In the stealth-based heist game Notoriety, learning how to knock out enemies silently is a critical skill. Whether you’re avoiding unnecessary gunfights or trying to maintain stealth throughout a mission, mastering the knockout technique is essential for success. Unlike going in guns blazing, knocking out guards, civilians, and other NPCs allows you to move through levels with minimal attention. This guide will explain everything you need to know about how to knock out in Notoriety, including tools, timing, and techniques, all tailored for players aiming to improve their stealth gameplay.
Understanding Knockouts in Notoriety
Notoriety is built around choices, and knocking out is one of the quieter options available during a heist. Rather than alerting every guard in the building with a loud weapon, knocking out allows players to take down threats silently. However, it requires a specific setup and understanding of game mechanics.
What Is a Knockout?
A knockout refers to rendering an NPC unconscious without killing them. In Notoriety, this is typically done using a melee weapon while in stealth. A successful knockout allows you to move a body, avoid suspicion, and keep control of the heist’s flow.
When to Knock Out
- To silently remove guards or civilians without alerting others
- When a guard is standing too close to an objective like a vault or camera box
- To access areas monitored by patrolling enemies
- To reduce the number of hostiles in the area before going loud
Timing your knockouts effectively can be the difference between a flawless stealth run and an all-out firefight.
Required Loadout and Skills
Before you can knock out enemies in Notoriety, you’ll need the right equipment and potentially some skills. Without these, you may alert enemies instead of silently removing them.
Choose the Right Melee Weapon
All players start with a basic melee weapon, but not all melee weapons are equally effective for silent knockouts. The best choices are weapons with fast swing speeds and short recovery times. Some examples include:
- Fists (basic, but reliable for knockouts)
- Shiv (quick and discreet)
- Brass Knuckles (higher chance of a successful knockout)
Weapons with loud animations or slow attacks are less suited for stealth. Prioritize quiet melee tools when planning to knock out enemies.
Stealth Skills and Perks
Several perks in Notoriety’s skill trees enhance your knockout effectiveness. Some key ones to consider:
- Martial Artist Increases melee attack speed and damage
- Ghost Reduces noise and visibility, making it easier to approach enemies
- Clean Hit Improves chances of instant knockouts
These perks make your character far more capable of approaching and incapacitating targets without detection.
Executing a Knockout
Once you’re properly equipped and skilled, it’s time to put knockout techniques into practice. Doing so effectively requires patience and precision.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Step 1: Enter Stealth Mode
Crouch and ensure your suspicion bar is clear. Avoid cameras and stay out of enemy line of sight. - Step 2: Approach Quietly
Move slowly toward your target. Keep an eye on their alert status. - Step 3: Get Close Behind
The best position to knock someone out is directly behind them, just out of their peripheral vision. - Step 4: Use Melee Weapon
Press the melee attack button when close enough. A single hit should knock them unconscious if done correctly. - Step 5: Bag or Move the Body
Immediately move the unconscious body to avoid discovery. If you have body bags, use one to conceal them completely.
Important Notes
- Failing to knock out in one hit may alert the target
- Nearby NPCs can still hear or see your action if they’re close
- Body detection by other guards or cameras triggers alarms
Advanced Knockout Strategies
Once you’re familiar with basic knockouts, you can take your technique to the next level. These strategies help during more difficult missions or higher difficulties.
Use Distractions
You can throw objects or trigger environmental noises to lure guards away from their posts. Once isolated, knockouts become easier and safer.
Coordinate With Teammates
In multiplayer heists, coordinate with allies to take down multiple guards at once. This reduces the chance of alarms being triggered by overlapping vision cones or missed pagers.
Pager Management
After knocking out a guard, you must answer their pager quickly to avoid raising suspicion. Each player can only answer a limited number of pagers before security is alerted, so use knockouts wisely. On stealth missions, managing pager limits is as important as the knockout itself.
Watch for Civilians
Civilians can witness knockouts and alert guards. Either knock them out as well or tie them down using cable ties. Always check corners and open spaces before knocking someone out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players can make errors that turn a stealth operation into a firefight. Here are some of the most common mistakes when attempting knockouts in Notoriety:
- Knocking out guards too close to each other, leading to overlapping pager calls
- Leaving bodies in high-traffic areas
- Approaching from the front or side instead of from behind
- Failing to scout camera placement before a knockout
- Attempting a knockout without the proper skills or equipment
Always plan your route and exit strategy before going for a knockout. Preparation makes a major difference in stealth gameplay.
Knockouts vs. Other Methods
While knocking out is effective, it’s just one of several stealth tools. Sometimes it’s better to avoid guards entirely, hack cameras, or disable systems without confrontation. Here’s how knockout compares:
- Knockout: Silent but limited by pager calls and body placement
- Disguise: Allows you to walk freely but not attack
- Hacking: Disables cameras or opens doors without raising alarms
- Kill: Final option that removes threats permanently but risks detection
Use knockouts when necessary but combine them with other stealth techniques for the best results.
Mastering how to knock out in Notoriety is essential for anyone pursuing a stealthy heist experience. It requires the right tools, good positioning, and an understanding of enemy behavior. With practice, knockouts become a reliable way to clear paths and stay in control during high-stakes missions. Whether you’re playing solo or coordinating with a team, learning this mechanic opens new strategies and enhances your effectiveness in all stealth situations. Stay patient, remain hidden, and always be ready to adapt that’s the path to becoming a true master of knockouts in Notoriety.