Learn how to recruit allies in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. This guide covers capturing soldiers, special conditions for unique characters, and the various soldier careers and their effects.
Walkthrough
- 1Knock out enemy soldiers.
- 2Drag them to a truck or cardboard box before they recover.
- 3After completing or aborting the mission, they will be in prison on the Squad Management screen.
- 4Soldiers will join your unit after a few days; this turn is faster if you have a Politician in your squad.
- 5Rescued captured soldiers join immediately.
- 6Unique Characters have special conditions to fulfill before joining.
- 7Soldiers can also join immediately if rescued, via AP Scan, via password (GAKO soldier and Zero are notable exceptions), or of their own free will through Cyber-Survival.
Tips
- Unique Characters: Jonathan, Para-Medic, Python, Raikov, Sigint, Sokolov, Eva, Venus, Teliko, Gene (EU version), and any rescued soldier join immediately.
- Passwords: Generally not recommended except for the GAKO soldier and Zero (if you don't own the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel).
- Cyber-Survival: Use this mode via WLAN to potentially recruit soldiers who join of their own free will, sometimes with a gift like Stealth Camouflage. Be cautious, as you can lose your own soldiers if you fail.
Careers:
| Career | Effect | Best Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete | Movement speed is faster | Infiltration Unit |
| Quarterback | Throwing distance is longer | Infiltration Unit |
| Artist | Magazine (book) has no effect | Online Unit |
| Scout | Stalking speed is faster | Infiltration Unit |
| Rescuer | Dragging movement speed is faster | Infiltration Unit |
| Gambler | Increases chance of hitting weak spot/getting hit in weak spot | Cyber-Survival |
| Deliveryman | Can send items back to Campbell's truck | Infiltration Unit |
| Bait | Makes strong enemies appear more often | Infiltration Unit |
| Stuntman | Quick recovery from knockouts | Online Unit |
| Surveyor | Increases detail in stage map | Intelligence Unit |
| Spy/Agent | Decreases enemy life (by 10%) | Intelligence Unit |
| Arms Dealer | Increases chance of finding ammunition | Intelligence Unit |
| Arms Specialist | Increases amount of ammunition that can be carried | Technical Unit |
| Elite engineer | Very high technical development skills | Technical Unit |
| Engineer | High technical development skills | Technical Unit |
| Chemist | Works on medicine development | Medical Unit |
| Doctor | Increases life recovery speed for your squad | Medical Unit |
| Nutrionist | Increases stamina recovery speed for your squad | Medical Unit |
| Politician | Prisoners become allies more easily | ANY UNIT |
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