Metal Slug Tactics is all about strategy, and you have many different ways to plan your missions. Each playable character can fulfill various roles depending on the loadout you pick for them and the abilities you unlock during your playthrough, making your experience fairly unique and different from everyone else’s.
RelatedMetal Slug Tactics: 8 Beginner Tips
Your first runs in Metal Slug Tactics can be hard, so keep these sweet tips in mind for an easier time on the battlefield.
Posts By Axel BossoWith that in mind, pairing characters the right way is key to survival. Triggering Synchronization with different characters to make the most out of their abilities will take you one step closer to victory, and some characters have way better synergy than others. So, you should try to build the best teams of three you can once you unlock all nine protagonists in Metal Slug Tactics.
8 Marco, Fio, And Eri
Character
Best Loadout
Marco
Marco Classic/All-Out Syncs
Fio
Fio Classic/Meticulous
Eri
Eri Classic/Fire Starter
Before you can unlock any character in Metal Slug Tactics, your first run will star Marco, Fio, and Eri. This helps you get a hold of the basics while you learn the game mechanics since it’s a very balanced team overall.
Marco is an all-rounder who works on any team you put him on. Using him for triggering Synchronizations will help all units, no matter what loadout you pick. Fio is the best support unit in the game, and Eri brings the highest firepower to complete the best team for the early stages.
7 Marco, Tarma, And Fio
Character
Best Loadout
Marco
All-Out Syncs/Explosive Leader
Tarma
Tarma Classic
Fio
Fio Classic/Double Hits
This classic team is ideal for longtime fans of the franchise who want to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. Before Eri and Fio became playable characters, Marco and Tarma were the face of the series, and pairing them in Metal Slug Tactics can help you unlock various achievements.
RelatedMetal Slug Tactics: Achievement/Trophy Guide
Earn every possible award in Metal Slug Tactics with this guide.
Posts 1 By Matt ArnoldSince both characters are all about dealing damage, pairing them with a support unit like Fio is key to escaping hairy situations, especially in boss battles where the stage shifts constantly and can leave you in a tough spot.
6 Clark, Eri, And Leona
Character
Best Loadout
Clark
Clark Classic
Eri
Eri Classic/Hurricane
Leona
Leona Classic/Team Snipes
Another balanced formation for Metal Slug Tactics can include Clark, Eri, and Leona, so you can deal lots of damage while moving all around the map. Clark is similar to Marco and can fit into almost any team. Additionally, he can move units around to trigger Synchronization.
Leona can be in many places at once, thanks to her Afterimages, and Eri can deal lots of damage and escape quickly to safety. Leona’s Afterimage can also move units around, so it’s a great formation overall.
5 Trevor, Nadia, And Leona
Character
Best Loadout
Trevor
Trevor Classic/Perfect Control
Nadia
Nadia Classic/Ablaze
Leona
Leona Classic
Trevor can act as a support unit if you pick the right loadout and passives, mind-controlling enemies on the field and making himself the target for other units with the Eclipse Special Action. You can pair him with Nadia and Leona, two characters that can keep a safe distance while attacking with bots and Afterimages, respectively.
RelatedMetal Slug Tactics: How To Unlock Every Character
A full roster will give you limitless options in Metal Slug Tactics!
Posts By Matt ArnoldYou need to make sure to pick the right skills for each character so all of them have some sort of supporting abilities to keep the team going for many missions. Otherwise, you might be in trouble, and your team will be eliminated early on.
4 Ralf, Trevor, And Nadia
Character
Best Loadout
Ralf
Ralf Classic/Power Up
Trevor
Trevor Classic/Whirlwind
Nadia
Nadia Classic/Explosive Duo
Ralf shares many similarities with Tarma, as he jumps into action to deal lots of damage and relies on Dodge points to make it out of tough situations. He pairs very well with Trevor, who can attack many units at once as well with the right loadout and skills.
Nadia can fill the map with Electric Mines every time she triggers Synchronization, so keep that in mind. If you pick the right skills for her, you can also provide buffs for the whole team to finish missions swiftly.
3 S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S
Character
Best Loadout
Fio
Fio Classic/Cover Buster
Eri
Eri Classic/Close Quarters
Nadia
Nadia Classic/Overload
Playing the game and knowing each and every character is great for building your own teams, but knowing about Metal Slug’s lore is also helpful in some ways. Fio, Eri, and Nadia were part of the S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. special forces unit before joining the main team, and pairing them together is a great choice.
RelatedMetal Slug Tactics: Every Weapon Type, Ranked
Which gear should your Metal Slug Tactics team bring into battle?
Posts By Matt ArnoldWith Eri doing damage and Nadia using her bots from a distance, Fio can make sure everyone stays in one piece while her companions deal with enemies on all fronts. It's a tight formation that can work its way to the endgame with ease.
2 PF Squad
Character
Best Loadout
Marco
Marco Classic/All-Out Syncs
Tarma
Tarma Classic/Extravagance
Trevor
Trevor Classic/Ninja
The Peregrine Falcons Squad is the main group of fighters in the franchise, with Marco and Tarma being the Major and Captain, respectively. Trevor joined the team in Metal Slug 4 and can be a great support unit in Metal Slug Tactics.
This team focuses mostly on dealing damage, as the three characters have different loadouts that pack a punch. Trevor can mind-control enemies in many ways to keep the team safe, but both Marco and Tarma can also use passive abilities to heal themselves and their allies, so you should have nothing to worry about. While it might be a risky team, it's great for players focused on dealing constant damage.
1 Ikari Warriors
Character
Best Loadout
Ralf
Ralf Classic/Remote Punches
Clark
Clark Classic/Overtime
Leona
Leona Classic/Team Snipes
Before Metal Slug or even the Contra franchise existed, SNK released Ikari Warriors in 1986, starring Ralf Jones and Clark Still, which were, of course, inspired by the Rambo films. Years later, Leona from King of Fighters would join the team and then the Metal Slug saga.
In Metal Slug Tactics, these characters complement each other very well, with Ralf dealing most of the damage alongside Leona and Clark providing support alongside Leona’s Afterimages with a wide coverage of the different stages. This combination is the most balanced you’ll find in the game.
3.5/5 Metal Slug Tactics Like Follow Followed Tactical Strategy War & Military Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 76/100 Critics Rec: 64% Released November 5, 2024 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood Developer(s) Leikir Studio Publisher(s) Dotemu 6 Images CloseWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL
