How to Best Manage Your Allies in 'Mafia III'

It’s no secret by now that Mafia III is a game filled with great characters, each of whom build up the main narrative with unique personalities, specific benefits, and different approaches to handling crime in New Bordeaux. Regardless of the strategy you take as Lincoln Clay though, you’ll be working with three specific associates during your time in Mafia III: Cassandra, Thomas Burke, and Vito Scalleta.

Each of these are respected criminals who you will recruit to your side during the first few hours of Mafia III, unlocking their base abilities to use at will. As you slowly take over each of the districts in New Bordeaux you’ll have to assign one of your three associates to run them — increasing their overall income and unlocking abilities for you to use in-game.

Here’s what each of them has on offer:

Cassandra

$0 – Have an Arms Dealer drive to your location and sell weaponry, explosives, consumables and other gear.

$30,000 – Unlocks the Screaming Zemi throwable, which can distract enemies.

$60,000 – Unlocks the improved accuracy upgrade for Lincoln via the Arms Dealer.

$100,000 – Have an operator shut down phones for 2 minutes in your area.

$140,000 – Unlocks the increased ammo capacity upgrade for Lincoln via the Arms Dealer.

$180,000 – Unlocks an upgrade to the Screaming Zemi, allowing it to produce smoke to mask your movement.

$220,000 – Unlocks the improved weapon stability upgrade for Lincoln via the Arms Dealer.

$270,000 – Increases the operator’s capabilities, allowing them to shut down phones for 5 minutes in your area.

$320,000 – Unlocks an upgrade to the Screaming Zemi with explosives, allowing you to use it as a grenade.

$370,000 – Unlocks the faster reload upgrade for Lincoln via the Arms Dealer.

$420,000 – Increases the operator’s capabilities, allowing them to kill all phones in the area and call backup to your area.

Thomas Burke

$0 – Have a driver deliver your vehicle to your current location.

$30,000 – Clears blue police zones and forces police to ignore crime for 30 seconds.

$60,000 – Marks all nearby police on your map.

$100,000 – Arms dealer will now sell explosives from his van.

$140,000 – Clear blue police zones and forces police to ignore crime for 2 minutes.

$180,000 – Gain the ability to steal cars undetected.

$220,000 – Clear all police zones and forces police to ignore crime for 2 minutes.

$270,000 – Gain the ability to carry additional explosives.

$320,000 – Clear all police zones and forces police to ignore crime for 5 minutes.

$370,000 – Gain the ability to steal occupied cars quietly.

$420,000 – Clear all police zones and forces police to ignore crimes for 10 minutes.

Vito Scaleta

$0 – Call in a car to pick up your cash and stash it in your safe.

$30,000 – Call in a squad of backup.

$60,000 — Gain an additional health bar for Lincoln Clay.

$100,000 – Carry an additional shot of adrenaline to restore health with.

$140,000 – Locate nearby enemies and collect additional funds from your territory.

$180,000 – Gain increased stamina and faster health recovery.

$220,000 – Call in a squad of more heavily armed backup.

$270,000 — Gain an additional health bar.

$320,000 – Gain further increased stamina and faster health recovery.

$370,000 – Call in a larger, more heavily armed squad of backup.

$420,000 – Gain the maximum amount of health bars.

Since Cassandra, Burke, and Scaleta are all criminal bosses themselves, they’re going to want increased income as you take over. Each lieutenant has a specific plan for every part of the city, with certain benefits that can increase or reduce your overall income and that of your other lieutenants. If you ignore a specific lieutenant’s request to run territory or cut their income enough, they’ll stand up and walk out on you — taking their benefits with them.

Regardless of the initial effectiveness, every benefit provided by your lieutenants and their associates becomes a valuable part of your toolkit. As such, the best way to manage your assets is by assigning ownership equally between your three lieutenants. By doing so, you’ll keep everyone happy while building up their incomes to offer you more abilities. While it may not be the fastest approach to unlocking all of the abilities, items, and perks that you want specifically, it’s a safe play that works out best in the long run.