Here Be Danger
The Dark Zone is the most dangerous area players can explore in The Division. This closed off area houses powerful NPCs who would love to fill you with bullet holes, as well as human players who can (and will) kill you for your loot. It would be foolish to expect an easy time once you enter this zone.
Come prepared for a fight at any moment. Have your best weapons, solid armor, and skills that focus on healing and hiding. Some incineration grenades (think napalm) are useful to as they can cover a large area allowing for you to escape.
Not all other players will be as nice as you, or maybe they’re as evil as you. So always be on your guard.
Loot Must Be Extracted
Anything you find in the Dark Zone must be extracted by a helicopter so that it can be decontaminated. This process allows you to use whatever gear and weapons you find in the game. Finding something notable is only half of the battle.
Head to an extraction point and fire a flare to start the countdown. This will alert all nearby players of the extraction, though, so find a safe spot to wait out the timer as the inevitable wave of looters shows up. You’ll have to get your extraction pack onto the choppers rope before it leaves.
It’s best to bring friends you can trust along so that you can all cover each other as you take turns tying up your gear. Keep suppressive fire on incoming players and you’ll be able to complete your extraction fine. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to extract.
Rogues
Rogues are players who seriously wound or kill other players. Being a rogue is one of the ways to obtain loot in the Dark Zone, but it also paints a huge target on your back. Other players will be able to reap huge rewards by taking you down if you happen to go Rogue so it’s important to know how it works.
Hitting a human player with enough bullets will start your Rogue timer, making you fair game for anyone around. The more humans you kill, the higher timer becomes until it reaches a cap of five minutes. You cannot leave the Dark Zone if you’ve been marked as a rogue until your time is up (surviving until it’s over earns you some xp) or until you’re killed (you’ll lose XP, DZ Credits, and DZ Keys).
If you feel that you need to be a Rogue in the Dark Zone for whatever reason, note that the lower level your Rogue tier is the closer other players have to be in order to spot you on their maps. The only exception is tier 5 where everyone is notified of your location and a bounty hunt begins.
Chests
There are three types of chests you can find in the Dark Zone, and they all house valuable loot for players (although some are better than others).
You have your standard chests that can be opened by anyone at anytime. These normally house lower tier weapons, gear, and useful items. After that you have your Rank Chests. These can only be unlocked by players with the specified Dark Zone rank. The gear found in these chests is usually much better than what you’d find in a standard one, and geared more towards your level rather than being completely random.
The final chest type requires Dark Zone keys. These rare items can be found by killing Elite Named enemies in the Dark Zone or from killing any fellow Agents who have one. They are definitely worth the effort since some t0p-notch gear.
Seek out Landmarks
Just like in the PvE area of The Division, the Dark Zone has landmarks that New Yorkers may recognize. The reason you’ll want to seek these out in the Dark Zone is not just for sightseeing, though. These locations are guarded by elite enemies for you to take down.
It’s best not to tackle these particular challenges alone. The AI will bring its A-game, so prepare for tough opposition. If you’re wondering if it’s worth all of the extra effort and ammunition, be informed that these stronger enemies tend to hold Dark Zone Keys and sometimes guard chest with great loot.
Don’t Go In Alone If You Have The Choice
It’s hard to trust anyone in the Dark Zone, including your own friends. But you should try and group up with three trustworthy friends before venturing in. With everyone out for blood, having a friend or two to watch your back can make all the difference in the world.
Also, if a friend has a Dark Zone Key, and opens a chest, everyone gets to dig in as long as you’re in a party together. Not too bad, huh? See, there’s reasons to have friends in a place where people shoot each other in the back.
The Dark Zone Isn’t The Place For a Fashion Show
There is some nice clothing laying around in The Division that you can use to customize your character. Some of the offerings are brightly colored, and that’s the last thing you want to wear while trying to move covertly. When things are going down, bright colors will make you stick out like a sore thumb.
Try to blend in and move slowly. Trust us, you don’t want to get blood on that pretty new parka.
With these tips you’ll be sure to survive the Dark Zone and save it from the enemy forces that hold it. For more information, guides, tips, and tricks on the Division, be sure to check out our constantly growing wiki.
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