Intuition Points

Master Intuition Points in L.A. Noire. Learn how to earn, manage, and strategically deploy these vital resources to solve tough cases as Detective Cole Phelps.

In the gritty, morally ambiguous world of L.A. Noire, Intuition Points are a critical resource that can significantly impact your success as Detective Cole Phelps. These valuable commodities act as a lifeline, offering assistance when investigations become particularly challenging. Understanding how to earn, manage, and strategically deploy Intuition Points is paramount to navigating the labyrinthine cases of 1940s Los Angeles and achieving a perfect case rating.

What Are Intuition Points?

Intuition Points are a finite, consumable resource that allows Cole Phelps to gain an advantage during various investigative phases. They represent Phelps's innate detective instincts, helping him cut through the fog of deception and uncover the truth. Unlike standard game mechanics that might offer hints or skip sections, Intuition Points provide direct, impactful assistance that can turn the tide of a difficult interrogation or reveal a crucial hidden detail at a crime scene.

How to Earn Intuition Points

Accumulating Intuition Points is tied directly to your overall progression and exploration within L.A. Noire. There are two primary methods for earning them:

• Leveling Up: As Cole Phelps solves cases, successfully interrogates suspects, and discovers clues, he earns experience points. Accumulating enough experience leads to a rank increase (leveling up). Each time Phelps levels up, you are rewarded with a set number of Intuition Points. This is the most consistent and reliable method of earning them, encouraging thorough investigation and successful case resolution.
• Finding Newspapers: Throughout the game, hidden newspapers are scattered across various crime scenes and locations. Each newspaper you discover not only provides a glimpse into the game's overarching narrative and the Black Dahlia case but also grants you a single Intuition Point. There are 13 newspapers in total across the game, offering a valuable, albeit limited, source of these points. Actively searching for these collectibles is highly recommended for maximizing your Intuition Point reserves.

Strategic Uses of Intuition Points

Intuition Points can be spent in three distinct ways, each offering a unique advantage. Deciding when and where to use them is a key strategic element of L.A. Noire.

1. Reveal All Clues at a Crime Scene

• Cost: 1 Intuition Point
• Effect: When activated at a crime scene, this ability will highlight all remaining undiscovered clues. This is incredibly useful for ensuring you haven't missed anything vital that could lead to a breakthrough or a perfect score.
• Strategic Advice:
  • Use Freely on Complex Scenes: For particularly large or intricate crime scenes with many potential hiding spots, spending an Intuition Point here can save significant time and frustration. It guarantees you've gathered all available evidence before moving on.
  • Early Game Advantage: In the early stages of the game, when you're still getting accustomed to the clue-finding mechanics, this can be a great way to ensure you're not missing crucial items that might impact later interrogations.
  • Perfect Case Runs: If you're aiming for a 5-star rating on every case, using an Intuition Point to confirm all clues have been found is a safe bet, especially if you've already done a thorough manual search.
  • Avoid if Confident: If you've meticulously searched a crime scene and are confident you've found everything, save your point. Trust your detective skills!

2. Eliminate Incorrect Answers During Interrogations

• Cost: 1 Intuition Point per elimination
• Effect: During an interrogation, when you are presented with multiple choices (Truth, Doubt, Lie), activating this ability will eliminate one incorrect option, narrowing down your choices. You can use this multiple times on a single question, but each elimination costs one point.
• Strategic Advice:
  • Save for Tough Interrogations: This is arguably the most valuable use of Intuition Points. Some suspects are master manipulators, and their tells can be incredibly subtle. Saving your points for these high-stakes interrogations, especially towards the end of a case, can be a game-changer.
  • When Evidence is Scarce: If you find yourself in an interrogation where you have very little concrete evidence to back up your accusations, using an Intuition Point to eliminate an incorrect answer can prevent you from making a false accusation and losing credibility.
  • High-Stakes Questions: Prioritize using points on questions that have significant branching consequences or those that directly lead to the next crucial piece of the investigation.
  • One Elimination is Often Enough: Often, eliminating just one incorrect answer can provide enough clarity to make the correct choice between the remaining two. Don't feel pressured to eliminate all but one unless you're truly stumped.

3. Ask the Community for Help (Not a Game Feature)

Please note: The original guide incorrectly mentioned an "ask the community for help (online feature)." This is NOT a feature present in L.A. Noire across any of its platforms (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS3, Xbox 360). This functionality does not exist within the game itself. Players seeking assistance would need to consult external online guides, forums, or communities, not an in-game mechanic.

Managing Your Intuition Points

Given their utility, prudent management of Intuition Points is crucial:

• Don't Hoard Them Excessively: While it's wise not to squander them, don't hoard Intuition Points to the point where you're struggling through cases unnecessarily. They are there to be used and enhance your experience.
• Prioritize Interrogations: Generally, using Intuition Points during interrogations tends to have a more direct and immediate impact on case progression and success compared to crime scene clue revelation, especially if you're thorough in your searches.
• Adapt to Your Playstyle:
  • Thorough Player: If you enjoy meticulously searching crime scenes, you might save your points primarily for interrogations.
  • Pacing Player: If you prefer to move through crime scenes more quickly, using a point to reveal all clues can be a good time-saver.
• Check Your Current Count: Always be aware of how many Intuition Points you have. This information is typically displayed on your HUD or accessible through the pause menu.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

• Missing Newspapers: Failing to find all 13 newspapers means you'll miss out on 13 valuable Intuition Points. Many are subtly placed, so keep an eye out even after you think you've cleared a scene.
• Wasting Points on Obvious Choices: Avoid using Intuition Points on interrogations where the correct answer is glaringly obvious, or you have overwhelming evidence. Save them for when you're genuinely uncertain.
• Not Using Them at All: Some players might be tempted to save all their Intuition Points for a "rainy day" that never comes. Remember, the game has a finite number of cases. Use them to enhance your experience and achieve better results.

By understanding the mechanics of Intuition Points and employing them strategically, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the toughest cases L.A. Noire throws your way, ensuring Detective Phelps's journey through the dark underbelly of Los Angeles is as successful and insightful as possible.