The Smoke Bomb

Lore & Background

The Smoke Bomb is one of the many ingenious gadgets invented by Bentley, the brains of the Cooper Gang. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of chemistry and engineering, Bentley designed the bomb to release a dense, non-toxic smoke that lingers for several seconds, effectively masking Sly's movements. The formula is a closely guarded secret, refined over the years to be both reliable and compact enough to fit in Sly's pocket. In the Cooper family tradition, the smoke bomb is a tool of misdirection, not destruction, reflecting the gang's philosophy of theft without unnecessary violence. Throughout the series, the Smoke Bomb has proven invaluable in tight spots, from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the neon-lit rooftops of China. It is particularly effective against guards with flashlights or search patterns, as the smoke disrupts their vision and causes confusion. Bentley often upgrades the bomb's duration or area of effect in later games, though the core design remains unchanged. The smoke bomb is a symbol of the Cooper Gang's reliance on wit over brute force. In the lore of the Sly Cooper universe, the smoke bomb is also a nod to the classic stealth genre, evoking the ninja smoke pellets of old. Sly's father, Sly Cooper Sr., is said to have used a similar device, though the modern version is Bentley's creation. The gadget is so iconic that it appears in nearly every game, often as a tutorial item to teach players the basics of stealth evasion.

In Their Own Story

The moon hung low over the rooftops of Paris as Sly crouched behind a chimney, eyeing the patrolling guards below. The Clockwerk parts were just ahead, but a beam of light swept too close. 'Bentley, I've got a problem,' Sly whispered into his earpiece. 'On it,' came the reply. Sly reached into his pocket, fingers brushing the cool metal of a smoke bomb. He pulled the pin, counted to two, and tossed it into the path of the nearest guard. With a soft hiss, a thick gray cloud erupted, swallowing the guard's flashlight beam. Sly was already moving, a shadow in the smoke, silent as a whisper.

Reader's Guide

The Smoke Bomb is a single-use item that creates a large cloud of smoke upon activation, obscuring the vision of nearby enemies. To use it, equip the bomb from your gadget wheel and press the assigned button. The smoke lasts for approximately 3-5 seconds, giving you time to escape, hide in a nearby vent, or circle around for a stealth attack. It is most effective when you are cornered or when a guard's patrol path leaves you no clear route. Think of it as a panic button with style: toss it at your feet when a flashlight beam is about to kiss your tail, or lob it ahead to create a smokescreen for a daring dash. In tight corridors or guard-heavy rooms, one well-placed bomb can turn a death sentence into a clean getaway. In the first game, the Smoke Bomb is a basic tool, but in sequels like Sly 2: Band of Thieves, it can be upgraded for longer duration or a wider radius. It works best in enclosed spaces where the smoke lingers and forces guards to stumble around blindly—giving you the perfect opening to pick them off one by one or slip past unnoticed.

Did You Know?

• The Smoke Bomb is one of the few gadgets that appears in every main Sly Cooper game, from the first to Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, making it the most consistent friend a thief could ask for.
• In Sly 2: Band of Thieves, the Smoke Bomb can be upgraded to have a larger radius and longer duration through Bentley's gadget upgrades, turning a quick escape into a full-blown fog of war.
• The smoke effect is purely visual and does not affect enemy AI pathfinding in some early games, meaning guards may still walk through the smoke—so don't assume the cloud is a force field; it's a visual trick, not a wall.
• Bentley's original prototype for the smoke bomb was said to have accidentally filled their hideout with smoke, leading to a minor fire—and a very annoyed Murray, who spent the next hour airing out the van.