Special Targets explained: the gold dots

The HUD's top row tells you the whole match in twelve dots: 3 gold dots are the Special Targets — named NPCs, worth the most points — 5 blue dots are regular residents, and 4 dots are the players. A skull replaces a dot when that person dies. Special Targets are always NPCs, never players, and both sides are scored on their fate.

Why the gold dots run the match

Michael wins at 3,000+ points, earns most from killing residents — gold above blue — and loses points for residents who get away. Civilians win by evacuating residents, gold counting most. The same three characters are both sides' scoreboard; if forced to choose, Michael takes gold over blue, and civilians protect gold first.

Finding them

The game marks them generously once you know the signs:

• A building highlighted yellow on the map contains a Special Target; blue dust/glow marks a regular resident.
• Golden light beams in the sky mark a nearby Special Target — and Michael navigates by them too. The beam that guides your rescue guides his hunt.
• Getting physically close to any NPC permanently unlocks them on your minimap for the match — the opening proximity sweep from the playbook.

Civilian handling

1. 01

   Sweep early, warn everything. Proximity unlocks + warnings cost seconds and pay all night.

2. 02

   Escort gold, max two followers. Prefer Special Targets in your follow slots; a following resident's aura is revealed to Michael, so escorted means exposed — move with purpose.

3. 03

   Hide gold when you can't move it — hidden residents are much harder for Michael to find than escorted ones. Tell your team where (see the honest answer on hidden residents).

4. 04

   Spend exit capacity on gold first. Exits close after ~4 escapees; the gold dots go through before the heroes do.

Michael handling

Gold early, quietly: stalk them (premium Bloodthirst), cut the phones near them, and use the sky beams as a patrol route. And the oldest trick still works — a gold target left almost saved near an exit is bait most lobbies take.