Enemy Statuses

Learn how enemy patrols change in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes when they spot you. Understand Normal Patrols, Alert, and Combat modes to stay hidden and succeed.

Alright, let's talk about how the bad guys act in Ground Zeroes. Staying hidden is key, and knowing how enemies react when they *do* spot you is super important. If you're seen, or if they find a body you left behind, it can kick off an alert. Once that happens, their behavior totally changes, so you need to be ready.

Here's the lowdown on how they act:

• Normal Patrols – This is when things are quiet. Guards are just doing their usual routes. It's your best chance to watch their patterns and figure out the perfect moment to move in.
• Alert – If a guard spots you, or finds a body lying around, they'll go into Alert mode. They'll start actively searching the area where you were last seen, working outwards. They're way more alert now, their search patterns get weird, and they can spot you from further away with less time for you to react. The good news? If you can break line of sight and stay hidden long enough, they'll eventually calm down and go back to Normal Patrols.
• Combat – This is the worst-case scenario. If you're spotted while they're already in Alert mode, you'll see a big red exclamation mark above their head. They'll immediately radio in your position and start shooting. If they start shooting with un-suppressed gunfire, the alarms will blare, and they'll be on the hunt for you big time. Just like with Alert mode, though, breaking line of sight and staying hidden for a minute or two can de-escalate the situation.

Basically, if you see that red '!' above a guard's head, they're about to go full combat mode and alert the whole base. Keep your wits about you and use the environment to break their line of sight whenever possible!