Dark Zones Guide

The Dark Zone is where the game’s tastiest loot is. It’s also the most dangerous spots where players can go rogue in these PvPvE zones. Basically, the Dark Zones are the places you want to go to get high-level loot and hunt down other players in some PvP fun.

The best stuff will be contaminated, so you’ll need to get it out via extraction. When extraction happens, that’s when you get mobbed by enemies and even rogue players.

There will be three Dark Zones available once you perform recon on them and once you reach level 10: 

• Dark Zone East – the largest of all three Dark Zones, players utilize long sightlines in over-grown governmental parks.
• Dark Zone South – the smallest of the Dark Zones, emphasis is placed on close-quarters combat. Sightlines are easily broken with large interiors and choke points.
• Dark Zone West – split into two parts by a large canal, Georgetown is characterized by medium-range engagements and features European style architecture.

How Dark Zones Work

• In the Dark Zone “realm” all weapons and gear will be normalized, which means you and your opponents will be on an even playing field.
• All gear stats will be brought within a narrow range, so you need to play well and smart instead of relying on superior stats to survive.
• Players will be matched with others based on their tiers: 1-10, 11-20, and 21-30. The game will also take in your World Tier into account.
• Most importantly, friendly fire will be active, there will be no normalisation, rogue status is nonexistent, and no notification systems will be limited. Good luck!

Rogue Status

To spice up the PvP element, Division 2 agents can go rogue. There are three statuses for this: Rogue, Disavowed Rogue, and Manhunt Rogue. You’ll be rewarded with different kinds of loot if you turn rogue, but at the cost of being the target of other agents everywhere.

How does one go rogue? That’s easy; we’ll break it down:

Rogue: You can get this status by breaking into a chest, stealing an entire DZ drop, or hold down the button to toggle you and your group Rogue.

Disavowed Rogue: After turning Rogue, you can take out another player to upgrade yourself. You will be represented with a red icon, which means you are more visible on the map to other players.

Manhunt Rogue: After turning into Disavowed Rogue, just kill a few more agents and you’ll upgrade to this form. All players will be alerted to your presence and you will have a sizeable bounty on your head.

How To Survive The Dark Zones

• Don’t barrel through the streets in the Dark Zone. It’s full of tough NPCs and scumbag humans just waiting to pounce. Utilise cover, and opt for slow and steady progress.
• Don’t enter without backup, if possible. You’re a walking target, and you’ll need all the help you can get.
• Watch your back when fighing NPCs. Nefarious individuals might see this as an opportunity to take you down while you’re distracted.
• On the flip side, if you hear gunshots, warily investigate. If you see other players embroiled in a firefight, use the distraction to take them out.
• If you decide to go down the rogue path, be sure to do it at an opportune time – when an extraction is coming for instance – and that all of your squadmates are on board.
• That being said, going rogue at the point of extraction is predictable, and players will be expecting an attack. Mix it up by gaining their trust instead, and then spray them with a hail of bullets.
• Crime pays in the Dark Zone. If you don’t want to get into a firefight, there are plenty of non-violent ways to do it that will open up the Thieves Den and the special vendor inside. As a bonus, you’ll walk back out, clean as a whistle.
• If you’re after some real competition and have been perfecting your build, keep an eye out for Occupied Dark Zones. Ubisoft has teased that there are rewards to be reaped for “players willing to brave those conditions”.
• If you’re partied up with friends who have a lower Gear Score and are feeling generous, ensure that you’re the one who extracts the loot and hand over the goods when you’re on the other side.
• If you find contaminated gear that you can’t bear to lose, call in an extraction. The longer you’re in the Dark Zone, the more time there is for you to get shafted and lose everything.
• Trust no one.

Should I Play Dark Zone Even If I’m Not Into PVP?

Yes, because it’s also the best way to get high-end loot. You don’t have to actively hunt other people or deal with the extraction “minigame”. Just landmark hop form point to point and clear each zone out. Enemies drop loot that isn’t contaminated that you can immediately use.