Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain: How to Get S-Rank Walkthrough

Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain is now available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PS3. In this Guide, you will find out how to earn S-Rank in Every Mission. Be it a Stealth approach or a quick end mission approach all you need is 130000 points to get S-Rank. After Completing all the missions with S-Rank, you will be awarded the 'Elite' Trophy. Here are some quick tips and walkthrough for all the missions to achieve S-Rank.

Quick Tips for S-Rank:
To Unlock S-Rank, You need 130000 points in each Mission(50 missions in Total)
The Main Mission have ranking(except mission 2,22,43) whereas the side OPs don't 
Avoid using Stealth-Suit, Parasite-Suit, Chicken-Hat, Bandana, using D-Walkers Fulton Extraction or calling in air strikes / helicopter support as these will only allow you to get maximum A-Rank.
S-Ranks rewards you with lots of money and heroism than other lower ranks
At the start try taking the enemy radar station to call the extraction helicopter directly to the enemy base.

Note: If these is your first time in MGSV then do not try as it takes a good strategy and is acquired after continues replaying missions as can only be done with use of better gear which unlock as the game progresses.

Prologue: Awakening
Start you mission by skipping the cutscenes in prologue. Take down the first two enemies with quick headshots and in the lobby, drop down the hole in the ceiling to take the bunch of enemies in one shot. Crawl to the opposite end and Exit.

Mission 1: Phantom Limbs
You should complete this mission once to know all the what slows you down like the helicopter's landing zone, confrontation with the skulls etc.. Now as you start be quick swift towards the prisoner's location(Enter the village from the east) and you can extract the prisoner from the back skipping all the enemies and call the helicopter to complete the mission. It;s Done with ease.

Mission 2: Diamond Dogs
As we mentioned above the missions 2, 22, 43 do not have any ranks. So play with any approach you like.

Mission 3: A Hero's Way
Begin the mission by landing eastern zone, take a sniper rifle to take down the target from far away. The commander wears a red hat and is spawned around the same building. All you need to do is ride to the mountain top, shoot him and leave the area on horseback.

Mission 4: C2W
You need to have enemy anti-air radar destroyed in the previous mission. If you haven't then replay it and destroy with some explosives. When you start this Mission you will notice in this video that the location od landing is same as the enemy radar and with your helicopter's minigun take down the antennas. It's Done, no need to leave the area. 

Mission 5: Over The Fence
If you notice, there is a crack in on of the rocks at the west of the enemy base. To skip all the enemies just climb up and you'll see two guards near the prisoner. Put he guards to sleep and put the prisoner near the hole up in the ceiling and rest will be done by the Fulton device. Now end the mission by getting back to your horse and escape the hot zone.

Mission 6: Where do the Bees Sleep?
You need to have enemy anti-air radar destroyed in the previous mission. If you haven't then replay it and destroy with some explosives. Make the destroyed radar Station location as your new landing zone to save more time. Keep you eye on the nearby anti-air turrets and destroy them as well. Now after the landing directly head towards your objective and skip all the cutscenes, call the horse and escape the zone.

Mission 7: Red Brass
Landing zone should be near the north as your start. The Main objective is to extract 3 commanders. First Commander enter in a vehicle from the north, second is at the marked area and the third enters from the south with the vehicle. You should take all three before they reach the village(with enemies). Place the horse on the street and use the tranquilizer to hunt them and Fulton to extract. 

Mission 8: Occupation Forces
You need to have a good Hands-on this mission so keep trying. Start from the western landing zone then head west until you reach an empty house(will trigger the convoy of 3 vehicles). Place the horse on the street and use Fulton to extract them, call the horse and escape the zone.

Mission 9: Backup, Back Down
This Mission requires Fulton Cargo +2 Upgrade and a highly durable vehicle(Tank). Now place the tank on the northern road and horse in front of the tank to block the road. As any vehicle approaches all you need to do is use the Fulton device and extract it or camp at the same spot. Avoid detection to score a good bonus. you need to take first 7 out of 11 on time so that rest 4 can spawn.

Mission 10: Angel With Broken Wings
Place the horse on the road(north on the western road) to stop the vehicles. Take down the guards in the jeep and destroy the tank
Hint: Rather than destroying the tank with C4, you can extract the tank for bonus points if you have the upgraded Fulton device.

Mission 11: Cloaked in Silence
A tricky mission, just drop supply on Quiet's location rather than fighting with her. Each supply drop takes her 50% damage, so 2 drops are more than enough. To do so mark her with you Binoculars, then drop the supply after she is marked on the map. After she is hit from the first drop, mark her again and go for the second. And it's done.

Mission 12: Hellbound
You need to crouch, crawl and use your stealth mode to avoid your enemies. Once you arrive at central base camp, stick to the wall and only crouch until you reach Emmerich. Kidnap and put Emmerich on D-Horse and choose the helicopter extraction point manually somewhere in the south just after you've been attacked by the metal gears. Now stick on the left of the walls then cross the road and stay on the right till the time Metal Gear should have lost sight of you.
Note: As this is a very long mission, it's better to start at night.  

Mission 13: Pitch Dark
Stay away from all the enemy outpost, just keep ignoring the enemies and walk straight towards your objective. As you reach there, first disable the pump and sneak out of the camp and use the rocket launcher to destroy the red water separator tank from far away. Exit the Zone to complete the mission.
   
Mission 14: Lingua Franca
If you already know Viscount's Location then this is pretty simple and short for you. Select 0600(daytime) as the starting time as viscount gets moved from his location at night. Just Go to the shown location, extract Viscount with Fulton and escape the area.

Mission 15: Footprints of Phantoms
You need to have enemy anti-air radar destroyed in the previous mission. If you haven't then replay it and destroy with some explosives. Make the destroyed radar Station location as your new landing zone to save more time but, wait just shoot he Waker Gear with your helicopter's minigun and it's done, you don't even have to leave the helicopter.

Mission 16: Traitor's Caravan
If you already know the truck's location(target) then just land there as shown in the video. Extract it with the Fulton device and escape the hot zone.

Mission 17: Rescue The Intel Agents
If you already know the two Intel Agent's location then start from the north agent and extract him with Fulton device, now head towards south agent by riding around the camp to avoid enemies and grab him to the helicopter as he cannot be extracted with Fulton. 

Mission 18: Blood Runs Deep
You must have Fulton and its upgrades(children) unlocked before you start. Eliminate the target in the first enemy camp, grab the sniper rifle from the mines and kill everyone. Now extract the children using the Fulton device and call the helicopter.
Note: For the Fulton + Children Upgrade, you must complete side Ops 113(unlocks after mission 26) to develop it. 

Mission 19: On The Trail
Directly head towards the Commander's location and you must use sleeping gas grenades or stun grenades to throw on the group guarding the Commander, then after everyone is killed extract the commander using the Fulton device and escape the zone.

Mission 20: Voices
C4 or a grenade launcher will be the most need for this mission. Make you a quick way to the enemy camps undetected. Place the C4 on the gas tank before you start he fights with the boss. Now just wait until we walk between the tank and the pool and blow it up, this will end the fight that very instant. All you need to do is end the mission by escaping from the tunnel. 

Mission 21: The War Economy
If you already know the location of the CFA Official, he has the same position so all you need to is to kill him, then escape the zone. The mission  doesn't need much of Stealth way approach so the S-Rank can be easily acquired. Check the Video for more exact location.

Mission 22: Retake the Platform
As we mentioned above the missions 2, 22, 43 do not have any ranks. So play with any approach you like.

Mission 23: The White Mamba
To get the S-Rank, you need to avoid the Boss(White Mamba) entirely by simply putting him to sleep before the fight sets out. Enter the Ship from behind by sticking on the right of the enemy camp. Now wait for the perfect opportunity and take a head-shot with the tranq gun as the Boss turns back towards you and extract him via helicopter.

Mission 24: Close Contact
Hang off the side of D-Horse and Rush to the two hostages avoiding the enemies in the camp. Take out the group with the sleeping gas grenades and extract the two Hostages(prisoners) and escape the zone to end the mission.

Mission 25: Aim True, Ye Vengeful
First Head towards the child soldier, Tranquilize and extract him in the jeep. The second target in the middle of the camp under a roof, Tranquilize and extract him to the jeep the same way. Now extract them to the helicopter and end the mission.

Mission 26: Hunting Down
The easiest mission where you need a sniper rifle to take the enemy from far away, then leave the hot zone. The target enemy always has the same starting point.

Mission 27: Root Cause
Here you don't have to be stealthy, feel free to use reflex mode. Take the D-Horse quickly to get to the Intel team member. Use the tranquilizer gun, extract him on D-Horse and leave the hot zone by land. 

Mission 28: Code Talker
Skip the start and fight against the skulls by riding past them with D-Horse. If they spot you, then try to get as far as possible with D-Horse. Head towards the mission objective and via the northern landing zone extract with the helicopter. Now for some bonus points kill the guards with non-lethal way. Keep Ignoring the possessed soldiers at the end (doesn't matter if they see you) and make your run towards the landing zone.

Mission 29: Metallic Archaea
ALM 48 machine gun with some explosives (C4, Grenade Launcher, Grenades) and Buddy Quiet is perfect to get this mission done. All you need to do is to hide in the hangar from the start but, don't forget to mark the Skulls when the fight starts to know their current location and health status. Plant a C4 in front of the hangar and lure them into it. Now you can shoot the enemies through the hangar windows with your MG. 
Hint: Make sure you run away as the spikes come out of the ground, they will explode and instant-kill you.

Mission 30: Skull Face
This is a single object mission where you have to reach skull face on the back of the enemy camp. You need to have silenced sniper rifle to take the enemies(in in-case). Make a Stealthy approach to complete the mission as fast as possible. Stick on either the right or the left side of the area to avoid the enemy, groups. You can complete the mission without firing a single shot and score the no traces bonus worth 120,000 points.

Mission 31: Sahelanthropus
As you know that this will be going to be a fight against the boss(Sahelanthropus), so you need a rocket launcher and a Grenade Launcher(GNOM-11 and Isado RGL-220 respectively). Empty your grenade launcher as when you use up one weapon's ammo you a supply drop will be triggered automatically. You need to Keep the rocket launcher handy and pick up the ammo as it will be available. Now keep repeating this strategy and you will defeat the boss with ease.
Hint: The Sahelanthropus weak spots are his belly and his upper back, keep hitting those.

Mission 32: To Know Too Much
The is very easy, just head towards the target with the D-Horse. The Target is near some rocks(the mission marked area). If you manage to reach there faster then you'll avoid the enemies, extract hi with Fulton device and escape the area with D-Horse.

Mission 33: [Subsistence] C2W
You need to have enemy anti-air radar destroyed in the previous mission. If you haven't then replay it and destroy with some explosives. Make the destroyed radar Station location as your new landing zone to save more time but, wait just shoot he Waker Gear with your helicopter's minigun and it's done, you don't even have to leave the helicopter.

Mission 34: [Extreme] Backup, Back Down
This Mission requires Fulton Cargo +2 Upgrade and a highly durable vehicle(Tank). Now place the tank on the northern road and horse in front of the tank to block the road. As any vehicle approaches all you need to do is use the Fulton device and extract it or camp at the same spot. Avoid detection and you can easily extract 6 out of 11 vehicles. If it happens that you get detected then you have to destroy all 11 vehicles and reward you with 160,000 points and guarantee S-rank. But, the trick is that the last 4 vehicles will only spawn if you extract the first 7 within 15 minutes time limit.
Hint: A stealthy approach with good timing will help you win this mission.

Mission 35: Cursed Legacy
Start you mission by selecting the landing zone in the south, for this mission you'll need to distract the heavily armored guards with some Active decoys. Fulton extracts the first container in the jungle and for the second one climb up the mountain and jump on the second container, now Fulton extracts it. This will extract you and container at the same time making you leave the area at the same moment and the mission ends even if you're detected.

Mission 36: [Total Stealth] Footprints of Phantoms
Make sure you carry active decoys, some C4 and use the sneaking suit to infiltrate at night. Now simple crawl up to the walkers and throw your decoys in the enemy camps to distract them. Now place C4 per walker(ground next to them). The thing left is to escape the zone nad blow up the C4s you've planted.

Mission 37: [Extreme] Traitor's Caravan
If you already know the truck's location(target) then just land there as shown in the video. Extract it with the Fulton device and escape the hot zone.

Mission 38: Extraordinary
The Main objective here is to find a tiny film canister collectible. There are 3 canisters and they spawn in different locations. You need a sneaking suit and night vision goggles. Now use the Night Vision Goggles to locate the canisters in the ruins(highlighted in yellow color), you can take help of your iDroid to see where the canisters are spawning(blurry picture). After you've collected all three canisters, escape the area to complete the mission.  

Mission 39: [Total Stealth] Over the Fence
If you notice, there is a crack in on of the rocks at the west of the enemy base. To skip all the enemies just climb up and you'll see two guards near the prisoner. Put he guards to sleep and put the prisoner near the hole up in the ceiling and rest will be done by the Fulton device. Now end the mission by getting back to your horse and escape the hot zone.

Mission 40: [Extreme] Cloaked in Silence
Unlike mission 11, where you used supply drops to defeat her. This time it'll be more tricky as she jumps away at the last second, you'll be needing a sniper rifle this time. Hold the Sniper Rifle from the start position, aim her from the cover and let she shoot at you first because as she fires at you have 2 seconds time before she fires the next shot, so take you best aim and shoot her. 
Alternative Approach:
Place 4 sleeping mines at one of her sniping spots down in the ruins(During 4th mission task). Simply wait for her to run into the mines and rest will work itself, this could also bring you an early win.

Mission 41: Proxy War Without End
Select the Landing in the middle and head to the outpost in the west. You'll be needing a rocket Launcher in this mission to take down the helicopter. Now from the start, take down the guards(Extract then if you don't kill them as they will wake up later for trouble),  All vehicles will pass through here, First arrives from the north and then 2 from south. All three will take their first stop at the Outpost so make sure you extract them from behind. The Fourth vehicle you need D-Horse to block the road so you can take him down as well. Finally Destroy the helicopter and escape the zone.

Mission 42: [Extreme] Metallic Archaea
This is a very tricky mission so you need to complete it as quickly as possible to get the S-Rank. Here the Skulls have an improved health, so pick the strongest sniper rifle(Brennan LRS-46 or Serval AMR-7) and your Buddy Quiet as well to speed up the kills. Also, request supply drops in advance so you never run out of ammo. Now to begin with, climb up the roof of the hangar and mark the 4 skulls, and just kill 2 from the roof, now climb down and take cover inside or bind the hangar since you can't kill the other two from roof. Simply focus on the Shull as his shield is depleted, take them out one by one giving him no time to reload his shield. Or try using a machine gun or lure the skulls into C4. 

Note: Run away immediately if spikes coming out the ground because it will instant-kill you when it explodes.

Mission 43: Shining Lights, Even in Death
As we mentioned above the missions 2, 22, 43 do not have any ranks. So play with any approach you like.

Mission 44: [Total Stealth] Pitch Dark
Head straight to your main objective and avoid all enemy outposts. Once you reach to objective disable the pump in the middle and sneak out of the camp. now use the Rocket Launcher to take down the red water separator tank from far away. Escape the zone to complete the mission.

Mission 45: A Quiet Exit
This S-Rank is all about speed and planning. You need your Buddy Quiet upgrades to the maximum. Complete the Side Op #150 'Secure Quiet' and then this mission will be available. You Also need a Rocket Launcher(CGM-25 recommended) to take down the enemy tanks in just 2 shots. Request supply drops in advance so you never run out of ammo.  Place ATB-Mines and C-4 on the road to destroying two of the vehicles, likewise you can Fulton extract the tanks to complete one of the mission tasks(this is much more risky). 

Note: Only play this mission if you are absolutely sure you won't need Quiet any longer. After this mission, Quiet will leave the game and she won't ever return.

Mission 46: The Man Who Sold The World
Count this mission as the true secret ending of the game. In order to unlock this mission you need to Complete all other story missions except duplicates(extreme, subsistence and total stealth variations), Finish all the Side Ops (Yellow - important) and Expand out your Mother Base(Built more FOB in online mode to Boost). To get the S-Rank all you need to do is skip all the cutscenes. 

Note: Must Watch the final cutscene at the end of the video. Replay the prologue and learn what truly happened.

Mission 47: [Total Stealth] The War Economy
If you already know the location of the CFA Official, he has the same position. Use broken fence on the west side of the airport to skip all the guards. Vigilantly approach and cut throat CQC. Now kill the CFA Official and escape the zone. The mission doesn't need much of Stealth way approach so the S-Rank can be easily acquired. Check the Video for more exact location.

Mission 48: [Extreme] Code Talker
From the start drive past the 4 skulls with a light tank. You need some active decoys to distract the guards near the mansion. Now directly head towards the mansion from behind and reach Code Talker, call the extraction helicopter to the northern landing zone. Run towards the helicopter and escape the zone(doesn't matter if the enemies spot you.. just run).  

Mission 49: [Subsistence] Occupation Forces
You need to have a good Hands-on this mission so keep trying. Start from the western landing zone then head west until you reach an empty house(which will trigger the convoy of 3 vehicles). Hide and take cover until the first tank comes, now sprint towards the tank from side and Fulton extract it and same way for the other two. Now Escape the area(helicopter recommended). 

Mission 50: [Extreme] Sahelanthropus
You can achieve S-Rank in this mission like a piece of cake if you bring ZHUK-BR 3(light Tank), Isado RGL-220(Grenade Launcher) and CGM 25(Rocket Launcher). keep Aiming the gas tanks(on his back) and for the belly when it's glowing. After your tank is destroyed use the rocket launcher to trigger the supply drops and now use the grenade launcher till the supply drops arrive. Whenever Sahelanthropus flings the rock spikes from the ground, you need to run away or try shooting them and after the you defeated the Sahelanthropus you awarded with S-Rank.

Congratulations! You have unlocked the Elite trophy... :)