The Elusive Target is arguably Hitman’s most difficult offering, as it forces players to live with the choices and mistakes they make during the mission. There is no saving and you have one shot at killing the target so preparation is certainly the key. Sergei Larin is Hitman’s first Elusive Target, an art forger that is hanging about in the Paris mission. With him not appearing on both your insight and mini-map, this offers a unique challenge into the Hitman game. Thankfully we have your back.
To make your life a bit easier, we went ahead and killed the target for you. Now you can see how to prepare and execute your attack to reap the rewards. Let’s get started.
Part One: Preparation
The first thing you want to do is make sure that you either start undercover in the kitchen or make your way down there. If you want to kill Sergei without anyone noticing, obtaining the rat poison and master key to the palace is exceptionally helpful. Both of these items can be found in one of the side rooms, to the left of the kitchen. The rat poison in on the shelf and the master key is atop the stack of crates in the middle – pick these both up.
Now it’s time to make your way up to the second floor. My recommendation is to move your lovely hitman up the smaller staircase, just off the left-hand side of the runway. If you are having trouble locating this, the mini map will show you the location of the staircases dotting the palace. Enter this staircase cautiously, as there is a repairman at the top of the stairs who will spot you making your way up. Knock him out and hide his body in the cabinet at the bottom of the staircase. Switch to the repairman’s disguise and move to the second floor.
The next portion is more about personal preference, but I chose to switch to the auction staff uniform. Mainly because there are a few areas on the second floor, including the area where you will kill the target, that you are trespassing in if you are a repairman. With the auction staff uniform, you will only be frisked by these guards and not denied. Just, make sure you’re not carrying a firearm when you do let them give you a pat down.
Once you have the uniform, make your way to the large fireplace room just off to the left. If you are having trouble finding it, look at the runway from the second floor and follow the walkway left, until you reach the largest room. There will be an art room connected to it and a staff member on his phone. You can either leave him be or knock him out, that choice is yours. Just make sure to hide the body if you do decide to incapacitate him. Poison the wine glass on the far corner of the table and then make your way to the next set of rooms, north of your position.
Now the hit is all prepared, time to move to the next phase.
Part Two: Kill Sergei Larin
You will have to move to the kill room now to set up for the assassination. You can either enter this section by the room with the piano located in it, or by being frisked and let in via the hallway door. Either way, you will know you’re in the right room due to the opulent bathroom in the corner. This is where you will kill Larin. Now, you can either knock out the guard in this room as well or leave him be. He’s far enough that he may not notice you, but in my run, I played it safe and disposed of him. Then comes the worst part, waiting.
Go back to the fireplace room where you poisoned the wine and wait for him to show. He will, trust me. Once Larin arrives, he will have a smoke on the balcony and then go drink the tainted wine. This is the tricky part as you will need to dispose of the guard before he reaches the bathroom. For whatever reason, this guard was smart enough to not leave you alone in the restroom with his boss. The nerve! I’m just a friendly hitman. after all.
Larin moves a little faster than his guard, so you should have enough time to snap the door shut behind him and knock his guard out. Just make sure both of these doors are closed before you engage with him. There’s a lot of patrols and you risk getting spotted by them if you leave one open. Quickly hide the body and move into the bathroom. Shut the door and drown the forger in the toilet. Behind him is another conveniently placed closet to hide a body in. Do this and make your way to an exit. Congratulations, you have beaten Hitman’s first Exclusive Target mode!
Obviously, this is just one way to kill Larin in the new Hitman mode. Yet, I found this one to arguably be the safest of the possible route you could take. This route minimizes your chances of being seen and helps isolate the bodyguard away from your target. Just make sure to get your suit before you exit! A hitman has to look stylish after the kill, right?
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