The 007 First Light Advanced Tactical Training is the first Escalation inside the Tactical Simulation (TacSim) mode, and it has 11 challenges split across three tiers. Some of them unlock just by completing the tiers. Others require you to play in very specific ways — like finishing a tier without firing a single shot, or only shooting while Focus is active. This guide covers all 11 challenges and exactly how to get them.
- Advanced Tactical Training is the first Escalation in TacSim mode.
- There are 11 challenges exclusive to this Escalation across three tiers.
- Four of them unlock automatically just for completing each tier and all three together.
- The trickiest ones are Fast Learner, Slow Learner, Hoplophobia, and Mind the Gap.
- No unique outfits are unlocked here, but you earn Intel and Clearance for upgrades.
- You can unlock this Escalation early — right after the nightclub training mission.
How to Unlock Advanced Tactical Training in 007 First Light
You don’t need to finish the main story before jumping into TacSim. Advanced Tactical Training becomes available right after you return from Bond’s nightclub training mission, which puts it among the earliest content you can access. Head to the Tactical Simulation Hub, complete the brief guided tour with Selina, and the Escalation will be open.
If you haven’t yet grabbed the full list of gadgets in 007 First Light, it’s worth knowing which ones you have available before jumping into Tier 3, since some challenges require you to play with no gadgets equipped.
All 11 Advanced Tactical Training Challenges
The game lists more than 11 challenges on the TacSim screen, but several of those are global Standard Challenges that apply across all modes. The 11 below are the ones exclusive to this Escalation.
Tier Completion Challenges (4 Total)
These four unlock automatically as you progress. No special conditions needed.
- Advanced Tactical Training 1 — Complete Tier 1.
- Advanced Tactical Training 2 — Complete Tier 2.
- Advanced Tactical Training 3 — Complete Tier 3.
- Graduated — Complete all three tiers.
Tier 1 Challenge — Fast Learner
- Fast Learner — Complete Tier 1 in under one minute.
Tier 1 is the simplest tier in the entire game. It mostly involves following button prompts to learn basic moves. The enemies barely react to you, and the objectives are very light. Just move fast and don’t stop to read anything you’ve already seen. If you skip hesitation, you should clear it well within the time limit on any normal playthrough.
Tier 2 Challenges — Four Your Eyes Only & Slow Learner
- Four Your Eyes Only — Complete Tier 2 with four or fewer eliminated opponents.
- Slow Learner — Complete Tier 2 only shooting while Focus is active.
Both of these can be done in a single Tier 2 run if you plan it right. Here’s how:
Start by using melee on the first two enemies. Finish them off with headshots while Focus is active (hold L3/LS to activate Focus, then fire). This ticks the Slow Learner condition. Move to the next pair of guards and shoot them both in the legs — again, only while Focus is active. That keeps Slow Learner going. Finish the remaining melee challenges on the next enemies before taking your final shots. If you stay disciplined about only pulling the trigger while Focus is on, both challenges will pop at the end of the tier.
For Four Your Eyes Only, you’re just limited to four total eliminations. Plan which four enemies you actually need to deal with and skip or avoid the rest.
Tier 3 Challenges — Mind the Gap, Hoplophobia, A Lesson in Chemistry, No Gadgets
- Mind the Gap — Eliminate an opponent by throwing them off a ledge.
- Hoplophobia — Complete Tier 3 without firing a shot.
- A Lesson in Chemistry — Eliminate an opponent with an explosion.
- No Gadgets – Advanced Tactical Training — Complete Tier 3 with no gadgets equipped.
Tier 3 is where the real challenge work happens. The good news is that you can knock out Mind the Gap, Hoplophobia, and No Gadgets in a single run — just go in with your gadgets unequipped from the loadout screen before you start.
As soon as Tier 3 begins, look to your right. There’s a ledge nearby with an enemy. Charge into them and push them off (hold R2/RT to charge) to get Mind the Gap immediately. After that, clear every other enemy using only melee and ledge throws. No shooting at all. This gives you Hoplophobia at the end of the run.
For A Lesson in Chemistry, you’ll need a separate run. You need to kill an enemy using an explosion — the easiest method is to lure an enemy near an explosive object or barrel in the environment and trigger it. Make sure you have a gadget or use environmental hazards to cause the blast. Run this separately from your Hoplophobia run since you can’t shoot or use gadgets there.
Knowing how to use your kit efficiently matters a lot in TacSim. See the best gadget loadout guide to make sure you’re bringing the right tools into Tier 3 for your Chemistry run.
Recommended Run Order for All Challenges
Here’s the most efficient order to get everything without unnecessary replays:
- Run 1 – Tier 1: Just complete it fast. Fast Learner and Advanced Tactical Training 1 done.
- Run 2 – Tier 2: Use melee, headshots in Focus, and stay under four kills. Both Tier 2 challenges done in one go.
- Run 3 – Tier 3, no gadgets: Throw an enemy off the ledge at the start, go melee-only for the rest. Mind the Gap, Hoplophobia, No Gadgets, and Advanced Tactical Training 3 all done together.
- Run 4 – Tier 3, with gadgets: Trigger an explosion kill. A Lesson in Chemistry done.
- Graduated unlocks automatically once all three tiers are completed.
What Rewards Do You Get?
Completing Advanced Tactical Training challenges earns you Intel and Clearance. These are the TacSim currencies used to unlock gadgets, buy weapon upgrades, and access further Escalations and Operations. There are no unique outfits tied to this specific Escalation, so don’t hold out for cosmetics here.
If you’re chasing outfits, those are tied to main story missions and specific challenge completions elsewhere. Check the full outfits list for what’s available and how to get each one.
Global TacSim Challenges You Can Farm Here
Advanced Tactical Training is also a good map for knocking out some of the global Standard Challenges that apply across all TacSim modes. The enemies in Tier 1 barely react, making it one of the easiest places to practice stealth routing and rack up quiet takedowns.
For the Shadow Tactics global challenge (50 stealth takedowns), Tier 1 is almost purpose-built for it — load in, chain takedowns on isolated guards, restart, and repeat. See the full TacSim challenges guide for the complete list of global challenges and the best maps to farm each one.
Tips Before You Start
- Unequip gadgets before launching Tier 3 if you want No Gadgets and Hoplophobia in the same run. You can’t remove gadgets mid-mission.
- Focus mode is L3/LS by default. Hold it before pressing the fire button for every shot in the Slow Learner run.
- The charge move for Mind the Gap is R2/RT. Sprint at an enemy near a ledge and hold it to push them over.
- If the timer feels tight for Fast Learner, remember that Tier 1 has no real combat — just move through the prompts as quickly as possible without reading anything you already know.
Combat fundamentals matter a lot in the harder tiers. If you’re still getting used to the core fighting system, the parry guide is worth a read — parrying is central to winning the tougher Tier 3 group fights efficiently.
Related 007 First Light Guides
- All TacSim Challenges in 007 First Light
- All Global Challenges in 007 First Light
- Best Gadget Loadout
- All Gadgets in 007 First Light
- How to Get the 4th Gadget Slot
- Trophy and Achievement Guide
- How to Defuse the Bomb in 007 First Light
- All Missions, Challenges, and Collectibles
