The characters inMetal Slug Tacticshave been fighting the Rebel Army for decades now, ever since their arcade days. They’re all the best of the best, but a few of them really stand out as elite troopers in the game’s turn-based battles. Once you’ve unlocked everybody, you’ll have a lot of different squad combinations to try.
If you’re not sure which characters to try next, we’ve ranked them all based on how powerful they are in general. We’ve factored in their overall potential, along with how much work it actually takes to get them there in the course of a campaign.
9Clark Still
On paper, Clark has everything you could want in a game like Metal Slug Tactics; he hits decently hard, and his abilities focus onmoving himself and his enemies around the board. That sort of gameplay is usually perfect for tactical strategy, especially whenteam combo attacksare such an important part of winning battles.
However, Clark is held back by his limited options early in the campaign, regardless of his loadout. He’s a great addition to the team once he’s had a chance to level up, but until then he lacks the range and versatility of other squad members, which can make it a challenge to progress when you bring him along - especially on higher difficulties.
8Nadia Cassel
Nadia is a tricky character to use. Setting traps and summoning drones can be a recipe for success, but youreally need to know what you’re doingfor her to outshine characters who rely on raw, explosive force. This is Metal Slug we’re talking about, after all.
In the hands of an experienced player, Nadia can absolutely clean house. However, her playstyle isunforgiving of mistakes, so it’s a good idea to try a few practice runs with her on lower difficulties before you commit to a tougher campaign.
7Marco Rossi
Marco has main-character energy, which makes him agreat all-rounder. Metal Slug Tactics is a game that really rewards specialization, though, so Marco can start to fall behind once you start to figure out some of the more powerful builds available to other characters.
Marco excels at teamwork, so you can usually find a place for him supporting heavy damage dealers like Trevor or Ralf, or setting up vicious combo attacks with Eri or Leona.
6Leona Heidern
Leona’s Afterimages let her quite literallybe in multiple places at once, and given the right setup she can clear entire squads of enemies with energy attacks, flames, and martial-arts prowess. The operative phrase there, of course, is “given the right setup.”
Leona is another character who takes at least one region’s worth of missions to really hit her stride, but in the meantime she’s at least a solid support character. All it takes is one or two extra abilities on top of her starting kit to make her a lethal force in her own right.
5Ralf Jones
Ralf is a blend of Tarma and Trevor’s playstyles. While he isn’t quite as good at speed and defense as Tarma, nor as efficient at attacking as Trevor, he has one very big ace up his sleeve that makes him worth taking on missions.
Ralf’sVulcan Punchhas one of the highest damage potentials out of any move in the entire game. If you spend a turn building up Dodge, then save it with Warm-Up and build up more on the following turn, a max-level Vulcan Punch canknock off a huge chunk of a boss’s health barin one go. Ralf’s a bit of a one-trick pony, but it’s a heck of a trick.
4Tarma Roving
Tarma takes the game’s turn-based adaptation of Metal Slug’s run-and-gun gameplay and… well, runs with it. He’s the king of mobility, and his resulting Dodge capacity makes him nigh-untouchable when used correctly. While this makes him a great defensive character, he has plenty of ways to deal damage as well, including some excellent area attacks.
3Fio Germi
Nobody in the Metal Slug Tactics lineup has more overall utility than Fio, making her a great fit for any team. Her support abilities likeAcupuncture Boostcan save the day, and she can be outfitted for damage, field control, or a little bit of both.
Since Fio is one of the starting trio and makes use of many of the game’s systems all together, she’s a great character for players learning the game or who want to improve their skills.
2Eri Kasamoto
You may not be able to break the rules of the game, but with Eri on your team you can usually find ways to work around them. Can’t quite get in range for that critical Sync Attack? Not to worry, Eri’s grenades can probably reach regardless of elevation. Want to hit a boss multiple times on the same attack? Grenade Juggler can let you do just that.
Between her versatility and the wide variety of options available to her via loadouts, Eri makes a stellar choice for your team on any difficulty.
1Trevor Spacey
Trevor really is on a different level from the rest of the roster. He has excellent, high-damage weapons, a lethal assortment of Special Actions, and the ability tomake enemies fight each other.In any other game, that would be his best power, but it’s actually fairly secondary compared to Trevor’s unparalleled offense.
Trevor’s abilities have low Adrenaline costs and usually let him take Bonus Actions, so he canattack over and over againuntil he runs out of juice. It’s not uncommon to see him carve up bosses on his own, or single-handedly clear a path for the rest of the squad.When in doubt, pick Trevor.
Metal Slug Tactics
WHERE TO PLAY
Metal Slug Tactics brings the explosive charm and nostalgic fun of the cult METAL SLUG series to the tactical scene! Get ready for an intense ride through the best of both worlds: classic arcade action and roguelite tactical thrills. Jump into the combat zone and revive your METAL SLUG nostalgia in a whole new way!TACTICAL RPG WITH ROGUELIKE ELEMENTSMetal Slug Tactics offers a fresh perspective on the iconic battles of the METAL SLUG series. Lead your squad to victory through strategic guile and superior firepower in a perfect blend of classic action and tactical depth. Unleash powerful special attacks and shape the outcome of each encounter!Accumulate experience after each battle to unlock new weapons or bonus perks to upgrade your team’s firepower and tactical skills.Assemble your team and rewrite the rules in this modern tribute to a cult classic!GET YOUR GEAR, SOLDIERS! MISSION START!Choose between iconic brothers-in-arms from across the METAL SLUG series and create the perfect team to stop Morden’s devious plans.Determine the best weapon loadouts and mods to maximize combo efficiency on the battlefield.Launch simultaneous attacks with the “SYNC” mechanic to deal massive damage to the enemy! And if your team is in trouble, you may always call in some reinforcements and watch the big guns at work: heavy artillery, airstrikes, the glorious METAL SLUG itself - you name it, you get it!FIGHT YOUR WAY TO VICTORYEmbark on an exalting campaign through beautiful, hand-crafted maps to end the war and defeat the infamous Rebel Army once and for all! You’re going to face many challenges, so brace yourself for countless deaths, but don’t give up and push through.Whether you’re a skilled veteran or a new recruit, play and replay your favorite missions, learn precious strategic insight from each adventure and hone your skills with each hard-fought victory.Gain experience, level up your operatives, adapt to your enemies, and remember: every defeat is a lesson, yet triumph awaits those who refuse to surrender!StoryDonald Morden is back! After years of hiding in a country opposed to the World Government, the devious General patiently staged a coup. Now, he is finally ready to take revenge upon the World with the army he has secretly gathered throughout the years.The Peregrine Falcons Squad will have to do everything in their power to make it through the enemy lines and take down General Morden before the war escalates into catastrophe!
