Combat Guide to Division 2 The Division 2 guide, tips

Due to the fact that Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is a cover shooter, there is plenty of combat in the game. Even though there are slight RPG elements implemented in the game, you will not find peaceful solutions to conflicts and missions - it all comes down to combat. This is why it is important to know how to be effective on the battlefield - we explain all the game rules and mechanics related with this issue in the following chapter.

• Shoot at the specific body parts
• Use terrain obstacles for cover
• Use your abilities
• Use the right tactic for specific enemies
• Choose the right weapon

Shoot at the specific body parts

The only way to defeat armored enemies is to focus your attacks at a specific body part to break the armor.

During the first hours of the game, you do not have to worry about choosing the place you plan to shoot the enemy at. Aside from headshots, which increase the damage you deal, shooting at the torso or legs of enemies should be enough to take them down in several hits. It all changes on higher difficulty levels - a large portion of enemies will be equipped with armor, preventing them from taking any damage until you break through it. Once it happens, the armor on a specific body part will break, revealing the body of the enemy that will now be vulnerable to attacks. This is why it is worth to focus your attention to a specific part of the body, instead of just spraying the enemy with fire, shooting blindly - in the latter scenario breaking through the armor will be difficult, almost impossible and will consume a large portion of your ammo.

Use terrain obstacles for cover

Proper usage of terrain obstacles for cover is crucial.

As it was mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, The Division 2 is a cover shooter - hiding behind covers is absolutely crucial and must always be done. The only exception to the rule is playing a character built around using the Ballistic Shield - that build requires the player to move around the enemies, focusing their attention on yourself and protecting your allies. Not using cover for even a few seconds (and in some cases just a second on higher difficulty levels) can cause your character to be knocked down. Use covers and transition smoothly between them, reacting to enemy's movements to prevent them from flanking you. Also, remember that you can shoot from behind the cover, without exposing yourself - this will have a significant impact on the accuracy, but might be the only scenario when you are pinned down by a LMG-wielding enemy or when the enemy is close enough for the accuracy to not be a problem.

Note - you can move between covers fast. In order to do this, you need to look at the cover you want to move to and hold the button responsible for hiding behind covers - your character will then quickly sprint towards the destination. This maneuver can also be used to move around the area quickly.

Use your abilities

The Turret ability is perfect to divert attention off your character.

Proper selection of abilities - complementing the playstyle and the equipment you use - as well as skillful use of them is crucial if you want to emerge victorious from the encounters with the enemies. It is generally a good idea to unlock all of the abilities in the game and test them in combat to find a set of skills that suits your playstyle.

Note - the Turret and the Drone skills a perfect combination. The former, without any upgrades, will be extremely effective at crowd control and to divert the attention of enemies off your character, the latter, with the appropriate upgrade (Fixer) will allow your character or an ally to quickly regain lost armor. This is also a good combination for solo play.

Use the right tactic for specific enemies

There are numerous types of enemies in the game - you will recognize them by the icon next to their health bar.

In The Division 2, similarly to the first installment of the franchise, you will stumble upon various types of enemies. They differ significantly when it comes to behavior during combat. For instance:

1. Snipers will constantly try to keep a safe distance and they need several seconds to aim and shoot at you. You can easily lean out of cover, shoot at them and get back behind cover once the scope glare appears. Also, remember to avoid the "grenades" thrown by those enemies - you just need to get back behind cover for the projectile to miss.
2. Rushers will try to attack you in close melee range. Those enemies do not use covers and you should focus your entire attention to them, as they can incapacitate a character almost instantaneously. Using the Turret ability makes encounters with them significantly easier.
3. Engineers are not very effective in direct combat and will try to keep a safe distance, harassing you with their special abilities, mainly in the form of a sentry or sniper turret. Take out the enemy to make the equipment they created useless.
4. Enemies equipped with grenades. The foes with the grenade icon next to their health bar will constantly throw grenades at your position to force you out of the cover. You can stop their throw animation by dealing damage to the enemy - this will cause the foe to drop the grenade at their feet, damaging and in most cases killing the enemy in the process. If the grenade is already in the air, you can shoot it down with your weapon. While fighting your enemies you must constantly change your cover and monitor if a grenade did not just land at your feet.
5. Heavily armored enemies with LMGs. Those foes will move slowly through the battlefield, harassing players with their LMGs. When encountering them, you should constantly change covers and focus on breaking through a single piece of their armor. Those enemies tend to perform a change and destroy player-made constructions, such as the Turret.
6. Heavily armored enemies with warhammers. They are very similar to the above described group, but they fight with a hammer instead of a LMG. Normally they move slowly, but once in the close proximity of players they will perform a charge, finished with the swing of their hammer, capable of incapacitating a character with a single strike. The easiest way to defeat them is to keep moving and avoid their attacks once the swing animation starts.

Choose the right weapon

Choosing the right weapon - like, for instance, a sniper rifle in an open space - is crucial.

The battlefield in Tom Clancy's The Division 2 will constantly change - in one moment you will be fighting in an open space, where a sniper rifle will be extremely effective, but shortly afterwards you may end up in narrow corridors, where a shotgun or an SMG can be a better choice. Try to choose your weapon so that you can fight effectively at any distance and, if possible, to have an additional weapon type in your inventory to swap to in case the battlefield changes and your weapons become ineffective.