MENACE Pistols Guide: Silenced Weapons and Loadouts

What Changed for MENACE Pistols?

MENACE pistols deserve another look after the v0.7.16 balancing update added the silenced MK18MOD1 "NSF" HPS. That addition matters because maintaining concealment can keep a squad out of enemy sight while the rest of your force fights. Start your MENACE pistols loadout decisions with the distinction between a silenced firearm and the Grenade Pistol accessory, which received separate improvements.

The update also refreshed the pistol and AP pistol icons. Those visual changes sit alongside actual gameplay adjustments, so separate equipment appearance from weapon performance when reviewing your armory.

Here are the pistol-related changes in v0.7.16:

Item or category	Change in v0.7.16
MK18MOD1 "NSF" HPS	Added as a new silenced pistol
Pistol and AP pistol	Updated icons
Grenade Pistol accessory	Accuracy bonus increased from 15 to 20
Grenade Pistol accessory	Uses increased from 2 to 3

The Grenade Pistol gained an additional use and a larger accuracy bonus. That makes its updated tooltip worth checking before you repeat an older equipment setup. Compare its three uses with the other accessories competing for space in your loadout.

The MK18MOD1 "NSF" HPS introduces a different consideration: silenced fire. Build around the concealment system when considering it, and keep the rest of your equipment aligned with that plan.

The subsequent v0.7.17 hotfix focused on performance and restored Lim’s Zig-Zag perk by replacing Solid Grouping. For these pistol changes, v0.7.16 remains the relevant balancing update.

Before deploying, review your promotions as well as your equipment. The balancing update refunded promotion points and required players to assign promotions again. An old loadout deserves a fresh look when its supporting perks have changed.

Official page: MENACE (menacegame.com)

Build Around Concealment Before Choosing Silenced Fire

The tactical appeal of silenced MENACE pistols starts with how firing interacts with concealment. An unsilenced weapon nullifies your concealment for one turn. Silenced weapons allow high-concealment units to remain concealed while firing, provided their position still keeps them outside enemy detection.

A suppressor supports a stealth setup; positioning, vision, and enemy detection still determine whether that setup works.

Keep three attributes in mind:

• Vision determines how far a unit can see.
• Concealment helps a unit stay hidden.
• Detection helps a unit spot concealed opponents.

Build those attributes together. Seeing an enemy early gives you time to choose an engagement, while concealment helps you approach or hold a position without immediately drawing fire.

Stealth factor	Effect or interaction
Deploying	Grants +1 concealment
Standing in a bush	Grants +3 concealment
Chameleon perk	Increases concealment
Camouflage Kits	Increase concealment
Outcast Rags	Grant +1 concealment
Jaeger Outfits	Grant +2 concealment
Unsilenced fire	Nullifies concealment for one turn
Towers	Increase vision but decrease concealment

Aim for 3 to 4 concealment when assembling a stealth squad. Then account for the actual battlefield: weather, darkness, enemy detection, and nearby cover all influence your ability to stay unseen.

With a squad selected, press R to preview enemy detection ranges. Check that preview before advancing, especially around Jaegers and RA Officers, which have higher detection.

Watch the squad’s visibility icon, too. A crossed eye means the squad is unspotted; no eye icon means it is spotted. Squad Leaders also whisper while unspotted and shout when seen.

For MENACE pistols built into a stealth plan, preserve room to maneuver. Advance one tile at a time and leave action points for a fallback. Avoid towers when concealment is your priority: their extra vision comes with reduced concealment.

Use a hidden squad alongside your main force. While other units engage, maneuver the concealed team toward exposed enemies or a useful flank. Your entire deployment does not need to follow the same stealth plan.

Fit Pistols Into a Complete Squad Loadout

Choosing MENACE pistols is only one part of mission preparation. Your squad weapon, special weapon, accessories, and leader perks all contribute to what the unit can accomplish.

Every squad can equip one special weapon. These weapons generally provide heavier firepower or a way to handle targets that standard squad weapons struggle against. Equipping one also means one fewer person participates in the squad weapon attack.

Leaving that slot empty frees points for other equipment and adds another shooter to the squad weapon attack. Consider that tradeoff when building a squad around its primary firearm.

Keep the distinction between weapon categories clear. The Grenade Pistol appears among infantry accessories, while weapons such as machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers fill the special weapon role.

When planning your deployment, cover the threats a pistol selection does not address by itself:

Equipment	Combat role or constraint
Light machine gun	Mobile suppression and fire support
Medium machine gun	Longer-range suppression; requires stationary firing
Grenade launcher	Grenades ignore cover and can hit multiple elements
Plasma rifle	Counters heavy infantry and light vehicles; has limited ammunition
Rocket launcher	Targets vehicles and hard points; requires stationary firing
Sniper rifle	Accurate long-range fire; requires stationary firing

Support a concealed squad with units that can handle armor and sustained firefights. A hidden position gives you options, but your force still needs the equipment to finish the engagement.

For special weapon teams, account for ammunition. Ammo Bags extend special weapon endurance, while squad-focused infantry can benefit from Ammo Pouches. Allocate those accessories according to which weapon the squad will actually rely on.

Also consider whether you need mobility or a prepared firing position. A stationary rocket launcher team and a mobile assault squad solve different problems. Let those roles guide the surrounding loadout instead of buying equipment simply because it looks like an upgrade.

Use Accessories to Support Your Pistol Plan

Accessories can strengthen a squad’s role or cover a weakness. When comparing MENACE pistols loadouts, review those supporting items before spending your remaining supply points.

Image: Steam / Overhype Studios

Smoke is especially useful when an advance becomes dangerous or a Squad Leader needs rescue. It removes enemy vision, although enemies can still fire into it when targeting a marked unit.

For stealth, Binoculars and Camouflage Kits address different needs. Binoculars improve vision and detection; Camouflage Kits improve concealment. Choose based on whether your squad needs earlier information or more protection from detection.

Several relevant accessories changed in v0.7.16:

Accessory	Updated value or effect
Grenade Pistol	Accuracy bonus 20; 3 uses
Smoke Grenade	Supply cost increased from 10 to 15
Flashbang	Accuracy bonus increased to 30; supply cost reduced to 5
Incendiary Grenade	Accuracy bonus increased to 30; supply cost reduced to 5
WARD - Wearable Advanced Resolve Device	Added +2 detection; discipline bonus increased to 20; supply cost reduced to 15

Recalculate your equipment budget after those changes. Smoke costs more supply than before, while Flashbangs and Incendiary Grenades cost less. The Grenade Pistol provides another use without requiring you to plan around its older two-use limit.

For an aggressive squad, keep action points available for smoke rather than spending everything on movement and attacks. Close engagements expose you to more accurate enemy fire, and a planned approach matters as much as the weapon you bring.

For a concealed squad, select support that helps you see the next threat before committing. Use Night Vision Goggles for nighttime missions, or Binoculars when increased vision and detection suit the job.

Keep your MENACE pistols setup focused on its assigned task. If the squad is scouting, preserve its ability to gather information and disengage. If it is supporting an assault, coordinate its movement with smoke, suppression, and the units responsible for heavier targets.

Manage Loot, Trading, and Post-Patch Preparation

MENACE’s loot system ties battlefield enemies to the equipment you receive after a mission. Enemy entities have individual loot tables, generally containing the items they use, and each listed item receives a separate drop roll.

Loot appears on the mission result screen. You cannot collect a fallen enemy’s weapon or change equipment during combat, so prepare the weapons and accessories you need before deploying.

After each mission, review the haul against your actual equipment gaps. The Black Market provides factory-new gear to trade for, while surplus loot gives you resources for those purchases.

Avoid assigning a universal drop percentage to your MENACE pistols shopping plan. Focus on the equipment you have, the trade opportunities in front of you, and the roles your force still needs to fill.

Use this preparation sequence before the next deployment:

1. Review promotions. Reassign the points refunded by v0.7.16 and check that your chosen perks still support the squad’s role.
2. Inspect pistol-related equipment. Look for the MK18MOD1 "NSF" HPS and review the Grenade Pistol’s updated accuracy bonus and uses.
3. Check stealth support. Match silenced fire with concealment, vision, detection, and a suitable position.
4. Cover armored threats. Include appropriate support such as a plasma rifle or rocket launcher elsewhere in the force.
5. Recheck supply costs. Account for accessory changes, including the Smoke Grenade’s increase to 15.
6. Confirm ammunition support. Equip Ammo Bags or Ammo Pouches where extended fighting makes them useful.

Pay particular attention to Lim after v0.7.17. His Zig-Zag perk returned in place of Solid Grouping, and his perks and promotions were reset and refunded. Review that setup before sending him back into an assault role.

Keep equipment decisions tied to the next operation. A useful pistol selection should fit the squad’s job, its supporting accessories, and the threats the rest of your deployment can handle.

FAQ

What is the new silenced pistol in MENACE?

The MK18MOD1 "NSF" HPS was added in v0.7.16. Its silenced role makes concealment an important consideration when planning its supporting equipment and battlefield positioning.

What changed for the Grenade Pistol?

In v0.7.16, the Grenade Pistol’s accuracy bonus increased from 15 to 20, and its uses increased from 2 to 3. It is an infantry accessory, so compare it with the other accessories in your loadout.

How do MENACE pistols fit into a stealth squad?

Plan silenced fire alongside concealment, vision, and detection. Unsilenced firing nullifies concealment for one turn, while silenced weapons allow concealed firing when the unit remains outside enemy detection. Preview detection ranges with R before advancing.

Can you pick up enemy pistols during a mission?

You cannot pick up or switch equipment during combat. Enemy loot appears on the mission result screen, so make weapon and accessory changes between deployments.