Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes is the prologue to the larger Phantom Pain experience and offers a surprisingly deep set of missions, secrets, and trophies to unlock. While the game itself can be completed quickly on a basic level, earning all trophies requires precise stealth, mission mastery, and full exploration of its various Side Ops. For trophy hunters and completionists, understanding the best routes, conditions, and strategies is essential to claim that coveted 100% completion. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of every trophy in Ground Zeroes, including tips to help you unlock them efficiently without unnecessary repetition.
Overview of Ground Zeroes Trophies
Ground Zeroes features a total of 15 trophies (PS4 version), broken down into
- 1 Gold Trophy
- 6 Silver Trophies
- 8 Bronze Trophies
There is no Platinum trophy since this is a standalone prologue. However, the challenges are engaging and still rewarding. Most of the trophies are tied to mission performance, achieving S-Ranks, rescuing specific prisoners, and completing special objectives in Side Ops.
Main Mission Ground Zeroes Trophies
Rescue Trophy
Rescue Chico and Pazin the main mission. This is a story-related trophy and cannot be missed. You’ll earn it once you complete the main Ground Zeroes mission for the first time.
Skilled Trophy
Achieve an S-Rank on the Ground Zeroes mission. To do this
- Complete the mission quickly (preferably under 10 minutes)
- Avoid being detected
- Don’t kill enemies unnecessarily
- Use non-lethal takedowns and avoid alarms
The easiest strategy is to go straight for Chico and Paz without engaging enemies, using the tranquilizer pistol and carefully observing patrol patterns.
Side Ops Trophies
After completing the main mission, several Side Ops become available. These provide more content and multiple trophy opportunities.
Depth Trophy
Complete all missions. This includes the main Ground Zeroes mission plus the five Side Ops
- Eliminate the Renegade Threat
- Intel Operative Rescue
- Classified Intel Acquisition
- Destroy the Anti-Air Emplacements
- Jamais Vu (Xbox) / Deja Vu (PlayStation)
Each mission is unique and introduces different challenges. You must finish all of them at least once to unlock this trophy.
Unlocked Trophy
Unlock all Side Ops. You do this by completing the main Ground Zeroes mission. Some Side Ops require you to gather intel tapes or achieve certain ranks before becoming available.
Skilled Operative Trophy
Achieve S-Rank on all Side Ops. Like the main mission, this requires stealth, efficiency, and careful planning. General tips include
- Memorize patrol routes
- Use silenced weapons or avoid combat entirely
- Rescue objectives quickly and quietly
- Don’t use the Reflex Mode (turn it off for a score boost)
Special Objective Trophies
Genesis Trophy
Complete the Deja Vu” mission. This mission is exclusive to PlayStation platforms and features classic Metal Gear Solid references. It becomes available after collecting all nine XOF patches scattered throughout the Ground Zeroes mission.
Hidden Trophy XOF Patch Collection
Find all nine XOF unit patches. These are collectible items required to unlock the Deja Vu mission. Their locations vary, but most are near the beginning of the main mission area. Look in trucks, bushes, cliffs, and other obscure spots.
Hero Trophy
This is one of the most difficult trophies to unlock. You must achieve S-Rank on all missions AND rescue all prisoners. The easiest way to do this is
- Play on Normal difficulty
- Complete optional objectives (rescue prisoners, avoid combat)
- Use stealth techniques like crawling and marking enemies with binoculars
Every extra action such as extracting POWs or collecting intel boosts your score and increases your chance of S-Ranking. Consistency is key.
Time-Based and Performance Tips
Speed is one of the most important factors in scoring. Aim to finish missions in the shortest time possible without raising alerts. You can practice routes and restart checkpoints to refine your approach.
Tips to Maximize Efficiency
- Disable Reflex Mode in the Options menu (gives a bonus to score)
- Mark enemies from a safe distance with binoculars
- Use distraction tactics like throwing magazines or shooting light sources
- Extract prisoners using the quickest route to the extraction point
Try not to rely too much on lethal weapons unless the mission requires it. Non-lethal stealth generally results in a higher score and more opportunities to rescue additional POWs.
Jamais Vu / Deja Vu Mission Challenges
These Side Ops come with their own unique challenges and references. In the Deja Vu mission, you are tasked with recreating classic scenes from the original Metal Gear Solid. Successfully completing each scene and collecting all patches leads to bonus rewards and trophies.
Jamais Vu, exclusive to Xbox platforms, features Raiden fighting off alien body snatchers in a surreal, fast-paced mission. High speed and high accuracy are needed to earn top scores.
Cleanup and Replays
After your first full playthrough, it’s likely that you’ll need to revisit missions to complete missed objectives or improve ranks. Fortunately, Ground Zeroes allows you to replay all missions with your current progress intact. Use this to your advantage by focusing on one trophy at a time.
For example, one run might be dedicated to rescuing all prisoners, while another is focused purely on stealth for an S-Rank. Spacing out objectives like this can make the process less overwhelming and more enjoyable.
Completing all trophies in Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes is a satisfying challenge for fans of the franchise and stealth gameplay. While the trophy list may appear short, each one requires skill, patience, and thorough understanding of the game mechanics. Whether you’re aiming for top performance, collecting every hidden patch, or simply experiencing the full range of mission design, this guide will help you stay on track and avoid the common pitfalls many players face.
With precise planning and steady improvement, every Ground Zeroes trophy is within reach. Take your time, learn the layout of the map, and experiment with strategies to find what works best for your play style. The result is not just a completed list of trophies but a deeper appreciation for one of the most refined prologues in gaming history.