For the dedicated completionists out there, Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers a robust and rewarding platinum trophy journey. With a total estimated time of 25–30 hours, this trek includes everything from collectible hunting and side missions to a challenging second playthrough on the toughest difficulty setting. This guide is your focused roadmap to the game’s missable combat trophies, with tips for Deadly Obsession difficulty and general efficiency. Let’s get you that shiny platinum.

Optimize Settings for a Smoother Ride

Before jumping into combat, head to the game’s accessibility options. There, switch repeated button presses to “Hold” and change crank controls to “Directional.” These small adjustments save your controller and your thumbs, especially during QuickTime-heavy sequences.

Essential Skills to Unlock for Trophies

Several combat trophies require specific skills, some of which are easily overlooked if you’re not planning ahead. Be sure to unlock:

• Serpent’s Glint – Needed to shoot a turkey in the Ruin Tower section of San Juan.
• Scales of the Serpent – Kill 10 enemies while under the Focus buff.
• Serpent’s Fury – Perform chain kills on three pairs of enemies.
• Heart of the Jaguar – Kill 10 enemies while under the Endurance buff.

Additional trophies are tied to story-unlocked skills:

• Jaguar’s Fear – Get five enemies to kill their allies while affected by fear arrows.
• Eye of the Eagle – Kill 10 enemies while under the Perception buff.
• Eagle’s Talon – Perform five rope stealth kills from trees.

Missable Trophy Guide: Best Places to Farm

Let’s break down where and how to earn some of these trickier trophies:

• Playing With Fire – Near the beginning, after exiting a cave and encountering a red elevator, you’ll spot two enemies by a forklift. Craft a Molotov with cloth and a bottle (hold R1) and toss it between them to burn them simultaneously. If you miss this, don’t worry—there’s another opportunity with enemies by a second forklift later on.
• Gunslinger – In the combat arena shortly afterward, aim for three headshots within three seconds using your pistol. It can take a few tries, but checkpoint reloads don’t reset progress.
• Child Lara Bullseye Challenge – During Lara’s flashback, find a small black basket and use it to hit four bullseyes in the area. One basket is near the crow’s nest, another on the dirt path. While possibly not required for 100%, it’s safer to get it while you’re there.
• Mud Wall Stealth Kill – After the tutorial for mud camouflage, make sure to get a stealth kill from a mud wall. This is a great moment to check off that trophy requirement.
• Chain Kill Farming – Right after the mud wall section, you’ll find two enemies side-by-side. With Serpent’s Fury unlocked, perform a chain kill here. More opportunities appear throughout the game, including during the final combat segments.
• Tree Rope Kills – After unlocking Eagle’s Talon, head to the next area where three trees offer prime positioning. Farm rope kills here, reloading checkpoints if needed, until you rack up five.
• Jaguar’s Fear Arrows – Later in the story, you’ll get fear arrows. Use them to force grunts to turn on their allies. Do this five times to secure the trophy.

Additional Combat Trophies to Track

Some trophies don’t rely on skills but are still good to be mindful of:

• 25 stealth kills
• Kill 3 distracted enemies
• 20 headshots with a bow
• 5 kills while enemies are searching for Lara
• Lose enemies 10 times (let them spot you, hide, and wait ~20 seconds)

Final Chance: San Juan as Your Last Farming Ground

San Juan is the last reliable area to grind out any combat trophies. Use a fresh save slot when you arrive so you can return later if needed. Don’t risk locking yourself out of a platinum—this is your last call.

Two-Playthrough Strategy Recommended

While it’s technically possible to do everything in one go, it’s far more efficient to play on Normal or Easy first. That way, you can knock out all collectibles, side quests, and skill-related trophies without the added difficulty. Leave Deadly Obsession mode for your second playthrough, especially since:

• Survival Instinct is disabled
• Saving is restricted to campfires
• Enemies hit harder, and stealth is more crucial

Craft Smart, Play Smart

• Equip outfits that grant XP boosts as early as possible. The stealth kill bonus from a specific pair of boots is especially valuable.
• Use New Game Plus for a speedier second run, as it carries over your weapons, gear, and skills.

Tips for Deadly Obsession Difficulty

• Always keep at least three hardwoods on hand to craft campfires. These are your only save points aside from rare auto-saves.
• Focus purely on the main story to minimize risk.
• In combat, lead with stealth. Fear arrows work great on clustered enemies.
• Out of arrows or guns? Molotovs crafted from bottles usually kill in one shot.
• Red barrels are your friends. Blow them up to clear enemy waves and progress fights.

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider may be the most refined game in the reboot trilogy, and for trophy hunters, it’s one of the most satisfying. Take your time, plan your route, and use these strategies to avoid backtracking and stress. With some precision and patience, that platinum trophy will be yours before you know it. Happy raiding!