The Shadows — A Beginner’s Guide for New Agents
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- Looking to the future
Square Enix has launched its latest free-to-play Hitman game on mobile known as Hitman Sniper: The Shadows. Our first look at the game uncovered a wealth of high-level assassination opportunities, but there’s also a clever twist involved in your sniper. Each level works like a puzzle, requiring strategic thinking to take down your targets. That bit of extra depth makes for a more satisfying finish on each level, though things can get tricky as you progress, which is why AP is here to help.
As with every money-infused F2P title, the question becomes “how fast does pay-to-win drive the overall experience?” Luckily, the Campaign (PvE) mode is packed with entertainment to prepare you for future PvP experiences. Today’s guide offers a closer look at the game’s Campaign mode, showcasing tips and tricks on how best to complete your Contracts while briefly introducing you to the weapon upgrade system to make sure you have of all the essential tools necessary for success.
Tackle the campaign
Each chapter of the story campaign is made up of contracts. Based on your performance in a contract, you unlock more contracts, bringing you closer to the end of the campaign.
Performance is measured by how well you complete the main game objectives under the contract summary screen (presented before each mission). Your performance is also calculated based on your choice of kill methods (headshots, moving target kills, multi-kills, etc.).
Remember that if you are not happy with your score, you can always repeat a contract (without consequence) to improve.
Tips and tricks to sniper to the best of your ability
- Manage your recharge; you never want to find yourself in an awkward situation when you need to reload. Always remember to reload before you run out of ammo, especially when taking out baddies in a public space, as it might take multiple shots.
- Always explore first. The guards won’t find your location until you take action. Take the time to explore the area, find the level’s bonus objectives, and think about your plan of attack.
- Choose isolated places for your assassination attempts. You don’t want the audience to panic and start calling for reinforcements when a gunshot rings out – this will likely overwhelm you and throw you off course. It is also useful to distract people who like to walk around – do not let them discover dead bodies.
- Perform headshots and use accidental kills. You want to hit maximum points after completing the contract, so aim for the head and use the accidental kill zones in each level, like the wood chipper.
- Use objects around you to distract civilians/guards or bait them for an accidental kill. Make sure they are within the defined radius of these objects before firing.
- If all else fails, replay the contract until you’re right. The game doesn’t punish you for redoing contracts, which is fine if you missed a bonus objective the first time around.
Upgrade your weapons
Upgrading your weapon is an integral part of increasing your power level. To progress further in the campaign, you must reach a particular power level to accept higher contracts. And if you’re planning on getting into PvP, wait until you’re fully geared up by completing your contracts.
Change
Two forms of currency are available in Hitman Sniper: The Shadows. Blood money and blue diamonds. Blue Diamonds are reserved as a premium currency that you can buy with real money, but you can also earn a small amount in the campaign. In addition to Blue Diamonds, Blood Money is used for general purchases and upgrades, mostly earned through gameplay.
sniper rifle
Suppose you neglect to customize and upgrade your sniper rifle. In this case, you will struggle to progress, ultimately losing in PvP scenarios if you jump poorly equipped.
Your starter sniper rifle contains four upgradable components: barrel, scope, stock, and magazine. Each game also offers an associated rarity: Basic, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. This rarity plays a role in the maximum level each piece can reach. Base rarity caps at level 5, common at level 10, uncommon at level 15, and the rest increase in increments of 5.
To start upgrading your coins, you need coins, XP and Blood Money. To get a new part, you need to acquire weapon part schematics.
How to get upgrades for your weapon
Upgrades include weapon part schematics and XP parts. These are earned from multiple sources.
- Open crates: These are your in-game loot boxes. Upgrades are only acquired by chance via loot crates.
- Buy in the store: Buy upgrades using Blue Diamonds.
- Earn Star Tokens: Complete daily/weekly tasks, bonus objectives in the campaign, play PvP and rank up an agent.
- reputation road: Your overall progress is divided into stages, each offering set rewards.
Unlock more agents
Six playable agents make up the playable cast in Hitman Sniper: The Shadows. Each offers a unique backstory and deadly specialty. You don’t have the luxury of accessing every character at the start of the game. To unlock the rest of the cast, you need to acquire their associated blueprints through the reputation route and the in-game store.
How PvP Works
Putting your Hitman skills to the test, two players face off in the same contract. Whoever gets the highest score wins. Only the most innovative, the most cunning and the fastest will survive.
Looking to the future
It’s a title that strongly aspires to be PvP oriented, but players have plenty of opportunity to stretch their skills in the Campaign mode until they’re ready to tackle the PvP content. PvP is where the end game is, so being well prepared early on will set you up for long-term play in the PvP arena.
So if you think you have what it takes to become the best agent now that you’ve read our guide, you can grab a copy of Hitman Sniper: The Shadows via the Play Store widget below.
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