How To Beat The End Non-lethally In METAL GEAR SOLID 3: Snake Eater

Introduction

The End — the part-plant “father of modern sniping” — is the third Cobra that players must overcome, and a boss that can be killed in numerous ways. So, why choose to defeat him non-lethally? Simple: doing so nets you his custom Mosin Nagant tranquiliser rifle, which is a rather powerful upgrade over the MK22 pistol.

Also, as a little something extra, this guide will explain how to acquire The End's unique “Moss” camouflage. This outfit is superb in certain areas — including this very boss arena — and is occasionally able to provide 100% camo index! It can also restore stamina if Snake lies in direct sunlight, so while you're here, you may as well take the additional step to acquire it.

The Fight Begins

As you will have seen, the fight begins with a cutscene, which introduces The End. You'll see now that he has traded his wheelchair for a sniper rifle, and he is hunting you!

Note that the opening cutscene does give away his hiding place. If you are able to decipher the depicted geography, you'll more or less know his location. Plus, you can even look out for the glint bouncing off his scope for further clarification.

Whether you can spot him or not, drop straight to prone and remain still to hide from him.

What You'll Need: Preparation

For this fight, you'll only need two pieces of equipment: an unsuppressed MK22 pistol and the Thermal Goggles. Both of these are absolutely necessary to complete my method. Now, while you will always have the MK22, it is plausible that you missed the goggles. If you did, see the next section of this guide, “Finding The Thermal Goggles”.

Other useful things to have to hand are Stun Grenades and the Directional Microphone, though neither are necessities.

Useful camouflage is whatever gives you the highest rating in a given area (as expected). However, Flecktern (if you chose “I like MGS3!” at the beginning of the game) is very good here, providing a decent camo rating and stopping battery usage. Also, as previously mentioned, the Moss camouflage is great, too, once it's obtained.

Consider, also, having plenty of food to hand. As The End deals pure stamina damage, it'll be useful to have something to snack on in sticky situations. Luckily, the area is chock-full of tasty critters, so dig out those tranqs embedded in your face, and power through with a rabbit or two.

Finding The Thermal Goggles

If you don't have the goggles, then you need to leave the boss arena and head back to the warehouse that you recently passed through. Luckily, it is only a couple of screens back, so the trek is not a sizable one.

The Thermal Goggles can then be found on the bottom floor of said warehouse, against the large, red double doors.

Now, return to The End's arena.

The Moss Camo: Reward #1

Now, before going ham on The End, it is important that you understand how to actually get the Moss camouflage. This is because, atypically, it must be acquired mid- rather than post-fight. The only post-fight reward is the unique Nagant rifle.

To get the camo, you must complete a hold up on The End.

Just be aware that, once you have begun to hold him up, it takes considerable time for him to actually drop the camo. Just keep your sights on him, and only shoot him after he has relinquished it.

If you're not sure how to hold up enemies yet, learn how via the main menu training.

Ending The End: Reward #2

So, do you now have the Thermal Goggles at the ready and know how to “hold up” enemies?

Brilliant, read on then.

First things first: go ahead and make a save before doing anything else. This is because, if The End tags you with enough tranquilisers, Snake is knocked unconscious and taken to jail. In the event of this, the save can be loaded to avoid the run back.

Now, from a prone position, start sneaking around to the left. This is low ground. Eventually, you'll arrive at a small clearing directly below The End's sniping position, with a small, concrete building to your left. Keep this building in mind because it is an armoury where ammunition can be replenished.

If you can, try to land a shot on The End here. Just make sure that there is decent cover between the two of you before you try because The End will return with quick and aggressive sniper fire.

With all that said, due to his phenomenal eyesight and elevated position, it's plausible that The End will likely see you first. Either way, just make damn sure that you are behind cover because, once The End knows of your location, he will shower you with tranquilisers.

After surviving his attack, he will then run off to another sniping position somewhere in the arena (one of a few different Sokrovenno zones), and this is when the fight opens up properly.

It is also where those Thermal Goggles come into play, so have them handy in your equipment bar. We need them because they highlight not only The End (as he runs and hides) but his footprints in the mud, too. I, unfortunately, cannot say exactly where he will choose to camp each time, as his decision is semi-random; however, once you get into the groove of the fight using the goggles, you'll soon see that the fight has been switched to easy mode. Once you pick up his trail, you can follow his footprints straight to him.

With this in mind, the method is as follows:

Hunt The End down with stealth, utilising the Thermal Goggles from a prone position to find and follow his footprints. When you are close to him, move using the d-pad. This is a slower, sneakier movement style, and it prevents The End from hearing you.

Once you have found him, get in close and engage him with an unsuppressed MK22 pistol. Whilst punches and Stun Grenades can help here, what you want to be doing is aiming for the head (though body shots are a viable alternative) with the MK22. Also note: if you can land three quick shots, The End will be temporarily incapacitated.

Simply rinse and repeat the above two steps, remembering to squeeze in a hold up at some point throughout, and you've done it!

Just know that a fight will always ensue following any confrontation with The End. He'll shoot (hitting very hard) and throw Stun Grenades of his own to blind you, and due to his speed, he will eventually outrun Snake and find himself a new hiding place. This is what leads to the repetition of my two steps.

And with that, The End has been defeated non-lethally! Oh, don't worry about him exploding all of a sudden in the cutscene because all the Cobras do that, and it doesn't affect anything.

 Go and enjoy your well-earned Nagant Rifle and Moss camouflage!