Complete all outpost missions before you initiate the final mission in story mode. The outpost missions can no longer be accessed after the game is completed, which will also prevent a faction's shop items from being unlocked.
Achievements
Complete the following achievements to unlock Xbox Live Gamerscore points.
Achievement
How to unlock
...And Justice For All ( 50 points )
Verify all high value targets.
Armaggedon It ( 20 points )
Destroy 20 buildings.
Balls to the Wall ( 20 points )
Beat the Winching Challenge three times.
Be Quick or Be Dead ( 10 points )
Snipe 50 enemy vehicle drivers.
Billion Dollar Babies ( 25 points )
Earn $1 billion.
Damage, Inc. ( 50 points )
Use 20 airstrikes in co-op.
Digital Man ( 20 points )
Unlock all shop items.
Eat the Heat ( 10 points )
Try accelerating and braking at the same time.
Everybody Wants Some!! ( 50 points )
Play with a Mercenaries 2 developer or a player who already has this achievement.
Gone Shootin' ( 20 points )
Complete one of Fiona's challenges.
Hail and Kill ( 20 points )
Destroy 50 objects using melee.
Heavy Metal Thunder ( 10 points )
Successfully complete 10 action hijacks.
Highway to Hell ( 10 points )
Complete three different races.
Holy Smoke ( 20 points )
Destroy 50 objects with a grenade.
Little Savage ( 20 points )
Destroy 50 objects with an RPG launcher.
No More Mr. Nice Guy ( 10 points )
Make all factions hostile.
Nothin' But a Good Time ( 50 points )
Destroy 200 objects from the gunner seat in co-op.
Partners in Crime ( 50 points )
Play co-op with a friend.
Pipeline ( 20 points )
Capture all outposts for a single faction.
Shoot to Thrill ( 20 points )
Get 25 headshots.
Tattooed Millionaire ( 25 points )
Earn $1 million.
We'll Burn the Sky ( 50 points )
Unlock all landing zones.
Wheels of Steel ( 50 points )
Come in first during a co-op race.
Alternate costumes
Win the level 3 weapon challenge bets at the PMC Villa with your allies. Talk to Fiona at your PMC to access the challenges. Note: Bet the maximum money for the level 1 and 2 challenges then save and reload the game until you win. Bet the minimum money for the level 3 challenge.
Bet amount
When you get the maximum betting level on the Winch challenge, keep going until you get to about $100.0 million. The minimum bet is now also $5 million. If you continue from that, the minimum will actually grow higher than the maximum and allow for even more money. However there is a catch; once you go beyond there is no way you can raise or lower the bet because it is higher than the maximum, but it is still the minimum.
Billboards
Unlock the P.L.A.V. faction and get a gunship with rockets, such as a Castro V Attack chopper or an Anaconda from the pirates (recommended, as it carries about 80 rockets). Fly to the city of Merida and shoot the billboards. You will earn $5,000. If you shoot enough of them you begin to unlock more shop items from the P.L.A.V. and a few things from the U.P. mercenaries in their city. Only one rocket is required to destroy a billboard. It only takes 1 rocket from a gunship to destroy those pesky billboards.
Capturing outposts quickly
When playing in Co-op mode with a friend, look in the same direction at the same time. Throw the signal smoke to call in for reinforcements to capture an outpost. If done correctly, both of the thrown signal smokes will start to smoke and two helicopters will appear. This will speed up the process when you are getting shot or are in a tight situation.
Defeating Carmona
When Carmona's men are attacking the PMC, after you destroy the tanks set a charge of C4 on the gates closer to the mansion and blow it. It should drop straight down and block the road leading out of the compound. Enter the mansion and trigger the intermission sequence. When you exit the building, the road leading out of the compound is still blocked. Kill Carmona's bodyguards and his jeep should be stuck on the rubble of the archway. Kill him and snap the picture for easy verification of Carmona.
When completing the mission on the oil rig in the water behind the PMC, kill Blanco and take his weapon, the hunting pistol. The hunting pistol is a very powerful weapon, often killing enemies in one shot. With the hunting pistol in your possession, continue through the "Finding Solano" mission/ After the encounter with Carmona inside the villa, he runs in a straight line directly away from you, giving you a clear shot at his back. If you miss on the first shot, he has a good bit of a jog until he reaches his jeep, giving you plenty of time to gun him down.
Easy money
After completing the first UP mission and receiving Ewan, talk to him about the Winch challenge. After completing level 3 on this challenge, bet the maximum amount of money. Even though you have already done this, the height does not raise. Therefore you can continue betting at the maximum amount. After about four times (depending on how much you start with), you should have about $7.0 million. You can continue from here in order to get the maximum wager amount to $5.0 million (when you have about $14.0 million in funds). From there you can repeat this as often as desired when you need money.
Note: To save time, if you are trying to use the above method to increase your money, use stackable items from outside of your stronghold. For example, try the gas canisters across the road (or for something less volatile, use the shipping containers directly across the lake behind your house). Items used from outside of your stronghold stay in the exact location you put them until you quit your game, giving you a prepared stack height the next time around. Two or three attempts may be required to gather the items, but it is well worth it, as once done it requires only seconds to win the challenge.
Also regarding the bet amount, once you go over $10 million, it only gives you $1 million and slowly increases.
Once you have obtained your helicopter pilot, he will supply a bet, wagering that you cannot stack enough things to get the toolbox above the displayed height. This wager is easy and the money goes up by about $2,000 each time you play.
Find a Cash Bundle out in the field. Make sure you are in an area with lots of open room. If not, call in a helicopter and take the money to a safe place (for example, the PMC air strip). Tag it and call it in. When Ewen picks it up and you are credited for the find, shoot the money crate. You can do this by any means necessary (for example, use a nearby armed combat chopper, wait for Ewen to get there, then shoot the crate after getting the credit). Money should rain down on the ground around you. Run around and collect it all for an added bonus of roughly $50,000. The bits that scatter across the ground are worth about $5,000 each.
Easy Sniper challenge
Use RB and not the scope for it. Take out the drums next to the cars first then go the two statues for some extra time.
Easy stockpiling
Find an item in the world, select it, and call in Ewan. As Ewan is coming out to get the item, run, or even better yet, drive away. You do not have to go too far; just until it is no longer on your mini-map. If done correctly, you should see a message reading "No Resource To Pick Up", and have said item added to your stockpile. This works for money, munitions or fuel.
Easy transport and smuggling missions
Note: This trick only works after you obtain a helicopter pilot and the winch ability. When on a transport or smuggling contract that relies on you not tipping the vehicle and losing the objects inside, summon a helicopter before entering the mission assigned vehicle, as close to the vehicle as possible. Then, enter the mission vehicle. The timer should start. Get back out and take off in your helicopter. Use the winch to grab the mission vehicle and gain as much altitude as possible. If you fly relatively level, you will not lose anything. However even if you bank even slightly to get around obstacles, losses will be minimal as long as you do not actually bank the copter in a hard turn. The vehicle will get tossed about, making the copter harder to fly; but if you travel directly to the drop-off point from the beginning, it will keep its cargo. This helps you avoid nearly all ground forces. All you have to worry about are the anti-air guns and other helicopters. If worst comes to worst, simply drop the vehicle after coming down to about 20 feet or less. You will have already have saved enough time to hijack another helicopter.
Enemies ignore killed
You can disguise yourself from the enemy by using their vehicle, but you cover will be blown if you hang around too long, kill enemies using the vehicle armaments, or hit them with the vehicle. However, enemies do not seem to mind being killed after being hit by vehicles hanging from the winch cable of a rapidly descending helicopter or vehicles released from the winch cable to be dropped on their heads from above. Also, enemies do not seem to mind when one of their helicopters arrives and repositions all of the nearby fuel tanks to strategic locations, such as reinforcement bunkers, alarm towers, guard towers, destruction target buildings, enemy armor, etc. Even more, enemies do not seem to mind when the helicopter drops exploding barrels, jeeps, trucks, tanks, etc. down onto the strategically placed fuel tanks. You can perform HVT captures with ease by eliminating the ground personnel from the air, then land and claim your HVT. You can perform target destruction by placing a fuel tank on top of the building, then dropping something explosive on the fuel tank. If you have the time, and like keeping your factions friendly to you, scope out what faction you are going after, get one of their helicopters, and have fun. The only difficult part is finding a fuel tank. Sometimes, you will have access to more than you need and other times you will have to travel far to find one.
Equipment
Complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding equipment.
Ambassador gunship: Complete level 3 of the Helicopter Flying mission.
Diplomat heavy tank: Destroy the targeted buildings for the Allied Nations.
MOAB bomb: Complete all HVT missions for the Allied Nations.
Ewan lives through explosion
Enable the "Invincibility" code. Have a Fuel-Air RPG and order a helicopter down. Just before it lands, shoot it with the Fuel-Air RPG to blow it up. Ewan will fly out, be alive, and just stands there.
Free Vehicle Repair and Rearming
At any time during the game when you have a vehicle that needs repairing or more ammo, you can get both for free by entering any allied HQ or outpost, you don't need to buy anything or even take a contract, just leave. Once you leave, your vehicle is fully repaired and rearmed waiting for you outside.
Indestructible vehicle
Get a helicopter with a grapple. Deploy the grapple and look for a vehicle. Take that vehicle (for example, the Raven from Universal Petroleum) and use the grapple to grab it. Next, take the vehicle to a body of water. Lower your helicopter until the vehicle is in the water and you are hovering. Wait a few seconds until you hear the explosion. Then, fly up and take your vehicle to dry land. Release it from the grapple. The vehicle will be in perfect condition (or the condition in which it was grabbed). You can get out and shoot it without the vehicle exploding, but you will not be able to drive it.
Pick-up multiple items at once
Go to all the items you want to pick-up that are in range and select them all. Once all items are selected, throw your resource pick-up smoke. The helicopter should pick-up one item, but all other items will disappear letting you know you have them. You may get an error message stating "Unable to at the moment" or something similar, but the items will still be collected.
Reach gunner's area of Chinese Bladesong
Get the Chinese Bladesong ship to full speed, then jump in behind the front gun. You should be able to slide back into the gunner's area in the front of the ship. Several attempts may be required, but if done fast enough it should work. Once inside you can go through the back wall. The only way to get out is to use the ladder on the other side of the gunner's area.
Restore vehicle
Park a vehicle outside of a building which you can enter. Enter then exit the building. The vehicle will be repaired with full ammunition.
Secret Achievements
Achievement
How to unlock
Aces High ( 50 points )
You captured all high value targets.
Dirty Deeds ( 10 points )
You achieved maximum Universal Petroleum mood.
Forever Free ( 10 points )
You achieved maximum P.L.A.V. mood.
Hello, Hooray ( 50 points )
You acquired the PMC.
Island of Domination ( 10 points )
You achieved maximum Pirate mood.
Longing For Fire ( 10 points )
You achieved maximum Chinese mood.
Oil and Gasoline ( 20 points )
You recruited Eva.
No Compromise, No Regrets ( 20 points )
You battled for Caracas.
Ride the Dragon ( 10 points )
You hijacked the tank in the villa.
Runnin' with the Devil ( 20 points )
You verified Blanco.
School's Out ( 20 points )
You completed the tutorial.
Stand Up and Shout ( 10 points )
You achieved maximum mood with the Allies.
The Analog Kid ( 20 points )
You recruited Misha.
The Hero and the Madman ( 50 points )
You Completed Mercenaries 2.
The Rage ( 20 points )
You completed "Rescue Carmona".
Wild One ( 20 points )
You recruited Ewan.
You Better Run ( 20 points )
You verified Carmona.
Sniper rifle scope on regular rifle
Have a sniper rifle in your inventory. While you are using the scope, press D-pad Right to switch weapons. You should have an assault rifle out while having the scoped view.
Stealing fuel without upsetting a faction
This is most useful when used with factions who are already hostile (to keep them from shooting you down), but can also be used to keep friendly factions from becoming upset with you. Obtain one of the helicopters used by the faction you want to steal from (or one of its allies), and allow your disguise to finish. Fly to the location of the fuel you want to obtain and lower your winch. Grab the fuel tank and lift off before the enemy soldiers recognize you, then fly to a secure location (either the PMC or a remote, open location). Once out of sight, call Ewan in for the pick-up. Note: Using a heavier helicopter is recommended, as the Rogue and Gunney class choppers are extremely difficult to control when carrying a heavy fuel tank. Also, there are at least half a dozen fuel tanks relatively close to the PMC, most of which are controlled by Universal Petroleum. Spending the fuel for an Ambassador Gunship (an Allied helicopter, who are allies with UP) is well worth it if you are going to use your PMC as a fuel depot.
Use the following trick to steal fuel from a friendly faction without having to worry about affecting their status towards you. Go to an outpost that has fuel tanks and tag them. Then call in Ewan for the extraction. If a soldier happens to call in a report about your hostile act, go inside the outpost to cancel the call. By doing this you will get fuel and the faction will still be friendly with you.
This trick requires a fast vehicle (for example, a sports motorcycle). Find an outpost that has a fuel tank. Look for an easy way out before you attempt to steal the fuel. Once your vehicle is positioned facing the fast exit and after making sure no one sees you, tag the fuel tank and call Ewan for extraction. Run to your vehicle and drive as fast as you can until you are far enough from the place so that no one can report you. Note: This also works with a helicopter as your vehicle when you are in the jungle area, but requires more time because you must wait a few seconds before you can lift off.
Fly a chopper with a winch. Winch a car and throw it on top of other cars to destroy them.
Unlimited Money from Winching
In the Winching Challenge, the game sets your minimum wager at 1/20 of your overall money and the maximum at 5 million. There is no cap on the minimum wager, so once you surpass 100 million for your overall money, the minimum wager will rise higher than 5 million. Exploit this to make lots of money. At one billion, however, the wager will cap at 50 million.
Various Codes
God mode: Up, Up, Down, Down, Right, Right, Left
Unlimited ammo: Left, Left, Up, Up, Right, Right, Down, Down
All shopping items: Right, Left, Down, Up, Right
Max fuel: Up, Up, Left, Left, Down, Down, Right
Winning challenges easily
Bet the maximum money for the level 1 and 2 challenges then save and reload the game until you win. Bet the minimum money for the level 3 challenge.
