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Sending A Message achievement in Mafia III: Definitive Edition

Sending A Message

Chain together 3 or more Brutal Takedowns

Sending A Message0
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How to unlock the Sending A Message achievement

  • UntilTammaroYTUntilTammaroYT
    08 Oct 2016 09 Oct 2016
    This can be done at any point during the game, after progressing through the story far enough to unlock brutal takedowns. You will need to find at least three enemies in close proximity. I did this at the Downtown police station. Fist fight the officers, chaining together two hits and then performing a brutal takedown by holding the attack button and letting go when the bar reaches the designated area. Do this to three enemies in a row.

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    RiseofMrBlonde2ive done this several times in different areas with VERY little time inbetween and this will not unlock for me
    Posted by RiseofMrBlonde2 on 09 Feb 17 at 01:31
    MoustachioYou have to hold B and release it between 1/2 and 3/4 of the circle (6 and 9 on a clock). It's a fairly quick window but once you get the timing down it shouldn't be too hard. I recommend grabbing a vest too.

    One important note, when you execute a brutal takedown just about all enemies will end up in temporary shock from your kill. They'll fall over and until they get back to their feet, if you approach with B even holding it, it'll end up just stomping them (or maybe hitting them with a gun if you have a certain one out). These don't count as brutal takedowns, so wait for them to get on their feet. There's another time where the brutal takedown can turn into a regular one, but it's rarer. One is if you end up behind an enemy as it'll be a surprise attack from behind. These can happen if you're running around to avoid gunfire and catch them turned.
    Posted by Moustachio on 09 Feb 19 at 11:14
    HyperionstonTook some practice but I quickly learned 2 punch, hold B for about second would work when doing this on police officer's.
    Posted by Hyperionston on 06 Feb at 14:52
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  • AllgorhythmAllgorhythm
    16 Oct 2016 23 Oct 2016
    This may come naturally in the normal progression of the game because it is often advantageous to perform brutal takedowns. So, you are often in circumstances where you may want to perform brutal takedowns in succession to keep other nearby enemies disoriented--a beneficial attribute of the brutal takedown. For the achievement to unlock three brutal takedowns must be performed one after the other. There can be a short interval between the brutal takedowns as long as it is not too long. However, the interval cannot be too long if the chain is to count. Moreover, all takedowns in the chain must be brutal takedowns.

    Brutal Takedown: When a heavy melee attack is performed by holding cn_B, a white sector in the circle surrounding the cn_B prompt may appear. If the cn_B button is released while the indicator is at that white sector, a brutal takedown will be performed. Controller vibration (if enabled) and a ‘ping’ sound effect may help the player with the timing on when to release the cn_B button. If the B button is not released when the indicator is in the white sector then the ensuing takedown is a normal rather than a brutal takedown. Note, also, as mentioned above, that a heavy attack by holding cn_B may not be able to be performed against alert, capable enemies unless they are first softened up with one or more light attacks performed by tapping the B button.

    The below video shows a controlled, set-piece type environment where the three brutal takedowns can be performed to unlock the achievement. It is early in the game. Cassandra has become Lincoln's ally and the Way of Flesh mission is underway. It is during the Prostitution Racket sub-mission. The location is just inside the First Baptist Church complex. Use the tac vest symbol that appears on the map to find it. The video explains the brutal takedown with the single enemy just inside the complex. Then, Lincoln goes around back to find several enemies and performs the brutal takedown on three of them in succession for the achievement.

    Showing both comments.
    Mobius EvalonSo I discovered that simply holding cn_B on an aggressive or combat-mode enemy works. Lincoln will punch them once and then you'll already be automatically "charging" your brutal takedown for the next hit.

    You have to use the stun effect from a brutal takedown to get to the next guy and then wait for him to get back up. If you try to use a brutal takedown on a stunned enemy too soon, then Lincoln just does a headbutt instead and you break your chain.
    Posted by Mobius Evalon on 09 Nov 16 at 07:37
    AllgorhythmAgreed. There are certain conditions that have to be met for a brutal takedown. First, the enemy has to be alert otherwise it is a stealth takedown. Second, there are stages of alertness. In the first takedown in the video, the guard is aggressive but not combative. In the second, the guard transitions from aggressive to combat. There is actually a slight opening of vulnerability during the transition where, as you state, you can hold cn_B to immediately charge the brutal takedown gauge.

    The third takedown is on an enemy that is stunned and falls to the ground. Lincoln waits for him to get up, illustrating your point not to strike too soon thus breaking the chain. On the fourth takedown which is the third in the chain, Lincoln avoids the cn_Y counter which would break the chain. The cn_Y prompt, in addition to prompting for a cn_Y counter, is another opening where one can immediately start charging the brutal takedown gauge, as you state, by holding cn_B.

    I practiced the brutal takedown to internalize its mechanics and pick up on its nuances. This allowed me, late in the game, to rush into a group of half a dozen enemies and take them all out with a sequence of brutal takedowns incurring zero damage in the process.
    Posted by Allgorhythm on 09 Nov 16 at 09:55
  • l 43VR Fr3aKl 43VR Fr3aK
    09 Oct 2016 09 Oct 2016
    I would like to add to these descriptions. As most state, getting the brutal takedown works by holding B next to an enemy. You will see a circle with the letter 'B' appear as well next to the enemy. Once the moving bar is in the sweet spot, let go of B to perform the action. It will be very helpful to note that this achievement doesn't needed to be completed in a few short seconds. While taking down a racketeering operation, I performed 3 brutal takedowns in a row that lasted about 15-20 seconds from my first to the last. So it's good to note that it doesn't have to be done within seconds. Also don't fire your gun, even hitting someone with a bullet (that doesn't kill them) will reset this back at 0.
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