Part 10

Learn how to level up Cop and Triad levels in Sleeping Dogs, unlocking 30 upgrades, new combos, and health extensions.

You can view your Cop Level, Triad Level, and Face Level, along with available upgrades, in the Upgrades section of the main menu. Use L1/R1 (buttons to cycle through options) to switch between them and see details. This sub-menu also allows you to select which cop and triad upgrades you want to acquire once earned.

Cop Level

You earn Cop experience points (XP) by completing story missions, investigating cases, and performing drug busts. Advancing through Cop Level 0 to Cop Level 10 grants you the ability to unlock new abilities from the Upgrades menu. All cop upgrades focus on driving and shooting skills.

Certain actions during missions or cases will reduce your Cop XP upon completion. Penalties are incurred for damaging property (civilian cars, railings, lampposts), injuring or killing innocents, mistiming freerunning moves, and theft. Avoid these actions to maximize your experience points.

Cop XP is visually represented by three blue shield symbols above your minimap (a small map usually in the corner of the screen). These shields start full and deplete if you incur penalties.

Tip: You can increase the amount of Cop XP you gain by wearing a matching set of three garments: Police Constable Bonus (+5%), Police Sergeant Bonus (+10%), or Police Inspector Bonus (+15%).

The cop upgrade system features two branches, displayed vertically here for clarity. The smartphone upgrade is automatically gained at the start of the game. After this, you can purchase one new upgrade per level promotion. Upgrades unlock sequentially along each branch, meaning you must acquire earlier upgrades before later ones (e.g., Slim Jim before Action Dismount). You are free to choose either branch at each available opportunity.

1. Phone - Automatically gained at the start of the game.
2. Slim Jim - A tool to steal cars quickly without triggering alarms or causing damage.
3. Fast Disarm - Disarm an opponent carrying a gun without a struggle.
4. Action Dismount - When carrying a gun and driving fast, enter bullet-time (a slow-motion effect) when exiting the vehicle.
5. Slow-Motion Follow-Up - Hold L2 (button) to enter bullet-time after a disarm or melee attack.
6. Action Hijack Reduced Heat - Completing an action hijack reduces your current Heat (police wanted rating).
7. Recoil Compensator - Reduces the recoil experienced with all firearms.
8. Increased Ram Damage - Ramming attacks against other vehicles cause more damage.
9. Increased Focus - The bullet-time effect from vaulting/disarming lasts longer.
10. Police Trunk Key - Allows you to collect firearms from the trunks of police cars.
11. Overpressure Ammo - A switch to overpressure rounds increases bullet damage.

Unlocking all ten cop upgrades earns you the Super Cop trophy.

Triad Level

Similar to the cop system, you can advance from Triad Level 0 to Triad Level 10 by earning Triad XP during missions. You gain XP by impressing the triads, primarily through effective and skillful combat. There are ten combat-based unlocks available.

You can gain small amounts of Triad XP by damaging opponents in combat, with significant bonuses for completing counters, heavy attacks, environmental attacks, weapon attacks, knockdowns, throws, follow-up strikes after a stun, disarms, and defeating an enemy. In gunfights, you receive bonus points for headshots, explosive kills, disarming enemies, and shooting enemies during a bullet-time vaulting move.

During vehicle chases, you can earn XP for damaging and destroying enemy vehicles (by shooting or ramming), scoring disabling shots on their tires, and performing action hijacks. Triad XP can also be earned from various objectives in missions.