---
title: "Far Cry 5: Complete Guide"
game: "Far Cry 5"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/far-cry-5"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Co-op", "Weapons", "Endings"]
summary: "A full guide to liberating Hope County: how the resistance system works, which perks to unlock first, the best Specialists, region-by-region advice, all three endings, co-op rules, and the DLC. Researched September…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/far-cry-5-complete-guide-4455c440"
published: "2026-09-27T17:14:30.721Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:14:30.721Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Far Cry 5: Complete Guide

A full guide to liberating Hope County: how the resistance system works, which perks to unlock first, the best Specialists, region-by-region advice, all three endings, co-op rules, and the DLC.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC build with Steam achievements (added December 2024). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start

1. **Unlock perks with a plan.** Perk points come from challenges and hidden magazines in Prepper Stashes. Spend early points on survival and movement, not cosmetics.
2. **Recruit Specialists early.** Named companions like Grace, Nick, and Boomer are much stronger than generic Guns for Hire.
3. **Liberate outposts undetected.** Taking an outpost without raising an alarm gives bonus rewards and is usually easier than a firefight.
4. **Prepper Stashes are worth it.** They're small environmental puzzles that reward cash, perk magazines, and loot.
5. **Use the Wingsuit and grappling hook.** They open up the map and many stashes.
6. **Resistance points drive the story.** Every liberated outpost, rescued hostage, and side mission fills a region's meter and triggers story events.
7. **Expect to be captured.** At certain resistance levels, the region's herald will take you. That's scripted; you can't avoid it.
8. **Co-op progress is for the host.** Only the host's world advances. Guests keep cash, perks, and weapons.
9. **Achievements now work on Steam.** They were added in December 2024 and sync from Ubisoft Connect.

## The Setup

You play the Deputy (a customizable, silent protagonist) sent to arrest **Joseph Seed**, leader of the doomsday cult **Eden's Gate**. The arrest goes wrong and Hope County, Montana falls to the cult. You're freed by Dutch on his island, which acts as the tutorial. After that, the map opens.

### Regions and heralds

| Region | Herald | Theme | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland Valley | John Seed ("the Baptist") | Confession, forced baptisms, tattoos | Open farmland, lots of vehicles and planes |
| Whitetail Mountains | Jacob Seed ("the Soldier") | Conditioning, survival of the fittest | Forests, cliffs, wolves; Jacob's "trials" are shooting challenges |
| Henbane River | Faith Seed ("the Siren") | The hallucinogenic drug Bliss | Rivers, Bliss fields, dreamlike sequences |

You can tackle regions in any order. Each has its own **resistance meter**; filling it brings the herald's boss mission, and liberating all three unlocks the final confrontation with Joseph.

### Resistance meter

- **Resistance points** come from almost everything: outposts, story missions, side quests, destroying cult property, and freeing hostages.
- The meter is divided into tiers. As you move up, the cult escalates with tougher enemies, patrols, and aircraft.
- At milestones, the herald will capture you for a story sequence.

## Specialists (Guns and Fangs for Hire)

Specialists are unique companions with their own abilities. Generic Guns for Hire can be recruited from civilians too, but Specialists are better.

| Specialist | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Boomer | Dog | Spots and tags enemies; fetches weapons. Great for stealth |
| Peaches | Cougar | Silent stealth kills |
| Cheeseburger | Bear | Tank; draws attention and mauls enemies |
| Grace Armstrong | Sniper | Long-range silent support. Excellent for outposts |
| Nick Rye | Pilot | Air support with bombing runs |
| Adelaide Drubman | Helicopter pilot | Air support with a gunship helicopter |
| Sharky Boshaw | Flamethrower | Close-range crowd control |
| Hurk Drubman Jr. | Rocket launcher | Heavy explosive support |
| Jess Black | Bow | Silent ranged support |

**Best early picks:** Boomer (tags enemies, stealth) and Grace (silent sniper) make outposts much easier. Add Nick or Adelaide when you want air support.

**Leadership perk:** lets you bring two companions at once. One of the most valuable perks.

## Perks

Perks are grouped into categories (survival, prepper, hunter, assassin, leadership, and more). You get perk points from challenges and from **perk magazines** found in Prepper Stashes and around the world.

### Priority perks

1. **Lockpicking** — opens locked doors and safes.
2. **Wingsuit** — fast travel by gliding off heights.
3. **Grapple** — climbing and reaching stashes.
4. **Leadership** — two companions at once.
5. **Takedown upgrades** (chain takedowns, takedowns with weapons) — faster stealth.
6. **Extra weapon slots and ammo capacity** — more firepower in the field.
7. **Health and survival upgrades** — for difficult firefights.

### Where perk points come from

- **Challenges.** Kill enemies with specific weapons, hunt animals, fish, or complete activities.
- **Prepper Stashes.** Most contain a perk magazine.
- **Far Cry Arcade.** Arcade play earns rewards that carry over into the campaign.

## Weapons and Economy

- **Cash** is earned from missions, selling pelts and fish, and loot. Spend it on weapons, attachments, vehicles, and ammo.
- **Silver bars** are a secondary currency found in the world and also sold for real money. Nothing essential requires them.
- **Weapon choices.** A suppressed rifle, a sniper, a bow for silent takedowns, and a rocket launcher for vehicles cover most situations.
- **Signature weapons** from specialists or special missions are often strong unique variants.
- **Melee weapons** such as the shovel are a Far Cry 5 signature. They're viable for stealth.

## Outposts

- **Undetected liberation** gives bonus rewards.
- **Scout first.** Use binoculars or Boomer to tag everyone.
- **Kill the alarms.** Disable alarms before engaging.
- **Snipe from a distance.** Grace with a suppressed sniper can clear outposts alone.
- **Clean up.** Once liberated, outposts become fast-travel points and supply stores.

## Prepper Stashes

Prepper Stashes are hidden caches with puzzle-like access: finding a key, climbing, grappling, or working out an environmental trick. They reward cash, perk magazines, and gear. Look for notes and clues nearby; the map shows their rough locations once you learn of them.

## Main Story Outline

1. **Dutch's Island** — tutorial and the first radio tower.
2. **Hope County** — tackle any region.
3. **Herald missions** — each region builds to a confrontation with its herald.
4. **Final mission** — once all three heralds are defeated, you face Joseph Seed.

## Endings

There are three endings. **Spoilers ahead.**

| Ending | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Secret ending | At the very start, when the Sheriff gives you the choice to arrest Joseph, don't. Wait long enough and the Sheriff calls off the arrest; the credits roll. |
| Resist | At the end of the final confrontation, choose to resist. This is the canonical ending that leads into Far Cry New Dawn. |
| Walk Away | At the final confrontation, choose to leave. A different, darker outcome follows. |

## Co-op

- The full campaign can be played in 2-player online co-op.
- **Only the host's story progresses.** The guest keeps cash, perks, and weapons.
- The guest takes the place of one of the host's companion slots, so plan your Specialist picks together.
- Both players can bring their own gear; share roles (one scouts and snipes, one drives or flies).

## DLC

| DLC | Setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hours of Darkness | Vietnam War | Stealth-focused standalone story as Wendell Redler |
| Lost on Mars | Mars | Nick Rye and Hurk battle alien arachnids |
| Dead Living Zombies | Zombie B-movie parody | Short scenarios narrated by director Guy Marvel |

The Season Pass also included Far Cry 3 Classic Edition. Each DLC is standalone and accessible from the main menu.

## Far Cry Arcade

A separate mode with a map editor and community maps using assets from several Ubisoft games. Play solo, co-op, or PvP maps. Rewards (cash, perk points) carry over into the campaign.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Ignoring Prepper Stashes.** You'll run short on perk points.
- **Going loud on every outpost.** You lose bonus rewards and make fights harder.
- **Skipping Specialists.** They make a huge difference in difficulty.
- **Expecting co-op progress as a guest.** Only the host's story advances.
- **Rushing the resistance meter.** You'll be captured more often before you're well-equipped.

## Advanced Tips

- **Boomer plus a silenced weapon** is one of the easiest ways to clear outposts undetected.
- **Air support.** Nick Rye's bombing runs make heavily guarded areas trivial.
- **Arcade farming.** Short Arcade maps can yield perk points and cash quickly.
- **Fishing and hunting.** Pelts and fish sell for good money and count toward challenges.
- **Use the Wingsuit** from high points to reach far areas fast.
- **Explore for vehicles.** Many planes and helicopters are available for free on the map.

## FAQ

**Does Far Cry 5 have Steam achievements?**
Yes, since December 2024. Achievements previously unlocked in Ubisoft Connect sync when you launch the game on Steam.

**How many endings does Far Cry 5 have?**
Three: the secret ending at the start, Resist, and Walk Away.

**Can I play Far Cry 5 co-op?**
Yes, the full campaign supports 2-player online co-op, but only the host's story advances.

**Is Far Cry 5 connected to New Dawn?**
Yes. Far Cry New Dawn is a direct sequel set 17 years after the Resist ending.

**What order should I do the regions in?**
Any order works. Many players leave Jacob's region for later because of his trials.

**Do I need Ubisoft Connect?**
Yes. The Steam version still requires a Ubisoft account and Ubisoft Connect.

## Sources

- [Far Cry 5 on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/552520/Far_Cry_5/)
- [Steam Achievements announcement (December 2024)](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/1785774543688141)
- [Wikipedia: Far Cry 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Cry_5)