The Sound Cannon is one of the newest secret weapons you can unlock in Runaways. Unlike normal weapons that can simply be found or purchased during a run, getting this weapon requires you to complete a small hidden sequence involving a VHS tape, a radio tower, and a special light bulb.
The good news is that the steps are not too complicated once you know what to look for. The difficult part is finding the required items before you run out of time or resources. Here is everything you need to know about unlocking the Sound Cannon and what makes it so useful.
What Does the Sound Cannon Do?
The Sound Cannon is very different from most weapons in Runaways. Instead of simply dealing damage through bullets, it produces a powerful blast that pushes enemies away from you. The knockback effect is one of its biggest advantages. Enemies can be sent flying backward when you hit them, making it much harder for them to get close enough to attack. The weapon can also deal significant damage, although its raw damage is not necessarily higher than weapons such as the Heavy Sniper.
One of the best features of the Sound Cannon is that it appears to have unlimited ammunition. You do not have to constantly search for bullets while using it. This makes the weapon extremely useful during long encounters, especially when you are surrounded by multiple enemies. You can repeatedly fire the cannon to keep enemies away from you. Even when it does not immediately eliminate an enemy, the knockback can prevent them from getting into attack range.
What You Need to Unlock the Sound Cannon
There are two important things you need to complete the Sound Cannon secret. The first is a VHS tape, while the second is a specific radio tower location where you can use it. The VHS tape can be found inside Best Buy-style buildings, which appear in towns throughout the map. These buildings themselves are not particularly rare, but finding the VHS tape inside one is less common. Because of this, you should check these stores whenever you find one during a run. You may need to visit several towns before you get lucky enough to find the tape.
1. Find a VHS Tape
Start by traveling between towns and looking for the Best Buy-style store. Once you find one, enter the building and search the available loot.
The VHS tape is the important item here. If the store does not contain one, you will need to continue your run and search another building in a different town.
It is worth collecting money and other useful supplies while searching because you may need fuel and healing items later. The longer you spend traveling between towns, the more difficult the secret can become.
2. Find the Radio Tower
After obtaining the VHS tape, your next objective is to locate a radio tower. You need to take the tape there to continue the secret quest.
If possible, try to find a town containing both the store and radio tower. This can save a lot of time and fuel compared with traveling across several different areas.
Once you reach the radio tower, make sure the surrounding enemies are dealt with before attempting the next step. You do not want to be interrupted while climbing or interacting with the equipment.
3. Insert the VHS Tape Into the Radio Tower
Take the VHS tape to the appropriate equipment at the radio tower and interact with it. The game will play a creepy video after you insert the tape.
Once the sequence finishes, a special light bulb will appear. Pick up this light bulb because it is the next item required to complete the secret.
This is where the Sound Cannon quest starts becoming more interesting. You cannot simply wait at the bottom of the tower after collecting the bulb.
4. Place the Light Bulb at the Top of the Tower
With the light bulb in your inventory, climb to the top of the radio tower. You will need to follow the platforms and climb through the structure until you reach the appropriate installation point.
Place the light bulb inside the radio tower equipment and activate it. Once this is done, something will happen in the distance.
A plane will fly through the area and drop a special package containing the secret weapon. The package does not necessarily land directly beside you, so you will need to travel to the location where it drops.
5. Find the Sound Cannon Drop
After activating the radio tower, look toward the area where the plane passes. The weapon package will be dropped onto another building.
This part can be tricky because the drop may land somewhere that requires some climbing or jumping to reach. Be careful when moving between buildings because falling can waste valuable time.
Once you reach the package, open it and you should find the Sound Cannon inside.
Can You Take the Sound Cannon Into Another Run?
The Sound Cannon appears to be tied to the current run rather than something that can simply be placed into your permanent inventory. The newer storage building may look like it could allow players to save special weapons for future games, but the available information suggests that the Sound Cannon cannot simply be stored and carried into another run. That makes finding the weapon during a run even more valuable, since you need to complete the secret again if you want to use it in another game.
The Sound Cannon is one of the most unusual secret weapons in Runaways. Its damage is not necessarily better than every powerful weapon in the game, but its unlimited ammunition and massive knockback make it extremely useful for controlling enemies. The hardest part is getting the weapon in the first place.
You need to find the VHS tape, locate a radio tower, activate the hidden sequence, and then reach the building where the plane drops the weapon. Once you have it, remember that the cannon can also push vehicles and destroy objects around you. Just keep an eye on your vehicle’s health, fuel, and your own HP, especially when approaching the final area of a run.