Learn how to recruit allies in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. This guide covers capturing soldiers, special conditions for unique characters, and effective recruiting strategies.
You cannot complete Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops without allies. Every mission features enemy soldiers, and you can only recruit them if they are incapacitated, not killed. To capture an enemy soldier, first knock them out, then drag them to the truck (or a cardboard box later in the game) before they regain consciousness. After completing or aborting the mission, these soldiers will be held in prison on the Squad Management screen. While imprisoned, you can view their skills, remove their equipment, rename them, or dispose of them. After a few in-game days, they will join your unit. Having a soldier with the Politician career in your squad will speed up this process.
Special conditions for recruitment:
- Rescuing a captured soldier immediately adds them to your unit.
- Unique Characters can be recruited, but require specific conditions to be met.
The following characters join your unit immediately after capture or rescue:
- Jonathan
- Para-Medic
- Python
- Raikov
- Sigint
- Sokolov
- Eva
- Venus
- Teliko
- Gene (in EU version)
- Any soldier rescued during a mission
- Any soldier acquired via AP Scan
- Any soldier acquired via password (Password recruitment is generally not recommended, except for the GAKO soldier and Zero if you don't own the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel. Most other soldiers are obtainable without passwords.)
- Any soldier who joins voluntarily through Cyber-Survival.
Soldier Careers and Effects:
| 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%) Note! It will also decrease your recruits life, so use them with caution! | 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 |
Cyber-Survival Mode:
After recruiting allies, you can deploy them in Cyber-Survival mode via a WLAN point. This mode has different rules than the main game. Assign equipment to your unit and send them online. Check their status after 12 hours. Analyzing battle reports from losses can help identify areas for improvement. You may capture enemy soldiers, and some may even join you voluntarily, potentially offering gifts like the Stealth Camouflage. However, be cautious, as losing in Cyber-Survival can result in your soldiers being captured by the enemy. It is advisable not to risk your favorite soldiers in this mode.
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