In The Division, with the start of the third week of the PTS phase, numerous changes will be implemented.
Today, on October 6th, the third week of the PTS phase begins, during which the new features of update 1.4 will be tested and adjusted. The servers should be back online at 1:30 PM, allowing you PC agents to directly try out the changes. But beware: The progress you’ve made on the PTS will be wiped. The database has been reset.
According to the developers, we are getting closer to the final result for update 1.4. Only minor adjustments need to be made. For week 3, a list of patch notes has now been published, from which we will pick out the most important aspects.
Time to Kill and Time to be killed will be adjusted
A major goal of update 1.4 is to ensure that you feel powerful again and that not every random NPC is overwhelmingly superior to you. This direction has already been strongly pursued, but is now taking a further step:
- The enemies from level 31 to 33 will now deal 15% less damage to you.
- Additionally, the armor of elite enemies at levels 31 to 33 will be weakened by 17%>.
In other words: You can take them out faster and withstand more yourself.
Moreover, the threat mechanic will be adjusted. NPCs will now react differently to your behavior. Some of your skills, such as the ballistic shield, generate threat, while others reduce it. You will have more control and more options when tanking through this mechanic. Massive’s request: Test it and give your feedback.
Farming in the open world will be more lucrative
In the open world, two important changes are coming. Firstly, the spawn time of named NPCs has been significantly reduced. They now reappear 4 hours after being killed, instead of 24 as before.
Additionally, the “Search and Destroy” missions will be quicker and easier, making farming more efficient. Enemies will now appear as “normal” foes or as veterans, and no longer as elites. On top of that, you will receive more target data when you complete these missions.
The high-value targets and high-risk objectives now scale in difficulty based on the size of your squad. They can now also be completed solo.
Further innovations:
- The new Banshee set now has the bonus for non-rogue agents instead of the increased movement speed, meaning you no longer lose experience or Dark Zone currency when you die.
- Named weapons are no longer tied to a gear score. 229 is possible. The only exception remains the Damascus, which can only be obtained after completing the story.
- Valkyria and Liberator can now be purchased from a Phoenix Credits vendor with respective scores.
- There are some adjustments to loot: For example, you will now receive crafting materials instead of guaranteed high-end items from the Four Horsemen.
- In the future, crafting will be revised, but not with 1.4.
- Division Tech is becoming nearly useless. It is only useful for being converted into crafting materials.
- With all currencies, you can purchase sealed containers. With Phoenix Credits, you will be able to choose from which “item pool” the items inside should come, such as weapons, mods, or gear sets.
- In all incursions, you will find all gear sets. However, some incursions will yield more of certain armor pieces: (Note: Armor here refers to chest protection).
- Diverse adjustments to skills and bug fixes.
What do you think about it?
