The rank you receive at the end of a Metal Gear Solid game is a prestigious badge of honor for fans of the Konami franchise. However, reaching the series’ highest achievement can be extremely challenging if you don’t know the best strategies to pull it off. Whether you’re a long-time vet or picking it up for the first time, here’s how to reach Big Boss rank in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Big Boss rank requirements in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

To unlock Big Boss rank, you must beat Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty on Extreme difficulty. However, the challenging mode goes beyond just simply ramping up enemy health and damage. Extreme involves significant alterations to the game itself, such as the addition of surveillance cameras in new locations, more challenging bomb placement in the main story, and narrative elements that require more effort to trigger. Finally, guards are more vigilant, and the game’s bosses are more dangerous.

Here are the full requirements for getting Big Boss rank in MGS2:

• Complete the run on the Tanker-Plant route.
• Beat the game on Extreme difficulty.
• Beat the game in under three hours.
• Radar turned off.
• Use 0 continues.
• No killing anyone.
• Fire 700 or fewer shots.
• Trigger three or fewer alerts.
• No “caution” states.
• Use no rations.
• Save 8 or fewer times.
• No special items.

How to get Big Boss rank in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Although zero kills seems like an impossible requirement, there is actually a simple solution for this challenge: a tranquilizer gun. Tranquilizing guards is not only fair game, but it’s also the only way to confront the game’s boss fights. Even this approach has its limitations, though, due to the 700-shot count restriction. While this may seem like plenty, it places considerable pressure on ensuring each shot counts (because it literally does!).

On Extreme difficulty, guards only remain asleep for three minutes as well, so it’s important to keep moving once you put them to sleep. Lingering nearby when they wake up may mean a call for backup via radio, thrusting you into caution mode and voiding your run. Reaching Big Boss rank in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty requires memorization of enemy patrol patterns and a thorough understanding of the map’s layout. In the absence of a radar and with heightened guard awareness, mastery of the game and a well-executed plan are essential.

On the Big Boss run, you’re limited to just 8 saves. As a result, you can’t rely on save-scumming like you could in Metal Gear Solid. This means careful planning and determining precisely when and where to utilize saves. Also, don’t even think about using stealth or unlimited ammo, as all the “special items” will automatically disqualify your run.

Strangely, the original Metal Gear Solid allowed the use of special items, which meant you could cheese the whole run. While some consider Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty to have one of the most challenging Big Boss runs in the entire series, it’s far from impossible, and many have achieved it. The trick is to stay focused and meticulously plan your routes out. With enough practice runs, you’ll soon be proudly displaying your well-earned Big Boss rank.

The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 will launch on October 24, 2023, across various platforms, including the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.