The Precinct is a chaotically good time, but crime in Averno City can be overwhelming for new players. Gang members are breaking the law at every corner. There are a lot of things to learn, and this guide will help you get a head start on the job. These beginner tips for The Precinct will go over how to maximize XP gains, progress faster in the story, and more.
See also: The Precinct Review: Chaotic Messy Fun (PS5)
1. What to Level First
– Each level grants you skill points you can spend on 4 different skill trees.
– For the most enjoyable and easy playthrough, focus on leveling up the physical skill tree.
– The physical skill tree includes the skill “Timed Breath,” which allows you to run indefinitely if you complete a skill check.
– “Timed Breath” is especially useful for patrolling the streets and catching fleeing criminals.
– Many criminals will try to run away, so this skill is invaluable.
– If you don’t level up this skill, you’ll often fail to catch criminals and lose valuable XP.
Be sure to level up the physical skill tree first to get “Timed Breath.”
– You also get extra health in this skill tree
– Extra health is great for the main quest, where you fight lots of gang members, helping you live longer.
2. Progressing the Story
– To progress the story, you need to collect evidence on your patrols.
– If you don’t actively pick up evidence, you won’t move the story along.
– Can collect evidence from a variety of different dropped items.
– The gun criminals drop can be used as evidence.
– Picking up a can of spray paint from a graffiti artist or a stolen TV from a store also counts as evidence.
– Once you collect 10 pieces of evidence, you’ll be able to tackle a gang boss.
Collecting evidence progresses the story and allows you to tackle the main quest missions.
– Gang members are very easy to identify, wearing red or purple outfits.
– If you see them on the street, interact with them and check their ID.
– Sometimes, interacting with them will cause them to become aggressive and leave behind evidence.
– This is especially true for gang members who are driving.
– When you ask them to step out of the vehicle, they often become hostile, dropping weapons.
3. Quick and Easy XP
– You can get XP in The Precinct from performing a variety of different tasks.
– Smaller tasks are still important for XP gain.
– Checking someone’s ID and searching their pockets is a great way to earn XP.
– Each action (ID check or pocket search) gives a base of 50 XP.
– These checks can reveal further charges (e.g., a warrant for burglary).
– Discovering additional charges allows you to arrest the person and take them into custody, resulting in even more XP.
– Performing these simple actions can add up to hundreds of XP.
– If you remember only one beginner tip for The Precinct, make sure it’s to always check IDs and search pockets for maximum XP.
Make sure to always check ID so you can add extra charges if they have warrants
4. Which Shift
– The fastest way to progress in XP is to make custom shifts.
– Custom shifts become available after completing the tutorial and leveling up to “Police Officer 1” (usually by the end of day 4 or 5).
– Once unlocked, create a 24-hour shift and choose a location near the police station.
– Players can either escort criminals to the police station or request a patrol car to pick them up.
– Escorting a criminal yourself yields 250 XP.
– Requesting a patrol car only gives 50 XP.
– Patrolling near the police station makes it easy to escort criminals for maximum XP, since the drive to the station is very short.
Set up your custom shift like this to maximize progression.
– Don’t let your specific assignment stop you from handing out tickets to incorrectly parked vehicles.
– You can always tackle other tasks such as fining people for parking incorrectly.
– Doing so in the area you’re assigned gives you an extra 50 on top of the 50 for the fine for two seconds of work.
5. High Speed Chases/Chaotic moments
– Driving at 100 mph in alleyways is dangerous; you will likely hit pedestrians, buildings, or crash.
– Slow down in tight spaces.
– Reserve your patrol car’s top speed mostly for catching up to criminals at the start of a pursuit.
– Once close, rely on your support system to help apprehend the suspect.
– Occasionally attempt to pin the criminal to a wall when the opportunity arises.
– Ignore fences, sidewalk bollards, flagstones, and phone booths during pursuits.
– You won’t be penalized for damaging these obstacles.
– Cutting through fenced-off alleys can sometimes be the quickest way to catch up.
Make sure you primarily focus on calling for patrol backup or spikes when you unlock it.
– I primarily use support cars and spikes when utilizing the support system because they are the cheapest and most effective options.
– Patrol cars typically fly in out of nowhere and usually hit the criminal.
– Even if patrol cars miss, they will pursue the criminal, giving you a general idea of their location if you lose sight of them.
– Spikes often slow the enemy down and are most effective when used after a patrol car is already chasing the criminal.
– Unlocking “Support Mine Token+” helps you consistently call in for backup.
Delegate Paperwork
– Situations can escalate rapidly in The Precinct.
– You may encounter multiple criminals committing crimes simultaneously.
– Multiple criminals often attempt to flee.
– The first criminal is usually the easiest to catch.
– Handcuffing the first suspect takes time due to the animation sequence.
– While you’re handcuffing, the second criminal gains distance and can escape.
– To save time, delegate paperwork to your partner.
– Delegating paperwork allows your partner to handle assigning charges.
– You still have to arrest the suspect after delegating paperwork. Don’t forget!
Be sure to delegate paperwork to your partner to save you some time.
– If you do this on the first criminal, you typically have a chance to catch up to the second and then manually assign them charges for further XP.
– If you went through the manual process with the first criminal, you’ll lose the second entirely.
6. Cars and Guns
– Equipment like guns must be acquired naturally by leveling up; you can’t unlock them faster via a skill tree.
– You’ll likely use the pistol for several shifts before upgrading to the shotgun.
– Experiment with different weapons to see which ones suit your playstyle.
– The SV-47 is unlocked later in the game and is highly effective, with a large magazine for sustained fire.
– The shotgun becomes available fairly early, making it a recommended upgrade from the pistol.
– Carrying a taser is useful for non-lethal situations where you don’t want to fatally wound enemies.
If you have the items unlocked, use this loadout
– My recommendation is to use the base patrol car.
– This is because of its impressive speed.
– Criminals often escape quickly in cars, reaching speeds of 70 mph in a second.
– You need a fast vehicle to catch up to them.
– I have tried using the heavier vehicle:
– It delivers harder hits.
– However, it is slower to start and maneuver.
– I often lost criminals while using heavy cars due to their slower speed.
– If you want to try different vehicles after unlocking them:
– Head to the basement in the precinct to switch vehicles.
– Experiment with different vehicles to find the right balance for your playstyle.
– Note: The basic patrol car might move too fast for some players, so personal preference matters.
Call One In and Restock
– If you are patrolling on foot and a criminal escapes in a vehicle, you may be far from your own car.
– There are two main options to get a vehicle quickly:
– Commandeer a car:
– Requires you to have leveled up the “Commandeer” ability in the Vehicle skill tree.
– Call in a new patrol car via the support menu:
– Access the support menu and request a new patrol car.
– You can change the type of vehicle provided.
– The new vehicle is delivered instantly.
– This option is generally recommended, as your car will always be fully stocked with ammo.
Make sure to refill up on ammunition so you don’t run out mid-gunfight!
– If you need more ammunition, head to the trunk of your car and interact with it.
– At the trunk, you can:
– Switch weapons if you don’t like what you’re currently using.
– Restock on ammo.
– If you’re not great at shooting in this game, you will run out of ammunition very quickly.
– Make sure to restock after each encounter so you’re not left defenseless later on.
7. Stopping Criminals From Driving
– Some situations can be prevented with quick thinking and fast hands.
– The situation I experienced the most was preventing criminals from stealing vehicles.
– Criminals take only a second or two to steal a vehicle and drive off.
– If you are close behind them, you can force them out of the vehicle before they drive away.
– You have to be quick and nearby to succeed.
– I was able to save myself a lot of time by doing this regularly.
8. Point of View
– The top-down perspective might throw some people off.
– There isn’t a third-person mode available for The Precinct.
– You can zoom closer by adjusting the camera settings:
– Go to Settings > Options > Game.
– Look for the “Camera Distance” option.
– It’s set to 100% by default.
– You can lower it to 80% for a better point of view, or raise it if you prefer!
Change your camera distance here if you want a closer look at the action.
Did you think of any beginner tips for The Precinct that we didn’t mention? Are you enjoying your time in Averno City? Let us know!
