MW4 Safety On Achievement: Out in the Cold Guide

This article explains how to unlock the “Safety On” achievement/trophy in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (MW4), specifically the “Out in the Cold” mission. You need to complete the mission without firing a single bullet, which requires stealth, melee takedowns, and using only throwing knives. The guide below covers the full strategy, including the exact route, enemy placements, and common pitfalls.

Formula

The “Safety On” achievement is not a mathematical calculation; it is a gameplay challenge. The formula for success is: Stealth + Melee + Zero Gunfire = Achievement Unlocked. In practical terms, this means you must avoid all firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns. The only weapons you can use are your combat knife (melee) and throwing knives (which count as melee/equipment, not gunfire).

Worked Example

Let’s walk through the “Out in the Cold” mission step-by-step. The mission starts with you and your squad moving through a snowy village. The default difficulty is Regular, but the achievement works on any difficulty. The key is to never press the fire button.

Step 1: After the opening cutscene, follow your squad leader. Do not engage the first two enemies you see; wait for your squad to take them out. This is scripted and does not count against you.

Step 2: When you reach the first building with an enemy inside, use your melee attack (default: melee button) to take him down. Make sure no other enemy is watching.

Step 3: In the next area, there are three enemies in a courtyard. Wait for one to patrol away, then melee the other two. Use throwing knives for the third if you have them, but ensure you retrieve them after.

Step 4: The mission’s final section involves a large open field with a machine gun nest. Do not use the machine gun. Instead, crouch and move along the left side, using smoke grenades (if you have them) to cover your approach. Melee the gunner and the two guards.

Step 5: Reach the extraction point. The achievement will pop once the mission ends.

For the default values in the calculator above (finish time 50 minutes, distance 10 km), the average pace is 5 min/km and the average speed is 12 km/h. This is just an illustration; the actual mission takes about 20-30 minutes depending on your stealth.

Background: Why This Achievement Is Tricky

The “Safety On” achievement is part of the “Out in the Cold” mission, which is the third mission in MW4’s campaign. It is a stealth-focused mission, but the game does not force you to be stealthy; you can easily go in guns blazing. The achievement requires you to voluntarily restrict yourself to melee and throwing knives. This is challenging because the game’s AI is aggressive, and enemies often spot you from a distance. The mission also has several scripted sequences where enemies appear suddenly, making it easy to accidentally fire.

How to Prepare: Loadout and Difficulty

Before starting the mission, set your loadout to include:

• Primary Weapon: Any weapon, but you will not use it. Leave it as a default rifle.
• Secondary Weapon: Any pistol, but again, you won’t fire it.
• Lethal Equipment: Throwing knives (you start with 2, but can find more on the map).
• Tactical Equipment: Smoke grenades are highly recommended to break line of sight.

Set the difficulty to Recruit (the easiest) to reduce enemy accuracy and reaction time. This makes stealth more forgiving. The achievement is not difficulty-locked, so you can play on any setting.

Step-by-Step Strategy for “Out in the Cold”

Follow these steps precisely to avoid missing the achievement:

1. First Encounter: After the initial cutscene, stay behind cover. Your squad will eliminate the two enemies on the hill. Do not fire.
2. Village Entrance: Crouch and move forward. There is one enemy in a building to your right. Wait for him to turn around, then melee him.
3. Courtyard: Three enemies are talking. Use a smoke grenade to obscure their vision, then move in and melee each one. If you have throwing knives, you can take out the one farthest away.
4. Machine Gun Nest: This is the most dangerous part. The gunner will see you if you approach from the front. Use the left flank, staying behind crates. When you are close, melee the gunner, then quickly melee the two guards.
5. Final Run: After the nest, you will see a helicopter. Do not fire at it. Just run to the marked extraction point. The mission ends, and the achievement unlocks.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many players fail this achievement due to a few common errors:

• Accidental Fire: The most common mistake is pressing the fire button out of habit. To avoid this, you can remap your controller or keyboard so that the fire button is a different key, or you can simply keep your finger off the trigger.
• Being Detected: If an enemy spots you, they will shoot, and you might reflexively fire back. If you are detected, restart the checkpoint immediately. Do not try to fight.
• Using the Machine Gun: The game may prompt you to use the mounted machine gun during the final section. Do not touch it. It is a trap.
• Throwing Knife Retrieval: Throwing knives are limited. If you throw one, make sure you retrieve it from the enemy’s body, or you will run out.

Comparison: How This Achievement Differs from Other Stealth Trophies

Unlike many stealth achievements in other games, “Safety On” is strictly about not firing a gun. It does not require you to avoid detection entirely; you can be seen as long as you don’t fire. This makes it slightly easier than a “ghost” run. However, the mission’s linear nature means you cannot skip sections, and the scripted enemy placements force you to use melee in close quarters. In contrast, achievements like “Silent Assassin” in Hitman games require no kills at all, which is a different challenge. Here, you are allowed to kill, but only with melee.

Alternatives and Tips for a Clean Run

If you are struggling, consider these alternatives:

• Co-op Mode: You can play the mission in co-op. Have your partner do all the shooting. The achievement is awarded to both players, but only if neither of you fires. This is risky because your partner might accidentally fire.
• Checkpoint Restart: If you fire a single bullet, you can immediately restart the last checkpoint. The achievement only checks the final result, not whether you fired and restarted. So, if you slip up, restart quickly.
• Watch a Video Guide: While this article provides the strategy, watching a video can help you see the exact enemy positions. Many players find visual guides easier to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a silencer on my pistol and still get the achievement? No. The achievement specifically requires “without firing a single bullet.” A silenced pistol still fires a bullet, so it will void the achievement.

Q: Do throwing knives count as a bullet? No. Throwing knives are considered melee/equipment, not firearms. They are allowed.

Q: If I fire a bullet but restart the checkpoint, does it still count? No, if you restart the checkpoint before the mission ends, the game does not register the bullet. The achievement is based on the final mission completion, not your entire playthrough.

Q: Does difficulty affect the achievement? No. You can earn it on Recruit or Veteran. Recruit is easier for stealth.

Q: Can I use grenades? No. Fragmentation grenades are firearms/explosives and will void the achievement. Smoke grenades are allowed because they do not cause damage.

Q: What happens if I accidentally fire during the final cutscene? The final cutscene is scripted; you cannot fire. The achievement will unlock after the cutscene ends.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2