Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes Game Guide & Walkthrough

The game guide to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a complete source of information about the most convenient way to finish the game. Tips included in the guide will make it possible to complete it on the hardest level of difficulty and additional hints will be helpful in achieving the S ranks. There is also information about obtaining the XOF Patches and the Cassette Tapes, as well us tips on how to obtain all the achievements/trophies. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a prologue to Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain and it continues with the plot from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The main character's (Snake) priority is to rescue two prisoners, Paz and Chico, who are in possession of dangerous information, which must remain secret. The game is particularly addressed to the fans of the series, providing an introduction to the game mechanics. Besides the main plot, it gives the player a variety of additional missions, achievements and secrets, which can extend the gameplay. Every mission can be completed by using many different ways, for example by acting quietly or dynamically eliminating the enemies. The game offers various possibilities of escape, providing multiple weapons and a few vehicles. The level of difficulty is high and the AI of the enemies is well designed.

The game guide to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes features:

• Tips on how to accomplish every mission on the highest level of difficulty, obtaining the S rank.
• Multiple hints that enable quicker and more convenient way of finishing the game.
• Information about the Side Ops, Extra Ops and ways of completing them.
• Location of the XOF patches and the Cassette Tapes.
• Description of all the achievements/trophies and how to obtain them.

Patrick "YxU" Homa ()

Movement

Camera

Closer view

Sprint

Change stance

Reload/Carry

Quick Dive

Action

Quick equipment

Radio

Aim weapon

Binoculars

Fire

Pause menu

iDroid

Movement

Camera

Closer view

Sprint

Change stance

Reload/Carry

Quick Dive

Action

Quick equipment

Radio

Aim weapon

Binoculars

Fire

Pause menu

iDroid

Ground Zeroes is the only main mission in the game. We have to rescue two prisoners, Chico and Paz and we can also rescue a convict and a few captives. It is suggested to first rescue Chico and then Paz. The order can be changed and you will have to do exactly that if you want to collect all the Cassette Tapes.

The captives can be rescued in any time of the gameplay, but you will only have the opportunity to rescue the convict a short while after setting Chico free.

The missions can be accomplished in many ways, but if you aim for a good score/high rank, time is the thing that matters. Staying unnoticed and not killing the enemies also counts, that's why the game guide describes paths that will allow you to quickly move from one point to another, without killing any enemies.

A rock next to the tower

Go pass the lookout tower, avoiding the spotlight and hide behind a rock. You can go near the tower and get rid of the guard or climb the rock and go along the edge, straight to the base.

The enemy can't see you hiding in the bushes

Hide in the bushes and wait until the vehicle will pass. Then, head to the next tower, avoiding the guard's sight.

Get rid of the next guard

Go along the fence until you spot a guardhouse. Hide in it and wait for a guard. Eliminate him or try to avoid him. If you want to rescue the captives, it is best for you not to kill him.

You can use the tower to locate your targets

Head to the tower by going along the shoreline. From there, you can quickly locate all the prisoners and your enemies. Go down and head to the other side of the camp, where the entrance to Chico's cell is located.

Free Chico

When you are on the other side of the fence, start rescuing the prisoners. You can carry them along the shore to the landing zone (marked with a white circle on the map). Call the helicopter using the iDroid (an icon of a helicopter in the first tab, then point to the place where it should land).

Get back to the base

Now you have two options to choose: You can either rescue Paz, or a prisoner waiting for being executed. Setting the prisoner free is optional and possible only in this moment. After that, you will have to rescue Paz also, to accomplish the mission.

Head to the base.

You can use the truck to get to the base

If you first rescued Chico and tried to be rather fast, you will spot a truck waiting on the crossroads. You can jump on it and lay down, which will make it possible for you to go through the gate unnoticed.

Knock out the guard

If you were too late to see the truck, you will have to use another way. First, knock out the enemy standing near the wall. Cross the road an hide between the tents.

Avoid the enemies' sight and don't leave any bodies behind you

Now head to the barracks. Then, hiding between the buildings, try to make it to the fence around the courtyard, in front of the main base.

Go over the fence

Go over the fence and staying low (or crawling, when spotted), reach the red door to your left. You can use the ventilation shaft in the corner, near the street lamp.

Sabotage the power

Behind the door, you will notice a fence around the power controls. One of the generators is uncovered so you can disable the cameras in the whole building. If you used the truck to get to the base, head to the same place by going between a building and the wall around the base.

Hide under the warehouse

Behind the fence, there is a warehouse with raised foundations. You can go beneath it. Wait for a while, until the guard that stands nearby is sent to fix the power. You will have to take him out. In other case, when the power is switched back on, the mission will be much harder to accomplish.

Go behind the building

Go behind the neighboring building and start crawling halfway through, because one of the guards will be looking your direction. Distract him or knock him out and climb up the stairs.

The guard near the stairs

There will be a guard standing on the other side of the stairs. If you don't hurry, he will start going up the stairs, so have your non-lethal weapon ready. Remember to hide the body behind the building.

Watch out for the guard on the lower level

Jump over the yellow barrier. Watch out for the patrolling guard. Wait until he passes you or take him out. Then, head to the other side of the corridor to the machines on your right. Head right behind the passage.

Free Paz

You will find Paz at the end of the next room. If you managed not to activate the alarm, there should be no guards in the room. However, if you were noticed, there may be around three guards waiting for you. Go behind the machines, from where you will be able to easily eliminate the enemies. You can't rescue Paz as long as the alarm is active.

Escape the base carrying Paz

With Paz on your shoulders, head to the exit. You will notice two guards in the corridor. Wait until they end their conversation. One will start approaching you so try to hide and take him down when he comes near you.

Escape variant number 1

Watch out for the two guards walking down the stairs

You can escape quietly by going the same way which you have arrived. Turn left. You will notice two guards on the stairs so hide behind the machinery until the way is clear.

Deal with the guard who is on top of the stairs

There will be a guard standing on top of the stairs. Take him down with a shot from your silent pistol and continue your escape. Go behind the buildings one more time and get out of the base through the red door. Now, you can either go back the way you came, or go the other way, straight to the place where you've started the mission. You will encounter less guards if you go along the refugee camp, so when choosing this way you have more chance to succeed. However, if you've eliminated a lot of enemies when going to the base, the path back to the coast should be clear.

Escape variant number 2

Use the truck to escape

There is also the possibility to use the truck. If you have used it to get to the base, you will find it in the place where it was parked. If not, it will be parked in the courtyard, outside the base. This way of escaping is a bit more dangerous, because the truck is not very durable and your enemies can spot you through the windshield.

You will have to seat the prisoner on the passenger's seat.

Escape variant number 3

Escaping in the chopper

You can also head to the landing zone, right next to the base, but you will have to clear the area from the soldiers first, so that they don't shoot the helicopter down. If you haven't raised the alarm, there should be an empty armored vehicle, using which you can quickly take care of quite a few enemies.

This option is very quick, but killing many soldiers will bring you lower score and you may not get the S rank.

The convict

Three guards stand near the prisoner

If you choose to rescue the convict first, go back to the refugee camp (the tents near the starting point). He is lying next to a trunk and the toilets, surrounded by three guards. Get rid of these guards or knock them out to rescue the prisoner unnoticed.

You can distract the enemy

If you don't want to kill the enemies, You can distract them by throwing a magazine towards the tents and then go to the prisoner.

Carry the prisoner to the helicopter

Extract him in a helicopter. You can call it to the place where you've started the mission - this is the quickest way. Rescuing the prisoner is rewarded with the achievement "Rescue" and with the cassette Chico's Tape 4.

The rest of the prisoners

The prisoners

The rest can be rescued in any moment, before completing the mission. You just have to open the cells and escort them to a landing zone. In most of the missions, there is a possibility to rescue prisoners, which is rewarded with a high score and makes it possible to obtain the S rank.

Get rid of the guard on the cliff

The mission starts in the place to which you escort the prisoners. You can escort them at any time during the mission, but this task is only optional. The main objective is to eliminate two agents. If you raise the alarm, they will start escaping from the base, so you have to act quietly. First, take down a guard on the cliff and then head towards the base.

Wait until the patrol passes by

Lying in the grass, wait until a vehicle with some troops passes. Then, eliminate a patrolling guard and by crossing the road, make your way between the tents.

Target number 1

The first target, accompanied by two bodyguards, will be heading towards the refugee camp. If you can shoot both quickly and accurately, you can eliminate (or tranquilize) all three of them. To do that, you need to sneak to them from behind when they are between the tents, so that other guards can't see them. Remember that the main target has to be killed, so if you don't have a lethal weapon, you need to use a knife after tranquilizing him.

The warehouse with red door

East of the steel tower, there is a warehouse with red door, where you will find a Cassette Tape.

Now, you should head towards the main base, where you will have to get inside through the red door or the ventilation shaft. You can also use the armoured vehicle, but you have to drive carefully to stay unnoticed.

Watch out for the guards by the tower

Inside the base, you can disable the cameras one more time by sabotaging the power. Your targets are constantly moving around the base, but the second one can be found in the administration tower most of the time. Observing the top of the ladder by the wall and the courtyard, climb up the ladder and eliminate the guards.

Target number 2

Your target is a black man wearing glasses. After killing him, you can easily escape the base using the road or the helicopter. The fastest way is to use a vehicle and head to the western gate. You risk raising the alarm, but the time that you save this way is more valuable than the few points that you lose. You can choose the order in which you eliminate the targets, but when doing it in the order described above, it is easier not to raise the alarm and to avoid soldiers searching for the agents.

Prisoners in their cells

Before completing the mission, you can rescue the prisoners to gain additional points. Their cells are located near the shoreline, in the western part of the map, in a prison with barbed wire around it. They are usually watched by one, sometimes by two guards (only if you haven't raised the alarm). You can quickly carry them to a place where the helicopter will be able to land.

Alternative way - kidnap the targets

Tranquilize the target

By completing the mission this way you unlock the "Depth" achievement. Despite the objectives of the mission, you want to kidnap both the targets, instead of killing them. Quietly make your way near the first target. After knocking him out, carry him to the landing zone. You can also go the western edge of the map, but you will have to eliminate the guard on the steel tower first.

Carry him to the helicopter

After you've called the helicopter, place your target inside it. Now you have to kidnap the second agent. You should find him in the tower or walking around the courtyard.

Use a vehicle to do it faster

You will find a car parked inside the base, near the generators. You can seat the unconscious target on one of the passenger's seat and leave the base through the main gate (use a switch to the left to open it). Then, head to the eastern gate. Try to drive fast and avoid the enemies and you should escape the base without any trouble. Doing it fast will enable you to obtain the S rank.

Cover your target

In this mission you have to cover the target by shooting at the enemy's base. If you want to unlock the "Pacifist" achievement, you will have to only use your non-lethal weapon throughout the whole mission. Watch out for enemies standing on the rooftops, because the impact of your bullets may cause them to fall and die. First, you arrive at the prison, where you localize an ally being under fire. Get rid of the soldiers before your friend gets killed. Enemy reinforcements will come, arriving from the right side. You have to eliminate the drivers of the vehicles, because you can fail the mission if a vehicle hits your target.

Make your way to the target and cover him

After jumping out of the helicopter, run towards your target. Take the RPG that stands by the wall.

Destroy the armoured vehicle

If you aim the unlock the achievement, you have to use the RPG now. Three shots will be enough to get rid of the armoured vehicle and clear the area for the helicopter. Be careful not to kill any guards with the explosion, because it will make it impossible to unlock the "Pacifist" achievement.

Take down the enemy helicopter

Finally, take care of the soldiers in the base and the helicopter will arrive after a while. You can use the RPG, but remember to use only non-lethal weapon if you want to unlock the achievement.

Get out of the truck

You start the mission on a truck. Get out of it as soon as it passes near your target, which is the tower next to the refugee camp. Get to the top of it and use the spotlight. Watch out for the guards heading your direction.

Use the binoculars to locate your target

Use the binoculars. You have to locate the target - informant, with whom you have to make contact. After a minute or so, you will notice him in the company of one other guard.

Get rid of the second guard

Eliminate the guard who is with the agent and sneak behind your target. A cutscene will show up, after which you will have to head towards the main base and collect the tape from the central guard tower.

Head to the base

Go to the base the same way as in all the other missions. You will not encounter many guards in this mission.

Destroy the camera

When inside the tower, make sure that you destroy the camera above the entrance, or that you disable the power first. Take the tape from the desk. If you've done your task fast enough, you will notice that the vehicle on which you had begun the mission is parked in the main base. You can get on the back of it and wait (up to 5 minutes) until it leaves the base. Otherwise, leave the base any other way or using the helicopter. To save some time, you can use any vehicle in the base and drive past the border of the map.

Open the cells to complete the additional task

To obtain the S rank, you have to rescue the prisoners as well. However, you need a lot of time to complete this mission, so read about the alternative way, to get the S rank. The prisoners once again are located in the cells near the shoreline.

The alternative way - collect 2 tapes and unlock the achievement

Go between the building and the wall

The alternative way described here enables you to unlock the "infiltration" achievement (for riding on the truck to and from the base) and to obtain the S rank (provided you don't raise the alarm, use a checkpoint or be late for the truck). You have to do three things: ride on the truck all the way to the inside of the base and sneaking between the building and the wall, make your way to the ladder and climb up to the tower.

Watch out for the camera on the wall

Take the tape. This tape is also one of the collectibles - "Agent's Recording". If you are playing on the Hard level, you won't have the basic weapon with you, only the pistol. Unfortunately, it will not be enough to destroy the camera in the tower, so you have to take a gun from an unconscious soldier, or try to collect the tape in such a way that the camera can't spot you. You can also disable the power before entering the tower. Afterwards, you can get back on the truck and wait until it leaves. However, there is one more tape to collect in this mission.

The bald guy is your target

Now You have to go to the lower base (underground) without raising the alarm. There will be a soldier walking around near the generators. Sneak behind him and interrogate him. If you use this action twice, he will drop the second tape. Head back to the truck.

Destroy the AA guns

You start on the rocks in the southern part of the map. Your objective is to destroy three of the four AA guns marked on the map. If you want to complete the mission quietly, place C4 on those three or four guns and use the detonator after reaching a safe spot.

Get rid of the armoured vehicle

After the explosion, you will notice an armoured vehicle arriving from the west. You can take care of it using C4 or grenades.

Mines in the warehouse

In a warehouse to the right from the steel tower, you will find some mines, which you can plant near the entrance to the base. Place C4 there also and it will be enough to eliminate the armoured vehicle. One of the guards near the barracks is carrying an RPG. You can use it to destroy the targets. Destroying the AA guns and the vehicle are your only main objectives in this mission.

"Special" prisoner

You can also rescue three of the prisoners, and one "special" prisoner, who is being held under the main base (in the place where you find Paz in the first mission). Rescuing this prisoner will be rewarded with obtaining the cassette Chico's Tape 7. To free the prisoner, you have to find him beneath the base and then carry him to the landing zone. For rescuing all of the prisoners (the ones in the cells by the shoreline and the one in the undergrounds) you will get the "Extraction" achievement.

 

You have a specified amount of time to complete the task

You can use the truck parked in the courtyard as well. It can be easily reached by going an unconventional way: Leave the lower base and turn right after walking through the red door. Crouching, make your way to the other side of the courtyard. Stick to the right side of the wall.

Free the prisoners

If you plan to rescue the three prisoners, you have to do it before destroying the AA guns. You can place C4 first, but do not detonate the explosives. After extracting the prisoners, you can complete the remaining two objectives of the mission and after that, you have 3 minutes to escape the base.

Alternative way - fast and noisy

Anti-aircraft gun

You can complete the mission very fast by using an AA gun. First, you have to destroy the gun that is located to the west from the base. Then, use the one that is closest to the starting point to destroy the rest of them. If you wait for a while, you can destroy the armoured vehicle with it as well. Afterwards, you can only escape the base.

The guard on the tower

In the "Jamais Vu" mission ("Deja Vu" on the PlayStation consoles), your objective is to eliminate Snatchers that are disguised as Marine soldiers. It is enough that you tranquilize the guards, but you have to take care of all of them (12 guards in total). First, head to the base and climb the nearest tower. The guard is a human, so you don't need to kill him. If you interrogate him, he will show you a Snatcher moving between the tents - eliminate him.

The second guard - Snatcher

Use the binoculars when standing on top of the tower and you will recognize a Snatcher standing near the spotlight on a neighbouring tower. You can distinguish them from humans by the green colour when tagged. Their approximate localization is marked on your IDroid map. The next Snatcher will be walking below the tower.

Watch the door to your left when behind the gate

When you eliminate all the Snatchers in the base, you will notice an ally helicopter approaching. In this moment, two of your enemies will come from the south, carrying RPGs. Get rid of them. After that, Snatchers will start coming through the main gate. The easiest way to deal with them is to take an RPG and shoot the whole group.

A Snatcher on the tower

In the meantime, an enemy helicopter will appear. Take it down using an RPG. The spotlight of your helicopter will be pointing out Snatchers to you. One of them is a bit difficult to notice. He is standing on the administration tower, holding a reflector. The helicopter will land after you eliminate all enemies. The mission ends when you get to the helicopter.

Every one of the patches is located somewhere in the area of the main mission. Remember that the game doesn't save after collecting a patch, so if you die or load the game afterwards, you will have to collect it one more time. You gain the achievement "Insignia" when every patch is found.

Patch #1

Patch #1

The first XOF patch is located behind a rock, right behind you when you start the mission.

Patch #2

Patch #2

You will find the second one in the refugee camp (jus behind the fence and the road), lying on a pile of rubbish. On your map, it is the end of the road.

Patch #3

The location of the patch #3

Make your way to the end of a row of barracks, where you will find a generator surrounded by a fence.

Patch #3

The third XOF patch will be lying on the generator.

Patch #4

Patch #4

The fourth patch is hidden in the ventilation shaft near the crates, behind the heliport near the southern wall of the base. It's a little bit difficult to notice.

Patch #5

Patch #5

The next patch is located on a guardhouse near the prison.

Patch #6

Patch #6

The sixth patch lies in the grass, right behind the gate to the prison. It's virtually impossible not to spot it.

Patch #7

Patch 7

You have to have some free space in the area outside the base to locate the next patch. It is lying in the middle, between the heliports, a few yards to the south from the flag and the generator.

Patch #8

Patch #8

The eighth patch may cause you a little trouble. It is located in the eastern wing of the base, on the top of a small building opposite the stairs. To make it to the roof, you have to climb on the generator and go near the edge. Then, a sequence of keys will pop up, which will allow you to jump to the edge of the roof. Jump over and climb up. The patch will be lying on the ventilator.

Patch #9

Patch #9

The last patch can be collected in any time and in any place. It is attached to our character's outfit. You have to crawl and activate the sight in your weapon and then make a quick turn in whatever direction. You have to roll on the floor for about 5-10 seconds, until you activate a cut-scene. The patch will be lying next to Snake.

The order in which you collect the Cassette Tapes doesn't matter. Their location on the map is a bit unchronological, but don't worry about that. Only collecting the cassettes #3 and #5 requires you to change the order of rescuing the prisoners. If you find all the Cassette Tapes, you will be rewarded with the achievement "Information".

Chico's Tape 2

Cassette Tape #2

The second cassette is located on the top of the control tower, right next to the entrance to the base. You can get there only from the inside, using a ladder by the wall. You will find the cassette on the desk.

Chico's Tape 5

Cassette #5

Cassette number 5 can be collected only if you rescue Paz first. You will hear two guards talking about it. It is located in the left corner of the map, in the north of the base, next to the stairs, which lead to the place where Paz is. The cassette is lying on one of the trash cans behind the building.

Chico's Tape 3

Cassette #3

The next one is obtained during a cutscene, after carrying Chico to the helicopter (you have to rescue Chico first).

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (Music Tape)

Special cassette

A special cassette with music is located in the cell next to Chico's. You just need to open the second door and collect it.

Chico's Tape 4

Cassette #4

The fourth cassette is a reward for rescuing the convict in the refugee camp.

Eliminate the Renegade Threat

Chico's Tape 6

The warehouse with red door

East of the steel tower, near the barracks, there is a warehouse with red door. You will find a cassette there, hidden behind a shelf on the floor.

Intel Rescue Operative

Chico's Tape 1

You obtain the cassette after completing the "Intel Operative Rescue" mission.

Classified Intel Acquisition

Agent's Recording

Watch out for the camera on the wall

One of the cassettes is located in the administration tower. Take it without completing the mission's objective, i.e. contacting the agent.

Classified Intel Data

The bald guy is your target

There is a second guard beneath the main base. If you interrogate him twice, he will drop a cassette, which is the second in this mission.

Destroy the Anti-Air Emplacements

Chico's Tape 7

The special prisoner

To obtain the next cassette, you have to rescue the special prisoner. You will get the cassette Chico's Tape 7 after completing the mission.

Jamais Vu

Jamais Vu Tape

The cassette on the rock

Not far from the place where you start the game, near the place from which you extract the prisoners, there is a rock, on which you will find a cassette. You can easily locate it using your night-vision device.

Cassette "Zone of the Enders"

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Song

You obtain the last cassette after completing all the missions on the Hard level of difficulty.

The game enables obtaining 15 achievements/trophies worth 1000 points in total.

Reunion

Reunite with Chico or Paz. (50)

The achievement is unlocked by rescuing Chico or Paz, but you have to do that anyway to complete the mission.

Downfall

Clear the "Ground Zeroes" mission. (50)

Genesis

Complete a Side Op or an Extra Op. (50)

Accomplished

Complete all the missions (the main one and all the Side Ops and Extra Ops). (50)

Skilled

Complete any mission with an 'S' rank. (100)

Hero

Complete all missions with an 'S' rank. (250)

Rescue

In the "Ground Zeroes" mission, rescue the convict and extract him via helicopter. (50)

You will find him in the refugee camp (the tents near the starting point) after escorting Chico. He will be lying in the corner, surrounded by three guards.

Depth

Complete the "Eliminate the Renegade Threat" Side Op by extracting both targets. (50)

Despite the objective being to kill both enemies, you have to extract them to unlock this achievement.

Pacifist

Complete the "Intel Operative Rescue" Side Op without killing any enemies.

You can't kill any enemies if you want to unlock this achievement, so you need to switch your weapon to a non-lethal one. Watch out for the guards on the roofs and the balconies, because they may fall down and get killed.

Infiltration

Complete the "Classified Intel Acquisition" Side Op by escaping in the back of a truck. (50)

You have to drive the truck to the end of the base unnoticed, get back on it at the end of the mission and wait until it takes you pass the border of the map.

Extraction

Complete the "Destroy the Anti-Air Emplacements" Side Op by rescuing and extracting all the prisoners via helicopter. (50)

The difficulty here is the short time, after which the bombardment of the base will start and you will fail the mission. You have to carry the prisoners to the landing zone earlier, before completing the main objectives.

Hidden

Complete the "Jamais vu" Extra Op without activating any enemy combat status. (50)

Unlocked

Unlock all trials. (50)

Information

Collect all of the Cassette Tapes. (50)

Insignia

Collect all of the XOF Patches. (50)

This achievement is unlocked after collecting all of the patches, but you have to complete the "Ground Zeroes" mission as well.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is destined only for Xbox 360/One or PlayStation 3/4 consoles. It is available on DVD or it can be downloaded using a code from PlayStation Store/Xbox Marketplace (connection to the internet required). The game requires at least 2GB of free space on the hard drive (it is not possible to install it on an external drive/pendrive).

Gameplay

Singleplayer: Yes

Offline co-op (split screen/hot seat): No

Online co-op: No

Multiplayer: No

Our hardware

The console on which we played the game was an Xbox 360 with a 320GB HDD. The game was updated to the version 1.01.

PS3

• HDD required: Yes
• Free space on the HDD required: 2 GB
• Additional controllers or accessories: No

PS4

• HDD required: Yes
• Free space on the HDD required: 2 GB
• Additional controllers and accessories: No

Xbox 360

• HDD required: Yes
• Free space on the HDD required: 2 GB
• Additional controllers and accessories: No

Xbox One

• HDD required: Yes
• Free space on the HDD required: 2 GB
• Additional controllers and accessories: No
• Xbox SmartGlass: Optional