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The Division: 15 Essential Tips for Beginners
Post-Pandemic Survival Tips
Now that Tom Clancy's The Division is finally out, there's a good chance you're wondering what you need to know to take advantage of the game's systems and make it through the opening hours. Here are some essential tips to help you survive in the streets of post-pandemic New York City.
Are there any tips you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
Difficulty Spike
The Division's difficulty spikes once you reach level 8. Much like Destiny, it's not worth your time and energy fighting anything more than a single level above you. It's best to avoid difficult missions and encounters until you're properly leveled and equipped for the job.
Go Solo or Have Two People, Max
Contrary to what you might think, The Division is actually easier to play solo, especially on normal. The difficulty scales up significantly if you have three or more members in your team. To save yourself trouble, play alone or with a friend to level up more efficiently during the early parts of the game.
If You're Teaming Up, Consider Your Role
There's safety in numbers, but when your group lacks clearly defined roles, you're going to run into trouble. Consider grouping your character's abilities to fit a specific purpose on a team.
For instance, become a "Support" by using pulse with a critical damage mod. Or better yet, mod your healing ability to give your teammates an additional damage boost. If you focus on attack power, equip the Seeker Mine and Sticky Bombs.
It's always best to cater your character towards serving a dedicated group role as opposed to choosing duplicate abilities that make your team less effective.
The Trusty M1A
When you reach level 9, make sure to purchase the M1A from the base vendor. It doesn't matter what color it is; this semi-automatic rifle has a headshot multiplier that lets you drop enemies quickly. It's a useful weapon during the early portion of the game that can be used even while standing out in the open. You can also craft one using the M1A's blueprint, which unlock at level 10.
Do Side-Missions
While story missions seem like the most compelling use of your time, don't neglect taking on side-missions. Completing one guarantees you blueprints you can use to craft new weapons.
Sell, Sell, Sell..or Craft!
There are two paths you can follow to deal with the items and equipment you gather in the beginning of the game: selling or crafting.
On one hand, you can sell everything you have, as none of your early gear is worth modding or committing to. When you purchase items and equipment, be sure to focus your attention on getting anything marked blue (Specialized) in the shop menu. These are more powerful than green (Standard) items and equipment.
If you go the crafting route, it's possible to convert your early green items and equipment into blue weapons via the conversion bench in your base of operation's crafting station. For instance, you can convert 5 green fabrics into 1 blue fabric. Otherwise, deconstruct all blue tagged items for their individual parts, as they can be used to craft both blue and purple (Superior) weapons.
Investigate Your Surroundings!
This sounds obvious, but always take the time to look around your environment, especially during major missions. Not only will you find fascinating story details, but there are also loot-filled bags, backpacks, and cases that can be usually found in out-of-the-way locations.
Be on the lookout for open apartment building doors. You can typically find useful gear or consumables in a few of the vacant rooms inside.
Got a Full Inventory? Attach Those Mods
A quick way to clear up a full inventory is to attach your mods to guns that you aren't using. This is because an attached mod doesn't fill up an inventory slot. However, don't forget to strip away those mods before you sell/deconstruct your guns or you will lose your cherished mods forever.
Useful Base Upgrades (Part 1)
As you start to get your base up and running, make sure to upgrade your Security Wing first. The Situation Room upgrade grants you a Perk that provides you +10% experience. The Canine Unit upgrade is also useful, giving you the Intel Discovery Perk, which reveals all undiscovered Intel on the map after completing all Side Missions and Encounters in a specific zone.
Useful Base Upgrades (Part 2)
The Medical Wing also has some useful Perks you can receive. Start by upgrading both Clinic and Quarantine to get the Recon Pack Mod, which increases your pulse range to better locate nearby enemies and loot containers.
Follow up with the Virus Lab and Hazmat Unit upgrades, which unlocks the Support Station Mod: Life Support. It gives you the ability to drop a revival station that automatically heals any allies who are downed within an affected area. You're going to need this, as it can save your team when they're in a pinch and keep them from making dangerous runs to revive a teammate.
Stop By Safe Houses
As you explore the map, make sure to stop by any unvisited safe houses. Visiting them permanently unlocks them as fast travel points. While you're at each safe house, don't forget to talk to its JTF officer and examine the board to mark side missions on your map.
Slide Down Ladders
It might not be apparent as you slowly climb down a ladder rung by rung, but you can actually slide down them. Press and hold the sprint button and you'll be on the ground in no time.
Marking Enemies
Like other third-person Tom Clancy shooter games, The Division lets you mark enemies. Simply highlight an enemy and press up on the directional pad to mark them. You can only mark one person at a time.
A secondary feature of enemy marking is a 5-second countdown that can be used to coordinate shots or grenades when you're in a group. To do this, highlight an enemy and hold up on the directional pad.
Help Civillians
If you see a civilian in need, be sure to give them supplies. This is a good way to gain cosmetic items and equipment for your character.
More...
Now that Tom Clancy's The Division is finally out, there's a good chance you're wondering what you need to know to take advantage of the game's systems and make it through the opening hours. Here are some essential tips to help you survive in the streets of post-pandemic New York City.
Are there any tips you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
Difficulty Spike
The Division's difficulty spikes once you reach level 8. Much like Destiny, it's not worth your time and energy fighting anything more than a single level above you. It's best to avoid difficult missions and encounters until you're properly leveled and equipped for the job.
Go Solo or Have Two People, Max
Contrary to what you might think, The Division is actually easier to play solo, especially on normal. The difficulty scales up significantly if you have three or more members in your team. To save yourself trouble, play alone or with a friend to level up more efficiently during the early parts of the game.
If You're Teaming Up, Consider Your Role
There's safety in numbers, but when your group lacks clearly defined roles, you're going to run into trouble. Consider grouping your character's abilities to fit a specific purpose on a team.
For instance, become a "Support" by using pulse with a critical damage mod. Or better yet, mod your healing ability to give your teammates an additional damage boost. If you focus on attack power, equip the Seeker Mine and Sticky Bombs.
It's always best to cater your character towards serving a dedicated group role as opposed to choosing duplicate abilities that make your team less effective.
The Trusty M1A
When you reach level 9, make sure to purchase the M1A from the base vendor. It doesn't matter what color it is; this semi-automatic rifle has a headshot multiplier that lets you drop enemies quickly. It's a useful weapon during the early portion of the game that can be used even while standing out in the open. You can also craft one using the M1A's blueprint, which unlock at level 10.
Do Side-Missions
While story missions seem like the most compelling use of your time, don't neglect taking on side-missions. Completing one guarantees you blueprints you can use to craft new weapons.
Sell, Sell, Sell..or Craft!
There are two paths you can follow to deal with the items and equipment you gather in the beginning of the game: selling or crafting.
On one hand, you can sell everything you have, as none of your early gear is worth modding or committing to. When you purchase items and equipment, be sure to focus your attention on getting anything marked blue (Specialized) in the shop menu. These are more powerful than green (Standard) items and equipment.
If you go the crafting route, it's possible to convert your early green items and equipment into blue weapons via the conversion bench in your base of operation's crafting station. For instance, you can convert 5 green fabrics into 1 blue fabric. Otherwise, deconstruct all blue tagged items for their individual parts, as they can be used to craft both blue and purple (Superior) weapons.
Investigate Your Surroundings!
This sounds obvious, but always take the time to look around your environment, especially during major missions. Not only will you find fascinating story details, but there are also loot-filled bags, backpacks, and cases that can be usually found in out-of-the-way locations.
Be on the lookout for open apartment building doors. You can typically find useful gear or consumables in a few of the vacant rooms inside.
Got a Full Inventory? Attach Those Mods
A quick way to clear up a full inventory is to attach your mods to guns that you aren't using. This is because an attached mod doesn't fill up an inventory slot. However, don't forget to strip away those mods before you sell/deconstruct your guns or you will lose your cherished mods forever.
Useful Base Upgrades (Part 1)
As you start to get your base up and running, make sure to upgrade your Security Wing first. The Situation Room upgrade grants you a Perk that provides you +10% experience. The Canine Unit upgrade is also useful, giving you the Intel Discovery Perk, which reveals all undiscovered Intel on the map after completing all Side Missions and Encounters in a specific zone.
Useful Base Upgrades (Part 2)
The Medical Wing also has some useful Perks you can receive. Start by upgrading both Clinic and Quarantine to get the Recon Pack Mod, which increases your pulse range to better locate nearby enemies and loot containers.
Follow up with the Virus Lab and Hazmat Unit upgrades, which unlocks the Support Station Mod: Life Support. It gives you the ability to drop a revival station that automatically heals any allies who are downed within an affected area. You're going to need this, as it can save your team when they're in a pinch and keep them from making dangerous runs to revive a teammate.
Stop By Safe Houses
As you explore the map, make sure to stop by any unvisited safe houses. Visiting them permanently unlocks them as fast travel points. While you're at each safe house, don't forget to talk to its JTF officer and examine the board to mark side missions on your map.
Slide Down Ladders
It might not be apparent as you slowly climb down a ladder rung by rung, but you can actually slide down them. Press and hold the sprint button and you'll be on the ground in no time.
Marking Enemies
Like other third-person Tom Clancy shooter games, The Division lets you mark enemies. Simply highlight an enemy and press up on the directional pad to mark them. You can only mark one person at a time.
A secondary feature of enemy marking is a 5-second countdown that can be used to coordinate shots or grenades when you're in a group. To do this, highlight an enemy and hold up on the directional pad.
Help Civillians
If you see a civilian in need, be sure to give them supplies. This is a good way to gain cosmetic items and equipment for your character.
More...