General hints Watch Dogs 2 guide, walkthrough

This chapter contains various advices that concern the most important elements of Watch Dogs 2. Those elements that haven't been in the first game or that have been severely changed in this part have been additionally emphasized. Some of the elements (such as using the quadcopter), are discussed more thoroughly in other chapters, or in the walkthrough itself.

• Exploration
• Hacking
• Sneaking and combat
• Police / Gangs
• Secrets
• DedSec Hackerspace

Exploration

Lifts, forklifts and cranes are extremely useful if you want to reach a roof

• The new protagonist of Watch Dogs 2, Marcus Holloway, is capable of nearly effortless exploration. Still, reaching various locations can sometimes be rather difficult. One of the main difficulties is that the target is e.g. on a roof. If that's the case, try to locate a lift, a crane, a forklift, or something like that. Hacking such machines will allow you to reach otherwise inaccessible places. Other common difficulty are restricted areas, marked red on the map. Make sure your actions are discrete and secrete, since being noticed by enemies will cause a great many additional problems - you'll be attacked and reinforcements are likely to arrive on site.
• There are many locations that you don't have to reach personally. In order to retrieve a hidden object or for reconnaissance, you can use a jumper or a quadcopter. There are two more advantages to using the gadgets: first, if these machines are exposed, it won't cause the whole neighborhood to rain down on you; second, if these gadgets are destroyed, it costs you nothing, since after a brief cooldown, you'll be able to use them again. Attention - the jumper and quadcopter have a limited range of operations. Upgrading them is a good idea, since it will provide new abilities (detailed information about the gadgets can be found on the next page).
• In Watch Dogs 2 you no longer have to reach CTOS towers in order to reveal collectibles or interesting locations in new districts. New activities are now revealed by the NetHack mode, which scans your surroundings for interesting elements after you turn it on. It's range is also limited, so use it often, especially when you turn up in a new area. New activities can also be unlocked by acquiring new followers. That mechanic is discussed in detail later on.
• All new operations (main, optional, and online) are added to the DeadSec app. There you can browse them and activate those that you find interesting. Many operations are divided into a couple of parts, but you don't need to complete all of them in one sweep. If a subsequent part of an operation requires you to e.g. use a more advanced version of your gadget, you can easily come back after you've upgraded it. An important detail is that online missions are randomly generated and change every now and then. If you don't want to do an operation (it could be too difficult etc.), you can wait until another one appears. Every mission provides a reward - a number of new followers (a couple to tens of thousands). Apart from that, some operations will yield additional awards (such as rare clothes).

Each Driver SF challenge is different, e.g. you might be asked to drive carefully

• Additional activities available are mainly races and Driver San Francisco quests. There are different types of races: using drones, dirt bikes, sailing boats, or go-karts. The amount of followers and cash that you acquire depends on the difficulty and your score. Driver San Francisco missions are minor taxi quests. Each of them has a set of objectives, such as transporting fragile cargo or providing some additional "emotions" for your passenger. The tips on these missions can be found in another chapter.
• From the very beginning, fast-travel is available. It only allows you to travel to fixed locations (such as shops or hideouts), so you can't travel directly to a collectible on a map, or anything like that. Still, it can be pretty convenient to use the fast travel option, especially if your mission objective is all the way across the city.

Hacking

You can set traps by choosing the right elements to hack

• One of the most important changes in hacking mechanics is that in case of certain objects, you are able to chose one of a couple hacking alternatives (hold the hacking button and then press the button of the action you want to perform). The basic options are these: activation/deactivation of the object, creating a sphere of activation around it and luring NPCs to it. The two latter actions are especially useful, since they allow you to set traps; for example, if you hack a fuse box, it's possible to make it stun enemies in its vicinity. Attention - the range of available actions will be different for different objects. For example, after hacking a car, you can assume control over it (if you have the right skill), and by hacking a phone, you can steal data or draw the attention of its owner.

Police forces are shown in red in NetHack mode

• NetHack is a very important element of the game, that works on similar principles as the detective mode from the Arkham series, i.e. it scans the direct vicinity and provides and alternative view mode. You can use it at all times and for as long as you want, so try to employ it often. Activating it will highlight secrets and objects that can be hacked. Additionally, police and enemies are also highlighted in red.
• Hacking requires a sort of power units called botnets. A less complicated action will use 1-2 botnets; a more difficult hack can consume as much as 6 or 8. Used bonnets replenish automatically, but it takes a lot of time. This can be tackled in two ways: download the botnets from certain NPCs phones, or purchase skills that increase the capacity of Marcus' phone. Try to always have some botnets with you, so you can use them to your advantage if you get exposed, for example.

You can see network bypasses from the ground or use a quadcopter, or hack into cameras

• Remember that you won't be able to breach every system from day one. In some cases, an access key or a closed circuit terminal may prove necessary. In both of these cases, use the NetHack mode to highlight red connections. Keep in mind that you can use a quadcopter to obtain an access key, and a jumper to breach a terminal. Network bypasses, or the mini games where you manipulate the flow of data in a network, have also been changed a bit. They are layered onto elements of the environment (e.g. walls), so it's much easier to complete these mini games when watching from afar - you can use industrial cameras or a quadcopter.

Sneaking and combat

The taser knocks the enemies unconcious for a period of tim

• Marcus has a taser from the very beginning of the game. It's a useful tool, but reloading it takes ages (there's a skill that allows shortening it) - it can basically be used to take down solitary enemies.
• You can also deal quietly with enemies in hand-to-hand combat - you'll have to rely on elements of the environment or on a special gadget that requires a specific skill. Regardless of which method you choose, remember that the enemy will eventually wake up, and they will instantly be on alert if they do - don't linger around after knocking a couple of enemies cold. Do what you need and move on ASAP.

A 3D printer lets you craft items, including weapons

• The protagonist can also carry two additional weapons. An assault rifle is a good choice. It will allow Marcus to fight on longer distances, and the rate of fire (which is the curse of the sniper rifle) will not be a problem here. As your second weapon of choices, you can use one of the shotguns at the beginning, and than switch over to a grenade launcher, which is perfect for dealing with stronger enemies, groups of foes, or blowing up cars.
• New weapons can be taken from dead enemies obviously, but the best items will be created in your hideout. Top guns can cost 100,000 or more, so don't be too quick to spend your money.
• Some enemies (and robots) have the ability to call reinforcements. Try to stop them at all cost - the arrival of additional troops can render surviving impossible. The easiest way is to shoot the enemy before he manages to call his friends, but you can also try to hack the phone.
• Robots are one of the unique types of enemies. They can call reinforcements and attack the player, so, at least at the beginning, it's advisable to keep away from them. In the latter part of the game, you will look for an opportunity to sabotage them by hacking elements of the environment, using explosives or breaching their systems (a skill required).

Neutralize the guard dogs before they alarm the enemies

• Guard dogs can smell you from a pretty long distance and alarm the enemies to your presence. Try to neutralize them fast, for example by using the teaser. If that's not possible, keep your distance (and make sure it's as big as possible too).
• Marksmen use sniper rifles and can be meet only in the most important locations. Avoid open areas in the sections guarded by them. Also try hacking and using gadgets to distract them and close in.

Executioners are heavily armored and equipped with powerful weapons

• Executioners are extremely well-armored opponents, who appear exclusively in the most important locations. Eliminating them is usually very difficult, since they can endure continuous machine-gun fire, even aimed at their heads. To defeat them, use explosives, grenades, or exploding elements of the environment.
• The jumper and quadcopter cannot interact with enemies by default, but that can be changed by certain skills (a chapter devoted to them can be found further in this guide). For example, the jumper can be equipped with a loudspeaker used to distract enemies, and the quadcopter can be upgraded to pick up items that can be dropped on enemies. Don't be afraid to use those - a destroyed jumper or quadcopter will pretty soon spawn again.
• Death in Watch Dogs 2 doesn't bring any negative consequences. If you weren't doing any mission when you died, you will return to the game world close to the place of your death. During missions, you will be spawned at the latest checkpoint.

Police / Gangs

Hold civilians at gunpoint to make them end their calls

• The most important issue is that you are able to prevent the police being called. Should you commit a crime, one of the pedestrians may decide to call 911. If that happens, you need to react before the red triangle fills in - i.e. before the call is completed. Don't kill the civilian - just hold them at gunpoint, take them down non-lethal, or (if they're too far) hack their phone.
• The police pursuits are pretty similar to those from the first Watch Dogs. There's no point trying to fight off the cops from any vantage point - you will be surrounded and overwhelmed anyway. Instead, flee, preferably using a vehicle. At the beginning, you have access only to the most basic hacking tools, such as basic sabotage of traffic lights. Buy new environmental-hacking skills often. As concerns the chases themselves, first and foremost, you have to make sure you don't crash too often. Also try to take sharp turns and enter narrow alleys often and look for secluded spots, in which you could lay low after losing the cops (if the chase involves a helicopter, make sure those places are covered with some sort of roof).
• Apart form the police, in Watch Dogs 2 you also may run into some trouble with the FBI, the Umeni-Zulu security company, and a couple of organized gangs. Note, that most of the gangs are hostile towards each other, and you can notice them fighting sometimes (best not get involved). Further in the game, you will be able to purchase a skill allowing you to rope the police or the thugs to attack a chosen person. That may come in handy when you have trouble clearing a well-guarded location or if you need help in eliminating the executioner.

Secrets

• In Watch Dogs 2 there are many collectibles, and there are different awards for finding them - it's good to do that regularly. The easiest way of revealing them is using the NetHack - it will make the collectibles in your vicinity appear on the map. From the map level, you can mark them as your destination, allowing yourself to reach them much quicker.
• You can reach the secrets yourself or use the jumper or quadcopter (only in case of the secrets that don't have to be physically collected).

Key Data are marked with green skulls on the map

• Key Data are among the most important secrets. They are required to learn some of the advanced skills. Each secret in this group is difficult to get (it can be on a roof of a skyscraper or in hostile gangs' HQ).
• Research points are also a very important category of the collectibles. Each secret of this category you find will grant you 1 additional research point, in turn allowing you to unlock new skills.
• Money bags can be found very often - each contains from a couple to tens of thousands of dollars. Most of them can be reached quite easily.

ScoutX app can lead Marcus to the nearest photo spots

• ScoutX are unusual collectables. First, you need to download a ScoutX app to the smartphone - then you will be able to track locations popular among tourists visiting San Francisco. After reaching the given location, you can take a selfie - the award will be 8000 followers and some new emoticons. Attention - in some locations, the picture has to be taken at the right time of the day (for example when a street entertainer is getting ready for a show). If you arrive at the wrong time, wait a while or take a rest in a DeadSec Hackerspace and come back later.

A unique vehicle does not have to be delivered anywhere, just steal it

• Unique vehicles are not among the most important collectables. Often they're only distinguishable by their appearance. They're usually well guarded.
• Paintjobs, elements of wardrobe, and vehicles aren't very important - they introduce cosmetic changes only.
• New music tracks are the only type of secrets, which you don't have to personally look for; just install SongSeak on your smartphone and it will automatically find new songs and add them to the playlist.

DedSec Hackerspace

Example of a hackerspace - they're located in several spots around the city

• There's a couple of hideouts reserved for hackers from DeadSec in SF. The first one of these you will visit a the beginning of the game, in one of the main operations - A walk in the park. Getting back to them in the latter part of the game is purely optional. Marcus is totally safe inside them, but he cannot enter while he's being chased.
• In the Hackerspaces, you can meet other hackers and get new missions, but there also are other interesting things there, such as 3D printers, which can be used to produce gadgets and munitions. You should try to accumulate enough money to be able to afford a quadcopter as soon as you can. Later, you will use it mostly to get better guns.
• Using the sofa in the Hackerspace allows you to save the game and change the time of the day. Use it for example to get collectibles that are only available during day or night.
• From less important activities available in the Hackerspaces, you can change your clothes, customize weapons, look for occasional collectibles, or listen to unique tracks.