The ultimate guide for CQC

Overview

Learn everything about CQC

Introduction

MGS V: GZ demonstrates a new kind of Stealth system and a more dynamic CQC (Close Quarters Combat) from its predecessors, this guide will instruct you how to use CQC effectively and learn cool tricks.

Everything about CQC

CQC (Close Quarters Combat) is a mixture of martial arts, it mostly uses Judo to pacify enemies and the knowledge to use it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for every MGS title out there. CQC is not so hard to learn, but requires a lot of training to master. It was developed by The Boss during World War II and was especially developed for Black Ops. It is the main melee combat used by the MSF. There are a variety of things you can do with CQC, which will be shown in this guide.

CQC – Combos

Back-hit combo:

It’s a combo used to knock down an enemy from behind, simply tap the Left Mouse Button when behind the enemy to start hitting him. Some people call this a 3-hit combo as it only takes 3 hits to knock down the enemy, but I call it back-hit combo because the quantity of hits necessary to knock down the enemy is variable, sometimes it takes only 3 hits, sometimes 2 hits, it’s totally random to me. I can’t tell about its advantage, but I think it makes the enemy unconscious for a longer time, if not, it’s pretty useless, as it takes more time to knock the enemy down.

Combat combo or front-hit combo:

It’s a combo used during direct combat, simply tap Left Mouse Button when in front of the enemy to start hitting him. Some people call this a 5-hit combo, but as the previous combo, the necessary hits are variable, sometimes 5, sometimes 4, I can’t really explain why. This is the least CQC I use during combat, I find it useless and takes a long time to finally knock down the enemy, it would be faster if I only used the takedown, maybe it makes the enemy unconscious for a longer time, but I never gave the regards to see if that’s true.

CQC – Takedown

This is the best and most used CQC in-game, tap the Left Mouse Button while moving. It knocks the enemy down rapidly, but for a short time, and if there are many enemies very close to you while doing it, you may start a combo chain of takedowns, knocking everyone down by simply tapping the Left Mouse Button whenever the CQC icon appears. You can also use the takedown when on every kind of cover.
Takedown on full-sized cover.

Takedown on a half-sized cover.

Very recommended to use on every situation.

CQC – Grabbing

Useful but slow CQC technique, simply hold Left Mouse Button when close to an enemy to grab him. Once you grab him, you are free to release the button. You can gunpoint your secondary weapon while grabbing an enemy at any time. You can also grab enemies from any cover.

You can see there are the three options you have after grabbing the enemy:

1. Talk to the enemy
2. Knock down
3. Kill

• Always avoid the kill option, it takes the same time as the knock down, so it’s really pointless if you kill your enemy, unless you enjoy killing things.
• Knocking Down while grabbing takes short time and makes the enemy stunned for the longest time compared to other CQCs.
• You can also perform a takedown while holding the enemy, you can do it backwards or onwards, simply press S (if the camera is behind you) to perform the backwards takedown and W (if the camera is behind you) to perform the onward takedown.
  Onward takedown.
  Backward takedown.

CQC – Hold up

[UPDATE: Thanks to HK SLAP’s pro-tip, Holdup is useful only when engaging multiple enemies at once, however when used against a single enemy is not useful at all.] You can hold up anyone by simply approaching the enemy from behind and point the gun at them, when that happens they will drop their gun and will be at your custody, however be careful, a standing enemy may try to quickly react to break free of your custody and then activate the alarm, therefore always say to lay low whenever you’re holding up someone.

CQC – Disarming

Disarming your enemy is a good way to put him in disadvantage during combat, tap the Left Mouse Button to hit the enemy, and once you make physical contact with the enemy press the RMB to disarm him, if you disarm the enemy’s rifle, he will react and will try to attack you, if you disarm the enemy’s handgun, he will surrender. Once disarmed, you’ll instantly grab the gun to start shooting, once you release the Right Mouse Button, you drop the gun. Disarming isn’t meant for sneaking, it’s only useful during alert status. One interesting detail is that the disarmed enemy becomes vulnerable to shots, one shot is enough to make him near death.

Enemy giving up after disarm.

CQC – Tackling

To tackle the enemy, simply run at him and then press the Spacebar to dolphin dive, making him fall, then kick him to make him unconscious. It’s useful when you do that on more than one enemy, it always works, and is entertaining.

CQC – Throwing Bodies

Throwing bodies at the enemies knocks them down quickly, to do so, simply press the Left Mouse Button while carrying a body to throw it at someone, it’s very effective when you do that in a group of enemies. It also works when you throw someone on the watch tower at someone below, but it requires a lot of precision.

CQC – Grabbing from stairs

This is useful to take down the guards from the watch towers, all you have to do is to tap the MLB while a guard is close to the stairs, works the exact same way as in PW, when more high the guard falls, more unconscious he becomes.

CQC – Door Slamming

Door slamming:
Used to knock down guards close to doors, just move to the door to push it when a guard is about to open it.

CQC – Tactical techniques and tips

Pacification with lethal weapons:

Back in the previous titles of MGS, after the enemy spots you the alarm is immediately activated, that was very frustrating for me but it was fixed in PW. Now in GZ the AI system is much more improved which makes the game a lot easier and fair. Taking advantage of this new AI detection system, you are now capable of shooting, CQCing enemies before they have the chance to activate the alarm with the help of reflexes. But using reflexes induces a penalty to your final score in every mission you use it, I’m here to show you about how to use your OWN reflexes in-game.

In this image you can see the enemy soldier being shot on the leg by Snake, he will stagger giving you a small time to reach him and perform a takedown on him, this works everytime, and for better effects, shoot both legs rapidly to make him fall on the ground to give you much more time, also shooting in the leg thrice also staggers him to fall on the ground. It’s tricky at first but through training you’ll take the trick. I strongly recommend this technique to prevent enemies from activating the alarm and to soil your final score to prevent reaching that sweet Rank S. Don’t forget, LEGS are most effective, if you risk taking the shot on the upper part of the body you might end killing the lad by hitting his twig and berries, if they insta-die taking a shot there…

Gunpointing while approaching from behind:

This is a technique I use since GotP. Sometimes enemy movement is unpredictable, you’ll never know if he’ll eventually turn his back and spot you, therefore, whenever you approach someone from behind, gunpoint them if in case they do something unexpected. This actually saved me tons of times, It’s obligatory for everyone, for security measures. It also helps when you’re trying to take down two guards at once, if one spots you, don’t hesitate to pacify with lethal weapons like instructed above, it’s very difficult, I generally end up being detected no matter how hard I try but it worked a few times.

Here are a few rules to follow to improve your performance over CQC:

1. Always use CQC, it always makes things easier for you.
2. Only use CQC when the hand icon appears, the action will be valid once it appears, otherwise you’ll be hitting the air, making you a dummy target for the guards.
3. Disregard rule #1 during combat, NEVER use CQC in an open area, you’ll just be an easy target for everyone.

Following those three rules will help you use CQC properly.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this guide, after all these infos you learned (or not), you’ll be more aware of the proper use of CQC. If there are any doubts related to anything in this guide, please don’t hesitate to make a comment regarding your doubt and also, don’t forget to rate and share for people in need of assistance regarding of CQC 😉