NOTE: Combat strategy is based on the Medium difficulty setting, so your experience may vary slightly. In addition to the walkthroughs for each level, there are separate pages for Controls & Gameplay Tips, Skill & Weapon Upgrades, and Collectible Items.
SAVING AND CHECKPOINTS: Like the last several games, TOMB RAIDER uses autosave checkpoints. Whenever you pass a checkpoint, the game is saved automatically. Then, if Lara dies or you quit the game and restart, the game reloads at the last checkpoint. If you only rely on one autosave, you may run into trouble if you get stuck in the game, encounter a bug, or if your autosave file becomes corrupted. To avoid problems, I highly recommend changing your save slot at least once each level. You may also want to periodically back up your autosaves on a memory card (consoles) or into a separate folder (PC). See the controls page for details.
AREA 23: CLIFFSIDE BUNKER
Updated: 10/11/20(†)
Camps: Bunker Vista (Day Camp), Endurance Overlook (Day Camp)*
Gear: Rope Ascender Weapons/Weapon Parts: Shotgun Part (2/3)
Documents: 4 Relics: 3 GPS caches: 5 Treasure Maps: 1
Challenge Tombs: none Challenges: 1 (4 items)
Area Map: Cliffside Bunker**
*There are collectibles but no fast travel camps in this area. If you don't get 100% on your first visit, it's still possible to return later. You'll need to fast travel to Shipwreck Beach and then make your way back to the Cliffside Bunker on foot. I've included a page with directions and screenshots.
**This map includes all major collectibles and challenge items in the areas you can access now, on your first visit to this area. The items numbered on my map are covered in this walkthrough. For the others, you'll need to look at the Shipwreck Beach Part 2 walkthrough, coming soon. The in-game map does not include a compass rose showing which way is north. So when I refer to map directions in my walkthrough, assume North is up, east right, south down, and west left.
OBJECTIVE: Reach the Endurance Wreck (continued)
After crawling through the tunnel from Shipwreck Beach, you emerge on a wide ledge high above the sea. Lara spots the Endurance in the distance, and you discover the Bunker Vista Day Camp. Pick up the first GPS cache (1/5) near the rocks on the left, harvest the edible plant for XP and crack open the salvage crate. (screenshot)
NOTE: One of the salvage crates in this area contains a SHOTGUN PART (2/3). Its exact location is random, but if you open all the crates, you should find it. If you have any skill points to spend and have not yet unlocked the Dodge Counter skill, I urge you to buy it soon. It will come in handy for the boss fight later in this level.
Use the camp if you like. Then stand near the anchor post and fire a rope arrow into the climbing wall on the far side of the inlet. Jump onto the zip line, slide down and press Interact to latch onto the wall with your axe. The barbed wire on the ledge above prevents you from climbing up here. So move to the upper right side of the rough wall and then jump to the right to grab the horizontal bar. Climb to the right a bit. Then jump straight up to grab the bar above. Climb along the upper bar around the corner and on to the right as far as you can go. Ignore the climbable wall below and instead jump to the right and latch onto the larger section of climbing wall. Climb to the right again and jump to grab the next horizontal bar. Continue climbing around to the right and then up into the bunker. (screenshots)
ENTERING THE BUNKER: Inside the first room, with the huge gun turret, there's a salvage crate in the back right corner and also a flag (1/4) with a red sun symbol hanging in the back left corner. (screenshot) Burning this banner with your torch or a fire arrow unlocks the Previous Inhabitants Challenge: find and burn 4 of these flags for bonus XP. You don't yet have the equipment needed to open the reinforced door on the left. So for now, squeeze through the opening near the salvage crate and follow the tunnel until you hear voices.
COMBAT IN THE MULTI-LEVEL BUILDING: There's a squad of Solarii busy with various tasks in the next room. The first man is standing guard near the tunnel where Lara is crouching. He has his back to you. So while the others are busy, you can sneak up behind him and, when prompted, press the Melee button to dispatch him with your axe. Before the others notice, take cover behind the stack of pipes with the 2 bundles of arrows leaning against it. (screenshots)
Once you step out into the room, a steam pipe in the passageway where you entered bursts, preventing you from retreating that way. You'll need to kill everyone here in order to move on.
If you're quick, you can take out several more men without attracting attention. First, the welder up on the ledge to the left, then another man working on the ledge to the right. If you still have time, you can also get one or two more ahead on the left. Be sure to use arrows or silenced pistol or rifle shots to the head so the others don't hear. For the one on the upper level on the left, it may help to shoot an arrow into the wall to his left. When he turns to look, he'll expose more of himself, so you can take him out with a quick headshot. (screenshots)
Don't spend too much time on the guys on the far left though. Focus on the 3 men working on the generator in the sunny area directly ahead. You can kill all of them at once using the generator itself. One will call out, "Keep it steady. We're bringing it up." Shortly afterward, the men will start hauling the generator up toward the ceiling. As soon as they get it all the way up, target the pulley and fire. This will drop the generator right on top of them, causing an explosion that will also ignite the nearby fuel barrel, killing all 3 at once—and earning you a nice XP bonus. (screenshots)
Needless to say, this will alert the rest of the soldiers and you'll have a full-fledged firefight on your hands. Try to take out the men on the far side of the room with grenades or fire/napalm arrows before they get too close. If any of the men do manage to flank Lara, you can use the shotgun and/or Dodge Counter maneuvers to deal with them. (screenshots)
If you don't drop the generator at the beginning, there will be a few extra enemies to deal with, but you can also use the fuel barrel against them. Shooting the barrel causes the generator to explode as well, killing anyone standing nearby. (screenshots)
There are a couple of demolitions men among the crew, and some of the others have Molotov cocktails. When they throw explosives at you, scramble out of the way and take cover in a different place. There are several low walls and columns, though these will eventually be destroyed by enemy bullets. The two piles of metal pipes are solid and reliable, though.
During the fight, more men will slide down ropes from the upper levels. You may be able to shoot some of them off the lines as they descend. I'm not sure if this counts toward the Deadeye Achievement/Trophy, but it looks cool. ;) (screenshots)
When you've taken out the rest of the men, a lone guy with a machete and metal shield shows up. He lumbers slowly across the room, giving you plenty of time to get ready for him. Move out from cover so you have room to maneuver. Then take him out using the Dodge Counter/Dodge Kill maneuver. (There's a recap of this maneuver on the page with screenshots.) When he's done, you receive 50 XP for the battle.
Loot the bodies and replenish your ammo supplies. I counted 16 or 17 enemies, but not all of the bodies stick around. Take what you can. In addition to the 2 bundles of arrows near the first pile of pipes, there's a crate of grenades near the right wall, rifle and shotgun ammo on the nearby ledge (scramble up the painted wall to reach them), more rifle and shotgun ammo near the left wall, and an edible plant in far right corner of the grassy area where the men were lifting the generator. You'll also find a GPS cache (2/5) in the corner to the left of the hole where you came in. (screenshot)
NOTE: There's a rope-wrapped door high on the right wall. Again, you'll need a special piece of gear to open this. You'll return here with it shortly.
At the top of the steps at the north end of the room there are lots more goodies—grenades, 2 boxes of rifle ammo, one of shotgun shells, and 4 bundles of arrows. You probably won't need all the ammo now, but you'll return here later on your way back from the Endurance. Be sure to pick up the document (1/4), "Scientist: In Search of the Star" from the Wartime Intelligence series, on the desk here. (screenshot)
Exit through the open door to the northwest. There are 4 more enemies at the top of the stairs on the left. If you go quickly you can shoot the fuel barrel they're about to roll down the stairs and kill one or more of them in the process. Then take out the spotlight so you can see what's going on. Shoot the others as they come down the stairs or fire at you from above. One has armor and a pole arm. You can hit him with a couple of grenades (aim a little above his head so the grenade doesn't fall short), blast away his armor as he approaches, or wait for him to come to you and kill him with a Dodge Counter maneuver. As you fight him, another guy slides down the ropes in the previous area and sneaks up from behind. So watch out for him. Better yet, try to take out the pole arm guy quickly. Then run back out to the previous room and shoot the sneaky guy. (screenshots)
When the coast is clear, top up your ammo. There's more rifle and shotgun ammo behind the desk at the foot of the stairs, as well as all the stuff in the previous room. Then climb the stairs. At the top Lara hears more men yelling instructions to each other. Go into the room on the right to find 2 salvage crates and 2 bundles of arrows. Then exit this room and continue forward toward the end of the hall, staying close to the left wall for now. As soon as she's visible to the 4 men on the upper levels on the other side of the room, Lara will start taking fire. Inch out carefully, taking out the 3 guys on the middle level first. They start directly across from your position, but one or two will make their way around to the corner on your left and try to jump across the gap toward you. When you've killed them, take out the fourth man on the third floor in the far corner. He tends to lurk behind the blue barrel but has to emerge to shoot. (screenshots)
When Lara puts her weapon away, you'll know the area is clear for the moment. Loot the bodies on this side of the room and then move to the end of the walkway and jump across the gap. When you enter the room on the left, another bad guy appears behind you on the upper level. Turn around and take him out from the doorway. Then crack open the salvage crate and pick up 2 bundles of arrows, rifle/SMG ammo and shotgun shells. (screenshots)
Go back out the door. Jump across the gap, swing on the horizontal pole, and grab the ladder made of dangling wires and metal bars straight ahead. Then climb up through the square hole in the floor to the next level. Immediately take cover behind the blue barrel and square, brick column and then take out the 3 enemies on the roof above on the right. If you target the red fuel barrel near them, you may be able to kill all of them at once. If not, use bow or rifle to finish off any survivors. After this, this area is clear and you can explore at your leisure. (screenshots)
Loot the bodies here. Then move around the hole in the floor and jump across the gap above the horizontal pole to reach the salvage crate and food cache in the corner. Turn left and walk across the metal pipe to the next corner, where you'll find another food cache, a salvage trunk, and another flag (2/4) that you can destroy with a fire arrow for the Previous Inhabitants Challenge. It's hanging on the south wall just beyond the food cache. (screenshots)
CLIMBING ONTO THE BUNKER ROOF: Now make your way back across the pipe, across the gap, and around to the right to the far end of the walkway. Move to the top of the ramp made out of a metal door and jump to grab the dangling platform. Traverse around to the right and pull up. Move to the top of the sloping platform and jump to grab the edge of the roof ahead. Pull up and turn around to find the next flag (3/4) for the Challenge. Burn it with a flaming arrow or torch. Just watch out for the holes in the floor as you explore here. Raid the food cache near where the flag was hanging and loot the bodies of the men who fell here. Make your way over to the western corner of the roof to find a GPS cache (3/5) hidden in the grass near the broken column. (screenshots)
Move to the edge of the roof near the rope-wrapped thingummy and look up to the left (east). On the side of the tall tower is the final flag (4/4) for the Challenge. It's pretty high up, but you can hit it with a fire arrow from here. If you've burned the others as well, you'll receive 150 XP. (screenshots)
ENDURANCE OVERLOOK CAMPSITE: Drop down off the roof onto the flat ledge with the Endurance Overlook Day Camp. Lying on the ground near the campfire is a document (2/4), "Alex: Over His Head," part of the Endurance Crew set. (screenshot)
There are 2 edible plants nearby. If you face the old truck, one plant is on the left, the other is on the right. Beyond the plant on the left, in the tunnel behind the truck, there's a relic (1/3), a Japanese 2 Sen Coin from the Ancient Coins set. Examine the back of it for more info and XP. Beyond the second edible plant, between the stacked crates and the cliff's edge, is a GPS cache (4/5). (screenshots)
DESCENDING TO THE ENDURANCE WRECK: When you're ready to move on, stand near the anchor post and shoot a rope arrow into the climbing wall on the rock pillar ahead. Slide down, latch onto the rough wall, and climb to the top. Move forward past the rusted metal column and around to the left to find the last GPS cache (5/5) sitting behind the large boulder near the edge. Ride the zip line down to the ship.(screenshots)
Lara lands in a stack of iron pipes and hunkers down as she hears voices ahead. You receive 100 XP.
ENDURANCE BOSS: BORYS THE GIANT (AND ASSOCIATES): Move forward to the opening, hop down and quickly take cover behind the wooden crate so the men working on deck don't see you. There's a bundle of arrows here. Borys, the big man whom you may have heard the Solarii on Shipwreck Beach mention, moves to help the man on the right with some cargo. Wait until he says, "Out of the way...I got this," and starts moving the load with his rope ascender. Use this opportunity to take out the man on the left with a silent headshot. As Borys works the rope, you can then kill the second normal-size man the same way. Borys will notice this and stop working. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, however, so most of the time he'll take a moment to bend over and look at his fallen comrade. If you like, you can try and target him with a headshot while he's distracted. This won't kill him, but it will shave off a little of his health. (This combat sequence is shown in a series of screenshots.)
Jump out into the open so you have room to maneuver. If there's time, try and get around behind Borys and shoot him in the head once or twice. His sturdy armor protects his body, but his head is vulnerable. Don't worry if you can't do this. The main thing is to move into the open so he can't corner you and get ready to fight.
Once he notices Lara, Borys will move toward her with his, fists raised to protect his head. You can't hurt him now, but keep a weapon trained on him. I like the shotgun for close combat, but use your favorite. Let him come to you, and when he lunges toward Lara, dodge dodge his attack by continuing to hold Aim (Right Mouse Button/L1 or L2/LT) to keep your weapon trained on him. Then press Dodge/Roll (Shift/Circle/B) while simultaneously moving to the left or right. If your dodge is successful, the Melee icon appears on screen, just like in the quick time events. Press Melee (F/Triangle/Y) in time with the prompt (i.e., wait for the gray circle to to contract into the inner ring and the Melee icon to appear, then press the button). If you press the button at the right time, you'll see the Dodge Counter icon flash briefly on screen, and Lara will stab Borys in the leg with an arrow, knocking him off balance briefly. As he struggles to remove the arrow, shoot him in the head as many times as you can. Repeat this process several times, incapacitating him with the Dodge Counter maneuver, and then shooting him in the head. (screenshots)
NOTE: If you have not yet unlocked the Dodge Counter skill, you can still beat this boss, but it takes a little more effort. You'll need to avoid him by running around the deck rather than dodging. Shoot him in the head/face whenever he lowers his guard. The targeting reticle will turn red when you can actually hit him. If he manages to hit Lara, run away and keep ahead of him until you're able to heal, then start shooting again. Eventually he will take enough damage to trigger the Quick Time Event described below. If you set the difficulty level to Easy, this shouldn't take too long.
When he's had enough, he'll turn away from you and go down on one knee on the deck. You'll see the Melee icon over his head. Move in quickly and press the Melee button to swing your axe at him. This triggers a brief Quick Time Event. Press the Melee button in time with the on-screen prompt to hit Borys with the axe again. Then do the same thing once more to deliver a finishing blow. (screenshots)
When the giant finally falls, Lara steals the ROPE ASCENDER from his belt. You don't seem to receive any experience points for this, but this handy piece of gear more than makes up for it.
Pick up 2 boxes shotgun shells and one of pistol ammo sitting on the deck. Then try out your new toy. Shoot a rope arrow into the rope-wrapped cargo dangling from the crane. Then hold the Interact button to engage the rope ascender. Just like when you pry something with the axe, you'll see the white rope ascender icon fill up as you work. When it's full, the object you're trying to move shifts or breaks open. In this case, the heavy metal object swings around toward you. The pulley supporting it breaks, and the cargo crashes through the floor. Drop through the hole to get a mission update. (screenshots)
NOTE: In early versions of the game, some players experienced a glitch in which the heavy rope-wrapped object could not be pulled and thus the hole in the floor would not open. This has been fixed in subsequent patches for both PC and consoles. If you're playing on PC or Mac, you can also download a save file to get past this point. If you're playing on a console and are unable to update the game for some reason, you may be able to get past this point by glitching Lara through the floor at the edge of the hatch that would normally break open. This video by Never Final shows how it's done. Note that aiming a weapon while working Lara through the seam at the edge of the opening may help speed the process.
OBJECTIVE: Find Alex
INSIDE THE ENDURANCE: Move forward through the debris-littered corridor. There's one open hatch on the left. This is Lara and Sam's cabin. As you approach, a brief cut scene plays, in which Lara finds a photo of herself and Sam at their graduation then catches a glimpse in the mirror of the person she has become. "So much has happened," she says. You receive 100 XP at this point.
Before leaving the room, pick up the document (3/4) lying on the floor. It's one of Sam's diary entries, "Sam: Adventures with Lara," part of the Endurance Crew series. (screenshot) If you've found all the others, you'll receive a 500 XP bonus now. Also check the shelf near the window to find a little Easter Egg, a Kraken plushie that hearkens back to the "Underpus" from the last game. (screenshot) Thanks to Ash for pointing this out.
Exit the cabin, turn left and continue down the hallway. Lara overhears 2 of Mathias's men talking. Move forward and take out the first one in the doorway. The second is ahead and below, in the other section of the broken ship. Shoot him, pick up the arrows leaning against the support column, and then slide down the zip line.
Follow the passageway to a flooded section. There are no side passages, so you can't get lost. Drop down and wade through the water. You receive 250 XP for making it this far.
FLOODED HOLD – USING THE MOVABLE HOOK TO REACH ALEX: Don't get too close to the wires blocking the hatch at the top of the stairs, where Alex is trapped, or Lara will get a nasty shock. You need to move those wires using the hook suspended from the tracks on the ceiling. Here's the sequence:
Stand on or just below the stairs leading to the room where Alex is trapped. Turn around to face the hook. Shoot a rope arrow into it and use the rope ascender to pull it toward you. A loose pipe hanging from the ceiling prevents the hook from sliding all the way to the door. You must now figure out how to get that pipe out of the way. Take a few steps to the right and turn around to face the hook. Jump to grab the yellow ladder on the side of it. This causes the hook to slide along the track to the opposite corner of the room. Drop down and move to the right (toward the entrance), turn around and use the rope ascender again to pull the hook toward you. Now go around to the right side of the hook and jump onto the ladder again. This causes the hook to slide along the track to the next corner. Now the ladder on the hook and the ladder on the track above meet and you can climb up into the rafters. (screenshots)
Crawl to the right and press Melee in time with the on-screen prompts to kick the pipe out of the way. When the pipe shifts, so does the grate Lara is sitting on, and she drops back down into the room below. Turn right and move under the hook and into the corner. Turn around to face the hook (and the room where Alex is trapped). Use the rope ascender again to pull the hook toward you. Move under the hook and turn to face it. Then jump onto the ladder to push the hook back toward the entrance. (screenshots)
Now move back toward the stairs near Alex and pull the hook toward the door with the live wires once more. Now that the pipe is out of the way, the hook can reach the door and attach to the wires. Move back to the entrance and use the rope ascender one more time to pull the hook away from the door, breaking the wires so you can get in. (screenshots) You receive 100 XP and a new goal.
OBJECTIVE: Recover Reyes's Tools
Move into the room where Alex is sitting. In the ensuing cut scene Lara tries to free her friend, whose leg is pinned under some wreckage, but she's unable to lift the heavy pipe. Before she can figure out how to lever the weight off, a squad of Solarii appear and start shooting. Alex fires back, igniting a gas leak and blowing up several enemies. Alex hands Lara the tools for Reyes, insisting that he isn't going to make it out. At first Lara refuses to leave, but when Alex reminds her that the others are counting on her, she knows he's right. She gives Alex a quick kiss on the cheek then scrambles out the hatch as more men arrive from a different direction. As she closes the door, Alex shoots another gas leak, and we hear but don't see the explosion. You receive another 100 XP and an updated goal.
OBJECTIVE: Return to the Military Bunker
The ship is now in even worse shape, shuddering from the explosions and taking on water. When you regain control, immediately run forward along the passageway to avoid the billowing flames. When the action shifts into slow motion, jump forward and Lara will automatically catch the zip line ahead. Follow the on-screen prompt and hold Interact to use the rope ascender to race up the zip line to safety.
When you reach the upper section of the wreck, Lara is visibly distraught but vows to save the rest of her friends. Continue along the passageway up the stairs to the deck where you killed Borys earlier. Climb the crates on the right side of the deck and go around behind the mast to find another zip line. (screenshot) Grab onto it and use the ascender to quickly reach the high plateau where you found the last GPS cache. Move to the other side of the plateau and ride the next zip line up to the Endurance Overlook Day Camp. You get another 100 XP here.
BACK AT THE BUNKER: Shoot a rope arrow into the rope-wrapped generator on the roof and then use the rope ascender to pull it off the edge. (screenshot) It crashes through the weak section of floor. Drop through the hole to find a document (4/4), "Scientist: Secret of the Island," from the Wartime Intelligence series. It tells of a discovery that the writer believed might hold the secret to controlling the storms. This gives Lara an idea and a new goal.
OBJECTIVE: Return to the Survivors' Camp on the Beach
Notice the room on the other side of the grating window. There are some goodies in there, but you'll need to go around to the other side to get in. Pry open the metal door with your climbing axe. It opens onto the multi-level room where you fought all those Solarii earlier. Turn right, move to the end of the ledge, drop down to the floor and then turn to face the wall with the door you just came from. Now that you have the rope ascender, you can pull open the rope-wrapped door here. Use the wooden crate to climb up into this room, where you'll find a salvage net and a relic (2/3), a 100 Mon Coin from the Ancient Coins set. (screenshot)
NOTE: For more info on the real-world counterparts to the 100 Mon Coin and other Tomb Raider collectibles, check out the Artefactual series from Tomb Raider Horizons.
Drop back down to the floor and turn left (south). Move to the end of the room and go through the low tunnel where you first entered this room. (screenshot) The steam has dissipated now so it's safe. Follow the tunnel to the room with the gun turret.
OPEN AREA OUTSIDE THE GUN TURRET ROOM: Use a rope arrow and rope ascender to open the reinforced door on the right. Go through to an open area with an edible plant and another relic (3/3), a Portuguese Tin Coin from the Ancient Coins set. In the corner near the closed door, on top of the stacked sandbags, is the Cliffside Bunker Treasure Map. If you've followed this walkthrough, it will be your last pickup so not very helpful. ;) (screenshots)
Move to the edge of the cliff, near the waterfall. Stand by the anchor post and shoot a rope arrow into the rough wall above the tunnel entrance ahead. Climb across and drop down. (screenshot) Use the Bunker Vista Day Camp if you need it. Then follow the tunnel back to Shipwreck Beach.
†UPDATE HISTORY: 6/2/13 - First draft of walkthrough posted online.
6/2/13 - Added directions and screenshots for returning to this area after the first visit.
7/7/13 - Updated weapon parts info with help from Jerad Z.
7/31/13 - Fixed mixed-up numbers for documents 2 and 3 on the level map.
7/2/14 - Added note about beating Borys the Tank without using the Dodge Counter skill.
10/25/15 - Added headshot tactic to Borys the Tank sequence.
10/11/20 - Added link to Never Final's bug work-around video.
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