Saints Row: The Third Urban Combat and Driving Guide

To survive high-intensity shootouts and escapes in Saints Row: The Third, maintain mobility, break line of sight when taking damage, and use side-ramming to disable hostiles during vehicle pursuits.

On-Foot Combat and Position Control

Combat in Steelport penalizes passive play. To control skirmishes and prevent enemy factions from flanking your position, focus on aggressive target management and positioning:

• Target Priority: Eliminate enemies calling in reinforcements or holding heavy weaponry first to reduce overall damage pressure.
• Repositioning: Avoid staying behind a single cover point. Chain together sprints and vaults to shift locations whenever enemies close in.
• Funneling Enemies: If health drops low, break line of sight and retreat into narrow alleys. This forces incoming hostiles into tight chokepoints where close-range weapons are most effective.
• Environmental Hazards: Shoot nearby fuel canisters or parked hostiles' cars to detonate them and eliminate clusters of enemies quickly.
• Weapon Selection: Match your weapon range to the incoming threat wave. Use shotguns against rushing melee or close-quarters infantry, and switch to long-range rifles for enemies positioned on rooftops and balconies. As enemy factions upgrade their gear later in the campaign, pick up dropped enemy weapons to keep your firepower effective.

When you hear approaching sirens or spot high-speed vehicles arriving, pause objective progress briefly to clear the incoming wave and secure your flanks before moving forward.

Vehicle Navigation and Tactical Driving

Vehicles serve as your primary means of traversal and mobile protection throughout Steelport.

Do not rely on a single vehicle indefinitely during a firefight. Sustained incoming fire causes vehicles to smoke, catch fire, and eventually explode. When your current ride begins to smoke, abandon it immediately to hijack a fresh vehicle or move behind solid cover on foot before the vehicle detonates.