Playstyles at the end of MGSV can get both bizarre and unique, tactical and useless. There is a limit on the types of weapons, but little on how you customize or use them. This list is of the strongest loadout possible with the simplest type of playstyle; the ones anyone can understand. But they are also really good at taking down enemies.
5. Explosives
This loadout is focused on the brute force of the explosives in the game; each with a different purpose.
It’s a very simple loadout; just fill your equipment with explosives. The rocket launcher CGM 25, or your preferred weapon, acts as the long-range weapon of this loadout. The grenade launcher is for when you rush in and take out any survivors. You can use any support weapon to cover your flank or set up a delayed charge with the C-4.
The grenade pistol can be replaced with any pistol or SMG of your choice for ultimate value, as it doesn’t do anything the grenade launcher can’t; but it needed to be shown that you could fill your arsenal with explosives. The best uniforms for this are the parasite suit or battle suit with the infinite ammo bandana; but you could wear anything. Tools like the NVG and the three drugs are useful, but you can also use the parasite suit tools if you wear that uniform instead; with the disadvantage of not having infinite ammo, you should bring the flare supply.
For customization: the grenade launcher and side arm of your choice get lasers. The launcher also gets the 20x mag, red dot and booster 2-4x, and sharpshooter stock 2. The CGM cannot be customized.
What’s great about ‘Explosives’:
- Every weapon kills most enemies in one shot
- Area of effect of the explosions
- Both long and short ranged weapons
- Wide array of support weapons to cover you or set traps
- Easy destruction of buildings like towers
Loadout details:
- First primary: Hail MGR-4 *7
- Second primary: CGM 25 *8
- Secondary: Zorn-KP *4
- Bionic arm: Blast arm
- Support: any explosive you like, flare supply (if you use parasite)
- Tools: NVG, parasite tools (if you using it)
- Uniform: Battle suit with infinity bandana, or parasite suit
4. Shield (non-lethal)
Obviously not being for kills, a shield loadout with non-lethal weapons can be an effective way of clearing out a base with quick takedowns.
The non-lethal weapons obviously don’t have the stopping power like the damage weapons, so because of this, the shield and the Riot SMG can be an effective duo. With this idea added to the infinite ammo bandana and a sleep or stun grenade launcher, you are given range that the SGM cannot reach. Bring non-lethal grenades, drugs, nvg and stealth camo. Although not a popular choice, the shield offers practicality if you prefer the Riot over the other assault rifle.This is probably the hardest loadout to get used to because of the arc of the grenades.
There’s not much that can be switched out in this loadout. You can pick the color of the shield, but that doesn’t change anything. There are options with the grenade launcher, but the RGL is the best choice overall. Whether or not you are trying to incorporate stealth, you can add or remove the suppressor from the Riot, using the stealth camo if you are. The launcher would need to be used sparingly if using stealth, or at a distance from the enemies . Stealth lessens the need for the shield overall. Like the explosive loadout, the infinite ammo bandana is nearly required.
For customization: basically, have the biggest mag for the Riot and the best suppressor if you’re incorporating stealth. The launcher should have a pathfinder x3 and the SMGwith a red dot; both should have lasers.
What’s great about ‘Shield (non-lethal)’:
- In a firefight you can choose to be protecting yourself from the back or front
- Takes advantage of the rubber weapon’s weakness
- The grenade launcher makes for an effective long ranged weapon of you can get used to it
- Area of effect damage for the grenade launcher
- Can take out bases just as quickly as some damage loadouts
Loadout details:
- First primary: RGL-220 (ZZZ) *8
- Second primary: PB Shield (any)
- Secondary: Riot SMG *11
- Bionic arm: stun arm
- Support: non lethal grenades and mines
- Tools: NVG, box, stealth camo
- Uniform: sneaking suit or fatigues
3. Close range
Blast through enemies in a large suit of armor with this loadout based around power and reliability.
The LMG in this loadout is used to unleash destruction from a reasonable range, destroying people, structures, and weapons. When you need to clear a room or house, you pull out the bullhorn, with its flexibility and damage. Finally, when you can’t reload either of the primary weapons, pull out the SMG with the highest rate of fire and a quick reload as a backup. Any kind of grenade would benefit you with this loadout, and you could bring parasite tools and flare supply if you decide to use that outfit.
The LMGs can be switched out with each other based on your preference; they all do the same job. The same goes with the bullhorn, which could be switched out with a weaker but larger capacity shotgun. The SMG can be switched out as well, just make sure it has a quick reload speed. The infinity bandana still really helps here but is not completely necessary; the parasite armor is viable here too.
For customization: the shotgun should be given a muzzle that increases shot grouping, an iron or a red dot sight. The same thing goes with the LMG, but with the addition of the barrel that gives you the highest rate of fire. The SMG should have a x30 dual mag, standard stock 2, an added R3 suppressor for some flair, and a red dot sight.
What’s great about ‘Close range’:
- High rate of fire of all these weapons will not give most enemies a change to retaliate
- The damage of the LMG is powerful enough to destroy structures and vehicles
- You have a large amount of ammo and clip size for both the SMG and LMG
- Each weapon is used equally to make this loadout work
- Battle suit and parasite armor lets you take a lot more hits
Loadout details:
- First primary: Bullhorn SG *8
- Second primary: ALM 48 *11
- Secondary: ZE’EV-10 *11
- Bionic arm: any arm
- Support: grenades and mines, supply flare
- Tools: NVG, box, stealth camo, parasite tools
- Uniform: battle suit or parasite suit
2. Long range
Taking care of all the enemies from a distance; stealth is an option.
Because of the weapons this loadout uses, this is the only loadout so far that can be completely stealthy. The tactics with this loadout is again simple: use the sniper first and quickly take out as many as you can before moving and repeating with the sniper, or taking out the assault rifle and killing the pursuing enemies. The primary reloads are quite quicker than in the close-range loadout, but the Macht 37L is still for when you don’t have ammo in your other guns and it has good range for what it is. If going for a stealthy option, just use similar tactics with guards that are alone and move or hide bodies when you need to. Grenades are really the only long range support weapons available; for tools, you want the NVG, stealth camo, and drugs.
You can use any assault rifle you want, but make sure you increase the magazine size in order to have a good amount of ammunition. Another sniper would work too, just look for one with a decent fire rate. The Macht 37L is unfortunately the only medium-to-long range SMG in the game, but this can be changed if you’re ok with less accuracy. The infinity bandana isn’t really necessary here, unless you want to go on a rampage throughout several different bases in free roam. The best outfits are sneaking suits or fatigues(day or night)
For customization: give all weapons the most amount of ammo in the clip as you can. Both rifles should be equipped with a barrel that gives you the best grouping, sharpshooters stock 2, and a muzzle that gives the best grouping or a R3 suppressor.
What’s great about ‘Long range':
- Large amount of ammo with a large amount of firepower
- Most of the three main weapons will keep enemies at bay
- Is the most viable stealth loadout of this list
- Keeps you out of the range of dangerous weapons
- Weapons are accurate and controllable
Loadout details:
- First primary: AM MRS-4r *11
- Second primary: AM MRS-71 *11
- Secondary: Macht 37L
- Bionic arm: blast arm or rocket arm for loud
- Support: grenades
- Tools: drugs, nvg, stealth camps, parasite tools
- Uniform: battle suit or parasite suit
1. Raiden
Anything with Raiden will give you a solid loadout, but this uses his ability to each weapons’ advantage.
Even as a kind of a cheat code, the Raiden outfit does have two drawbacks: no infinity bandana and no bionic arm. So, an easy solution is to make every shot count. The Serval can damage high-armored enemies as well as just picking off snipers in the distance. The shotgun kills closer enemies easier after using Raiden’s ability to dash into the base, and the pistol can be used to save ammo and shoot enemies from behind. This loadout can be used with stealth too, but the silencers of the previous loadouts are generally better. But again, you’ll be using fewer shots and dealing less damage to the suppressors. Stealth camo is one of the best items for this loadout.
Any of these weapons can be switched out if they have the same strategies; the pistol can be switched out for a high damage SMG, the sniper can be switched with a semi-auto sniper for easier takedowns, and the shotgun can be switched out for a high damage assault rifle with a higher rate of fire. Because of Raiden’s speed, you can also make use of most tools and items in both the main playstyles.
For customization: make sure your assault rifle/shotgun has close ranged upgrades like a standard stock and a large mag, the pistol/SMG have lasers, and the sniper has an adaptable scope.
What’s great about 'Raiden':
- The Raiden outfit gives you the highest running speed you can have
- There are many weapons that work with Raiden because he can get into any position
- Powerful shots that can help you conserve ammo
- Available to be used in a stealth play style
- Easier to deploy or use items more effectively
Loadout details:
- First primary: Kabarga-83 *8
- Second primary: Serval ARM-7 *8
- Secondary: AM D114LB-9 *11
- Bionic arm: N/A
- Support: anything
- Tools: anything
- Uniform: Raiden obviously
