Side Missions & Optional Objectives
While the main narrative of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners provides a compelling journey through post-apocalyptic New Orleans, the true depth of the game lies in its numerous side missions and optional objectives. These tasks not only offer valuable resources and crafting recipes but also flesh out the lore and introduce memorable characters. Prioritizing these can significantly ease your progression through the main story, especially in terms of gear and supplies.
Tower & Reclaimed Faction Missions
Throughout your travels, you'll encounter various notes and radio transmissions that initiate faction-specific side quests. These often involve retrieving specific items, eliminating rival patrols, or delivering supplies. Completing these missions improves your standing with the respective faction, sometimes unlocking new trading opportunities or safe house locations.
- Resource Runs: Many faction missions will task you with collecting a certain quantity of a specific resource, such as Scrap Metal, Gunpowder, or Medical Supplies. Always check your crafting recipes and current inventory before heading out to maximize efficiency. Areas like the Via Corolla and Old Town are excellent for general scavenging.
- Elimination Contracts: You might be asked to clear out a specific group of Tower or Reclaimed soldiers. These often occur in contested zones like The Ward or Bywater. Approach these encounters tactically, using stealth to thin out numbers before engaging directly. Headshots with a silenced pistol like the 9mm Pistol are highly effective.
- Supply Drops: Occasionally, you'll receive a radio call about a supply drop in a specific location. These are timed events and often contested by both walkers and rival survivors. Prioritize reaching the drop zone quickly, secure the area, and grab the valuable loot, which often includes rare crafting materials or powerful weapons like the Lever-Action Rifle.
Hidden Stashes & Cache Locations
New Orleans is riddled with hidden stashes containing valuable loot. These are often indicated by cryptic notes or environmental clues. Keeping an eye out for these can provide a significant boost to your inventory.
- The Golden Guns: There are several unique, gold-plated weapons hidden throughout the game. Finding these not only grants you powerful firearms but also adds a significant amount of lore.
- Golden Revolver: Found in a locked safe in the Rampart Street area, often requiring a specific code found on a nearby note or through environmental puzzles.
- Golden AR: Located in a well-hidden compartment within the Memorial Lane church, typically accessible after completing a specific side quest or solving a puzzle involving the church's bells.
- Backpack Upgrades: While not strictly a side mission, finding the various backpack upgrades is crucial for increasing your carrying capacity. These are usually found in specific, well-guarded locations or as rewards for completing certain challenges. The first upgrade is often found in the Blue Palace Hotel in the French Quarter.
- Crafting Recipe Blueprints: Many advanced crafting recipes are not automatically unlocked. They are found as blueprints scattered across the city. Always thoroughly search every building, especially in areas like The Shallows and The Bastion, as these often contain valuable schematics for items like the Advanced Bandage or the Explosive Arrow.
The Tourist's Journal Entries
Your journal, accessible via your backpack, contains not only your main objectives but also several optional entries that provide background information and sometimes hint at hidden treasures or encounters. Regularly review these entries for clues.
- Character Stories: Some journal entries detail the fates of various individuals before and during the apocalypse. Following these narrative threads can sometimes lead to small, self-contained side quests or reveal hidden caches related to their stories. For example, a note about a missing family in Via Corolla might lead you to their former home and a stash of supplies.
- Environmental Clues: Pay close attention to drawings, graffiti, and notes on walls. These often serve as subtle hints for optional objectives, such as the location of a key, a safe combination, or a hidden entrance to a valuable area.
Remember, time is a critical resource in Saints & Sinners. Plan your excursions carefully, prioritize objectives that align with your current needs, and always be prepared for unexpected encounters. The rewards for pursuing these optional tasks are well worth the effort, making your journey through New Orleans much more manageable and enriching.