How to Defeat the Screaming Mantis

Screaming Mantis is one of the most challenging opponents in the Playstation 3 game Metal Gear Solid 4. She is a big problem for Solid Snake and his team because she con control people with nanomachines, including Snake, his partner Meryl and the FROG soldiers. The secret to defeating her lies in avoiding her nanomachine control and gaining control of the dolls at her sides. One of those dolls acts a voodoo doll to get past her impenetrable armor.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Equip the M4 with a scope if possible, setting the M4's firing range to automatic. (Go with the M14 if you don't have the M4.) Equip a weapon for stunning also (preferably the Mosin Nagant, stun grenades or M870 Custom with ring shots), as you'll have to deal with your own partner.

2. Inject yourself with the syringe right before you face Screaming Mantis so she can't control you. Increase the movement speed on everything to 10 (this is accessed from the options menu) and use the scope on the M14 if you have it.

3. Shoot at the dolls to Mantis' sides with the M14 while dodging her blades and other attacks. The dolls will be colored if this is a return attempt; you need the red doll, which getting will also prevent her from controlling the living FROGs. (The blue doll is what controls the dead FROGs).

4. Look for Mantis to eventually scream "Snake" and fly toward you. Drop the scope and run when this happens, then shoot the dolls after she misses you.

5. Stop Meryl from attacking when Mantis takes control of her. Stun her with the Mosin Nagant, ring shots or stun grenades, or use the syringe on her (you'll need to get up close and grab her to do this).

6. Grab the mantis doll once it drops from your shots; this is the second doll on your first run and the red one on subsequent attempts. Equip the doll and use it on Mantis by holding L1 and shaking the controller. Once her life bar is depleted and the armor drops, kill or tranquilize her to finish her.

References

• GameFAQs