Enemy Types & Patrols

Enemy Types & Patrols

Understanding the various enemy types and their patrol patterns is paramount to a successful infiltration in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Stealth is your greatest weapon, and knowing when and where to move can mean the difference between a clean passage and a full alert.

Standard Guards

These are the most common enemies you'll encounter. They typically follow predictable routes and have a cone of vision directly in front of them. Their awareness is limited, but they will react to loud noises or if you enter their direct line of sight.

• Patrol Patterns: Most standard guards walk in a straight line, turn at a wall, or patrol a rectangular path. Observe their movements for a few cycles before attempting to pass.
• Detection: A single exclamation mark (!) above their head indicates they've heard something. A double exclamation mark (!!) means they've seen you and will initiate an alert.
• Strategy:
  • Crawl: Use the Cardboard Box (found in the northwest corner of Building 1, 1F) to hide and crawl past them. This is especially effective in narrow corridors or when they are facing away.
  • Distraction: Throw a Chaff Grenade (often found in storage rooms or dropped by specific guards) to temporarily disable nearby surveillance cameras and sometimes distract guards, causing them to investigate the noise.
  • Elimination: For a silent takedown, approach from behind and use your Unarmed Attack. This will knock them out for a short period. For a permanent solution, a suppressed SOCOM Pistol (acquired early in the game from Dr. Kio Marv's lab) can be used, but be mindful of the noise if not suppressed.

Security Cameras

Fixed cameras are strategically placed in critical areas and have a wide, but often predictable, field of view. They cannot be destroyed silently and will trigger an alert if you are spotted.

• Patrol Patterns: Cameras usually pan back and forth, covering a specific arc. Some remain stationary.
• Detection: A red light indicates active surveillance. If you enter their view, an alarm will sound immediately.
• Strategy:
  • Timing: Observe their movement patterns and move during the blind spots or when they are facing away.
  • EMP Grenades: A Chaff Grenade is your best friend here. Throw it near the camera to temporarily disable it, allowing you to pass safely. Stock up on these whenever possible.
  • Crawl: In some areas, crawling under the camera's field of view is possible, but this requires precise timing and knowledge of its range.

Guard Dogs

These canine units are faster than standard guards and have a superior sense of smell, making them harder to evade. They are often found patrolling outdoor areas or specific high-security zones.

• Patrol Patterns: Dogs often patrol in wider, less predictable patterns than human guards. They are also more prone to reacting to subtle sounds.
• Detection: Their sense of smell allows them to detect Snake even if he's hidden in a Cardboard Box if he's too close or downwind.
• Strategy:
  • Stealth: Crawling is less effective against dogs. Your best bet is to use the Scent Bottle (found in the kennel area of Building 2) to mask your scent, making you undetectable to them for a limited time.
  • Distraction: Throwing a Ration or Grenade (if you don't mind the noise) can distract them, causing them to investigate the sound or food.
  • Elimination: A quick Unarmed Attack or a silent shot from the SOCOM Pistol is effective. Be aware that their barks can alert nearby guards.

Armored Guards

These formidable enemies wear heavy armor, making them impervious to most standard attacks. They are slower but carry powerful weaponry and have a wider field of vision.

• Patrol Patterns: Armored guards move slowly and deliberately, often guarding key choke points or valuable items.
• Detection: Their enhanced vision and heavy armor make direct confrontation extremely risky.
• Strategy:
  • Evasion: The primary strategy is to avoid detection entirely. Use cover, crawl, and time your movements meticulously.
  • Explosives: The only effective way to deal with armored guards is with explosives like Grenades or Plastic Explosives (often found in weapon storage rooms). However, this will undoubtedly trigger an alert.
  • Special Items: Later in the game, you might acquire items that can temporarily stun or disable them, but early on, evasion is key.

Laser Barriers

While not enemies themselves, laser barriers act as an environmental hazard that triggers an alarm upon contact. They are often found in high-security corridors.

• Detection: Touching a laser beam will immediately trigger an alert.
• Strategy:
  • Cigarettes: Equip your Cigarettes to reveal the laser beams, making them visible and allowing you to navigate through them. This is a crucial early-game technique.
  • EMP Grenades: A Chaff Grenade can temporarily disable laser grids, allowing for safe passage.
  • Crawling: Often, there are gaps in the laser grid that can be crawled under, but you must first make them visible with Cigarettes.