How to get money and followers in Watch Dogs 2?

In Watch Dogs 2 you can gather money and followers ("fans" of DedSec). Money is necessary for buying equipment, weapons, vehicles, or clothing, while Followers are used to unlock new Operations, and are needed to advance to higher levels and score research points (these are used to unlock new abilities). Below you will find some tips on how to get cash and followers.

• How to Get Cash?
• What should be on your "To Buy" list?
• How to Gain Followers?

How to Get Cash?

You can pick up money bags yourself or reach them with the jumper

• Finding money bags - This is a great way for a quick buck. Every bag contains from a few up to several dozen thousand dollars. In the early phase of the game focus on reaching those bags that are easily accessible, and aren't guarded by anyone. Leave those requiring the jumper and/or eliminating local gangsters.
• Winning races - You can take part in different types, such as motorcycle or drone races. The reward depends on the finish line position, or whether you have managed to fit in the allocated time limit. Same as before, you can choose easier races, and only then take on harder ones. Each race can be repeated infinitely.
• Profiling citizens - It's a well-known method, known from the previous installment. If you are keen on making money that way, consider unlocking Improved Profiler - an ability which allows automatic flagging of richer persons viable for steal.

Pawn shops allow you to sell minor items that you find

• Selling items in Pawn Shops - Items can be found in random locations, e.g. by enemy bodies or in glove compartments of stolen cars. Marcus can carry any amount, so you do not have to come back regularly to a pawn shop in order to unload. After a few hours in game, you should have a set of items worth around $12,000 - 15,000.
• Completing quests - Only some of the tasks end in a cash reward. In other cases, you have to settle for followers or unique items.

What should be on your "To Buy" list?

Get the quadcopter as soon as possible

• Quadcopter is the most important buy - proceed with it as quickly as you can. Quadcopter can be ordered using a 3D printer in one of DedSec hideouts. Its uses are listed on one of the earlier pages of this chapter. Quadcopter costs $67,500.
• Other important positions on the buy list - two basic weapons, which are used by Marcus during firefights. Recommendations as to the choice of the weapon can be found in the General hints section, Combat subsection. If you want to have two good firearms at your disposal, you need to spend between 200-250 thousand dollars.
• Other elements are not so important. The money can be spent on a good vehicle, or on a sailboat necessary for water races. You can visit pawn shops to replenish ammunition - this is a good idea if you have a serious mission on hand.
• New gun skins or unique clothing are even less important. It should be noted that you can visit clothing shops of different chains, and every one of them will have different stock.

How to Gain Followers?

You can get followers by completing entire missions or parts of them

• The most obvious method of acquiring new followers is proceeding forward with operations (main, side, and online). Thanks to using DedSec app, you can check what reward is offered for the accomplishment of a mission before it even begins. The simplest task offer up to 10,000 followers. In case of more complex operations, you may rack up to 50,000 fans. It should be noted that there are extra follower rewards for completing every individual section of a bigger mission - the rewards are not restricted only to the conclusions.
• Other great way of acquiring followers is photographing locations using ScoutX app. Immortalizing every unique touristic location using a phone nets you 8000 followers. Try to visit at least 20 - 30 such locations at the beginning of a playthrough, so you can advance to higher levels, and be able to utilize many new abilities in an early stage of the game.
• Followers are easily gained through racing. The number of acquired fans depends on the difficulty of the race, and from position on the finish line. Generally, even the easiest races guarantee at least 10 thousand fans for every win.

Note - Research Points can also be acquired in a different way - by finding them on the world map (they work as secrets). Sadly, a single find equals one new point. When advancing to a new level, Marcus receives a few points (the number of awarded points rises with further levels).