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The Metal Slug series has a long and storied history of teaming up to blow bad buys to smithereens, andMetal Slug Tacticshonors that legacy. While a turn-based tactical grid is very different from frantic arcade co-op, there are still plenty of opportunities to have your soldiers focus fire via the game’s core mechanic, Synchronization.
Synchronization is pretty simple on the surface, but there are a few things to be aware of regarding how it does and doesn’t work. Once you master Sync Attacks, there’s nothing the Rebel Army can throw at you that you won’t be able to handle.
How To Perform A Sync Attack
Sync Attacks can be triggered byany character with the SynchronizationPassive Ability. That’s not a problem, though, becauseevery character in the game has Synchronization by default.It’s possible that later DLC characters might not have that ability, but for now, everybody on the roster can trigger and participate in Sync Attacks.
Whenever a squadmatehits an enemy with an attack, doing so will trigger a Sync Attack if there areany other squadmates who are able to hit the same target with their primary weaponfrom their current position. This means they need to bewithin the weapon’s range, and unless they’re using grenades or have another way to ignore obstacles, they need to be on thesame elevation as the targetand be able to see them.
A squadmate participating in a Sync Attackfires their primary weaponexactly as if they were making a regular attack with it, without having to spend an action to do so. Any applicable buffs, such asextra damage or bonus shots, are factored into the attack as well. If a character makes multiple attacks via Bonus Actions, each can trigger Synchronizations, and they can still participate in Synchronizations triggered by their allies later in the turn.
If a buff only applies to a single attack, a Sync Attack will cause it to expire after benefitting from it.
Important Things To Know About Synchronization
Desynchronization
Powerful enemies - usually bosses - have an effect calledDesynchronizationthat triggersthe first time they’re hit by a Sync Attack each round.It’s indicated by apurple shield next to their health bar.
A Desynchronized enemycannot be hit by any more Sync Attacksuntil the next turn, limiting the amount of damage that you may do to them. You can still hit them with single attacks, but allies can only chip in once. Be sure to make that first Sync Attack count!
The Convoy Truck in some missions benefits from Desynchronizations, despite not being a boss.
