Ubisoft has announced one last major update for Ghost Recon: Wildlands. As a thank-you to the community, the update is coming with a brand new, eight-player, free-for-all PvPvE mode called Mercenaries. Essentially, it’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands version of battle royale. The objective of the mode is to call for rescue, locate and reach the extraction point, and be the first to board the chopper. The mode will be available tomorrow, July 18.
Mercenaries is played out in phases. The first phase is recon. As the match starts, you will have no weapons, gear or items and the extraction point is unknown. Players will have to locate and activate radio transmitters to find the extraction zone on the map. Players will have to deal with each other as well as Unidad soldiers. In order to find transmitters, players have to search for an intel marker. The intel marker will reveal the position of a transmitter and a randomly selected option of either the position of other players for a limited amount of time, the position of rare items like gear and weapons, or the position of a vehicle.
The second phase of Mercenaries is helicopter deployment. After activating three transmitters, the helicopter will go to the extraction point. You alone will know the location and this fills part of the extraction gauge filled, giving you an advantage over the other players. After the helicopter lands, its location will get revealed to all the remaining players leading into phase 3, extraction.
Extraction is completed by filling out the extraction gauge which allows players to board the helicopter. The gauge is filled by staying in a set area. Extraction will not occur if other players are in the area, so being tactical is key.
There are new game mechanics being implemented for Mercenaries. For instance, looting gear is priority #1. At the start, players will only be equipped with a melee weapon. Caches are located throughout the map where things like sniper rifles, flashbangs, armored vests, and healing syringes can be obtained. If you die, you will start at the beginning with just a melee weapon. Mercenaries also includes a new health and armor system. Armor is based on the gear that players pick up. Armor absorbs a percentage of damage based on the penetration capability of your opponent’s weapon. If you get hit with penetration damage, bleeding will occur which leads to a gradual loss of a percentage of your health. Three different types of healing items include medkits which restores all health and stops bleeding; bandages stops bleeding but doesn’t restore health, and syringes restores health but will not stop bleeding. Destructible doors are also present throughout the map. They can be opened with a CQC attack and contain loot. Enemies will be able to hear the breaking of doors, so thinking tactically is important in these situations.
Rewards will be gained as you play through Mercenaries. Completing your first game grants you the Lone Wolf costume; the 1st win rewards players with a Mercenary Patch; 3rd win with Mercenary Pants; 5th win with a Mercenary Heavy Vest; 10th win with a Jacket Army Mercenary; 15th win with a Mercenary Heavy Vest with Shoulder Pads; and 25 wins gets players the Mercenary Backpack.