Survival in Division The Division Guide
Last update: 19 December 2017
Survival is a new mode that was added to Tom Clancy's The Division with Survival expansion and update 1.5. In this mode 24 players arrive on a map and their goal is to survive in extremally difficult conditions - they have to deal with hunger and thirst, low temperature, disease and, if they play in PvP mode, with other players.
In this chapter you can find information about all dangers that await players in this mode as well as ways of dealing with them. Here, you can learn how to deal with low temperature, hunger, thirst and disease as well as how to find better weapons and get out of the survival zone.
Low temperature
Extremally low temperature is something with which you have to fight the most here. All players are exposed to low temperature and because of that they will get colder and colder. This is indicated by the bar in the upper right corner of the screen. When it gets depleted your character will start receiving damage. You can warm your character inside of buildings, near burning barrels and cars as well as in hideouts.
Clothes, usually cosmetic items, now have an actual purpose. Each element has their own "warm" value - the higher a value, the longer you can stay outside until you will have to warm yourself. Because of that you should regularly change your clothes elements.
Hunger and thirst
In this mode, your character needs to eat systematically (can food or energy bars) to satisfy your hunger. If you won't do that, your character will stop regenerating health. Character's perception is connected to thirst (you can satisfy it with water or soda) - this mode doesn't have a mini-map which means that players need to rely on their eyes to detect danger. If your character is hydrated properly, you will be able to see silhouettes of all nearby containers that can have useful items inside of them (crafting materials, medicines or food). If your character is dehydrated then all highlights will disappear. This means that you will have to search for containers on your own.
Both of these mechanics won't result in your character's death but they reduce your effectiveness significantly - hunger won't allow you to regenerate health (medkits are a luxury here) and thirst hinders detection of items that are your key to success.
Disease
Upon starting this mode, all characters get infected with sepsis. The disease works as a time limit - each of the players has about an hour before they die due to infection. The disease needs to be controlled - you can do that by using medkits and painkillers that will slow it down. What is important is that each new dose of a medicine is weaker (works for a shorter period of time). This is because your character gets gradually more immune to it. A character eho died due to the disease can't be revived in any way.
Available game modes - PvP and PvE
Players can choose which version of this mode they want to play. There are two variants available:
- PvP mode - in this mode players can fight with each other as if they are inside of the Dark Zone. You can shoot other players (excluding hideouts) and you have to be careful so you won't get hunted down. Players also get a small (1.2x) bonus to rewards.
- PvE mode - in this mode players can't fight with each other, they can only shoot and receive damage from AI controlled enemies.
Gameplay
Gameplay in this mode is divided into something that may resemble stages. In the beginning your goal is to leave a hideout in which you started a game and search the area for crafting materials. Finding a main weapon, clothes that can protect you from cold, medicines to slow down the disease and food to regenerate health is your priority. You should also look for water - this will allow you to detect nearby containers.
During the initial minutes of the game players need to craft a gas mask. This is very important because without that item you can't enter the Dark Zone where you can call for extraction. To craft a gas mask, you need two pieces of Fabric and two pieces of Tools (both items need to have Specialized rarity). After that you get an objective in which you have to enter the Dark Zone.
After getting inside the Dark Zone you have to reach the appointed place to get medicine. Simply go there and pick that item from the chest marked by the game. After that you have to go to one of the hideouts in the Dark Zone and craft a Flare Gun. From now on the game resembles your usual visits in the Dark Zone - you have to reach the extraction place, shoot a flare and wait for a helicopter.
The big difference is that a Hunter appears after initiating extraction - he will start roaming the area. More details about this enemy and how to deal with him can be found in "Hunter" chapter. When your helicopter arrives, you have to board it, leave this place and get rewards (loot boxes) for surviving this mode.
Tips
Survival is one of the most difficult modes in Tom Clancy's The Division. Because of that you should remember about a few important tips:
- Food (can food and energy bars) can be found in refrigerators and freezers.
- Water and soda can be found in refrigerators, freezers and vending machines.
- Clothes that allow you to reduce impact of cold on your character can be found in suitcases and wardrobes that are inside of apartments. Sometimes, you can also get clothes from defeated enemies.
- Medicines and painkillers are in red bags (they are often near landmarks) and inside of ambulances.
- Players don't have access to special abilities in this mode. You have to craft them yourself in the same ways as regular items. The first skills that you should craft are Pulse and Support Station / First Aid - these abilities are the most useful in this mode.
- Spend the initial minutes on exploring locations and collecting crafting materials. First, craft a long firearm (preferably an assault rifle or a LMG), clothes and a gas mask.
- Stay vigilant when you are exploring areas. You don't have a mini-map that can inform you about an incoming threat. Look to sides and pay attention to danger - appearing suddenly in front of a group of enemies can lead to a quick death.
- If you aren't sure that you can deal with a group of enemies, you should go around them and don't start a fight. A firefight can attract more enemies and players (in PvP mode).
- A Hunter will ALWAYS appear at the end of Survival mode. Their number is determined by a number of players who are in an extraction point. What is more, if another player reaches extraction, they will attract yet another Hunter. Glitches in your interface indicate that they are getting closer.
- Don't let Hunters get closer to you - they use melee attacks that can knock you down immediately. If you are playing solo then you will most certainly lose after that. Keep them at a distance by shooting at their positions constantly.