In The Division, the “Special Report” for Update 1.2 just took place. We summarize the information shared by the developers.
On Tuesday it’s happening! Agents will be served fresh content as the May update “Conflict” is approaching. For this occasion, a “Special Report” was held in the form of a Twitch livestream where the developers talked about the new content. Here’s a compact summary:
Balance Changes in Update 1.2
Here’s the information regarding the balance changes:
- Massive wants to be more generous: Loot dropped by enemies should be the best source for high-quality items.
- In both PvE and PvP, there will be the best loot available.
- There are items with item level 32.
- Some activities are specialized for certain items: If you want to farm those items, you can play these tasks more frequently. However, all items will be available everywhere, in both PvE and PvP. They don’t want to force anyone to play a specific task. The chances for the items will vary.
- More information on the balance changes can be found here.
Search and Destroy Missions and High Value Targets
To revitalize the open world, there are Search and Destroy Missions that you must complete to locate the High Value Targets.
- Once all side missions and fights in an area are completed, you can access the board for these missions in the safehouses.
- The missions are scattered all over the open world. There are many different ones. The developers see these as the optimal opportunity for agents to explore the impressive open world.
- There you will find “Critical Areas” that you must clear of enemies. As a reward, you receive “Intel Tokens,” which you need to track the HVT.
- You can start these missions once you reach level 30. They are well-suited for quickly increasing your Gear Score.
- Once you have gathered enough information, you must go to the Operations Base in the Security Wing. There you will find the “Daily HTV Officer” and the “Weekly HTV Officer”. Here you invest your Intel Tokens to activate the HVT missions.
- You only have a limited time to complete the missions. If you fail, you will need to spend Intel Tokens again. However, some missions are also available without further investment.
- As a reward, the most challenging High Value Targets yield the best loot: High-end items with a value of 204 and Gear Sets with 240.
Changes in the Dark Zone
In the Dark Zone, the Supply Drops are being adjusted and “sealed containers” are being introduced.
- The Supply Drops will be more lucrative but should also be harder to obtain.
- From Dark Zone Bracket Level 30, the supply drops will contain at least one high-end item.
- “Sealed Caches” drop randomly from all NPCs in the Dark Zone. Only named NPCs can drop high-end containers. These include Division Tech and DZ currency, as well as “good stuff”: high-end equipment and gear sets can be included.
- These containers must first be extracted, then placed in storage and can only be opened afterwards.
- In the Dark Zone, there will be storage at the checkpoints. Therefore, you do not need to leave the DZ to browse your storage.
Information about Loot Hijacking:
- With the update, you can hijack the loot in the extraction zone by cutting the rope.
- Once you press the button to cut the rope, you will be marked as rogue (for 19 seconds). However, it will take a few seconds until you have completely cut the rope. During this time, you are an easy target!
- Once the rope is cut (you will be Rogue Rank 1 with a 90s timer), the items will be scattered from the extraction zone: they will not simply fall straight down. Anyone can pick them up now. You must quickly decide which drops to run for.
In general, this new feature aims to maintain the tension in the extraction zone. You need to stay vigilant and protect your loot.
Information about the New Incursion
The new incursion is called “Clear Sky” and is against the Rikers. It takes place at Columbus Circle.
- Compared to “Falcon Lost,” you will fight outdoors: the weather can change, and you will play during the day or at night. However, there will be no “particularly severe” weather events, such as dense fog or heavy snowstorms.
- You first need to devise a strategy to master the incursion. The more you play it, the faster and easier it will become to master. The agents themselves set the pace of this incursion, which is not dictated in any way.
- The developers recommend that squad members specialize. In other words, they should cater to various builds, such as tank or supporter.
- The Rikers will act differently than the LMB in “Falcon Lost.”
- The developers have also put effort into the design: you should feel the brutality of the Rikers everywhere. Dead bodies are hanging upside down from ropes.
- The incursion begins as you approach Columbus Circle. You then need to use “Explosives Packs” to break through a Riker blockade and clear the area. After that, a checkpoint will follow.
- The Challenge Mode for the incursion will not be available until a week later.
Information about the New Gear Sets
Four new gear sets are coming to The Division. Each will favor a specific playstyle.
- Final Measure: This set is designed for tanks and specializes in grenades.
- Hunter’s Faith: This is a sniper set designed for kills from a long distance. Depending on the distance to the target, your armor is increased on hits. This value can exceed the new maximum armor value of 75%!
- Lone Star: The set for shotguns. Weapons are automatically reloaded when you put them away and then equip them again. This particularly benefits weapon types with long reload times.
- Predator’s Mark: This set is designed for assault rifles: when you fire 10 shots at the same target, you inflict bleeding wounds.
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