Beginner Tips for The Division

You’ve downloaded The Division beta and set-up your Base of Operations. You’re ready to set off into the desolate world in search of the best gear, but where to start?

To make the journey easier we’ve decided to construct a list of tips on how to find the best gear, gain easy experience and survive the horror of the Dark Zone. So suit up and get ready, it’s going to be a busy weekend.

Replay Main Mission and Complete Encounters

You’re spend most of the beta in the PvP Dark Zone, however running into are unprepared will only net you a quick death. In the beta you gain access to one main mission, play it and play it again on Hard mode. It’s much more difficult but you’ll gain more experience, better weapons and gear. The powerful arsenal will aid you in the Dark Zone. When you see Encounters, blue triangles on the map, go to them. They not only net you extra XP but a chance for special weapons and gears.

Shoot Dogs and Aid Civilians

It sounds inhumane but these dogs aren’t looking to be your next Dogmeat, instead they’re apparently carrying something unhealthy. Shooting them will yield experience. Giving med kits to civilians in need will also give you extra experience. 

Watch the Map and Enemy Types

Encounters and missions usually have more than one wave of enemies to contend with. You’ll hear warnings about the upcoming threat, so triaging supplies is essential. Watch for enemy attack patterns, enemies with baseball bats will rush and those with weapons will try and flank you. Those equipped with flamethrowers are dangerous and will make mincemeat of you when in range, shoot their tanks to cause an explosion.

Customize Gear Diligently

Check your loot regularly, before you know it your inventory will be full of items. Items could have different attributes imbued such as higher ammo capacity or specific skill increases.

Weapons ad gear can be modded to suit your playstyle. These upgrades are not permanent and can be changed from one gun to another.

Fight the AI 

The Dark Zone is a PvP zone so facing other players should be your focus, however if loot is what you desire than shift your glaze to purple enemies. Once you head to specific Landmarks engage with the purple enemies located in the area, once cleared the loot if yours.

Killing other players is tempting though. Other players do carry loot, as indicted by the yellow bumbags on their waists, but the Dark Zone is unpredictable. Players could be in a group waiting to ambush, using other players as decoys. Worse if you counter rogues.

Run from Rogues

If you see a red skull icon come towards you either get ready to fight or run. These icons indicate that the group of rogue agents looking for a fight. Some gear can only be obtained through getting a high rogue rating and surviving. 

Extract Your Loot

Don’t let your hubris cloud your judgment. Rogue agents, AI adversaries and many other dangerous could mean your death, costing you everything. Every player who picks up something from the Dark Zone will be carrying a radiation symbol from the bottom of their backpack.

Extraction zones are indicated on your map. Once killed players drop their packs, if an opposing player picks it up before you your gear now belongs to them.

Manage Your Inventory

Inventory space is limited and valuable. Any unusable material simply mark as junk by hitting the left trigger. You can then scrap any junk into weapon parts and resources for crafting. Manage your inventory, it’ll yield more reward than being a hoarder.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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