Schedule 1: How to Reduce Cartel Influence
Cartel influence is one of the biggest roadblocks in Schedule 1. If you don’t bring their power down, you won’t be able to unlock new regions or expand your empire. Luckily, there are several confirmed ways to reduce cartel influence, and each method can stack together to help you push forward.
How to Reduce Cartel Influence
The main ways to reduce cartel influence in Schedule 1 are:
Unlocking new customers across regions
Completing graffiti spray spots
Surviving and countering ambushes
Attacking cartel houses and killing members
Blocking cartel trade attempts
Progressing through quests and handling Thomas Benzies
Each region has its own cartel influence level. You need to drop that level to a certain point before you can move into the next zone.
Unlock New Customers
Customers are one of the easiest ways to cut cartel influence. Every new client you win takes power away from the cartel. Early in the game, this is limited, but once you upgrade your products, gaining more clients will speed things up.
If you already unlocked every customer in a region before the cartel update, you’ll have to rely on other methods.
Graffiti Spots
Graffiti is a new system added in the update. You can find spraypaint spots across each map and tag them to lower cartel influence. This also gives you XP, making graffiti a reliable side activity when you’re exploring.
Ambushes
The cartel will ambush you often. If you survive or avoid these encounters, their control drops. Ambushing them back is even better. Catching cartel members during their own trade attempts will weaken their grip on the region.
Just remember that cartel fights are dangerous, and you should be prepared for heavy firepower.
Cartel Houses
Each region has a cartel house, which acts as their base. In Suburbia, the house is right next to Jane’s trailer. At midnight, the cartel dealer spawns there daily. Killing cartel members around these houses directly reduces influence.
This is one of the most reliable long-term ways to chip away at their control.
Dealing With Benzies
Your choices with Thomas Benzies also affect cartel influence. If you unlock more regions and gather all potential customers in them, cartel power automatically stays lower.
Final Blurb
Reducing cartel influence in Schedule 1 is about stacking methods. Unlock customers, spray graffiti, fight ambushes, and hit cartel houses whenever possible. Each step weakens their control and pushes you closer to new regions. Stay aggressive and use every tool available to stay ahead of the cartel.
FAQ
Where is the cartel house in Suburbia?
It’s located right next to Jane’s trailer.
When does the cartel dealer appear?
The dealer spawns at midnight every day.
Does graffiti lower cartel influence?
Yes. Spraying graffiti reduces influence and also grants XP.
Can I reduce cartel influence if I already unlocked all customers?
Yes. You’ll need to focus on cartel ambushes, graffiti, and attacking cartel houses instead.
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