Moscow Mastery – The Ultimate Mafia Wars Moscow Guide

Today I’ve got something that should help you out immensely with getting through Moscow as quick as possible. I’ve decided to write this complete guide to Moscow which you can keep as your own personal aid and refer back to whenever you don’t know what to do next or just want to get through the game as quick as possible.

I had originally planned to sell this guide for $30 or so but I felt I’d serve everyone a lot better to just give it away for free, as I love to see others having so much fun playing Mafia Wars, winning fights with ease and blasting past their friends in leveling speed.

Without further ado, here’s the guide…

Getting to Moscow

First things first so let’s learn how to get to Moscow in the first place.

The minimum level requirement for travel to Moscow is level 70. If you are under this level you can technically travel there but all you will see is the greeting screen. You will not get the achievement for going there or be awarded your first business.

If you meet the minimum level requirement then you simply  mouseover the travel menu at the top center of the page and click on Moscow.

Earning R$

Moscow is just like the Cuba expansion in that your New York American Dollars do not carry over and you must earn pesos (C$) while on the island. Russia uses Rubles (R$) and works exactly the same as in Cuba.

Upon arrival you will be given your first business:

Unlicensed Taxi Stand

Capacity: 800
Output: 100 every 3 hours

To begin earning R$ you must complete jobs and / or fight other players.

Game Play

Mafia Wars Moscow has the exact same game play mechanics as both the original game and the Cuba expansion. The big difference is in how progression works.

In New York and Cuba you can skip around job tiers as long as you meet the level requirements for each tier. It does not work that way in Moscow. Moscow progression is a linear path, you must complete one episode before you can begin another.

A new feature in Moscow that I am quite impressed with is the ability to ask for help on certain jobs. This differs from New York and Cuba in that not only will you gain experience by asking for help those who answer the call actually help you complete the job mastery bar. When many respond you can nearly complete the mastery level in one or 2 clicks.

Moscow Businesses

As I stated above when you arrive in Moscow you will be given an Unlicensed Taxi Stand to start your business enterprises. More businesses become available as you progress through the episodes. These Include

• Cigarette Smuggling Ring
• Black-Market Car Lot
• Munitions Trading Camp
• Trafficking Operation
• And Others

One thing that you will notice rather quickly is that Moscow businesses are very expensive to upgrade. This is much like it was back in Cuba but money is a bit more plentiful in Moscow. Even though money is bigger it will still be very tight for quite some time since the items that you need for jobs are much more expensive as well.

Consumables Needed for Jobs

Moscow is no different than any other part of Mafia Wars…you will need consumables and lots of them. Here is a list of some of the consumables that you will need in Moscow

• Untraceable Cell Phone (New York Item but also drop from Moscow Jobs)Moscow Jobs:
  Episode 1 – Arrange A Drug Shipment for the Mafiya
• Concealable Camera (See above)Moscow Jobs:
  Episode 1 – Smuggle Consumer Electronics for the Vory
• Dossier on Dimitri
• Set of Photos of Karpov

If you have not reached level 70 yet you might want to start building up a good supply of untraceable cell phones and concealable cameras in New York with any spare energy that you have. It will make life a bit easier in the great white north.

Moscow Collections

Collections are a big part of the game and since Zynga has given us the ability to re-vault items for boosts they are even more important.

Here are some screen shots of the collections from the Moscow Expansion. Since they are screenshots they are copyright Zynga.

Vault = 6 Defense

Re-Vault = Temporary Tattoo (+42 Fight Defense Skill)

Vault = 7 Energy

Re-Vault = Hidden Matryoshka (-20 Job Energy Cost)

Vault = 4 Attack Skill

Re-Vault = Political Favor (+60 Robbing Defense Skill)

Vault = 4 Stamina

Re-Vault = Liquid Courage (+44 Attack Skill)

Vault = 10 Health

Re-Vault = Berlin Wall Section (+46 Fight Defense Skill)

Vault = 8 Energy

Re-Vault = Faberge hen (-24 Job Energy Costs)

Picking a Side in Moscow

Unlike Cuba or New York you will have to pick a side in Moscow. There are two competing factions, the Vory V Zakone and the Mafiya. Each group has their own history and advantages and disadvantages.

Vory V Zakone

Mafia Wars Moscow is the new expansion from Zynga and is one of the hottest new releases in the gaming industry. While gaming on social networks may not receive the massive publicity and attention that MMO (Massively Multi-Player Online) games benefit from, they are none the less one of the most popular types of games in the world today.

The Moscow expansion presents the player with access to Russia but forces them to choose sides between the Russian Mafiya and the Vory V Zakone. I was always taught to make an informed choice and I am passing that on to you by offering a bit of detail on each group. Yesterday we learned about the Mafiya and today I will give you some background on the Vory V Zakone.

Vory V Zakone translates into “Thieves in Law”, and organization that is arguably the elite of the Russian organized crime world.

There have been criminals in areas of Russia and the former USSR for centuries, but during the Russian Revolution of 1917 these criminal elements became more powerful and were known collectively as vorovskoy mir or “thieves’ world”.

After the revolution of 1917 the Soviet Union was brought back into order and the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs or NKVD nearly brought the criminal element to its knees by imprisoning or killing most of them. However those who were sent into the Russian gulag became galvanized and arose as what we now know as the vory v zakone.

Like their cousins the Mafiya, vory v zakone flourished following the breakup of the Soviet Union by infiltrating the top political and economic areas of Russia and the post-Soviet countries. Members of the group are given title by other members and in order to remain in their appointed position of power must abide by the code. The penalty for ignoring the code can be at best mutilation and at worst death.

The Thief’s Code

1.) Forsake his relatives–mother, father, brothers, sisters.
2.) Not have a family of his own — no wife, no children; this does not however, preclude him from having a lover.
3.) Never, under any circumstances work, no matter how much difficulty this brings-, live only on means gleaned from thievery.
4.) Help other thieves — both by moral and material support, utilizing the commune of thieves.
5.) Keep secret information about the whereabouts of accomplices (i.e. dens, districts, hideouts, safe apartments, etc.).
6.) In unavoidable situations (if a thief is under investigation) to take the blame for someone else’s crime; this buys the other person time of freedom.
7.) Demand convocation of inquiry for the purpose of resolving disputes in the event of a conflict between oneself and other thieves, or between thieves.
8.) If necessary, participate in such inquiries.
9.) Carry out the punishment of the offending thief as decided by the convocation.
10.) Not resist carrying out the decision of punishing the offending thief who is found guilty, with punishment determined by the convocation.
11.) Have good command of the thieves’ jargon (”Fehnay”).
12.) Not gamble without being ability to cover losses.
13.) Teach the trade to young beginners.
14.) Have, if possible, informants from the rank and file of thieves.
15.) Not lose your reasoning ability when using alcohol.
16.) Have nothing to do with the authorities (particularly with the ITU, Correctional Labor Authority), not participate in public activities, nor join any community organizations.
17.) Not take weapons from the hands of authorities; not serve in the military.
18.) Make good on promises given to other thieves.

The vory v zakone live and die by the code.

The vory v zakone have been in existence since the early 20th century but criminal activity has been distributed throughout the Russia and the regions, countries, and territories which made up the former USSR for centuries. These elements became the vory v zakone following the revolution of 1917 and began in the Soviet gulag system.  The vory live and die by the Thief’s Code.

The Russian Mafiya

When venturing to new and exciting areas is it always best to learn a bit about the area and the major players who are vying for control before diving in. Today we will learn a bit about the Mafiya.

In Russia the terms Russkaya Mafiya, Krasnaya Mafiya, and Bravata are often translated as Mafiya. These three organized crime syndicates all originate in the old USSR and since its collapse in the fall of 1991 they have amassed considerable influence and a worldwide power base.

Organized crime has been part of Russian history since the time of Imperial Russia and the Tsars. During the early days they criminal aspect was made up of bandits and thieves known as Vory v Zakone or “Thieves in Law” (more on them later in this article series).

In the 1990’s during the fall of the Soviet Union the country was economically devastated and thus the criminal element flourished. KGB agents, war veterans, and others found themselves in high demand. They had knowledge in areas that proved very useful in criminal organizations.

In the late 90’s the now “westernized” criminal element was solidified by Semion Mogilevich into what we now know as the Mafiya. Gone was the code of honor that had been the foundation of Russian organized crime and tradition was set aside. The Russian Mafiya was all but a clone of its western counterpart, though a quite vicious clone it was.

Semion Mogilevich was a very powerful and dangerous man. In fact the FBI considered him the “Boss of all Bosses” controlling most of the Russian Mafiya syndicates world wide, and the most powerful crime boss in the world. More powerful even than those from the Sicilian, New York, Triad, and all other world wide gangs.

As criminal organizations go it would seem that the Russian Mafiya has its fingers in just about any criminal activity that one might imagine. Arms trafficking, blackmailing, bombings, charity fraud, computer hacking, identity theft, murder, extortion, and prostitution are but a few of these activities.

The Mafiya is made up of criminal elements from the KGB, Soviet Military, and many other areas of the former Soviet Union. The new Mafiya differs from its counterpart the Vory v Zakone in that it does not honor the old traditions and codes of honor and conduct for its members. The Mafiya is as cold blooded as they come and are much like its western counterparts.

Who Should You Join?

The choice that must be made is between joining the modern Russian Mafiya or the more traditional Vory v Zakone. The big question that all players seem to have is which faction is better? This is a question that Zynga is very little help on since there really is not any detailed information about either. After reading this article you will be a bit more informed and will be able to use the knowledge to make a more informed choice.

Many people have said that it makes no difference which faction you choose however there are differences between them. Once forced to choose a side players discover that many things are different. Rewards, loot, and experience vs. energy ratio are the important things.

Purely going off the loot you receive for each faction here are the sides I’d pick for each episode:

Episode 1 – Baklany – Mafiya – They have the Molotok Pistol which is better than the Cherepakha in defense and the Cherepakha is outclassed by most vehicles in Cuba.

Episode 2 – Boets – Mafiya – The loot is pretty similar but the Vory need 40 more concealable cameras to get through their missions (which takes a while).

Episode 3 – Brigadir – Mafiya – The Volk Luxury Sedan has half decent defense and is only -8 points less defense than the best defensive vehicle in the game. While the Vory’s loot is the Taiga Combat Shotgun whose attack is -11 less than the best attacking weapon in the game.

Episode 4 – Avtoritet – Vory – The Shturmovik is currently the best offensive armor in the game and the Mafiya require 62 more untraceable cell phones.

Episode 5 – Vor – Either – The Ubijca Assault Rifle which is a vor only weapon is currently the best weapon in the game but is only +1 attack over TNT / Canonazo. The Klyk-9 is +8 more defense than the current best defensive weapon but is bested by the Zmeya Carbon Blade in episode 6.

Episode 6 – Go the opposite to Episode 5 – The Zmeya Carbon Blade is fantastic if you picked Vor in Episode 5 and missed out on the Klyk-9. If you picked Mafiya in Episode 5 go Vor as the Konstantin Cargo Carrier is currently the best vehicle in the game and there is little point in getting the Blade as it is only slightly better than the Klyk-9 from episode 5.

Moscow Job Guide

Episode 1 – Baklany

Baklany – Episode 1 – Chapter 1
Job		Payout	Energy	Experience	Ratio
Smuggle Consumer Electronics for the Vory		R$74,060	40	71	1.78
Loot – Concealable Camera
Arrange a Drug Shipment for the Mafiya		R$64,400	35	62	1.78
Loot – Untraceable Cell Phone
Fight Off An Ultra-National Gang		R$108,192	99	134	1.35
Loot – None
Baklany – Episode 1 – Chapter 2
Kidnap A Local Gang Leader for the Vory		R$76,670	41	73	1.78
Loot – None
Kill a Local Gang Leader for the Mafiya		R$76,670	41	73	1.78
Loot – None
Vory V Zakone Path
Collect the Ransom		R$40,250	44	74	1.68
Loot – Cherepakha Compct
Receive Vory Intel on Dimitri		R$64,400	35	63	1.80
Loot – Dossier on Dimitri
Mafiya Path
Collect the Hit Payoff		R$45,080	49	84	1.71
Loot – Molotok Pistol
Buy Mafiya Intel on Dimitri		R$83,720	46	82	1.78
Loot – Dossier on Dimitri
Baklany – Episode 1 – Chapter 3
Threaten A Gang’s Supplier		R$93,380	51	92	1.80
Loot – None
Hijack An Arms Shipment From A Militant Gang		R$53,935	59	105	1.78
Loot – RU-7 .45 Pistol
Baklany – Episode 1 – Finale
Hospitalize Some Nationalists		R$122,360	71	120	1.69
Loot – None
Confront Gang Leader Dimitri Leonov		R$1,150,000	67	120	1.79
Loot – None

Episode 2 – Boets

Boets – Episode 2 – Chapter 2
Fix A Local Election for the Vory			R$189,750	58	106	1.82
Loot – None
Abduct A Candidate’s Wife for the Mafiya			R$189,750	58	103	1.77
Loot – None
Vory V Zakone Path
Extract A Favor From the Winner			R$167,325	89	148	1.66
Loot – Severnyy Olen Snowbike
Catch Karpov Accepting a Bribe			R$221,375	68	122	1.79
Loot – Set of Photos of Karpov
Mafiya Path
Convince The Candidate to Withdraw			R$155,250	80	139	1.74
Loot – RAS-15
Kill An Investigative Reporter			R$215,625	66	118	1.78
Loot – Set of Photos of Karpov
Boets – Episode 2 – Chapter 3
Pay Of the Port Authority in Arkhangelisk			R$163,875	50	89	1.78
Loot – None
Re-route An Equipment Shipment			R$138,000	71	123	1.73
Loot – PNV
Boets – Episode 2 – Finale
Circulate Damaging Photos			R$284,625	88	159	1.80
Loot – None
Take Down Party Boss Karpov			R$1,150,000	67	120	1.79
Loot – None

Episode 3 – Bragidir

Bragidir – Episode 3 – Chapter 2
Take A Guard Hostage During Your Escape			R$367,770	72	130	1.80
Loot – None
Execute A Bank Guard Druing Your Escape			R$367,770	72	130	1.80
Loot – None
Vory V Zakone Path
Use the Guard’s Keys To Access the Bank Armory			R$313,950	93	163	1.75
Loot – Taiga Combat Shotgun
Borrow The Guard’s Uniform After Releasing Him			R$394,680	78	136	1.74
Loot – Bank Guard Uniform
Mafiya Path
Steal the Bank President’s Car keys			R$296,010	88	154	1.75
Loot – Volk Luxury Sedan
Strip A Uniform Off the Corpse			R$408,135	80	140	1.75
Loot – Bank Guard uniform
Bragidir – Episode 3 – Chapter 3
Blackmail A Secretary For An Exec’s Ininerary			R$430,560	85	149	1.75
Loot – None
Dispose of a RossijaBanc Exec At Sea			R$266,110	79	137	1.73
Loot – Shchuka Speed Boat
Bragidir – Episode 3 – Finale
Replace a Guard With Your Own Man			R$525,230	105	192	1.83
Loot – None
Fire Bank President Gregor Belikov			R$1,150,000	67	120	1.79
Loot – None

Episode 4 – Avtoritet

Avtoritet – Episode 4 – Chapter 1
Job				Payout	Energy	Experience	Ratio
Manage An Escort Service Catering to Soldiers				R$714,840	98	176	1.79
Loot – None
Support The Habit of A Procurement Officer			R$575,000		111	198	1.78
Loot – RU-78 Heavy Machine Gun
Ransack A Defense Contractor’s Office				R$765,072	176	245	1.39
Loot – None
Avtoritet – Episode 4 – Chapter 2
Fly to The Siberian Military District				R$759,920	105	187	1.78
Loot – None
Tavel to The Volga Military District				R$759,920	105	187	1.78
Loot – None
Vory V Zakone Path
Rob a Troop Convoy				R$496,980	96	166	1.73
Loot – Shturmovik
Intercept The Base’s Pay Shipment				R$676,200	93	166	1.78
Loot – Officer Corps Paycheck
Mafiya Path
Arrange The Sale of Weapons-Grade Explosives				R$547,400	105	184	1.75
Loot -Orel Armered Helicopter
Capitalize On An Officer’s Gambling Problem				R$689,080	95	169	1.78
Loot – Officer Corps Paycheck
Avtoritet – Episode 4 – Chapter 3
Make Connections With An Arms Dealer				R$792,120	109	195	1.79
Loot – None
Transport Some Stolen Military Hardware				R$575,000	111	192	1.73
Loot – None
Avtoritet – Episode 4 – Finale
Buy Off the General’s Command Team				R$862,960	119	218	1.83
Loot – None
Forcibly Demote General Osipov				R$1,150,000	67	120	1.79
Loot – None

Episode 5 – Vor

Vor – Episode 5 – Chapter 1
Job			Payout	Energy	Experience	Ratio
Stop A Terrorist Attack In Moscow			R$1,013,840	103	185	1.80
Loot – None
Discover Who Was Responsible			R$812,820	110	198	1.80
Loot – Arkticheskij Gus
hunt Down a Ural Liberation Front Contact			R$1,127,460	191	268	1.40
Loot – None
Vor – Episode 5 – Chapter 2
Infiltrate The ULF Cell			R$1,153,680	117	210	1.79
Loot – None
Note: Choose Vory with this job
Discover The Location Of The Next ULF Attack			R$1,153,680	117	210	1.79
Loot – None
Note: Choose Mafiya with this job
Vory V Zakone Path
Help Plan The Next Attack			R$793,155	107	186	1.74
Ubijca Assault Rifle
Sabotage The Plan Form the Inside			R$1,109,980	113	203	1.80
Stick Of Dynamite
Mafiya Path
Kill A Lookout			R$839,040	113	198	1.75
Klyk-9 Machine Pistol
Stop the ULF Attack			R$1,144,940	116	209	1.80
Stick of Dynamite
Vor – Episode 5 – Chapter 3
Torture A ULF Lieutenant			R$1,048,800	106	190	1.79
Loot – None
Look For The Boss’ Mountain Hideout			R$994,925	120	209	1.74
Osa 17 Snowmobile
Vor – Episode 5 – Finale
Start An Avalanche Above The Terrorist Camp			R$1,267300	129	238	1.84
Loot – None
Battle Sonya The Wolf Bassinov

Episode 6 – Pakhan

Pakhan – Episode 6 – Chapter 1
Job			Payout	Energy	Experience	Ratio
Foil The Sabotage Of Your Moacow Holdings			R$1,644,500	115	209	1.82
Loot – None
Acquire Classified Files On Crime Syndicates			R$1,234,640	108	196	1.81
Executive Overcoat
Gun Down Some Russian Muscle			R$1,806,420	211	299	1.42
Loot – None
Pakhan – Episode 6 – Chapter 2
Attack A Mafiya Business			R$1,720,400	121	218	1.80
Loot – None
Note: Choose this Job for Vory Faction
Burn Down A Vory Safehouse			R$1,720,400	121	218	1.80
Loot – None
Note: Choose this Job for Mafiya Faction
Vory V Zakone Path
Hijack A Mafiya Cargo			R$1,356,080	119	208	1.75
Loot – Konstantin Cargo Carrier
Threaten A Mafiya Moneyman’s Family			R$1,606,550	113	205	1.81
Loot – Mansion Details
Mafiya Path
Hit A Vory Nightclub			R$1,295,360	113	199	1.76
Loot -Zemeya Carbon Blade
Break Into An Architect’s Office			R$1,295,360	119	215	1.80
Loot – Mansion Details
Pakhan – Episode 6 – Chapter 3
Take Over A West-Bound Trafficking Pipeline			R$1,771,000	124	226	1.82
Loot – None
Ship Black-Market Caviar To London			R$1,386,440	121	219	1.81
Loot – Zoloto Sports Car
Pakhan – Episode 6 – Finale
Assault the Mansion Walls			R$1,872,200	131	246	1.88
Loot – None
Forcibly Demote General Osipov

Moscow Loot

Loot is an important aspect of Mafia Wars in all of its aspects so here is a list with the loot from Moscow.

Mafia Wars Moscow Loot
Episode 1 – Baklany
	Name			Attack		Defense
	RU-7 .45 Pistol			25		23
	Barsuk SUV			36		52
Episode 2 – Boets
	Name			Attack		Defense
	Ballistic Knife			20		28
	Boss Karpov’s Pistol			50		38
	PNV			21		31
Episode 3 – Bragidir
	Name			Attack		Defense
	Armored Briefcase			25		36
	Ex-KGB Bodyguard			48		30
	Shchuka Speed Boat			36		22
Episode 4 – Avtoritet
	Name			Attack		Defense
	Razoritel Grenade Launcher			34		15
	RU-78 Heavy Machine Gun			36		12
	Cossack Armored Vest			18		48
Episode 5 – Vor
		Name	Attack		Defense
		ZPR Palemut	29		64
		Arkticheskij Gus’	22		42
		Osa 17 Snowmobile	38		24
Episode 6 – Pakhan
		Name	Attack		Defense
		Executive Overcoat	22		45
		The Drakon	54		22
Vory V Zakone Loot
		Name	Attack		Defense
		Cherepakha Compact (Baklany)	18		25
		Severnyy Clan Snowbike (Boets)	32		20
		Taiga Combat Shotgun	32		20
		Shturmovik (Avtoritet)	45		28
		Ubijca Assault Rifle (Vor)	43		18
		Konstantin Cargo Carrier (Pakhan)	18		44
Mafiya Loot
		Name	Attack		Defense
		Molotok Pistol	22		26
		RAS -15	30		18
		Volk Luxury Sedan (Brigadir)	24		36
		Orel Armored Helicopter	24		40
		Klyk-9 Machine Pistol	21		43
		Zmeya Carbon Blade	28		44

Conclusion

My goal in this guide was not to take you by the hand and lead you through the snow in Moscow. It was to give you solid information that will give you the ability to make informed decisions on your own.

I hope this guide has helped you immensely and feel free to share it around by clicking the share buttons below or telling a friend or two who is struggling to get through Moscow right now