Sonar - Complete Hero Guide

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Sonar is one of the most unique heroes in Dispatch game, featuring a form-shifting ability that dramatically alters stats between missions. Master both forms to handle psychological missions, intellectual challenges, and unexpected combat situations.

🧠 Psychological Specialist

Sonar excels at missions requiring high Intellect and Charisma, particularly psychological operations, investigations, and complex problem-solving. The form-shifting mechanic adds tactical depth.

Sonar Overview

Sonar is a psychological specialist who stands out in Dispatch game due to a unique form-shifting ability. Unlike other heroes with static stats, Sonar alternates between two forms: a human form optimized for intellect and charisma, and a monstrous form that trades mental stats for physical power.

Character Background

Sonar's backstory revolves around the psychological toll of heroism and the struggle with their dual nature. Through various episodes, you'll learn about Sonar's past trauma, the origin of the form-shifting ability, and their journey toward self-acceptance.

Role in the Team

Sonar serves as the team's psychological specialist and intellectual problem-solver. When other heroes rely on brute force or charm, Sonar approaches situations analytically, making them invaluable for:

  • Psychological profiling and manipulation
  • Complex puzzles and investigative work
  • Hostage negotiations requiring empathy
  • Tech-based challenges (in human form)
  • Emergency combat situations (in monstrous form)

Stats & Abilities

Human Form Stats

Combat
3/10
Low
Intellect
8/10
Excellent
Charisma
6/10
Above Average
Mobility
5/10
Average
Vigor
4/10
Below Average

In human form, Sonar boasts the highest Intellect stat in the game (8/10), making them the go-to hero for puzzles, tech challenges, and investigations. However, poor Combat (3/10) and Vigor (4/10) make them vulnerable in physical confrontations.

Abilities & Special Traits

🧠 Master Psychologist

Sonar can read people's emotions and motivations, granting unique dialogue options in negotiations and investigations. This ability often reveals hidden information other heroes miss.

🔍 Enhanced Investigation

High Intellect allows Sonar to notice clues and connect dots faster than other heroes. Missions involving mysteries or complex scenarios often have better outcomes when Sonar is deployed.

🎭 Empathetic Communication

Sonar's 6 Charisma, combined with psychological expertise, makes them effective at calming distressed civilians and de-escalating tense situations through empathy rather than force.

Form-Shifting Mechanic

Sonar's defining feature is the form-shifting ability that swaps stat distributions between missions. Understanding when each form appears and how to leverage it is crucial to mastering Sonar.

How Form-Shifting Works

⚡ Form Swap Mechanic

Between certain missions or story events, Sonar transforms into monstrous form, which swaps:

Human Form Strengths:

  • • Intellect: 8 → Becomes Combat in monster form
  • • Charisma: 6 → Stays similar
  • • Vigor: 4 → Becomes Intellect in monster form
  • • Combat: 3 → Becomes Vigor in monster form

Monstrous Form Strengths:

  • • Combat: ~8 (swapped from Intellect)
  • • Vigor: ~4 (swapped from Combat)
  • • Intellect: ~4 (swapped from Vigor)
  • • Charisma: ~6 (unchanged)

Pro Tip: Always check Sonar's current form before dispatching. The game indicates which form Sonar is in on the hero selection screen.

When to Use Each Form

👤 Human Form - Best For:

  • ✓ Bomb defusal and tech challenges (Intellect 8)
  • ✓ Psychological profiling and interrogations
  • ✓ Complex investigations and mystery-solving
  • ✓ Situations requiring empathy and understanding
  • ✓ Diplomatic missions when Prism is unavailable

👹 Monstrous Form - Best For:

  • ✓ Emergency combat situations (Combat 8)
  • ✓ Backup when Golem or Flambae are fatigued
  • ✓ Intimidation-based negotiations (scary appearance)
  • ✓ Missions where you need raw power unexpectedly
  • ✗ Avoid: Puzzles, tech challenges (low Intellect)

Best Mission Types for Sonar

Sonar excels in specific mission categories when in the right form. Here's a comprehensive breakdown:

S-Tier: Psychological Missions

Sonar is unmatched in missions involving psychological manipulation, profiling, or emotional intelligence.

Examples: Talking down suicidal individuals, profiling serial criminals, counseling traumatized civilians

A-Tier: Investigation & Puzzles

High Intellect makes Sonar excellent at detective work, code-breaking, and complex problem-solving.

Examples: Murder investigations, decrypting villain communications, solving riddles

B-Tier: Tech Challenges

Sonar can handle hacking and tech-based missions, though Invisigal may perform better in some cases.

Examples: Hacking security systems, disabling electronic locks, analyzing alien tech

C-Tier: Diplomatic Missions

Sonar can handle diplomacy with 6 Charisma, but Prism (9 Charisma) or Malevola (7 Charisma) are better choices.

Examples: Hostage negotiations, peace talks (use only if specialists are unavailable)

D-Tier: Combat Missions (Human Form)

Avoid sending human-form Sonar to combat missions. Combat 3 and Vigor 4 make them highly vulnerable.

Never send to: Bank robberies, villain fights, riot control (unless in monstrous form)

Deployment Strategies

Optimal Usage Patterns

To maximize Sonar's effectiveness, follow these strategic guidelines:

✅ Best Practices

  1. 1. Form Check: ALWAYS verify which form Sonar is in before dispatching
  2. 2. Primary Role: Use Sonar for 20-30% of missions, focusing on psychological/intel work
  3. 3. Backup Combat: If in monstrous form unexpectedly, use as emergency combat backup
  4. 4. Rotation: Alternate with other heroes to avoid fatigue
  5. 5. Story Missions: Sonar has unique dialogue in several key story missions - check walkthrough

Pairing with Other Heroes

While you can only send one hero per mission, understanding team synergy helps with rotation:

🤝 Good Synergies

  • Prism: Cover each other's diplomatic/psychological needs
  • Invisigal: Both excel at investigation and stealth
  • Malevola: Balanced backup when Sonar needs rest

⚡ Coverage Gaps

  • Golem: Cover Sonar's combat weakness
  • Flambae: Handle mobile combat Sonar can't
  • Coupé: All-rounder for missions outside Sonar's specialty

Relationship Building

Building a good relationship with Sonar unlocks unique dialogue, story insights, and potentially better mission outcomes. Here's how to improve your relationship:

What Sonar Values

  • Empathy & Understanding: Dialogue choices that show compassion and emotional intelligence
  • Intellectual Challenges: Sending them on missions that utilize their mental abilities
  • Acceptance: Accepting both their human and monstrous forms without judgment
  • Mission Success: Completing assignments successfully builds confidence and trust

What Hurts Relationships

  • Sending them to combat missions in human form (feels set up to fail)
  • Dismissing their psychological insights or expertise
  • Overworking them without rest (fatigue system applies)
  • Making cruel or insensitive dialogue choices

💜 Relationship Milestones

As your relationship with Sonar improves, you'll unlock:

  • • Personal backstory revelations about the form-shifting origin
  • • Unique dialogue options in key story moments
  • • Better mission performance (minor stat boosts when relationship is high)
  • • Impact on ending (Sonar's fate may change based on relationship level)

Strengths & Weaknesses

✅ Strengths

  • Highest Intellect (8/10): Best puzzle-solver in the game
  • Psychological Specialist: Unique abilities for mental/emotional missions
  • Form Versatility: Can pivot between mental and physical focus
  • Investigation Expert: Reveals hidden clues and information
  • Empathetic Negotiator: Good at de-escalation through understanding
  • Story Depth: One of the most developed character arcs

❌ Weaknesses

  • Low Combat (3/10 human): Very vulnerable in fights
  • Poor Vigor (4/10 human): Can't take much damage
  • Form Unpredictability: Can't control when shifting happens
  • Average Mobility (5/10): Not ideal for chase missions
  • Specialized Role: Not versatile like Coupé or Malevola
  • Mental Strain: Story elements suggest they struggle with hero work

Comparison with Similar Heroes

Sonar vs Invisigal (Intellect Specialists):

  • • Sonar has higher Intellect (8 vs 7) and better Charisma (6 vs 6)
  • • Invisigal has superior Mobility (10 vs 5) for reconnaissance
  • • Choose Sonar for psychological work, Invisigal for stealth/speed

Advanced Tips & Tricks

💡 Tip #1: Form Prediction

Pay attention to story context and emotional states. Sonar tends to shift to monstrous form during high-stress episodes or after emotionally intense story beats. Plan your hero rotation accordingly.

💡 Tip #2: Psychological Mission Priority

When you see missions involving mental health, trauma, or emotional distress, ALWAYS send Sonar if in human form. These missions often have hidden achievements that require Sonar specifically.

💡 Tip #3: Save Before Major Missions

Sonar has multiple story paths based on choices and mission performance. Save before dispatching Sonar on story-critical missions to explore different outcomes.

💡 Tip #4: Monstrous Form Combat Backup

If your primary combat heroes (Golem,Flambae) are fatigued and Sonar is in monstrous form, they make a surprisingly effective temporary combat hero (Combat 8).

💡 Tip #5: Relationship Dialogue Checks

Regularly talk to Sonar at the office between missions. High relationship unlocks special conversations that provide strategic hints about upcoming missions and story developments.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ✗ Sending human-form Sonar to combat: Almost always results in failure or injury
  • ✗ Ignoring form status: Always check current form before dispatching
  • ✗ Using monstrous Sonar for puzzles: Intellect drops to 4, making puzzle missions fail
  • ✗ Neglecting relationship building: Sonar's story arc is one of the best - don't miss it
  • ✗ Over-relying on Sonar: Rotate with other heroes to prevent fatigue

Related Hero Guides

Compare Sonar with other heroes or return to the main heroes guide: