NPC or DIE — Criminal Task Locations

Criminal victory in NPC or DIE depends on completing sabotage tasks without revealing yourself. Tasks scatter across the Wild West town — roughly thirty markers per map — and each one is a risk-reward decision. This guide explains how task locations group together, which routes minimize Sheriff exposure, and how to adapt when objectives spawn in hot zones.

Read the Wild West town overview first if district names feel unfamiliar. Return to the map hub for role-neutral strategy, or study controls so interactions at markers feel smooth on your device.

How tasks work

When you spawn as Criminal, the game assigns a subset of tasks from the full map pool. You must complete them while behaving like an NPC. Approach a marker, press the interact key (E on PC, tap on mobile), and finish the sabotage animation. Task progress is visible to your team of Criminals; Sheriffs infer progress from behavior and audio, not from a public UI.

Tasks do not all spawn active every round. Treat the map as a dynamic checklist — plan two routes, a primary loop and a backup loop, so rerolls or blocked paths do not force you through open plaza sightlines.

Task clusters explained

Although the game does not label clusters, players organize markers into practical groups:

Central cluster — markers near the main street and fountain. Fast to reach, heavy Sheriff traffic, best done during NPC peaks.

Market cluster — markers tucked among stalls and side counters. Strong cover, awkward animations; watch for Sheriffs orbiting stall rows.

Alley cluster — markers behind buildings and along service paths. Low traffic but isolated; finish quickly and rejoin crowds.

Fringe cluster — outer buildings and map edges. Long walks, fewer witnesses, high crossing risk between clusters.

Use clusters to chain objectives. Completing three tasks in one cluster before crossing town looks more natural than ping-ponging diagonally every time.

Recommended safe loops

These loops prioritize NPC-like pathing over raw speed:

Loop A — Market to thoroughfare: Start in market row, complete one or two stall-adjacent tasks, drift onto main street attached to NPC traffic, finish a central marker, exit through an alley back to market density.

Loop B — Alley reset: Enter from a residential alley, complete a back-path task, pause with NPC idle animation if available, cross only when a group moves the same direction, pick up a second alley or fringe task before returning core.

Loop C — Fountain orbit: For plaza-adjacent tasks, wait until fountain NPC density spikes, complete one marker, walk the NPC loop around the plaza instead of leaving immediately, re-enter for a second marker only if Sheriff pressure is low.

Adjust loops when you hear gunshots or see Sheriff counts drop — fewer Sheriff lives often means bolder plaza clears.

High-risk task markers

Some locations are mechanically fine but socially dangerous:

• Isolated fringe markers with long open approaches
• Plaza tasks during low NPC counts
• Double markers in the same narrow alley back-to-back
• Tasks near limited event vendors when Summer Splashdown crowds real players near shops

If you must take a high-risk marker, pre-plan an exit alley before starting interaction. Never finish a task and freeze — move immediately at NPC pace.

Sheriff pressure by location

Experienced Sheriffs camp chokepoints, not random corners. Expect pressure at:

• Thoroughfare intersections linking clusters
• Market entrances/exits
• Fountain sightlines toward fringe paths
• Alley mouths after task audio repeats

When two Sheriffs are alive, assume cross-cover between chokepoints. Route to tasks that force Sheriffs to rotate rather than hard camp — fringe-to-market loops often trigger rotations.

Task timing and round clock

Late-round urgency kills Criminals. With seconds left, players sprint, Sheriff shots fly, and NPC mimicry breaks. Spread task completion across the round. If you are one task from victory with time remaining, blend for five extra seconds before the last interact — the delay feels costly but wins more than a sprint finish.

Coordinating with other Criminals

Multiple Criminals can complete different tasks simultaneously. Unspoken coordination works best when routes diverge — two Criminals stacking the same cluster creates suspicious task audio stacks. Spread across market and alley clusters when possible. You cannot voice chat roles in public lobbies easily, but path separation is communication.

Tasks, Cash, and events

Tasks contribute to Criminal win conditions and often feed daily quest progress tied to free Cash methods. During events, bonus objectives or shop currencies may appear — read limited shop and patch notes so you know whether task rewards temporarily increase.

Using tools alongside map study

Our code checklist helps track promo codes for Cash, while the trade value tool matters after you earn rewards — not mid-round. Avoid running scripts during learning; automation obscures the movement patterns you need to internalize.

Post-update verification

Arashiyama ships weekly updates. Task marker positions occasionally shift with new props or event decorations. After each listed version in version history, replay Loop A in a private observation round to confirm paths still match this guide.

Quick reference checklist

Before each Criminal round:

1. Note assigned tasks and map them to clusters mentally.
2. Pick primary and backup loops before moving.
3. Watch NPC speed for ten seconds at spawn.
4. Complete high-risk markers mid-loop, not first or last when possible.
5. Rejoin crowds after every interact — no standing on markers.

Task locations are not secrets — every experienced player knows the map. Victory comes from how you travel between them. Drill loops until they feel boring; that is when you stop looking like a Criminal.