One of the most enigmatic factions in The Division are the Hunters. Who are they? What do they want? Why are they hunting agents? A YouTuber summarizes fan theories and evaluates how likely they are.
The Hunters are probably the most dangerous faction in The Division. They made their first appearance with the Survival DLC, where they roam in survival mode:
- So who are the Hunters?
- What drives them?
Many clues are not provided by The Division, yet fans eagerly speculate about what the Hunters are about.
What we know about the Hunters
The Hunters are fast, behave more intelligently than the usual NPC enemies, and use Shade technology, just like the Division agents. However, their armor and weapons are stronger. If you get too close to the Hunters, they can take you out with a single melee attack.
They have only one goal: Their only victims are Division agents of the first and second wave; they do not attack civilians or other factions. Some videos and pictures show that they collect the watches of killed agents. The first encounter took place in the Dark Zone; their origin is unknown.
The appearance of the Hunters is characterized by masks, and overall they have a menacing aura. This is underscored by the fact that the Hunters do not make a sound during fights. They do not communicate, at least not with words or recognizable gestures; apparently, they understand each other blindly and silently.
In which modes can the Hunters be encountered? By now, the Hunters have spread throughout Manhattan. In these game modes, you must fear for your life:
- In survival mode, the Hunters appear when you want to extract the virus data in the Dark Zone
- If you are underground, you should be careful; Hunters can suddenly appear after each phase
- If you reach wave 15 in resistance mode, you will also be confronted by the Hunters
- You will also encounter them in legendary missions
Who are the Hunters? What do they want?
There are already various theories and speculations about the identity of the Hunters. The game itself provides hardly any clues, so fans had to be creative. The YouTube channel NGN Network presents the most common theories and analyzes them.
In total, four theories are presented.
1. Hunters are former first-wave agents and belong to Aaron Keener
According to this theory, the Hunters are the elite unit of Aaron Keener, sent to prevent Division agents from obtaining data on the virus.
What are first-wave agents? The first wave was the first Division sent to Manhattan to secure the area that would later become the Dark Zone. They failed and were trapped in the Dark Zone.
To prevent the Hunters from becoming a threat themselves, they are equipped with as little background information as possible.
What speaks for it? From the government’s perspective, this approach makes sense. The first wave is dead or rogue and thus dangerous. The second wave found out that their predecessors were abandoned by the government, doomed to die in the Dark Zone.
This also fits into the dark setting of The Division. In the book “New York Collapse,” it is stated that there are multiple divisions within the Strategic Homeland Division. So what if the Hunters represent another faction within the Division?
What speaks against it? The explanation that they do not receive real background information does not completely rule out that the Hunters could eventually become a threat themselves. Does such a practice of concealment make sense when you are sending out a stronger unit each time that could potentially go rogue?
There are simply so few concrete pieces of information that it is impossible to say how likely any of these theories are. We are looking forward to learning more in the sequel.
Theory 4 fits some hints regarding The Division 2
If the fourth theory is correct, it would put Aaron Keener’s betrayal of the U.S. government and the Division in a different light. Perhaps it also relates to the hints that Massive made regarding The Division 2 and a twist after the story?
This would fit particularly well with the story trailer for The Division 2. In this, a warning is issued at the end that enemies can also lurk within the government and the Division.
But how do you save a nation when the enemies are part of it?
We are excited and hope to learn more soon, especially in the sequel.
Aaron Keener was their leader, the first traitor. He rebelled and pulled some of them to his side. Those who resisted were hunted.
What speaks for it: The Hunters use Shade technology, which was actually reserved for the Division. Added to this are their above-average abilities, with which they stand at least on par with the agents.
During the campaign, Aaron Keener kidnaps Dr. Vitaly Tchernenko, who may be able to develop an antidote for the virus. He also possesses the data needed to produce the virus. It would fit Keener to gather an elite team to protect the virus and related data from unwanted access.
Sending the Hunters into the Dark Zone to prevent other agents from gaining data about the virus would therefore fit Keener’s plans. It would be bad for Keener’s plans if the virus suddenly became harmless because an anti-serum was developed. The virus could no longer be used as a weapon or leverage.
What speaks against it: The equipment of the Hunters is at a significantly higher level. Their abilities also exceed those of first and second-wave agents:
- How did they acquire the equipment?
- Why are they faster and apparently better trained?
We have already encountered first-wave agents before the Hunters were even in the game. They looked different and had similar equipment to the second wave. The Hunters are significantly more dangerous.
2. Hunters are former first-wave agents but do not belong to Aaron Keener
This theory is very similar to the first, only in one crucial point does it differ. The Hunters are first-wave agents and act on their own. They do not belong to Aaron Keener. Because he wanted to eliminate all agents who did not join him, the Hunters had to hide in the Dark Zone and cut off all contact with the outside world.
Unfortunately, this also meant losing contact with the rest of the Division. When, finally, with the second wave, more agents appeared, the Hunters might have mistaken them for first-wave agents.
What speaks for it: At first glance, it sounds far-fetched, but considering the mental state of the agents, it does not seem so illogical. Isolation in the Dark Zone with constant fear and the eternal struggle for survival? Plus Aaron Keener and his traitors breathing down their necks? Not even a trained soldier can handle that. The Hunters are alone and seek revenge for the betrayal.
The timing fits as well: In survival mode, a blizzard rages in Manhattan. This could have been the ideal time for the Hunters to attack, as the Division was weakened by the storm and the crash.
What speaks against it: Here too, the problem is that the Hunters are on a completely different level than normal first-wave agents. Even isolated training cannot be the reason, as not enough time has passed for their skills to improve so drastically.
The question of why the Hunters’ equipment is so much better also remains unanswered.
3. Hunters are Russian agents
A popular theory suggests that the Hunters could be agents sent by the Russian government to New York to rescue Dr. Tchernenko. Proponents of this theory believe: Tchernenko is of great importance to the Russian government for gathering data on the virus and maintaining an advantage over other countries.
In the Russian consulate, Tchernenko may have contacted the Hunters to get him out. This failed; Tchernenko was kidnapped by Keener and the Last Man Battalion. Now the Hunters are hunting all Division agents to obtain data on Keener’s and Tchernenko’s whereabouts.
What speaks for it? Not much. The timing may fit; it also seems somewhat possible. Nonetheless, there are too many inconsistencies.
What speaks against it? It is unlikely that the Russian government would deal with the U.S. while the virus rages at their own doorstep. A political agenda takes a back seat during such catastrophes.
Every country would use its resources to maintain control of the situation within its nation. Most likely, countries like Russia have already launched their own investigations and have their own data on the virus.
4. Hunters are the third wave of the Division
Yes, you read that right: This theory suggests that the Hunters are a third wave of Division agents. With the end of the Division story, most enemy factions were left without leaders; the situation in Manhattan has stabilized somewhat. Thus, the second wave fulfilled its purpose.
The government wants to cover up its failure: However, the failure of the government was also exposed. This failure led to the events surrounding Aaron Keener and the first wave. Keener later attempted to actively recruit second-wave agents. A real threat, considering he was able to convince most of the first wave.
Currently, hardly anyone outside of New York knows what has happened. This is also supported by the fact that the Hunters are collecting the SHD watches of the agents, as these recorded a lot of data about the events. They want to prevent this data from “getting out.”
The government now considers the second wave the greatest potential threat in New York. They decided to send a third wave, more dangerous and better equipped, to eliminate the second wave.
Hunters as the third wave to “clean up”? So the Hunters are a backup plan, meant to prevent another rogue wave and make information disappear to cover up the government’s failure.
Trained for this and equipped to eliminate as many Division agents as possible. They operate particularly brutally to create the impression that they belong to one of the hostile factions.
Nothing hints at the identity of the individual Hunters, as they wear masks and have no other identifying marks. Thus, the government cannot be held liable.
To prevent the Hunters from becoming a threat themselves, they are equipped with as little background information as possible.
What speaks for it? From the government’s perspective, this approach makes sense. The first wave is dead or rogue and thus dangerous. The second wave found out that their predecessors were abandoned by the government, doomed to die in the Dark Zone.
This also fits into the dark setting of The Division. In the book “New York Collapse,” it is stated that there are multiple divisions within the Strategic Homeland Division. So what if the Hunters represent another faction within the Division?
What speaks against it? The explanation that they do not receive real background information does not completely rule out that the Hunters could eventually become a threat themselves. Does such a practice of concealment make sense when you are sending out a stronger unit each time that could potentially go rogue?
There are simply so few concrete pieces of information that it is impossible to say how likely any of these theories are. We are looking forward to learning more in the sequel.
Theory 4 fits some hints regarding The Division 2
If the fourth theory is correct, it would put Aaron Keener’s betrayal of the U.S. government and the Division in a different light. Perhaps it also relates to the hints that Massive made regarding The Division 2 and a twist after the story?
This would fit particularly well with the story trailer for The Division 2. In this, a warning is issued at the end that enemies can also lurk within the government and the Division.
But how do you save a nation when the enemies are part of it?
We are excited and hope to learn more soon, especially in the sequel.
