Dashing In: Simply rush your opponent from any direction and grab them. Even if you’re quick, your foe still may raise the alert but not fire off a shot, allowing you to stay stealthy rather than switch to a gun battle. This is often the best way to remove a foe even if you’re engaged in a battle, as it saves ammo and you can remove a threat if your weapon reloading is taking too long. If you’re quick enough and can reach a foe without their Detection arrow being filled, your takedown is silent. Use this if you’re disturbed or surprised while sneaking.
Stepping Out: This works in the same way as a dash, except you’re in cover. An icon appears over the foe’s head (with “melee” shown) indicating when you’re in range, or you can detach yourself from the scenery first. This is even more clandestine, as you’re out of cover for only a second, providing you duck back into cover afterward.
Vaulting: If the obstacle you’re using as cover or running at is below thigh height, you’re likely to vault over it. If a foe is standing on the other side, you can knock him over with a quick, automatic kick. This way you don’t need to maneuver around an obstacle and can more immediately silence a foe. Low cover shouldn’t stop you from tackling a foe who believes he’s safe behind an obstacle.
Dropping In: Like some kind of heavy-booted assassin from the Middle Ages, you can peer down from a roof or other high platform and either drop or vault off and land on the foe’s head, knocking them unconscious if you land with accuracy. Often overlooked, this is most helpful if you need to reach a different area and can’t take out a patrolling foe by any other means or if you need to quickly get the drop (literally) on a foe.
Enforcer Takedowns: The most difficult type of enemy to neutralize is the heavily armored Enforcer. Though it’s better to tackle this beast of a man using a taser, grenades, explosive scenery, or a high-powered weapon (and a couple of vehicle hit-and-runs would help), if you’ve fired a shotgun in this dude’s face and he’s still coming for you, step in and strangle him instead.