Boss encounters in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots require tactical planning rather than brute force. Success depends on selecting the right loadout and identifying the unique mechanics of each member of the Beauty and the Beast unit.
Act Two: Laughing Octopus
Recommended Loadout: Solid Eye (Night Vision), Mk.2 Tranquilizer Pistol, M4 Custom.
Octopus hides by mimicking her surroundings. Use the Solid Eye’s night vision to reveal her position. When she enters her 'Beauty' form, use the Mk.2 tranquilizer pistol to drain her stamina; doing so earns you her OctoCamo facemask.
Act Three: Raging Raven
Recommended Loadout: Mk.2 Tranquilizer Pistol, M4 Custom, P90, RPG-7, Javelin.
Navigate the stone tower while destroying automated drones. Use auto-aim for drones to save heavy ammunition for Raven. Switch to the Javelin or RPG-7 when she draws near. Using the tranquilizer pistol on her final form rewards you with the MGL-140 grenade launcher.
Act Four: Crying Wolf and Vamp
Crying Wolf: Use the Solid Eye night vision to track her through the snowstorm. You can either snipe her from the towers or use the MGL-140 to force her out of hiding. Mercy earns you the Rail Gun.
Vamp: Shoot him until he falls, then move behind him to use a nanomachine syringe. Once he is mortal, assist Raiden by using the Rail Gun to destroy incoming Gekko mechs from beneath the Metal Gear REX.
Act Four: Metal Gear RAY
Recommended Loadout: Metal Gear REX (provided).
Use REX’s heavy movement to close the distance and execute a leg sweep (double-tap X). Retreat behind buildings for cover when necessary. Use the chemical laser for maximum damage at range, and side-step incoming attacks by double-tapping X plus a direction.
Act Five: Screaming Mantis and Liquid Ocelot
Screaming Mantis: Use the nanomachine syringe to break her psychic control over you and Meryl. Equip the Mk.2 tranquilizer pistol to knock Meryl unconscious, then shoot the strings on Mantis's puppets (The Sorrow or Psycho Mantis) to seize them. Use the puppets to gain control over Mantis.
Liquid Ocelot: This is a stamina-based fistfight. Circle Liquid to find openings for punches and utilize special move prompts when they appear. Avoid fighting near the arena edges to prevent falling.