Overpowering enemies with brute force in battle often wins the headline, but real victory comes from silent steps, recon, and enemy plans turned back on themselves. And in Delta Force, that’s where Hackclaw, Recon-class specialist Mai Xiaowen, excels. She’s not your typical run-and-gun soldier, but she’s a seasoned tactician with tools like the Signal Decoder, Flash Drone, and Data Knife, all designed for stealth reconnaissance, electronic sabotage, and precise disruption.
In this guide, I’ll be breaking down everything you need to know about Hackclaw, from how her abilities and traits work to her cool high-utility gadgets. So, if you enjoy operating unseen and turning enemy tech against them, Hackclaw could just become your stealthiest operator in Delta Force.
Delta Force Hackclaw Guide
Abilities and Traits
Hackclaw, real name Mai Xiaowen, isn’t just your typical Recon-class operator; she’s an operator born to disrupt from the shadows with silent penetration and intel warfare. And while most operators gun for kills, Hackclaw thrives on information, feeding her team whispers before they ever see the enemy.
When I first unlocked and played her, it was obvious that aggressive shooting or reckless play styles were unnecessary. This operator is designed for intelligence collection and tactical encounters, not brute-force engagements.
Unlocking Hackclaw can be done for absolutely free through Recruitment. Simply activate the recruitment task for the operator and complete the listed task to recruit her. Also, if you’re new to Delta Force, be sure to check our beginners’ guide, and for weapons, swing by our weapons tier list.
Ability: Signal Decoder
Hackclaw’s Signal Decoder is the beating heart of her kit, with its ability to scan up to three nearby enemy electronics within a 60 m cone, placing color-coded reticle lines, red for closest, directly on her contact lenses.
It also works through thin walls, making it a valuable early warning measure and threat assessment. The decoder’s 12-second scan offers a tactical advantage in traps or laid ambush, and when used correctly, she is capable of flanking enemies who think they’ve the advantage.
Trait: Silent Step
Even when standing still, Hackclaw is one of the quietest operators, and her Silent Step trait grants increased stealth movement speed while crouched or walking, dramatically reducing footstep noise. It’s this trait that lets her peel through enemy lines after recon scans without alerting the enemy.
This is perfect for pulling off multiple flanks just by sneaking behind squad lines after decoding, and if you blend it with a drone knock, whole teams will crumble unaware.
Gadgets and Weapons
Hackclaw carries a tactical kit that punches well above what might be expected when used correctly. Her entire offensive arsenal consists of just two tools, the Flash Drone and the Data Knife, but each serves a role in stealth, disruption, and intel-driven plays. Unlike heavier units, Hackclaw doesn’t rely on loud explosions; instead, she takes advantage with timing, ambush, and gadget combos that let information play the lead.
The Flash Drone is her opening act, which is a remote, programmable drone that launches forward and emits a blinding flash. What sets it apart is the ability to guide it along a previously scanned Signal Decoder line. If you look at a yellow trajectory, the drone will follow it, even peeking around corners before detonation.
Hackclaw’s second weapon, the Data Knife, acts as both an EMP disruptor and a silent execution tool. Thrown to land within 10 m of enemy electronics, the knife disables gadgets like Spawn Beacons, and it scores a kill if it directly hits an operator.
Because both gadgets operate on indirect intent rather than direct damage, mastery lies in knowing how to use them together. It’s an execution loop that rewards positioning, silent movement, and intel-based timing, not aggressiveness.
Delta Force HackClaw Gameplay Tips
1. Master your Scan
Hackclaw’s decoder works only in front of her, so always face the likely enemy lines of approach before firing. Scanning blind gives you noise without information.
2. EMP Utility Overkills
Don’t save Data Knife for kills alone, use it to disrupt Spawn Beacons, Sonic Disruptors, or traps that’ll never go off thanks to you. This brief disable can charge pushes on enemies or delay revives.
3. Sneak every Step
Combine Silent Step with crouch or walk and take advantage of unexpected assaults. Knowing where enemies are before they see you can turn quick cleanups into routine plays.
Mistakes to Avoid with HackClaw
- Deploying the Flash Drone in open areas: It thrives in tight corridors where line of sight is partially obstructed, so time your drone well for the best results.
- Pushing after a scan without team support: yes, you see the enemies, but you remember Hackclaw is better suited for recon and not assault. So prioritize squad pushes as Hackclaw suffers when she’s alone.
Best Team Compositions with HackClaw
- Stinger: After Hackclaw scans the field with her Signal Decoder and picks off nearby electronics or traps with her Data Knife, Stinger’s Smokescreen and Hive-Tech heals turn that intel into a safe play. The smoke curtain not only denies enemy sight but also covers repositions and flanking angles, giving Hackclaw time to slip behind opponents and take them out.
- D‑Wolf: Hackclaw’s recon tools lay the groundwork, and then D-Wolf brings the heat. Once the decoder flags movement and the flash drone blinds opponents, this high-mobile assault pick can dive in hard.
Final Thoughts
Hackclaw is tailor-made for players who prefer subtle dominance over brute force. So if you want to turn scanning, gadget synergy, and noise control into battlefield pressure, she’s your go-to, and another great recon pick to consider for your team.
And that’s all from our Delta Force Hackclaw Guide. For more guides:
- Delta Force Tempest Guide and Gameplay Tips
- Delta Force Review: The next big thing in Mobile Gaming
- Delta Force Shepherd Guide and Gameplay Tips
- Delta Force Vyron Guide: Abilities, Gadgets, Weapons, and Gameplay Tips
What do you think about our Delta Force Hackclaw Guide? Let us know in the comments section.
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