Here is our Dark Zone guide to The Division 2. This is how you can unlock the Dark Zones, how to find the crates, and everything you need to know about the DZ is here in the overview.
The Dark Zone is the major unique feature of the Division series. It was announced in part 1 as the most dangerous and exciting area of the game, as you never know how other agents will behave in it.
In The Division 2, the Dark Zone returns – but with some innovations.
These are Dark Zones – dangerous PvEvP modes
What to expect in Dark Zones: The Dark Zones are the areas in Washington D.C. that are particularly contaminated and therefore sealed off with walls. When the people fled from these areas, they left behind strong military equipment.
Now you enter the Dark Zones to grab the best loot in The Division 2. However, you are not the only ones in there. Numerous strong PvE enemies are waiting for you – and other players who can open fire on you to steal your loot.
In the Dark Zones, you will find loot that you can equip directly. However, the most desirable stuff is contaminated and must first be extracted by a helicopter. Only when the chopper pulls up the rope to which you attach the contaminated items does it safely belong to you.
These are the 3 Dark Zones: In The Division 2, there are three Dark Zone areas that differ from each other:
- Dark Zone East: The largest of the three Dark Zones is in the east. You have long sightlines in overgrown public parks.
- Dark Zone South: In the south is the smallest Dark Zone. The focus is on close combat, and you usually have only short sightlines.
- Dark Zone West: The DZ in the west is divided by a large canal. Battles take place at medium range.
Map to the 3 Dark Zones:
This is how you unlock and enter the Dark Zones
What you need to do to enter the Dark Zones: The Dark Zones are not directly available at the start. You need to make sufficient progress with your agent to unlock the Dark Zones.
- You need to discover the Theater Settlement in the story and level up your character – Here are tips for leveling up quickly.
- You must bring the Theater Settlement to level 3 – You can read all the information about the settlements here.
- Now talk to Senait Ezera in the Theater Settlement. She then moves to the White House, where she works as a Dark Zone Officer. You will find her on the first floor.
- Once you visit her, a reconnaissance mission for the Dark Zone East will be activated. This mission is a kind of tutorial where you explore the Dark Zone, eliminate enemies, and extract contaminated loot.
- After Dark Zone East, you can unlock Dark Zone South and finally Dark Zone West as you progress through the game. These also have reconnaissance missions.
This is how Dark Zones work
The following explains the key mechanics in the Dark Zone.
What you need to know about loot in the Dark Zone
This is how loot and loot collection works:
- Unlike The Division 1, there is loot in the Dark Zones of part 2 that belongs directly to you when you pick it up – which means it does not have to be extracted first. Since the collection process with the helicopter often ends in a bloodbath, this secured loot drop “stabilizes your player experience”. So you do not lose all your loot that you have painstakingly earned if you die during the collection.
- However, the best stuff is contaminated and needs to be flown out. To do this, go to one of the extraction zones that are marked on the map in each Dark Zone. There you can request the helicopter with a flare gun. However, it takes a few seconds for it to appear. It also takes a while for the chopper to pull up the rope and fly away. Only when the rope that holds your loot is pulled up does it safely belong to you.
- The quality (gear score) of the extracted rewards always depends on the player who extracts the rewards. In other words, if you’re wondering whether it’s worth stealing rewards from other players with lower levels, the answer is: Yes!
- You can tell that other players are carrying contaminated loot by the yellow container on their backs that can be stolen.
- As soon as you fire the flare gun, NPCs will appear for you to deal with. However, the other agents who can also appear to extract their gear – or to enhance their gear with your loot – are more dangerous.
- When your rewards are hanging on the rope, you must guard them until the chopper pulls up the rope. Other agents can cut the rope and grab all the loot.
Loot from crates: You receive loot from NPCs, other agents, or crates. You can break these open – but then you will become rogue – or open them with Dark Zone keys. You can read more about crates further down in the guide.
What you need to know about becoming rogue
Is it worth becoming rogue? In The Division 2, the rogue mechanic has been completely overhauled. Now there are different levels of “rogue status”. When you become rogue, you risk much, but the rewards are good.
What you need to know about the “rogue” status: If a group member becomes rogue, everyone in that group becomes rogue. So clarify whether you really want this.
These are the rogue levels:
- Rogue – You have not killed anyone, but you have behaved inappropriately. For example, you broke open a Dark Zone crate, stole DZ loot, or activated this status yourself.
- Disavowed Rogue – If you are rogue and kill other agents, you get this status. You will be marked with a red symbol on the map and can be actively hunted.
- Manhunt Status – If you have killed multiple agents and behaved quite badly, you reach the highest level: Manhunt. All players are notified that a nice bounty has been placed on you. Many will try to kill you.
This is how to get rid of the rogue status: Rogue agents are shown their own safehouses. In these “thief hideouts”, you can get rid of the status. However, you must first increase your countdown through “thieving” actions to a certain point before the hideout appears at a random location.
Agents with the manhunt status can only deactivate their status at three terminals that are displayed on the map. At such a terminal, you can either remove the status or even increase the notoriety and bounty to have better rewards. You can then still get rid of the status at one of the remaining two terminals.
Info on normalization, matchmaking, and occupied Dark Zones
This is normalization: To create relatively balanced conditions in the Dark Zones, normalization comes into effect. This means all weapons and equipment are balanced so that strategy and skill decide victory or defeat in combat, rather than an extremely powerful loadout.
Info on matchmaking: You will be placed into level brackets when you start matchmaking:
- Level 1-10
- Level 11-20
- Level 21-30
- World Ranks
This way you will be grouped with players who have made about the same progress as you. A maximum of 12 players can be present in each Dark Zone at the same time. Solo players should primarily encounter other solo players, but this is not guaranteed.
These are occupied Dark Zones: Occupied Dark Zones are mainly aimed at PvP-enthusiast agents. These are events where only one of the three Dark Zones should be occupied at any time. Basically, all rules are thrown out:
- There is no longer a separation between rogue and decent agents.
- Friendly fire is active.
- No normalization of equipment – whoever has the best build has a big advantage.
The Dark Zone benefits
This is how you get Dark Zone benefits: Your activities in the DZ will be rewarded with DZ XP. The more DZ experience points you collect, the higher you rise in the DZ level. You start at level 1, and at the highest level, you receive expert containers.
If you are killed while rogue, you lose DZ XP. The higher the rogue rank, the more DZ XP you lose upon death.
At certain DZ levels, you can activate DZ benefits with Senait Ezera. If your DZ level falls below the required DZ level for benefits, the benefits are deactivated again.
What do the benefits do? Every 5 DZ levels, you rise in a “rank”. For each rank, there are benefits such as
- additional space for contaminated items
- 25% more DZ XP for eliminating other players
- 25% chance of receiving DZ keys from loot crates in the DZ
- 25% faster start of extraction
and many more. You can inspect them with the Dark Zone Officer.
Locations of Dark Zone crates East
The locations of the DZ crates in DZ-East: In the video from Arekkz Gaming, several crates in the Dark Zone East are shown to you. First, you will see the respective location on the map, then in the open world:
This is how you get Dark Zone keys: Elite enemies with yellow health bars and names can drop the keys. You can also steal them from other players. If you are at DZ level 25, you can unlock the benefit that loot crates in the DZ have a 25% chance to drop a key.
You need the keys to open the crates in a proper way. However, if you break them open, you will become rogue.
Note: The locations of the crates in other Dark Zones will be added in the future.
Tips on how to survive in the Dark Zone
These tips you should keep in mind: In addition to all the tips mentioned in this guide, we have these tips for you:
- Do not run around in the open street. You are an easy target for NPCs and other agents there. Use cover, check if the way is clear, and stay in the shadows!
- Solo agents are usually at a disadvantage in Dark Zones. We recommend tackling this PvEvP mode in a group, as you can use all the support you can get.
- Always keep an eye on your surroundings. When you fight NPCs, other agents may see this as an opportunity to shoot you in the back. It is best to pay attention to what is happening around you in the group.
- On the other hand: If you hear gunshots, run towards them and try to take advantage of the situation. Maybe there is a lone agent who is not paying attention to what is happening behind him…
- When extractions at extraction points, many expect someone to open fire. Particularly nasty agents may dance with you first to create a false sense of security. Just before the extraction is complete, they shoot you in the back. So be careful of agents who seem particularly friendly.
- If you discover good contaminated items, do not hesitate to have them extracted quickly. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of being ambushed.
- And the most important tip: Trust no one!
Do you have any further tips? Post them in the comments!
