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Achievement Guide

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Dragynrain edited this page Nov 13, 2025 · 1 revision

Achievement Guide

Complete guide to all achievements in Rogue Signal Protocol.

Overview

There are 26 achievements organized into 6 categories. Some achievements are hidden until unlocked to preserve surprise and challenge.

Progress Tracking:

  • Achievements unlock in real-time during gameplay
  • Progress persists across all runs (even after death)
  • View unlocked achievements by pressing V key in-game
  • Popup notifications appear when achievements unlock (can be toggled in settings)

Achievement Categories

🗡️ Combat Mastery (5 Achievements)

Master the art of digital combat and enemy elimination.

⚔️ First Blood

Kill your first enemy

  • Unlock Condition: Kill any enemy
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Tips: Unavoidable in most runs - combat is often necessary

💀 Massacre

Kill 20+ enemies in one run

  • Unlock Condition: Eliminate 20 or more enemies across all 3 levels in single run
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Tips: Go loud on Corporate Network (19 enemies), continue aggressive play through Government System

💥 Overkill

Deal 50+ damage in a single hit

  • Unlock Condition: One attack deals 50 or more damage
  • Difficulty: Medium-Hard
  • Tips:
    • Buffer Overflow (40 damage) + Blind Spot Bonus (+10) = 50 damage!
    • Ambush from blind spots for guaranteed unlock
    • Works with any high-damage exploit + bonuses

🌀 Crowd Control

Hit 5+ enemies with one AOE exploit

  • Unlock Condition: Single area-of-effect attack hits 5 or more enemies
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Tips:
    • Use Logic Bomb (radius 2) or Denial of Service (radius 1)
    • Wait for enemies to cluster near chokepoints
    • System Crash (radius 3) makes this easier if you can survive self-damage
    • Military Backbone has most enemies (38 total)

🎯 Efficient Killer

Average 2+ kills per turn for 10+ turns

  • Unlock Condition: Kill 20+ enemies in 10 consecutive turns
  • Difficulty: Very Hard
  • Tips:
    • Requires aggressive, optimized combat
    • Use AOE exploits to hit multiple targets
    • Plan ahead to ensure enemies are always in range
    • Best attempted on Military Backbone with dense enemy spawns

🕵️ Stealth Mastery (4 Achievements)

Demonstrate perfect infiltration without detection.

🔪 Silent Assassin

Kill 10 enemies without being detected

  • Unlock Condition: Kill 10 enemies while they're Unaware (yellow)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Tips:
    • Attack from blind spots to stay hidden longer
    • Use Traffic Masquerade (invisibility) to position for ambushes
    • Killing alerts nearby enemies, so space out eliminations
    • Track undetected kills in achievement progress

👻 Ghost Protocol

Complete a level without being detected

  • Unlock Condition: Reach gateway without any enemy entering Alert (orange) or Hostile (red) state
  • Difficulty: Medium-Hard
  • Tips:
    • Easiest on Corporate Network (fewest enemies, most blind spots)
    • Use System Hop to teleport past enemy vision cones
    • Traffic Masquerade allows walking past enemies
    • Can still kill enemies if done from blind spots without triggering detection

🌑 Blind Spot Master

Kill 5+ enemies from blind spots in one run

  • Unlock Condition: Kill 5 enemies while standing in blind spots (.) or ghost nodes
  • Difficulty: Easy-Medium
  • Tips:
    • Blind spots grant +10 damage bonus
    • Use Threat Scan to see enemy vision ranges
    • Position in blind spots, wait for enemies to approach
    • Combine with Silent Assassin for double achievement progress

🕶️ Invisible Victory

Win the game without ever being detected

  • Unlock Condition: Complete all 3 levels without enemies entering Alert or Hostile states
  • Difficulty: Very Hard
  • Tips:
    • Ultimate stealth challenge requiring perfect play
    • Avoid all combat unless from blind spots with 100% safety
    • Traffic Masquerade is essential for Level 3
    • System Hop for emergency escapes
    • Trace management critical - use Log Wiper and Ghost Nodes
    • Practice Ghost Protocol on individual levels first

⚡ Efficiency & Speed (4 Achievements)

Complete runs with speed and resource management mastery.

⚡ Speedrunner

Win in under 100 turns

  • Unlock Condition: Complete all 3 levels in 99 turns or fewer
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Tips:
    • Minimize exploration - beeline to gateway
    • Skip optional combat and pickups
    • Use System Hop for rapid traversal
    • Memorize efficient paths through level types
    • Practice individual level speedruns first

🔥 Heat Master

Win while staying under 50 heat

  • Unlock Condition: Complete game with max heat never exceeding 49
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Tips:
    • Avoid heat-heavy exploits (System Crash 35, Denial of Service 35, Logic Bomb 35)
    • Use cooling nodes liberally (6 on Level 1, 4 on Level 2, 2 on Level 3)
    • Let passive cooling work (2/turn, 3/turn with buff)
    • Prioritize stealth over combat
    • Threat Scan (25) and Network Scan (20) are your friends

📦 Resource Efficient

Win without using any code hacks

  • Unlock Condition: Complete all 3 levels without activating any code hack pickups (!)
  • Difficulty: Medium-Hard
  • Tips:
    • Simply avoid picking up ! symbols
    • Use cooling/CPU/ghost nodes instead for resources
    • Collect permanent upgrades - they don't count against this
    • Exploit pickups (&) are allowed
    • More challenging than it sounds - those buffs are tempting!

🧠 Pure Skill [HIDDEN]

Win without using exploits or code hacks

  • Unlock Condition: Complete game with 0 exploits equipped and 0 code hacks used
  • Difficulty: Extreme
  • Tips:
    • Ultimate challenge - movement and positioning only
    • Cannot equip any exploits (not even utility ones!)
    • Must avoid all combat - 100% stealth required
    • Traffic Masquerade unavailable - rely on blind spots only
    • Extremely difficult, requires perfect level knowledge
    • Hidden achievement - doesn't appear until unlocked

🏆 Challenge Runs (4 Achievements)

Special challenge conditions for advanced players.

🛡️ Untouchable

Win without taking any damage

  • Unlock Condition: Complete all 3 levels with 0 damage taken
  • Difficulty: Very Hard
  • Tips:
    • Avoid all enemy contact
    • Don't use System Crash (deals self-damage)
    • Avoid Logic Bomb friendly fire
    • Pure stealth approach with occasional safe ambushes
    • One mistake ends the run for this achievement
    • CPU restoration doesn't matter - just never take damage

🔍 No Trace

Win without trace level exceeding 50%

  • Unlock Condition: Complete game with max trace never above 50%
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Tips:
    • Use Ghost Nodes (-20% trace each) aggressively
    • Log Wiper exploit (-30% trace) is essential
    • Avoid detection to minimize trace gain
    • Trace increases 1% per 25 turns passively
    • Reduces by 50% when advancing levels
    • Prevents Admin Avatar spawn on Level 3

✂️ Minimalist

Win with only 3 or fewer exploits equipped

  • Unlock Condition: Complete game with max 3 exploits in equipped slots
  • Difficulty: Medium-Hard
  • Tips:
    • Choose versatile exploits: System Hop (escape), Code Injection (damage), Log Wiper (trace)
    • Don't equip more than 3 even if you have extra RAM
    • Can collect exploits, just don't equip them
    • Forces creative problem-solving with limited tools
    • Loadout example: System Hop + Code Injection + Traffic Masquerade

☮️ Pacifist

Complete a level killing 5 or fewer enemies

  • Unlock Condition: Finish any single level with 5 or fewer kills
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Tips:
    • Easiest on Corporate Network (19 enemies, most blind spots)
    • Use System Hop and Traffic Masquerade to avoid combat
    • Kill only when absolutely necessary for path clearing
    • Doesn't require full game completion - just one level
    • Good practice for Invisible Victory achievement

💼 Mastery & Collection (4 Achievements)

Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and usage of game systems.

💻 Master Hacker

Use all 12 exploits in one run

  • Unlock Condition: Activate each of the 12 exploits at least once in single playthrough
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Tips:
    • All 12 Exploits: System Hop, Traffic Masquerade, Decoy Swarm, Memory Leak, Buffer Overflow, Code Injection, Logic Bomb, Denial of Service, Threat Scan, Network Scan, Log Wiper, Antivirus, System Crash
    • Requires significant RAM (32 total RAM = 8 base + 6 upgrades × 4)
    • Collect all exploit pickups (4 on L1, 3 on L2, 2 on L3 = 9 total)
    • Must have 3 exploits pre-unlocked or find them all
    • Swap exploits in/out to activate each one
    • Track which you've used - game doesn't show progress during run

📚 Code Collector

Use all 6 code hack types in one run

  • Unlock Condition: Activate all 6 code hack effect types in single playthrough
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Tips:
    • All 6 Types: restore_cpu, reduce_heat, reduce_trace_level, speed_boost, enhanced_vision, exploit_efficiency
    • Code hacks are color-randomized each run
    • Same color = same effect throughout session
    • 12 code hacks on Level 1, 10 on Level 2, 5 on Level 3 = 27 total
    • Discovery tracking shows which types found
    • Easier than Master Hacker - plenty available

📖 Enemy Database

Encounter all enemy types in one run

  • Unlock Condition: See all 8 enemy types during single playthrough
  • Difficulty: Medium-Easy
  • Tips:
    • All 8 Enemy Types: Scanner (S), Patrol (P), Bot (B), Firewall (F), Hunter (H), Virus (V), Inhibitor (I), Admin Avatar (A)
    • Admin Avatar only spawns at high trace levels on Military Backbone
    • To guarantee: Let trace exceed 70% on Level 3, spawn Admin Avatar, then escape
    • Or play normally and hope for Admin Avatar spawn
    • Other 7 types appear naturally across levels
    • Just need to see them - doesn't require killing

🗺️ Explorer

Discover all special node types in one run

  • Unlock Condition: Use each special node type at least once in single playthrough
  • Difficulty: Easy-Medium
  • Tips:
    • All 3 Node Types: Cooling Node (♢), CPU Recovery Node (♡), Ghost Node (♤)
    • Abundant on Level 1 (6 of each), fewer on Levels 2-3
    • Use Network Scan exploit to reveal all nodes instantly
    • Must actually use them, not just see them
    • Easy achievement - nodes essential for survival

🏅 Lifetime Achievements (4 Achievements)

Long-term progression across multiple playthroughs.

🎖️ Veteran

Complete 10 games

  • Unlock Condition: Finish 10 complete playthroughs (win or lose)
  • Difficulty: Time-based
  • Tips:
    • Tracks both victories and deaths
    • Automatic with consistent play
    • 10-15 minutes per run = ~2-3 hours total
    • Progress persists forever

🏆 Persistent

Win 5 games

  • Unlock Condition: Complete successful exfiltrations on 5 separate runs
  • Difficulty: Medium (skill-based)
  • Tips:
    • Must win, not just complete
    • Practice makes perfect
    • Each win counts toward Veteran too
    • Master one strategy, then experiment

👑 Legendary [HIDDEN]

Win 20 games

  • Unlock Condition: Achieve 20 successful exfiltrations
  • Difficulty: Hard (time + skill)
  • Tips:
    • Long-term goal for dedicated players
    • Shows true mastery of game systems
    • ~3-5 hours of successful play
    • Hidden achievement - appears after unlocking Persistent
    • Prestige status

⏱️ Survivor

Survive 500+ turns in a single run

  • Unlock Condition: Single playthrough lasts 500 or more turns
  • Difficulty: Medium-Hard
  • Tips:
    • Opposite of Speedrunner - take your time
    • Explore every tile, clear every enemy
    • Wait in safe spots to run up turn counter
    • Resource management critical over long run
    • Typical win is 150-250 turns, so this requires deliberate pacing
    • Can win and get Survivor simultaneously

Achievement Hunting Strategies

Efficient Unlocking Path

Beginner Route (First 5 Runs):

  1. First Blood → Automatic in first combat
  2. Explorer → Use all 3 node types
  3. Enemy Database → See all enemy types
  4. Code Collector → Use all 6 code hack types
  5. Veteran → Complete 10 games (ongoing)

Intermediate Route (Skill Building): 6. Ghost Protocol → Complete one level undetected 7. Pacifist → Complete level with ≤5 kills 8. Blind Spot Master → 5 kills from blind spots 9. Silent Assassin → 10 undetected kills 10. Minimalist → Win with ≤3 exploits

Advanced Route (Challenge Runs): 11. No Trace → Win without trace >50% 12. Heat Master → Win without heat >50 13. Untouchable → Win without taking damage 14. Speedrunner → Win in <100 turns 15. Resource Efficient → Win without code hacks

Expert Route (Mastery): 16. Master Hacker → Use all 12 exploits 17. Massacre → Kill 20+ enemies 18. Invisible Victory → Win never detected 19. Pure Skill → Win without exploits/code hacks (extreme)

Lifetime Achievements (Ongoing): 20. Veteran → 10 completions 21. Persistent → 5 wins 22. Survivor → 500+ turn run 23. Legendary → 20 wins

Complementary Achievements

Some achievements work well together:

  • Silent Assassin + Blind Spot Master - Kill from blind spots while undetected
  • Ghost Protocol + Pacifist - No detection + minimal kills
  • Heat Master + Resource Efficient - Low resource usage run
  • Speedrunner + Minimalist - Fast run with limited tools
  • Untouchable + Invisible Victory - Perfect stealth, no damage

Conflicting Achievements

Some achievements are mutually exclusive in single run:

  • Speedrunner vs Survivor - Can't be both fast and slow
  • Massacre vs Pacifist - Can't kill many and kill few
  • Pure Skill vs Master Hacker - Can't use all exploits and no exploits
  • Resource Efficient vs Code Collector - Can't use no code hacks and all code hacks

Hidden Achievements

Two achievements are hidden until unlocked:

  1. 🧠 Pure Skill - Extreme challenge, meant to be discovered
  2. 👑 Legendary - Long-term goal, revealed after Persistent

Hidden achievements don't show in menu until unlocked, preserving sense of discovery.

Achievement Popups

When achievements unlock:

  • Popup appears at top of screen
  • Shows achievement name, description, icon
  • Fades after 3 seconds
  • Can be toggled off in Settings menu
  • Doesn't pause gameplay

Progress Tracking

View Achievements:

  • Press V key anytime in game
  • Shows all unlocked achievements
  • Hidden achievements appear as "???" until unlocked
  • Organized by category
  • Scroll with arrow keys or mouse wheel

Progress Persistence:

  • Achievements saved to saves/progress.json
  • Survives death (not affected by permadeath)
  • Survives game uninstall if file backed up
  • Lifetime metrics accumulate forever

Tips for Achievement Hunters

  1. Plan your runs - Some achievements require specific playstyles
  2. Practice individual levels - Master one level at a time for challenges
  3. Use Network Scan - Reveals nodes for Explorer achievement
  4. Track your progress - Keep mental notes on which achievements you're close to
  5. Don't force it - Many achievements unlock naturally through varied play
  6. Save difficult ones for later - Pure Skill and Invisible Victory require mastery
  7. Combine achievements - Try for 2-3 compatible achievements per run
  8. Learn enemy patterns - Essential for stealth and combat achievements
  9. Master exploits - Know what each does for Master Hacker
  10. Enjoy the journey - Achievements add replay value, not stress

Good luck, and may your signals stay rogue!

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