receive more intel on the battlefield, and heal more effectively between missions.
• Increase GMP income: More staff in your base contributes to a greater passive income of GMP (Gross Military Product), the game’s currency, which is vital for funding your growing war machine.
• Unlock new areas and features: A well-staffed base unlocks more parts of the base and provides access to features such as the Animal Conservation Platform (Zoo), further adding to the game’s depth.

Simply put, the soldiers you extract are the lifeblood of your operation. They are not just numbers; they are the specialists that drive every aspect of your advancement, from weapons development to infiltration tactics. Leaving them behind is leaving valuable resources unused. Remember, even low-ranked soldiers can be useful for combat deployment, and they contribute to the overall manpower of your base, which is why you should be actively Fulton-ing as many soldiers as possible.

The Added Benefit of Extracting Everything Else

Beyond soldiers, MGSV encourages you to extract virtually everything else you come across. Vehicles and weapons can be sold for GMP, or used for combat deployments if they are deemed useful. Extracting containers full of materials also gives you resources to upgrade your Mother Base. Even animals, at first glance, seem to have limited value, but they eventually unlock the Zoo platform, adding another layer to your base management. The game incentivizes you to take absolutely everything, and it’s usually worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to extracting soldiers and other items in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, providing even more valuable insights:

How many soldiers can you have in MGSV?

Each base platform adds 700 capacity for soldiers, regardless of size. A partially constructed base will fill its available slots and place any remaining personnel in a waiting room until more capacity is built. Once fully constructed, your base can employ all available soldiers.

What is the point of extracting animals in MGSV?

You get extra GMP if the animals are more dangerous or exotic. Extracting enough variety of animals will unlock the Zoo platform, where you can observe them.

How do I extract child soldiers?

You will need a Child Fulton upgrade to extract them via the Fulton device. Alternatively, you can take the risk and extract them directly via helicopter.

What do you need to achieve 100% completion in MGSV?

To fully complete MGSV, you must: Complete all missions with an S-rank, complete every objective for all missions, complete all 157 side ops, collect all 47 animals, complete all important combat deployment missions, and collect all blueprints.

What is the hardest achievement in Metal Gear Solid 5?

The rarest and most challenging achievement is “Executed,” which requires you to complete all mission tasks. This demands multiple playthroughs of each mission.

Can you beat MGSV without killing?

While you can complete many missions stealthily and non-lethally, some scenarios will require you to kill enemies.

Who is the “White Mamba” in MGSV?

The “White Mamba” is a child mercenary also known as Eli, a character that appears within the game.

What happens to child soldiers after they are extracted?

The game doesn’t go into great detail about this, but in reality, these children face many physical, developmental, and mental challenges following their association with armed forces.

Are child soldiers legal?

International law prohibits the recruitment of children below the age of 15.

Can you obtain the song “Snake Eater” in MGSV?

Yes, “Snake Eater” is available as a collectible cassette tape, located at Outpost 21 in the Angola-Zaire border region.

Who is the best buddy in MGSV?

D-Dog is generally considered the best buddy for stealth approaches, as he will automatically mark enemy positions for you.

How do I unlock Side Op 50 in MGSV?

Side Op 50, which involves capturing the Legendary Jackal, is unlocked after completing Mission 31. Completing this will unlock the Wormhole Fulton upgrade.

Does your “horn” grow in MGSV?

Yes, it does. Your “horn” will become larger when you accumulate a total of 20,000 Demon Points.

What happens if you don’t shower in MGSV?

You will become visibly dirty and smell bad, causing flies to swarm around you and even eliciting negative reactions from other characters. Ocelot will eventually throw a bucket of water on you.

Can you get Quiet back after killing her in MGSV?

Yes, you can. You must replay Mission 11 seven times and choose to spare her rather than follow Miller’s requests to eliminate her.

Conclusion

Extracting every soldier, vehicle, weapon, and animal you encounter in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is paramount to your success. It’s the engine that drives your base development, combat capabilities, and ultimately, your entire experience in the game. Don’t see it as just a mundane task, but as a core component of strategic gameplay that rewards thoroughness. So, embrace the Fulton system, and remember: extract everything, leave nothing behind. By doing so, you’ll not only build a formidable Mother Base but also experience everything the game has to offer.