Your aerial drone is absolutely essential for finding critical evidence in FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol, most critically in Case 7: The roof. This forensic me protocol drone rooftop clues guide provides the exact steps for locating high-angle evidence that is impossible to reach on foot. While Case 7 is the most prominent mandatory use, the drone also proves invaluable for achieving S-rank grades in other cases by ensuring no angle is left unchecked.
Successfully navigating the game's nine grim investigations requires mastering every tool in your van, but the drone is what separates a good investigator from a great one. It allows you to scout inaccessible areas, identify entry points, and spot evidence that lesser investigators would miss entirely. Without it, some cases are simply unsolvable.
When Do You Unlock the Drone?
You don't start your career with a full suite of advanced technology. The aerial drone is unlocked automatically as part of your standard-issue kit after you complete the first two cases, "The playground" and "The road." Once you load into Case 3: The court, the drone will be available for deployment from your vehicle's equipment locker. There are no upgrades to purchase or research; you get the fully functional unit from the start.
Deployment is straightforward:
- Return to your forensic van.
- Interact with the equipment storage on the wall.
- Select the drone from the menu.
- Once you exit the van, the drone can be launched from the tool menu.
Controls are typical for drone simulation: the left stick controls altitude and rotation, while the right stick handles forward, backward, and strafing movements. The drone's primary function is its scanner, which automatically highlights interactable clues with a faint white shimmer when you get close enough. There is a battery limit, so long flights should be planned carefully, but it can be recalled and redeployed with a full charge at any time.
Case 7: The roof — Your Primary Drone Mission
This is it. The case that makes or breaks your drone piloting skills. In "Case 7: The roof," the primary crime scene is a penthouse apartment, but key evidence related to the suspect's entry and escape is located on adjacent rooftops and inaccessible ledges. Ground-level investigation will leave you with a dead end. You cannot achieve a passing grade, let alone an S-rank, without extensive drone use.
Finding the Point of Entry
The initial investigation inside the penthouse will suggest a struggle, but no forced entry from the hallway door. The first critical clue is outside.
- Proceed to the apartment's main balcony. The path is obvious, but don't get distracted by the view.
- From the edge of the balcony, launch the drone.
- Fly the drone directly upwards about 30 feet and look at the roof of the building you are in. You will spot discarded climbing gear near a rooftop access hatch. This is your first scannable piece of evidence: "Rooftop Entry Gear."
Tracking the Escape Route
Scanning the gear opens a new objective: determine the suspect's escape path. The suspect didn't go back down through the building.
- From the rooftop access hatch, fly the drone across the street toward the slightly lower office building opposite the penthouse.
- On the corner of the office building's roof, you'll find scuff marks on the brick ledge and a single, dropped shell casing. This is the second critical clue: "Scuff Marks and Casing."
- This piece of evidence confirms the suspect was a skilled climber who used the opposite building as a staging or escape point, and that a firearm was involved.
Infographic showing the drone's escape route tracking in Case 7.
Other Cases Where the Drone Is Your Secret Weapon
While Case 7 is the most obvious drone-centric mission, using it proactively in other cases can reveal optional clues that add context and boost your final score. Smart investigators use the drone for a quick aerial survey on every case before getting their boots dirty.
Case 4: The neighborhood
This case takes place in a dense suburban area with multiple two-story houses, backyards, and sheds. Many clues are inside the main residence, but a crucial piece of corroborating evidence is often missed.
- What to look for: Check the gutters and second-story window sills of the victim's house and the neighboring houses. In one of the possible scenarios for this case, the suspect tosses a small, disposable phone into the rain gutter of the house next door. It's impossible to see from the ground.
- Why it matters: This "Discarded Burner Phone" contains messages that establish a motive that is otherwise difficult to prove, securing your S-rank.
Annotated diagram of a drone finding a phone in a rain gutter.
Case 5: The forester
Set in a wooded park, this case seems entirely grounded. The crime scene is a clearing, and most of the initial evidence is found on and around the body. However, the killer was careless during their exit.
- What to look for: Launch the drone and perform a slow, circular sweep of the forest canopy, expanding outwards from the crime scene. About 50 yards north, you'll spot something snagged in the high branches of a pine tree—a torn piece of a jacket.
- Why it matters: This "Torn Fabric Scrap" is a unique material that can be matched to a suspect later in the investigation. Without the drone's high-angle view, you'd be searching the forest floor for days and never find it.
Comic grid showing a drone finding a fabric scrap in a tree.
Drone Piloting Best Practices
Your drone is a powerful tool, but it's not invincible. Crashing it or running out of battery at a critical moment can be frustrating. Keep these tips in mind to ensure smooth operation.
- Launch in the Open: Always deploy your drone from a position with a clear view of the sky. Launching in a tight alley or under an overpass is a recipe for an immediate crash.
- Look for the Shimmer: Scannable objects are highlighted with a subtle white shimmer or glint. If an area looks suspicious, fly the drone slowly around it from multiple angles to catch this visual cue.
- Mind the Battery: A progress bar on your HUD shows the drone's remaining battery life. It's usually enough for 5-7 minutes of continuous flight. If you're undertaking a complex search, return to your position and recall the drone before it dies, or it will auto-return and you may lose your bearings.
- Use as a Periscope: Sometimes the drone's best use isn't flying far away, but looking where you can't. Use it to peek over high walls, look through second-story windows from the outside, or check the tops of vehicles and shipping containers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cases absolutely require the drone to solve?
Only Case 7: The roof is impossible to complete without using the drone to find mandatory clues. However, failing to use it in cases like "The neighborhood" and "The forester" will likely prevent you from getting a high score.
Can you miss unlocking the drone?
No. The drone is a standard piece of equipment that becomes available automatically during story progression after Case 2. You cannot miss it.
What happens if I crash the drone or it gets stuck?
If the drone crashes or gets stuck on geometry, you can simply recall it from your tool menu. It will despawn from its stuck position and become available for relaunch after a short cooldown period.
Are there any drone upgrades?
No, there are no upgrades for the drone or any of your other forensic tools. The functionality you have at the start is what you'll have for all nine cases.
The Final Analysis
The drone in FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol is more than a novelty; it's a fundamental instrument of investigation. While you can muddle through most of the early game without it, true mastery of the forensic process means leveraging its unique aerial perspective to uncover secrets hidden in plain sight. Embrace your role as a high-tech investigator, keep your drone charged, and always remember to look up. The clue that cracks the case might just be on a rooftop.