Metal Gear Solid 4 Boss Strategy: Screaming Mantis

The final member of the Beauty and the Beast unit of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will stand between you and your final objective during Act 5. To defeat Screaming Mantis, the leader of the unit, you must do so using unconventional methods. Here are some tips to help you out.

The Arena
Old Snake will be battling it out with Screaming Mantis in the command center of Outer Haven. There is a huge globe in the middle of the center with layers of computer monitor surrounding it. Although you have plenty of space to move around, Screaming Mantis can reach you easily. You are better off fighting her straight on.

Weapons
Conventional methods won't work on her. However, her dolls are a different story. Make sure you use a fairly accurate weapon like the M4 Custom so you can aim at the little targets. Using sniper rifles are a little tough in this battle since Screaming Mantis is constantly moving and will use human shields.

Screaming Mantis
Keep in mind that the boss fight starts immediately after you have to take on a bunch of Heaven Troopers in the area. So make sure you are prepared for the fight before taking out the last of the Heaven Troopers.

When the battle begins, immediately use the Syringe item on Old Snake to break away from the ghastly strings of Screaming Mantis. Keep using the item again anytime you have been hit by a strange aura and start seeing the strings being attached to Snake.

Alternatively, you can try switching the controller port on your Sixaxis/Dual Shock 3. While it doesn't do anything, the resulting codec conversation will be golden (especially if you played the first Metal Gear Solid game).

Screaming Mantis uses two dolls for her attacks. On her right hand side is the Mantis Doll (modeled after Psycho Mantis from Metal Gear Solid). She uses this doll to control the bodies of the living to do her bidding. The doll on her left hand side is the Sorrow Doll (modeled after The Sorrow from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater). This doll will be used to manipulate the bodies of the dead.