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After beating Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, you explore dark caves until you finally face The Pain. He’s the first member of the Cobra Unit you go up against.
The Cobra Unit is known for its dangerous members, and The Pain is no exception. Being able to control hornets makes him particularly threatening. It’s a tough fight, but here’s all the important info to help make it easier.
The Pain’s Moves
The Pain has different offensive and defensive moves, all involving hornets. Here are the main ones and how to handle them:
| Move | What It Is and How to Deal With It |
|---|---|
| Hornet Armor | When his body is covered with hornets, he can’t be damaged. To get rid of them, shoot with the M37 shotgun or throw a smoke grenade. |
| Aroma Jar | He throws a bottle that breaks and releases an aroma attracting hornets. Stay away from him when this happens. |
| Hornet Grenade | Hornets combine into balls heading toward you, acting like grenades. Run away or shoot them before they reach you. |
| Mimic | Sometimes, there are two versions of The Pain on a rock. Shoot at the wrong one, and he stays protected. Guess the right one to make him vulnerable. It’s hard to tell which is real. |
| Tommy Gun | Hornets summon a Tommy Gun that fires bullets. Dodge the bullets by moving around. |
| Bullet Hornets | Later in the fight, hornets shoot like bullets. You can’t stop these; just dodge. |
Most of these attacks can be avoided by diving underwater, as he struggles to attack you there.
How to Defeat The Pain
There are two ways to finish him: lethal or non-lethal.
- Lethal approach: Use weapons marked with a ‘DMG’ symbol to drain his health.
- Non-lethal approach: Use ‘STN’ and ‘ZZZ’ weapons to deplete his stamina bar.
In either case, your main task is to shoot him repeatedly. The tricky part is finding the right moment to unload your shots.
When hornets are protecting him, you can throw smoke grenades or use the M37 shotgun to disperse them, creating an opening for attack. Otherwise, sneaking around underwater works best. Swim close to make him lose sight of you, then pop up to shoot. Weapons like handguns and the AK-47 can fire from the water, which helps with quick hits.
Note: Swimming underwater drains stamina quickly, so stock up on food. Frogs and crabs found in the caves can serve as useful snacks.
Once you’ve drained his health or stamina, the fight ends. If you choose the non-lethal route, you unlock the Hornet Stripe camouflage.
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