For achievement hunters and completionists in Marvel Rivals, some accolades stand out as true tests of skill and persistence. Among these, The Punisher’s character-specific achievement, aptly titled “Smoke Screen,” has quickly gained notoriety as one of the game’s rarest and most challenging feats.
Its seemingly straightforward requirement belies the intricate timing and situational awareness needed to unlock this elusive badge of honor.
What Is “Smoke Screen” and Why Is It So Tricky?
The “Smoke Screen” achievement’s objective is deceptively simple: As The Punisher, land 3 KOs amidst the smoke of your Scourge Grenade in a single game.
This means that to earn the achievement, you must secure three separate knockouts on enemy players who are actively enveloped within the smoke cloud generated by your Scourge Grenade. Crucially, all three KOs must occur within the confines of a single match.
The difficulty stems from several factors:
- Precise Timing: The enemy must be inside the smoke at the exact moment they are eliminated.
- Situational Dependency: It requires enemies to be vulnerable, often low on health, and willing (or forced) to remain within the smoke.
- No Assists: Only the final blow (the KO) delivered by you counts towards the achievement; assists are irrelevant.
- Low Global Completion Rate: Its rarity speaks volumes about the challenge it presents to even seasoned players.
100% Win Rate Smurfs
For only 16,99 €
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking This Elusive Accolade
While challenging, “Smoke Screen” is achievable with a focused approach and a bit of strategic thinking. Here’s how to increase your chances:
- Embrace The Punisher:Your journey begins by selecting The Punisher as your hero for the match. There’s no way around it; you must be Frank Castle himself.
- Choose Your Battlefield Wisely: While the achievement can technically be earned in any game mode, Doom Match or casual quick matches are highly recommended. These modes tend to be more chaotic, featuring frequent group fights and less structured engagements, which can create more opportunities for the specific scenario you need. In competitive ranked play, opponents are often too careful to linger in your smoke.
- Set Up Your Kills: This is the most critical phase and requires a tactical approach:
- Weaken Them First: Before deploying your grenade, engage enemies with The Punisher’s primary weapons, “Adjudication” (assault rifle) or “Deliverance” (shotgun), to bring their health down significantly.
- Deploy the Scourge Grenade: Once an enemy is low on health, precisely throw your Scourge Grenade so that its smoke cloud fully envelops them. The goal is to obscure their vision and provide the necessary condition for the KO.
- Secure the KO in the Smoke: While the enemy is still shrouded in your smoke, deliver the final blow. Whether it’s a spray from your assault rifle or a close-range blast from your shotgun, the elimination must happen while they are inside the smoke.
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: You must successfully execute this precise sequence three times within that single game. Remember, only direct KOs where the enemy is within the smoke at the moment of their elimination will count towards the achievement.
Pro Tips for Easier Completion
Given its difficulty, some community-tested strategies can give you an edge:
- Team Up for Coordination: This achievement significantly benefits from teamwork. Consider queueing up with a friend who is willing to help. In casual or Doom Match, your friend could play a squishier hero and help bait enemies into positions where you can easily deploy your grenade and secure the KO.
- Synergize with Rocket Raccoon: The Punisher’s team-up ability with Rocket Raccoon, which provides infinite ammo and a faster firing rate, can be incredibly beneficial. This allows you to spray down weakened enemies within the smoke more effectively and with less concern for reloading.
- Focus on the Final Blow: It bears repeating: only the killing blow counts. If an ally secures the elimination, even if the enemy was in your smoke, it won’t contribute to your achievement progress. Focus on delivering the finishing shot.
In Summary
Unlocking The Punisher’s “Smoke Screen” achievement in Marvel Rivals is a true test of a player’s precision, timing, and strategic awareness. It demands that you: play as The Punisher, secure three knockouts on enemies while they are inside your Scourge Grenade’s smoke during a single match, and utilize careful setup, impeccable timing, and potentially coordinated efforts with friends.
This is one of the game’s rarest achievements for a reason. Persistence and strategic play are your greatest allies in the hunt for this formidable accolade. Good luck, Rival!
Written by:
Christian