Metal Slug Defense: How to Unlock POWs

Hopefully you read our How to Choose the Best Units guide for Metal Slug Defense, which will give you a good idea how to effectively use each unit. Rescuing P.O.W.s is a great way to raise AP significantly in combat. In order to produce troops, you need to generate Action Points (AP). Having a higher amount of AP will help you win each stage because you have a larger point pool for unit deployment. The quickest way to create AP for various unit types is to repeatedly tap the lower left icon of Rumi Aikawa at the bottom left of the screen. We're going to give you a few tips and strategies for rescuing P.O.W.s. so you can raise your AP in the game.

Knowing What Units to Use to Unlock P.O.Ws

When a stage begins, you have a certain unit made available to you for deployment. It's important to click on the POW icon at the bottom right of the screen to see what P.O.W. unit you're rescuing. This will give you your first clue for picking that same unit for the sortie.
 

Meeting the Conditions to Unlock P.O.Ws

For each area, there are four stages within each area that have certain conditions for rescuing a P.O.W.s. In order to unlock the P.O.W.s for each stage, you have to meet certain conditions to rescue the P.O.W. for that stage. For example, in stage 1 of Southeast Asia, you have to use the soldier unit to rescue the P.O.W. As you progress to Stage 4, you will need to deploy Marchrius Dennis Rossi, which so happens to be the captured P.O.W. unit. Playing through stages repeatedly using different unit combinations to beat a stage quickly is necessary for rescuing the P.O.W for that stage.

Tips for Rescuing the Second P.O.W. for each Stage

Rescuing the second POW can be tricky. Keep in mind that when a stage calls for rescuing a second P.O.W., the game takes into account what units are available to the player at that time. Using a combination of available units to complete a stage will rescue the second P.O.W.
You now have a few strategies for rescuing P.O.W.s. to increase your AP.