Adversarial Game Modes

Mode:

Non-competitive

Duration:

∞

Objective:

Practice kills and stuns.

NOTES & TIPS

• These sessions are only intended as one-off tutorials. However, you can replay them as many times as you like to experiment with different approaches.
• You can also access a wide range of videos with the Video Training option. This will show you how all Abilities work and are best used.

Mode:

Competitive

Duration:

1 round of 10 minutes

Objective:

Achieve the highest score by killing assigned targets.

NOTES & TIPS

• Each player’s skin is the only one of its kind in this mode, though you can use Abilities or Perks that create duplicates.
• You are both predator and prey, and can only kill your assigned target.
• There is no Compass for any player in this mode. This means that Deathmatch is all about line of sight and paying attention to your target’s portrait. If the portrait outline is grayed out (meaning your target is not in your line of sight), run to a new large open area and slow down. If the portrait turns blue, use low profile actions to approach your target. Once you are close to your target, the portrait display zooms in on the face of your potential victim, which will help you identify them.
• Deathmatch maps are very small, so it pays to get into moving cover as soon as you spawn. Your pursuer is never very far away.
• The higher your rank, the more pursuers will hunt you.
• Blender is a useful Perk in Deathmatch. Creating a lookalike of your character whenever you blend offers welcome life insurance (01), though be aware that pursuers will easily identify you if they see you in the process of creating a duplicate.
• Animus Hack can be lethal in this game mode, as there are no lookalikes. The moment you activate this Streak, and provided you’ve spent enough time in the session to identify each unique character, you can rack up kills at an incredible rate.
• When you think you have spotted your target, be aware that they could be Disguised.
• Smoke Bombs are great to use defensively. The moment you spot an incoming pursuer, watch them approaching and throw your bomb when they’re close for an easy stun.

Mode:

Competitive

Duration:

1 round of 10 minutes

Objective:

Achieve the highest score by killing assigned targets.

NOTES & TIPS

• You are both predator and prey, but you may only kill your contracted target.
• It’s harder to hide in Wanted than in Deathmatch as your pursuer has a Compass. However, there are duplicates of your character wandering around, making it easier to blend and lure your pursuer into killing a civilian.
• Use your Compass to anticipate a target’s route through an arena, and you may be able to catch him or her out as they round a corner.
• When you blend with a group, try to select one with at least one duplicate of your character.
• It can sometimes be more efficient to take the time to identify and escape a pursuer before tracking your own target. Staying alive enables you to complete Streaks and earn more points.
• If you manage to approach your target from behind an obstacle, jump on the obstacle and perform the kill from there for an easy bonus.
• When you’re following a target that hasn’t noticed you, don’t always rush to get a cheap kill. Silently fast walking behind them may enable you to kill them as they’re performing a kill themselves, which will net you more points.
• In this very hectic mode, defensive Abilities can enable you to survive longer and get more kill opportunities. The Animus Shield often proves particularly useful in this sense.
• When you use a Chase Breaker to escape a pursuer, consider stopping and Blending or hiding immediately as you exit. Your pursuer will expect you to run away frantically and may lose you completely (02).
• If you are first with a high score, you will usually be pursued by two or three characters at the same time. In such instances, consider playing defensively. Blend in a group with at least one lookalike (more, ideally), and your rivals will need to employ Abilities to identify you – something that they won’t always have access to.
• Don’t necessarily run away after you kill a target. You will often be pursued yourself, and sprinting will only make you easier to identify.

Mode:

Competitive

Duration:

1 round of 10 minutes

Objective:

Identify, acquire and assassinate the target of your choice to achieve the highest score.

NOTES & TIPS

• There is no pre-assigned target in this mode. The key is to acquire one, simply by pressing the appropriate shoulder button of your controller. However you can acquire anyone you encounter, including civilians. Your goal, therefore, is to be very cautious, keep a low profile and watch your surroundings. Every time you notice someone behaving strangely, running or performing other high profile actions, quickly acquire them and try to make a discrete approach to achieve a kill with the best possible bonus.
• You do not have a proper Compass in this mode; however, up to four arrows show you the general direction of nearby players (). As you approach your target, the arrow turns into a thin arc, then a full circle, so you can rarely use it to determine the exact position of your potential target. As an indicator of where you should begin a hunt, though, these prove invaluable. A very effective strategy is to use the arrows to travel directly towards a target. As soon as an arrow turns into an arc or a circle, be stealthy and blend until you spot a target that you can acquire.

  03

• As soon as you acquire a target, you vanish from their Compass, but also lose sight of other opponents.
• As a rule, you will perform fewer kills than usual in this mode. It takes time to acquire your target, so be cautious: discretion and keen observation are pivotal. Maximizing your points haul for each kill is vital, as you will have fewer opportunities to score.
• Identifying your pursuer with a Lock exposes them.
• Acquiring and killing a civilian reveals you to others, though there are no further penalties.
• Always acquire your target before you attempt anything else. You won’t be able to use your moves or Abilities efficiently until you have acquired a target.
• Disguise is not as useful in this mode (since there are no portraits representing pre-assigned contracts), unless you know that someone is stalking you. In that case, round a corner, Disguise and then turn back to surprise them.
• Decoy and Bodyguard can be combined for some effective defensive strategies. Activate either whenever you know that a pursuer has identified you to lure them away, giving you a chance to acquire them. If you add the Pistol for ranged kills, this can prove to be a very balanced Ability Set.

Sample Ability Set 1

Abilities

Decoy

Bodyguard

Poison Dart

Perks

Fast Recovery

Blender

Streak & Bonus

Mass Morph

Scavenger

Sample Ability Set 2

Abilities

Time Phase

Animus Shield

Pistol

Perks

Overall Cooldowns

Survival

Streak & Bonus

Streak +250

Score x2

Sample Ability Set 3

Abilities

Morph

Smoke Bomb

Pistol

Perks

Resilience

Determined

Streak & Bonus

Daze

Minor Hack

Mode:

Team-based

Duration:

2 rounds of 5 minutes

Objective:

Achieve the highest team score, hiding together as targets, and performing kills as hunters.

NOTES & TIPS

• Both teams take a turn as hunters and hunted.
• While hunted, blend with a crowd of civilians that includes at least one lookalike. Otherwise, use Morph or Bodyguard to confuse your pursuers with doubles. You can even fortify your position with a well-placed Tripwire Bomb, or employ a Smoke Bomb instead.
• Hiding with your team is the best way to rack up noteworthy point totals. If one of you is killed, there will always be someone on hand to score an easy stun before fleeing.
• When on the offensive, coordinate with your allies to perform multiple kills.
• Wipe works very well in Manhunt to reveal targets that are hidden among lookalikes, and to prevent them from knocking you down with Abilities. Money Bombs and Firecrackers can be used to reveal targets.
• Morph is also a fantastic choice, as you can use it remotely. When you suspect a target is hidden in a group of civilians, Morph the entire group from afar and your target will be revealed as the odd one out (04).
• You will usually have opportunities to perform high-score kills with Poison Darts in Manhunt games, as you’ll often be facing two or three enemies at a time. Add the Hot Pursuit and Unstoppable perks for a well-rounded offensive Ability Set.
• An amusing strategy is to hide in a haystack and create a lookalike (with Blender) right next to your position. A pursuer will be likely to attack your doppelganger, enabling you to perform an easy stun.

Mode:

Team-based

Duration:

1 round of 10 minutes

Objective:

The team with the highest number of captured Artifacts wins.

NOTES & TIPS

• You will score by stealing the other team’s Artifact from their base and carrying it back to yours.
• You are a pursuer while in your territory, but become a target once in enemy territory. When you are carrying the Artifact, you become a target and enemies can kill you even in your own territory.
• When your team’s Artifact has been stolen, your Compass will blur each time you move close to your home base, rendering it useless.
• It is vital that you learn the safest route back to your base after stealing the Artifact. Using Chase Breakers can be crucial to your success.
• Knives are particularly useful when defending, as they enable you to stop a fleeing enemy in their tracks and recover your Artifact.
• When defending, consider camping close to your Artifact and intercepting any opponent who steals it.
• Use Tripwire Bombs to protect your Artifact; these will knock down any opponent who triggers them. Place your Bomb in the middle of an obvious entry/exit point or at the nearest Chase Breaker to your base to increase your chances of success (05). Combine this with a Booby Trap for even better results.
• Use the Disguise or Morph Abilities to blend in before making a dash for the enemy Artifact. Drop a Firecracker or Smoke Bomb to facilitate your escape.
• While attacking, it’s best not to use the Blender Perk – if you inadvertently brush against a crowd your opponents may spot one of the civilians transforming, revealing your position.
• Look out for Tripwire Bombs and Booby Traps when you approach the enemy Artifact, and while escaping the immediate vicinity.
• The Unstoppable and Hot Pursuit Perks are particularly useful, especially if you adopt a defensive role, giving you an edge while chasing a fleeing enemy.
• If a rival manages to steal an Artifact, use Booby Trap on a Chase Breaker the thief is likely to go through.
• A great strategy is to have two people trying to steal the enemy team’s Artifact, and two others defending your team’s Artifact. If you have a strong lead, you can consider focusing most of your team on defense to ensure victory.
• After you’ve stolen the Artifact, consider activating Animus Shield as this protects you from ranged attacks, maximizing your chances to score.
• Hide behind a wall or an obstacle near the enemy team’s Artifact, and use Glimmer to become invisible. You can then steal the Artifact and return to your base.
• Another effective strategy is to steal the Artifact and then activate Teleport to quickly bring it back to your base.

Mode:

Team-based

Duration:

1 round of 10 minutes

Objective:

Achieve the highest score by capturing territories and defending them.

NOTES & TIPS

• There are three territories in total, and your team’s priority is to capture as many as possible at the same time. To capture a territory, all you have to do is step inside the marked area and remain there until the capture gauge is fully filled. The more allies that are in a territory simultaneously, the faster a capture occurs. The team that fills the scoring gauge or obtains the highest score at the end of the countdown wins.
• When you defend a territory that you have captured, you are considered a pursuer and can kill any member of the opposing team that is contesting your capture. Conversely, when you contest a territory controlled by the opposing team, you are their prey. This means that you can only stun your rivals, who will often have the time to regain consciousness before you have finished capturing the territory.
• When you attack an enemy-controlled territory, your sole priority is to remain alive for as long as possible while in the marked area. Use Abilities to increase your chances.
• You score points by capturing territories, but also by defending them once they’re yours.
• The members of each team have the same skin, so Abilities that enable you to change your appearance can be extremely useful.
• Stealth is often a good way to defend a territory. Blend within a crowd or use a hiding place inside the territory and rotate the camera to keep an eye on all possible points of entry. You will easily spot any member of the opposing team that rushes towards the objective. Abilities that create lookalikes of your character are quite useful, as they allow you to survive longer.
• The Pistol is of great benefit while defending a territory. You only need to briefly leave a place of concealment to fire it, and it removes the need to cross open ground to intercept an interloper.
• If you notice a rival closing in for a kill, consider dropping a Smoke Bomb, as this has an area of effect that can neutralize multiple targets.
• If you happen to encounter a member of the opposing team on your way to a territory, feel free to stun them for the benefit of your entire team.
• You can sprint or free run to reach a territory as long as you are not in the line of sight of anyone inside. As you get close and become visible to a potential defender, walk and try to act as civilians do in order to allay suspicions. Use an Ability if you don’t want to take any chances. For example, activate Disguise just before you reach a territory. This means any enemies defending it won’t identify you as you change skins.
• If you stun a target inside a territory, keep that target in sight until they revive.
• If an unidentified opponent enters your territory, stay blended and watch everyone within the area to detect clues on who the interloper might be. Abilities that reveal targets are especially useful for players focusing on defense.
• Don’t automatically respawn if you get stunned, as you will regain control of your character faster if you just wait. Respawn only if you’re sure that you have lost the territory that you were defending, as this will usually teleport you to a position closer to another territory.
• Coordinate with your allies to have one character defending each captured territory, and the others trying to conquer new ones. Not only do you score points by doing so, but you also prevent the opposing team from scoring. Teams that cooperate will almost always enjoy an overwhelming advantage over those that act as a ragged collection of individuals.
• Resilience is very useful when you defend a territory as it enables you to recover faster when enemies use Abilities against you.
• Use Glimmer when you are on the periphery of a territory, ideally around a corner or behind an obstacle (). This will enable you to capture the territory without being spotted by your enemies. If they look at your position from a distance, they will simply see nothing at all.

  06

• The Daze Streak works wonders in this mode. Activate it while you capture a territory and you will have a decisive edge against your rivals.

Sample Ability Sets

Defense Set

Offense Set

Abilities

Tripwire Bomb

Firecrackers

Bodyguard

Wipe

Knives

Sabotage

Perks

Blender

Hot Pursuit

Overall Cooldowns

Resistance

Streak & Bonus

Revelation

Streak +550

Boost Cooldowns

Scavenger

Sample Ability Sets

Defense Set

Offense Set

Abilities

Tripwire Bomb

Time Phase

Booby Trap

Teleport

Pistol

Sabotage

Perks

Sentry

Fast Recovery

Unstoppable

Resilience

Streak & Bonus

Animus Hack

Daze

Vision

Boost Cooldowns

Sample Ability Sets

Defense Set

Offense Set

Abilities

Tripwire Bomb

Disguise

Firecrackers

Glimmer

Pistol

Disruption

Perks

Survival

Overall Cooldowns

Resistance

Resilience

Streak & Bonus

Mass Morph

Revelation

Vision

Minor Hack