Sniper Elite Resistance: 10 Invasion Tips
I recently wrote 10 tips for Sniper Elite Resistance. Some simple advice and features to be aware of in the game, that hopefully proved beneficial to both old and new players alike. This time, I want to give some further guidance, specifically for Invasion mode. A few pointers to make hunting down other players easier and more fun. Invading someone else’s single player campaign is a very exciting prospect and many players rush headlong into this game mode without giving any prior consideration to who they may be up against, or how to approach the ensuing hunt. Here are 10 tips that will hopefully help Invading players and improve their overall Invasion experience. There is also a bonus tip at the end of the post for campaign players whose games get invaded.
I recently wrote 10 tips for Sniper Elite Resistance. Some simple advice and features to be aware of in the game, that hopefully proved beneficial to both old and new players alike. This time, I want to give some further guidance, specifically for Invasion mode. A few pointers to make hunting down other players easier and more fun. Invading someone else’s single player campaign is a very exciting prospect and many players rush headlong into this game mode without giving any prior consideration to who they may be up against, or how to approach the ensuing hunt. Here are 10 tips that will hopefully help Invading players and improve their overall Invasion experience. There is also a bonus tip at the end of the post for campaign players whose games get invaded.
Play the Campaign:
If you play through the single player campaign you will become familiar with the various mission maps, the different entry points where the player you are hunting may spawn and their respective mission objective locations. This information will help you identify where your prey has been and where they may be going next. You can then make educated guesses as to where they may dig in or set up an ambush for you, if they are proactive in their defense. If you do not wish to hunt your enemy, you can go to locations that they will later visit and await their arrival. A familiarity with all the mission maps makes Invasion mode an organised process, rather than a random search.
Don’t Stand Out:
When you play as a German Sniper Jäger, you have a choice of cosmetic outfits. It is tempting to pick one of the more flamboyant options but the most logical choice is that of a standard Infantryman. You have a much greater chance to blend in with the other NPCs and may not be immediately identified as the invader when approaching the player that you’re hunting.
Know Your Enemy:
When you invade a game, take the time to read the mission settings such as the difficulty and any other customisations such as health regeneration, bullet drop and wind etc. This can give you some indication as to the skill of your enemy or enemies if it’s a co-op game. Check to see what platform the other player(s) are on. Sniper Elite Resistance is currently available on PC and Xbox Game Pass, so a lot of new players are trying the game. However, remember that you may also be facing an experienced player who is playing on a lower difficulty so they can focus on the various collectibles and achievements in the game.
NPCs and the Mini Map:
When invading a game, the most obvious way to monitor activity across a mission map is to tag all NPCs. This can be done via your binoculars or the telescopic sight of your rifle. However, using the binoculars is preferable as it is permanent. You can also tag NPCs that are close, by using High Alert. This tags them and makes them extra vigilant for a short time. Tagged NPCs show on your mini map and changes in their status are denoted by the colour altering from blue, to yellow to red. If an NPC that you’ve tagged is shot, a white X shows on the map. If the enemy gets into a firefight with the NPCs their position can eventually be triangulated. This is indicated by a spinning red triangle on the minimap. These visual cues are invaluable.
Follow the Clues:
There is an element of detective work involved in Invasion mode. When you spawn into a game, look for areas without NPCs, damaged vehicles, a trail of bodies or completed objectives. If you inspect corpses with your binoculars, you’ll find a colour coding system that indicates how long they’ve been dead. White is recent, yellow is several minutes and red is over 15 minutes. Always be careful around corpses as they may be boobytrapped. As your enemy progresses through their mission you will receive notification of their progress.
Use Your Binoculars:
Use your binoculars for reconnaissance. Your sniper scope gives off a very obvious glint, while your binoculars do not. If you spot your enemy with binoculars it is not essential to tag them as this alerts them that they’ve been seen. Binoculars also reveal NPC dialogue, irrespective of your distance, which can be useful.
Lures and Traps:
Mining choke points, mission objectives and elevated positions that afford a wide view can often yield results. A mine will not necessarily kill an enemy outright but it will diminish their health and tag them. Combined explosions are lethal. Decoys and lures can also prove useful for drawing enemy fire and triangulating their position.
High Ground:
High ground often provides clear and far reaching views. However, the enemy will also seek these out. It should also be noted that the sniper that you’re hunting has access to armour piercing rounds and you do not. You can be shot through a brick wall. Hence, weigh up the pros and cons of seeking high ground before doing so. When using a tower or something similar, mine the steps behind you and use a decoy if possible.
Customise Your Loadout:
As a Sniper Jäger with a clear hunt and kill objective, you do not have to be especially worried about stealth. Once you spot your target you need to hit fast and hard. Hence customise your loadout accordingly. Opt for weapons that have a high rate of fire and that do heavy damage. The Gewehr 43 is a more practical rifle in this respect, than the Karabiner 98. For SMGs and pistols, customise with extended magazines as well as barrels and receivers that do higher damage. Grenades are very versatile weapons and should be included in your loadout.
Audio Cues:
Listen for gun fire, sabotaged generators and NPC dialogue as these can be invaluable clues as to your enemy’s location or passage through the map. If the enemy is close, you can often hear them use the Invasion Phone.
Bonus Tips:
If you’re the player whose game is being invaded, you may wish to cease your current activities and dig in somewhere at a location that is defendable. Or you may choose to proactively hunt the invading Sniper Jäger. Ignoring an ongoing invasion is a high risk strategy.
Use your Focus ability continuously. Too many players simply forget about it. It tells you what direction the enemy is coming from on the minimap and displays a continuous red circle when they are very close.
Pre-aim corners and swap to a SMG or trench gun for close quarters combat.
Be prepared to simply run into your opponent by chance. Sometimes there is so much going on, you can walk right past each other.
Be mindful of bravura kills. Stealth takedowns can be tricky and they sometimes glitch out if your opponent moves. A fancy knife kill or drop down melee attack may look cool but can fail. Sometimes a simple bullet to the head when the opportunity presents itself is the better option.
Sniper Elite Resistance: 10 Tips
I have played Sniper Elite for over a decade, through all its various iterations. Although the core game mechanics stay broadly the same, over time a lot of additional features have been added to the game (and some removed). As a result, from time to time I will watch someone playing Sniper Elite via a stream or YouTube and see a feature that I didn’t know existed. Often these are small things but I find that it’s these minor embellishments that tend to prove the most beneficial. Hence, I have drawn up a list of 10 tips to share with fellow Sniper Elite players. Some may be well known, others may not. Due to the recent release of Sniper Elite Resistance, there are a lot of new players joining the community and this post is essentially aimed at them. Please note this is not a tactical guide but simply a list of a few “quality of life” tips .
I have played Sniper Elite for over a decade, through all its various iterations. Although the core game mechanics stay broadly the same, over time a lot of additional features have been added to the game (and some removed). As a result, from time to time I will watch someone playing Sniper Elite via a stream or YouTube and see a feature that I didn’t know existed. Often these are small things but I find that it’s these minor embellishments that tend to prove the most beneficial. Hence, I have drawn up a list of 10 tips to share with fellow Sniper Elite players. Some may be well known, others may not. Due to the recent release of Sniper Elite Resistance, there are a lot of new players joining the community and this post is essentially aimed at them. Please note this is not a tactical guide but simply a list of a few “quality of life” tips .
Shooting Explosives: Barrels, ammunition crates, generators and such like will all explode when shot. As will Grenades and Panzerfausts carried by enemies.
Sliding Down Ladders: You can slide down ladders by pressing shift and S. Similarly you can climb upwards at a faster speed by holding the shift key and W. However, climbing upwards at an accelerated pace will increase your heart rate. Sliding down does not.
Shooting Padlocks: Padlocks can be shot off with armour piercing rounds. This is faster than picking the lock although it will generate noise that may be detected. This tactic is most useful when you encounter a door locked from the otherside.
Active Reload: When reloading your weapon by pressing R, you will see a circular animated icon on screen. If you press R again at the right time (when the animation passes over the thicker part of the circle circumference), your weapon will reload faster.
Scope and Binocular Glint: Scopes on secondary weapons do not have any glint. Neither do binoculars.
Decoys: Decoys are useful against Tanks and other vehicles. They can also be deployed with a countdown timer that then generates noise. Enemies that shoot at the decoy are then tagged. Decoys are invaluable distractions for flanking or a quick escape.
Drop Takedowns: When climbing a wall, if you position yourself above an enemy you can press E to perform a drop down melee kill.
Booby Trapped Corpses: Booby trapped corpses can be thrown or dropped onto enemies and will explode.
Combining Explosives: Setting a Schü-mine near to a block of TNT is a good alternative to a regular mine. The combined explosion is fatal.
Rolling While Prone: You can roll to the left or right when prone by pressing either the left or right arrow keys and the spacebar. This can be effectively used to roll out of cover to shoot and then immediately back.
Sniper Elite Resistance
Let me start by stating what Sniper Elite Resistance isn’t. It is not the next iteration of the franchise. It is a tangential sequel to Sniper Elite 5 with a story that runs in parallel with the events of that game. While Karl Fairburne is tackling “Operation Kraken” in Sniper Elite 5, Sniper Elite Resistance sees fellow SOE operative Harry Hawker assisting the French Resistance uncover a new German “Wunderwaffe” (wonder weapon). Sniper Elite Resistance shares the same setting, game mechanics and soundtrack with its predecessor. There are seven new missions, set in pre D-Day France, which take place in very expansive maps. There is more to explore, a greater degree of choice with regard to how you tackle each mission and increased scope for long range sniping. The game also benefits from a lot of new weapons along with established favourites.
Let me start by stating what Sniper Elite Resistance isn’t. It is not the next iteration of the franchise. It is a tangential sequel to Sniper Elite 5 with a story that runs in parallel with the events of that game. While Karl Fairburne is tackling “Operation Kraken” in Sniper Elite 5, Sniper Elite Resistance sees fellow SOE operative Harry Hawker assisting the French Resistance uncover a new German “Wunderwaffe” (wonder weapon). Sniper Elite Resistance shares the same setting, game mechanics and soundtrack with its predecessor. There are seven new missions, set in pre D-Day France, which take place in very expansive maps. There is more to explore, a greater degree of choice with regard to how you tackle each mission and increased scope for long range sniping. The game also benefits from a lot of new weapons along with established favourites.
The phrase “more of the same” can be used positively with regard to Sniper Elite Resistance. All the elements that make this franchise popular are front and centre and have been further refined. The new Gestapo Officer NPCs have superior AI to regular soldiers and are far more proactive investigating any sort of disturbance the player may make. Grenades have a non-lethal stun setting which opens a lot of new tactical options. There is a greater degree of verticality in the map design, affording the player more opportunities to reconnoitre and attempt long distance shots. As always, you can decide how they proceed through a map and tackle objectives. The franchise is very good at updating mission elements based upon reading letters, intel reports and other collectibles. If you fail to collect a satchel charge to open a secure door, there is often an alternative means to access the room behind.
Like its predecessor, Sniper Elite Resistance has a surprising amount of additional gameplay modes. You can play the entire campaign in co-op if you so desire and there are various permutations of multiplayer. The best being “no cross” where two teams play via a substantive map but are confined to their own specific area via. Hence the focus is on spotting and sniping. “Invasion” mode also makes a welcome return where another player can enter your ongoing campaign mission and attempt to hunt you down. Developers Rebellion have also added “Propaganda Missions”. These are timed instances where the player takes on the guise of a resistance fighter and has to complete as many stealth kills or long distance snipes in a minute. For those who’ve bought the season pass there is another “Target Führer” mission to kill Hitler.
Some fans are disappointed with Sniper Elite Resistance, claiming it is simply DLC for Sniper Elite 5. It is fair to say that Sniper Elite Resistance is certainly a continuation of Sniper Elite 5, rather than a totally new game. However, Rebellion has a history of releasing interim entries in the franchise such as Sniper Elite V2 Remastered and Sniper Elite VR. Sniper Elite Resistance follows that business model. However, criticism that this latest game is light on plot, cutscenes and new ideas are valid. Where the game excels is in its map design which allows players to approach gameplay in a variety of ways. I can spend several hours methodically working through a map, changing tactics as I go, depending on what I encounter. It is this adaptive quality that is one of the franchise’s greatest strengths and a welcome change from the usual breakneck pace of the FPS genre.
N.B. For players who have concerns over the respective value for money that Sniper Elite Resistance offers, it is available on Microsoft PC and Xbox Game Pass.