Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an open-world stealth action game where you play as Big Boss (Venom Snake) rebuilding your private military force, Diamond Dogs, in 1984 Cold War-era Afghanistan and Africa. The game gives you absolute freedom in how you approach each mission — stealth, lethal force, tactical support, or creative chaos. The Fulton extraction system lets you steal soldiers, vehicles, and even animals to grow Mother Base, creating a satisfying progression loop between field ops and base management. Its moment-to-moment gameplay is widely considered the best stealth action ever created.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Afghanistan
Key resources: Story progression, weapon blueprints, high-rank soldiers, diamond resources Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for AM MRS-4 (Assault Rifle) upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Central Africa
Key resources: Advanced blueprints, S-rank soldiers, rare resources, story conclusion Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for AM MRS-4 (Assault Rifle) upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mother Base
Key resources: Staff management, weapon development, resource processing, morale bonuses Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for AM MRS-4 (Assault Rifle) upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Forward Operating Bases
Key resources: Extra staff capacity, online rankings, stolen resources, nuclear deterrence Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Tranquilizer Sniper (Renov-ICKX TP) max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
OKB Zero
Key resources: Story climax, final boss fights, completion rewards Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Tranquilizer Sniper (Renov-ICKX TP) max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Afghanistan — Central Africa)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on AM MRS-4 (Assault Rifle) once accessible
Mid Game (Mother Base)
- Push AM MRS-4 (Assault Rifle) to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Tranquilizer Sniper (Renov-ICKX TP)
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Forward Operating Bases — OKB Zero)
- Max out Tranquilizer Sniper (Renov-ICKX TP) — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Mother Base farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Interrogate every soldier you grab with CQC (press the prompt after grabbing) — they reveal enemy positions, prisoner locations, material containers, and blueprint locations.
- Farm Mother Base during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Metal Gear Solid V Guides
- Metal Gear Solid V Metal Gear Solid V Overview
- Metal Gear Solid V Best Builds
- Metal Gear Solid V Tier List
- Metal Gear Solid V Walkthrough
- Metal Gear Solid V Beginner's Guide
- Metal Gear Solid V Tips & Tricks
- Metal Gear Solid V Weapons Guide
- Metal Gear Solid V Combat Guide
- Metal Gear Solid V Boss Guide
- Metal Gear Solid V Maps & Locations
- Metal Gear Solid V Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
