Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Guide: Location of all Specialists with Base Skills

Because Mother Base can't be at its prime without these members

Mother Base in MGSV: The Phantom Pain will grow as soon as you start recruiting (read: kidnapping) soldiers from missions via the Fulton Recovery System. Assigning them to various platforms at Mother Base will help level up those platforms, and thus unlock various benefits as well as new items to unlock.

However, certain better items will require the expertise of Specialists or members with key skills. Some of them you’ll pick up during your missions as part of your main mission objective, but many are hidden as side objectives, meaning you’ll have to do some side excursions to get them.

Don’t fret though, we’ll list all the Specialists here, as well as their location.

Anesthesia Specialist – Enables the use of tranquilizers for handguns and sniper rifles

Prisoner to extract in Mission 10


Bionics Specialist – Enables development of prosthetic arm

Main target in Mission 05


Bipedal Weapons Developer – Enables development of D-Walker equipment

Get Emmerich in Mission 12


Counselor – Increases the recovery speed of staff suffering from PTSD in sickbay by 3%

Target in Mission 25 or Wandering Soldier from Side Op 57


Cybernetics Specialist – Enables the development of “Medical” prosthetic arm

Optional target in Mission 09


Diplomat – Reduces chance of injuries within a combat squad. Can stack up to ten times

Optional target in Mission 06, Transport truck driver in Mission 17, Target in Side Op 112, Appears in Side Op 20, Wandering Soldier from Side Op 60


Drug Developer – Enables development of Noctocyanin and Acceleramin

One of the prisoners in Mission 09


Electromagnetic Net Specialist – Enables development of the EMN Mine

Prisoner in Shago Village during Mission 32


Electrospinning Specialist – Enables development of Knife Sneaking Suit for D-Dog and Battle Dress for D-Horse

Prisoner transported in a four-wheel drive during Mission 09


Gunsmith (Assault Rifles) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Assault Rifles. Is able to stack

Man who lectures the child soldiers during Mission 13, The Subordinate of the Major in Mission 19


Gunsmith (Grenade Launchers) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Grenade Launchers. Is able to stack

Wandering Soldier from Side Op 53


Gunsmith (Handguns) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Target in Side Op 107


Gunsmith (Machine Guns) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Wandering Soldier from Side Op 56


Gunsmith (Missile Launchers) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Wandering Soldier from Side Op 55, Volunteer after you complete Mission 31, Appears in Side Op 24


Gunsmith (Shotguns) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Prisoner in Wialo Village during Mission 04


Gunsmith (Sniper Rifles) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Appears in Side Op 15, Wandering Soldier from Side Op 58, Volunteer after you complete Mission 46


Gunsmith (Submachine Guns) – Reduces the amount of GMP needed to research and develop new Handguns. Is able to stack

Wandering Soldier from Side Op 59


Interpreter (Afrikaans) – Enables understanding of Afrikaans when spoken by enemy soldiers

The Interpreter in Mission 14, Target in Side Op 03


Interpreter (Kikongo) – Enables understanding of Kikongo when spoken by enemy soldiers

Target in Side Op 04


Interpreter (Pashto) – Enables understanding of Pashto when spoken by enemy soldiers

Target in Side Op 02


Interpreter (Russian) – Enables understanding of Russian when spoken by enemy soldiers

Target in Side Op 01


Master Gunsmith – Enables weapon customization

Target in Side Op 110


Materials Engineer – Enables development of the Battle Dress and other equipment

Optional prisoner in Mission 14


Mechatronics Specialist – Enables development of the Precision prosthetic and other equipment

Prisoner in Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost in Mission 10


Metamaterials Specialist – Enables development of the Stealth Camo PP and other equipment

Prisoner being held at Kiziba Camp in Mission 17


Missile Guidance Specialist – Enables development of the Killer Bee and other equipment

Prisoner being held at Munoko ya Nioka Station at the NE Guard Post during Mission 19, The Arms Dealer in Mission 21


Mother Base XO

Recruit Miller in Mission 01


Noise Suppression Specialist – Enables built-in suppressor conversion for handguns

Prisoner in Mission 38


Parasitologist – Enables development of the Parasite Suit

Recruit Code Talker in Mission 28


Physician – Boosts illness recovery time by 3%. Is able to stack

Wandering Soldier from Side Op 54, Target in Mission 24, Volunteer after you complete mission 46


Radar Specialist – Enables development of the Active Sonar and other equipment

One of the escort soldiers of the commander from Wakh Sind Barracks in Mission 07, Volunteer after you complete Mission 12


Rocket Control Specialist – Enables development of the Rocket prosthetic

Prisoner in Lamar Khaate Palace during Mission 32


Sleeping Gas Specialist – Enables development of the LLG-Mine and Sleep Grenade

The prisoner who escaped during Mission 25


Surgeon – Staff injury recovery increases by 3%. Is able to stack

The escaped prisoner searched by the four soldiers in Mission 09, Prisoner in Ditadi Abandonded Village during Mission 26, Volunteer after you complete Mission 31


Tactical Instructor

Recruit Ocelot during the Prologue


Transportation Specialist – Enables the development of the Cargo 2 Fulton Upgrade

One of the prisoners in Lamar Khaate Palace during Mission 10, Man watching the child soldiers in Mission 13, One of the prisoners in Ditadi Abandoned Village during Mission 15, Volunteer after you complete Mission 16


Trap Specialist – Enables development of the E-Stun Decoy

One of the prisoners in Ditadi Abandoned Village during Mission 15


Troublemaker (Harassment) – Chance to cause PTSD to your staff. Avoid employing in Mother Base if you can

Target in Mission 26


Troublemaker (Unsanitary) – Chance to cause illness to your staff. Avoid employing in Mother Base if you can

The Militants’ XO in Mission 25


Troublemaker (Violence) – Chance to injure another staff member. Avoid employing in Mother Base if you can

One of the two CFA officials during Mission 17


Video Surveillance Specialist – Enables development of security devices for FOBs

Prisoner in Ditadi Abandoned Village during Mission 26


Zoologist – ENables development of the Bait Bottle

One of the prisoners during Mission 14