Set in 1984, nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes and a decade before the events of the original Metal Gear, the story follows mercenary leader Punished "Venom '' Snake as he ventures into Soviet - occupied Afghanistan and the Angola -- Zaire border region to exact revenge on the people who destroyed his forces and came close to killing him during the climax of Ground Zeroes. It carries over the tagline of Tactical Espionage Operations first used in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
when does metal gear phantom pain take place
1984, nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes and a decade before the events of the original Metal Gear