Mastering Bounty Hunts in Synduality: Echo of Ada

Select Language:

Quick Links

Becoming a Bounty Target Yourself

Synduality: Echo of Ada is a unique extraction shooter that sets itself apart from typical games in the genre. While it allows players to explore its two zones at their leisure, danger lurks around every corner, including from other players. Both NPCs and players can accumulate substantial bounties.

Bounty Targets offer a significant reward in the form of valuable resources, making the risk worth it. If you believe you can take down a Bounty Target, you could earn more than you can through traditional means like AO crystals. However, finding and defeating these targets is no easy feat.

What Are Bounty Targets?

When you start playing Synduality, you may not come across Bounty Targets immediately. The Northern Zone is generally more forgiving, primarily featuring basic Bandits and Enders, along with a few players. As you progress, Bounty Targets will begin to emerge.

Bounty Targets can be either players or NPCs, and they have different mechanics. When a Bounty Target shows up, all Association Members in the game receive a notification. However, the exact location of the Bounty Target remains hidden until they’ve been assessed by a player, at which point their information becomes available to everyone.

This system encourages teamwork between players. NPC Bounty Targets are aggressive towards everyone, while player Bounty Targets are displayed with their bounty values, but you won’t face penalties for taking them out. This introduces a layer of risk for players who decide to attack one another.

You can also turn yourself into a Bounty Target by leaving the Association for a fee, which results in a bounty of 10,000.

Should multiple players contribute to defeating a Bounty Target, the bounty reward is evenly divided among all participants based on the damage they inflict, regardless of whether they are in a cooperative party or not.

Finding and Fighting Bounty Targets

Locating these Bounty Targets varies based on whether they are players or NPCs. Given the combat-heavy nature of these encounters, it’s recommended to utilize a Magus equipped with the Anti-Cradle system for tracking health points, along with the Cradle Support system for its Restorative Shell capability. Here’s how to approach each type of Bounty Target:

NPC Bounty Targets

When an NPC Bounty Target is present, your Magus will announce this, and their name will appear in the upper-left corner of your screen. A player’s name indicates they are a real person, while names like Magus Hunter Elite suggest an NPC.

Tracking these NPCs can be trickier. They remain hidden until one player analyses them (by focusing on the cradle until a circle fills). After analysis, both their bounty and location will show on the map. They typically stay in the area they spawn in, such as key locations like the Agriculture Plant or Quarry in the Northern Zone.

When you arrive at the NPC’s area, expect them to be accompanied by a squad of hostile Bandits. The leader will have distinct markings showing its status as a Bounty Target, featuring a purple skull once analysed. Use ranged weapons to stay out of the line of fire. After defeating the NPC, make sure to collect any loot before heading back from your Sortie, since defeated targets often have additional valuable items.

Real Player Bounty Targets

Real player Bounty Targets offer a more unpredictable challenge. They operate solo but can roam anywhere in the game world. They will also be announced in a similar manner to NPCs, and they will be highlighted for all Association Members once analysed.

Player Bounty Targets usually possess less health than NPCs, but the tactics and weapons they employ can vary widely. They can leverage their Magus abilities to gain an upper hand. It is advisable to engage them only if you’re in a cooperative group or can execute a stealthy ambush.

The upside of defeating real players is that they drop their equipment, including mech parts and weapons. This provides a valuable opportunity to upgrade your gear without resorting to banditry.

Becoming a Bounty Target Yourself

With the existence of player Bounty Targets, it follows that you can become one as well, often unintentionally. If you eliminate another player, you’ll be marked as a Cautionary Association Member. If you eliminate another player after that, you’ll be expelled from the Association and will be marked with a bounty.

Note that you will be restricted to the Southern Zone until you’ve completed enough missions to avoid targeting beginner players.

At this stage, whether your bounty is low or high, you’ll be indicated as a threat similar to NPC bandits. Your bounty will be visible, allowing other players to gauge the risk of taking you on.

However, you will also reap rewards for maintaining a high bounty. If you manage to keep a significant bounty throughout a season, there are celebratory rewards for your endurance. In this game, crime pays off!