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Heat is a way that the game shows you how much of an effort the law enforcement is putting into stopping the criminal activities of the controlled character (Rico), in the Just Cause game series.
The heat level is shown next to the map at the right top corner. Currently at government heat 3.
This article is about the heat in Just Cause. See Heat (disambiguation) for the other games.
Description[]
There are two different kinds of heat. Government heat attracts the San Esperito Police Department, San Esperito Military and Black Hand. Montano Cartel has their own heat ratings. Both have 5 progressively more difficult levels. Level 5 is unlocked as of later missions.
Very low levels can be considered extremely easy or near-harmless, but as you progress further, dangerous enemies can show up. Government heat often includes the devastating Delta MAH-15 Chimaera and Ulysses-McCoy Redcloud, and while Montano heat doesn't have such vehicles, lighter units are no slougch either, such as huge waves of armed Hurst Buckaroo pouring lead downrange.
Heat levels[]
As Rico destabilizes the country progressively through more missions, heat intensity escalates.
Heat level 1[]
At this level, the San Esperito Police Department will respond in their standard Apache Army Model 842s and Huerta Mesas. The police are equipped with the Harker 357 Sawback revolver, which are generally weak and pose little threat.
This seems to be the only heat level where the police are guaranteed to spawn in.
Heat level 2[]
If Rico keeps retaliating, the police will call in more vehicles. At this point, the Apache Army Model 842 is less likely to spawn in favor of Huerta Mesas. Sometimes an occasional military vehicle (Wallys GP or Battaille GPT-6) can also be seen.
Heat level 3[]
At this level, the Police will dispatch Vaultier Sedan Patrol Compact cars. The police are now armed with Moretti CCW Centurion shotguns and may occasionally throw grenades to attack Rico. Military vehicles, including helicopters, become more common.
Level 3 is when the police start setting up roadblocks on wider roads. These consist of parked vehicles and metallic yellow frames. These frames are actually very light and easy to ram out of the way, unless they get jammed between two parked vehicles.
Heat level 4[]
At this level, the SWAT will drive an Vaultier ALEV Patrol Special van sometimes and appearing Meister ATV 4 to provide assistance with Moretti P.94 pistols and Aviv Panthera submachine guns attack. The police will also dispatch a Huerta PA51 Aztek helicopter for aerial fire support. The military will start deploying Triton Broadsiders on water and MVs on land.
After Guadalicano Choo Choo, there is a chance the Black Hand might be deployed during this heat level.
Heat level 5[]
At this level, civilian vehicles rarely spawn, being replaced by a massive concentration of police forces. After the seventh storyline mission Some Like it Hotter, the San Esperitian Air Force will occasionally deploy the lighter gray McKenzie-Fergusson F2 Victors during level 5 heat. If the player is in an aircraft, they will start sending three 3 Ulysses-McCoy Redcloud jets. Meanwhile, military variants of the Vaultier Sedan Patrol Compact and Huerta Mesa are also more common.
Continued retaliation at this level will result in the military using all their might with massive swarms of enemy vehicles. Sometimes they might even send the HH-22 Savior.
After Guadalicano Choo Choo, the Black Hand enters play and completely takes over, using the likes of the aforementioned Delta MAH-15 Chimaera helicopter to fire salvos of 4 missiles each, while the Redcloud jet populates the skies.
Losing heat[]
There's two ways to do this: Either quickly leave the area (off road if you are on land), or get to a safehouse since they help reducing heat.
Trivia[]
- Heat is much more dangerous in the first game as it is in subsequent games, second only to heat in JC4. Usually you'd always see an enemy helicopter, but not the likes of quad missile salvos.
- Entering government vehicles does not always give the player heat. Sometimes, if you encounter an engagement involving the San Esperito Police Department, San Esperito Military, or Montano Cartel, you can get into their vehicles and drive off without gaining heat, as long as you do it while their respective NPCs aren't in the vehicle themselves.
- Even though the Guerrillas and Rioja Cartel are friendly, shooting at them enough will make them attack you on sight, as if you just gained a nonexistent Guerrilla or Rioja Heat Level 1. The Rioja Cartel are more easily provoked, while the Guerrillas may take a few kills to start attacking.
- It is possible to save a heat level by saving the game while you have it. However, upon loading the game, it quickly dissipates due to how safehouses eliminate heat.