To get decent loot while hunting the season target “Venus” in The Division 2, we should tackle the required missions at least on “Challenging” difficulty. A certain boss can be quite a nuisance – Petrus Brenner. Here’s how to take down the nasty hardcore bandit.
What kind of nasty boss is this? The large expansion “Warlords of New York” brought a season system to The Division 2, similar to Destiny 2. Each season now regularly brings events and a “Manhunt”, where we go hunting for a rogue agent. The hunt includes activities in the open world and set missions.
On “Challenging”, the Manhunt tasks yield a lot of XP for the SHD watch and a nice load of loot. But one boss causes particular trouble.
This time, part of the hunt includes the two Pentagon missions from Episode 2 of Year 1, and the bosses of these missions are formidable. At first, I thought the annoying UAV from the first Pentagon mission would give me hell on “Challenging”. But Mr. Brenner, a passionate Black Tusk soldier and a nasty piece of work, takes it up a notch.
Why is this such a problem now? This guy is really hard to take down, especially solo. The mission itself can usually be cleared without much hassle, but the boss is torture. So here are some tips on how to knock out the mean villain.
Tips for Petrus Brenner – The DARPA Boss
This is not a tactical “step-by-step” guide on how to take down the crazy bandit, but rather a few general tips on how to approach the guy:
- Don’t try it solo
- Play with a tank build
- Work through everything at the start
- Let the boss do his thing sometimes
- Be cautious of the last wave
Better with Randoms than Solo
Only the bravest can try Brenner solo. But that could turn into a damn difficult task. During the fight, an unspecified cannon almost constantly bombards you with mortar shells. Solo, these explosive nuisance bombs come directly at the agent and demand action. With a group, you at least get a little respite and aren’t always under fire. If you do want to try it solo, here’s a recent, English video of a brave agent who succeeded:
Play with High Armor
To secure at least a little movement space, use tank builds and take “Unbreakable” as a vest talent. This way, you can at least take a few hits or draw attention to yourself so the rest of the team can deal damage. A solid tank build or a damage build that works with bonus armor could certainly be useful here.
Get Everything Right at the Start of the Fight
A good start to the mission prevents a lot of frustration. With the right routine, you can always survive the start and can easily get through the first phase with randoms on the team. There are two particularly annoying challengers here – the war hounds of the Black Tusk and the automatic turrets. At the start, find good cover on the right side and take apart what can take you down. Extra tip: The “Technician” specialization unlocks EMP grenades, which can disable the turrets and hounds for a time.
Keep an Eye on the Boss, but Not in Your Sights
The boss is constantly moving around the battlefield, but he’s not as annoying as the reinforcements he calls in or the mortar shots. So keep an eye on him, but take your time with his kill. Throughout the fight, he likes to hide behind good cover across from the entrance and heals himself repeatedly. Only take aim at him when no other bandits are in your way.
Hang in There Until the End and Stay Patient
Just before the end, Brenner calls in a wave of medics who want to clear the battlefield in a final act of annoyance. So don’t push the boss too early; otherwise, his healing minions will take you out. Eliminate his last minions at your leisure and together claim the head of the meanest boss in the Venus hunt.
The rogue agent “Venus”, the actual target of the hunt, shouldn’t pose a problem after this tough prelude. With a bit of luck, she’ll drop one of the best-in-slot items for damage builds – But first, the nasty Paulus Brenner needs to be dealt with.
