To learn how to get an S-rank in every case in FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol, you must internalize its three core pillars: collect 100% of all evidence, maintain zero scene contamination, and form a flawless final deduction. Unlike most games, your rank is not tied to speed; there are no time limits, so methodical precision always wins over haste. Mastering this trifecta is the only path to the coveted "Forensic master" achievement and a perfect case log.
This guide breaks down the universal principles for achieving an S-rank before walking through the specific challenges and missable evidence in each of the game's nine cases. Forget what other games have taught you about high scores. Here, the science of the work is all that matters.
The Anatomy of an S-Rank
Your final grade is a cold calculation of your procedural perfection. While the game is notoriously opaque about its scoring, the community has reverse-engineered the formula. An S-rank is not a high score; it's a perfect score. Anything less than 100% in any key area will drop you to an A or B grade.
Pillar 1: Meticulous Evidence Collection
This is the most straightforward component. You must find, photograph, and sample every single piece of relevant evidence in a scene. This doesn't just mean the obvious weapon or body; it means the nearly invisible scuff mark on a high window sill only your drone can see, or the hidden fiber your ground robot can retrieve from under a pallet.
Your S-Rank Checklist for Evidence:
- All Physical Items: Every weapon, document, phone, and container.
- All Biologicals: Every bloodstain, fluid pool, and hair/fiber, correctly sampled.
- All Trace Evidence: Every fingerprint, footprint, and bullet trajectory, correctly documented.
- All Photographs: Every piece of evidence must be photographed, often from a specific, finicky angle that triggers a small audio cue.
Missing even one minor piece of evidence is an automatic failure. Use your UV light on every surface, and deploy your drones in every area to ensure complete coverage.
Pillar 2: Perfect Procedural Discipline
This is the hidden rule that trips up most players. FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol tracks your movement and interactions. Walking through a bloodstain or disturbing a key item before it's been documented is considered contamination and will instantly void your S-rank eligibility for that case.
The Zero Contamination Rules:
- Never walk over the primary scene. Use the edges of the area and your drones to perform initial surveys.
- Mark and photograph evidence before interacting. Do not pick up or sample an item until its initial state has been recorded.
- Use the right tool for the job. Don't try to swab something that needs a fingerprint brush. The game penalizes incorrect procedure.
Pillar 3: Flawless Deduction
The final phase of every case takes place on the logic board, where you connect the evidence nodes to reconstruct the events. This is not about telling a good story; it's about forming the single correct narrative supported by the facts. To get an S-rank, your final conclusion about the victim's identity, cause of death, and the sequence of events must be 100% accurate. A B-grade often means you found all the evidence but misinterpreted one crucial link in the causal chain.
Mastering Your Toolkit: Essential Pre-Case Habits
The game's controls and systems can be clumsy, which directly impedes procedural perfection. Adopting these habits will help you overcome the game's frustrating design quirks.
The Two-Item Limit: Plan Your Trips to the Van
A notorious feature is the inability to carry more than two tools (or just the camera) at once. This means constant, tedious trips back to your van. Don't fight it; plan for it. A successful S-rank run involves a methodical, multi-pass approach.
- Pass 1: Observation & Marking. Carry only markers. Survey the entire scene from the perimeter, marking every potential piece of evidence without touching anything.
- Pass 2: Photography. Carry only the camera. Photograph every marker you placed.
- Pass 3: Sampling. Based on your photos, plan trips to carry specific tools. If you need to lift prints and swab a fluid, that's two separate trips. For example, one trip for the fingerprint brush and adhesive tape, and another for two sample vials.
Infographic: Map of missable S-Rank evidence for Case 1: The Playground.
The "Magic Spot": How to Take Photos That Count
Many players fail S-ranks because their photos didn't register. The game requires you to stand in a very specific, unmarked spot for a photo to be considered valid. You'll know you got it when you hear a subtle confirmation sound. If you don't hear that sound, the photo did not count, no matter how perfectly centered the evidence is in your frame. Shuffle around, crouch, and change your angle until you hear the chime.
Drones and Robots are Not Optional
Some of the most critical evidence is placed in areas inaccessible on foot. The aerial drone is essential for spotting clues in high places like rafters or window sills, while the all-terrain robot is the only way to retrieve items from under furniture or in tight vents. A full sweep with both devices at the start of every investigation is mandatory for an S-rank.
Case-by-Case S-Rank Walkthrough
Here are the key missables and procedural traps for each of the nine main cases. This is not a full step-by-step but a high-level checklist of what most players miss.
Case 1: The Playground
- Missable Evidence: A small, discarded vial underneath the main park bench. You must use the ground robot to retrieve it. There's also a faint scuff mark high on the plastic slide, visible only with the aerial drone.
- Procedural Trap: Do not walk through the sandpit. It contains faint footprints that must be photographed before you get close.
Case 2: The Road
- Missable Evidence: A single shell casing that has rolled under the front tire of the sedan. You must crouch to see and photograph it properly. The victim's phone is often hidden in the tall grass on the shoulder of the road, requiring a careful sweep.
- Procedural Trap: The oil slick on the asphalt must be sampled, but it's also a contamination hazard. Mark and photograph it from a distance before approaching with a vial.
Case 3: The Court
- Missable Evidence: A crumpled piece of paper inside the judge's podium. You must interact with the podium's drawer to reveal it. A faint fingerprint is on the light switch by the main door, which is easily missed.
- Procedural Trap: The entire area around the victim is considered a contamination zone. Perform all initial observations from the public gallery before entering the main court floor.
Case 4: The Neighborhood
- Missable Evidence: A child's drawing tucked into the mail slot of the front door. Also, check the victim's garbage cans for a discarded prescription bottle.
- Procedural Trap: The flower bed contains a footprint. Walking on the lawn to get a better angle for a photo can count as contamination. Stick to the paved path.
Case 5: The Forester
- Missable Evidence: Look for unusual fibers caught on the bark of the large oak tree nearest the body. A half-buried wallet can be found near the creek bed, often obscured by rocks.
- Procedural Trap: This is a large, open scene. It's easy to lose track of where you've walked. Systematically sweep the area in a grid pattern to avoid contaminating undiscovered evidence.
Annotated Diagram: The investigator's van toolkit, highlighting key equipment for S-Ranks.
Case 6: Cinema Room
- Missable Evidence: A single dropped ticket stub under one of the cinema seats. You'll need to use your flashlight to spot it in the dark. Check the projection booth for a logbook.
- Procedural Trap: The sticky floor near the concession stand contains a fluid sample and a footprint. Photograph it before you step on it.
Case 7: The Roof
- Missable Evidence: An ejected SIM card from a phone can be found near the rooftop's drainage grate. Use the aerial drone to inspect the satellite dish for damage or hidden items.
- Procedural Trap: The entire roof is a fingerprint and footprint surface. Stick to the designated maintenance path marked by yellow lines.
Case 8: Public Bathrooms
- Missable Evidence: A small key taped to the underside of the toilet's water tank in the third stall. Also, use the UV light on the mirror to reveal a message written in invisible ink.
- Procedural Trap: Each stall is its own micro-scene. Avoid entering a stall until you have fully documented it from the doorway.
Case 9: Kidnapping
- Missable Evidence: This case is larger and has multiple scenes. The key missable is a ransom note fragment in the initial abduction site, hidden inside a discarded newspaper. At the final location, use the drone to check the roof of the warehouse for a discarded piece of clothing.
- Procedural Trap: Evidence from the first scene is needed to make correct deductions in the second. Rushing the initial investigation will make a final S-rank impossible.
Comic Grid: forensic me protocol how to get s rank every case common mistakes vs correct procedure.
FAQ: Your S-Rank Questions Answered
Q: Do I have to get an S-Rank on my first try? No. All nine cases, plus the introduction, can be replayed from the main menu at any time. This is essential for hunting the "Forensic master" achievement.
Q: Is there a time limit for S-Ranks? Absolutely not. The game has no timers and rewards a slow, methodical pace. Rushing is the fastest way to contaminate a scene or miss evidence.
Q: What do I get for S-ranking all cases? The primary reward is the gold "Forensic master" trophy/achievement, which requires an S-rating across the board.
Q: Why did I get a B-rank when I was sure I found everything? This is almost always due to one of two things: unseen contamination (walking over a footprint) or an error on the final logic board. Re-examine your evidence links; you may have confused cause and effect on a key point.
The Final Analysis
Achieving a perfect S-rank in every case of FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol is less a test of gaming skill and more a test of patience and discipline. By embracing the methodical pace, respecting the sanctity of the crime scene, and overcoming the game's awkward interface with a structured plan, you can transform frustrating B-ranks into a perfect record of investigative excellence. The satisfaction comes not from an action-packed finale, but from the quiet confidence that no detail escaped your notice.