Summary
Players ofThe Division 2find themselves facing the aftermath of a smallpox pandemic. Their characters work as agents working under the Strategic Homeland Division, with missions designed to rebuild Washington D.C. against all the odds. Unfortunately, these agents have to face threats in the form of mercenaries, other armed groups, and even traitors.
As with otherTom Clancytitles,The Division 2contains quite an intriguing story. And true toUbisoftfashion, the game offers an action-packed third-person shooter. So, for newbies out there, just how exactly should they play the game?
Updated on Jul 22, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:WithThe Division 2kicking off February of its Year 5 with Season 3: Vanguard, fans of theTom Clancyfranchise can expect more secrets unveiled as Agent Kelso goes missing while ensuring the safety of the Haven settlement. This comes with the unveiling of balancing changes and the arrival of new weapons such as the Mosquito (Exotic Pistol) and the Vindicator (Exotic Rifle), and gear such as Rugged Gauntlets (Exotic Gloves), Aegis (Gear Set), and Palisade Steelworks (Brand Set). With these new gear and locations in mind, newcomers toThe Division 2might feel overwhelmed with the kind of progress they should make as soon as they create characters. Thankfully, the game can be quite a straightforward experience with the right approach, especially when players stay clear of flanks, secure Accolades for more EXP, and getting same-named Gear as often as possible.
23Try To Get Gear Of The Same Set
Gear Of The Same Name Get Better Bonuses
Being a tactical looter-shooter,Gear Score can dictate a player’s overall progression in the endgame ofTheDivision 2. In fact, the right gear can spell the difference between life or death in difficult encounters, with the game’s rarity-based equipment positioning high-rarity Purple, Yellow, Orange, or Exotic pieces are more valuable compared to Green (Standard) or Blue (Specialized) gear. However, for newcomers, the priority isn’t to mix and match various equipment but instead optimize gear for faster progression.
Newcomers should consider trying to find gear with similar names in order to obtain specific benefits. Ideal starting named gear to gun for throughout progression include:
22Secure Accolades For More EXP
Unlock Experience Accolades For Faster Leveling To 30
Before new players take onthe Hyenas inThe Division 2, they may first want to secure their new character’s level to safely approach the shooter’s endgame portion. Considering how progression in the title still relies heavily on Experience, newcomers may think just killing enemies on sight should power-level them to high-enough challenge tiers in a few days' worth of sessions. However, there are ways of further increasing a character’s opportunity to level up faster, courtesy of Accolades.
When players begin to take Perks from the Quartermaster, it helps to secure Accolades I to V as soon as possible. These Perks reward XP Bonuses depending on certain actions, which serve as ways to encourage players to try different gameplay strategies. These Accolades include securing kills with headshots (Headshot Accolade), crowd-based kills (Multi-Kill Accolade), hitting weak points for a harsh finish (Weakpoints Accolade), using the environment (Tactical Kill Accolade), and not dying in an extended encounter (Survivor).
21Stay Wary Of Flanking Enemies
Enemies React More Carefully To Players
WhileTheDivision 2has its own fair share ofdifficult enemies, newcomers to the game may already notice the sequel’s increased challenge with the title’s improved AI. Unlike the first game where players can go for traditional stealth gameplay or even guns-out strategies, the more reactive AI of enemies in the game can make for some intelligent gunplay on parts of the opponents.
For instance, players firing from a certain position shouldn’t stay in one place for too long as enemy reinforcements will attempt to flank them. This mechanic encourages more fluid movement on the part of players and making proper use of the game’s cover system, especially now that enemies will also actively try to get the upper hand.
20Practice Teaming Up
Teaming Up Lets Players Get More Strategic In Missions
Despite Drones, Mines, and Turrets practically allowing players ofTheDivision 2to traverse most levels alone, a lot of the fun and tactical prowess in the game is shown in its multiplayer components. And while the Dark Zone is still a hazardous area to enter for newcomers to the game, there’s still value inThe Division 2players practicing their co-op strategies, especially as they progress through their Specializations.
A key component in this multiplayer practice is to either find a collaborative group to play with, use the Matchmaking Station to get paired with other open players, or even look for Agents “Requesting Backup” from ISAC. These options likely pair players with Agents of similar skill levels and gear levels,
19Go Back To The Base After Every Level
Get Rewards At The Base For The First Few Levels
As with other RPGs, leveling up inDivision 2gameplay gives them various methods to improve their stats further. In the case of the game, Agents who level up receive Skill Points and SHD Tech they could use to unlock new abilities and obtain new Perks to personalize their Agents further. Players can only spend these points during their visits to the Quartermaster.
In turn, players may want to consider going back to the White House whenever they level up to immediately spend their points and become as optimally built as possible. While players can do the usual MMO strategy of delaying their upgrades after various levels, enemies may become a tad bit difficult to deal with once players skip enough skill-ups, making encounters unnecessarily more difficult for them.
18Get Headshot Perk To Train
Better Accuracy Means Less Time To Kill
Unlike other shooters, gameplay inDivision 2allows players access to unique buffs that vastly improve their tactical prowess through Perks. It’s Perks that give players a lot of customization options for their Agent, giving them a means of leaning towards specialties and playstyles that make them apart from other Agents who generally have access to the same tools.
For beginners, ideal Perks to pick are those that give players a lot of room for practice. A priority here would be the Headshot Accolade Perk, which provides extra XP whenever Agents pull off headshot kills. Considering how headshots can make encounters with multiple enemies much more accessible, practicing these early on can become something players can thank themselves for once they reach the game’s stricter endgame levels.
17Secure Followers To Get Projects Faster
Speed Up Progression With The Follower-Project Loop
With one of the main goals ofDivision 2being the restoration of order in Washington D.C., players are also tasked with establishing key points of “civilization” to pave the way for safe civilian settlements slowly and away fromevil entities such as the Hyenas. The gameplay describes these locations as Projects, which will not only give players extra rewards and boost XP gain but also provide new locations to Settlements.
Obtaining Projects can be tricky, however, as they’re generally tied to Followers players acquire in the game. Throughout the game’s main mission,TheDivision 2eventually tasks players to get Followers to access Projects. And before players get more Followers, they need to upgrade Projects where they come from. This “loop” of players constantly developing areas they slowly access can give them a steady stream of both Projects and Followers, and the management of the collection of these gameplay elements early on can make an Agent’s growth much easier.
16Skip Crafting Weapons For Now
Get Weapons From Missions First
One of the most exciting components ofTheDivision 2gameplay is its tactical premise in a post-apocalyptic setting. This means while players do get access to various real-life guns, they also have the option of customizing them to meet precisely the functions they need to survive in a chaotic Washington D.C. It’s exactly this crafting option thatmakesDivision 2all the more personalized for players, especially when they can craft a ton of weapons.
However, newcomers may want to skip out on crafting for now. Eliminating various opponents and clearing multiple objectives early on will give players a wide variety of weapons to use anyway, allowing them to get a grand tour of trying multiple gun types at a time. As players get further into the game’s story, they’ll eventually have a better understanding of which weapons to donate and sell, and which ones they should keep as part of their rotations.
15Avoid Stressing Over Early Builds
Get A Playstyle Before Focusing On A Build
As with any spec-ops team, Division Agentsall have Specializations in the field. For players, these served as equivalents of classes that enabled their characters to fulfill special battlefield roles. These include explosive Demolitionists, supportive Survivalists, and deadly Sharpshooters. Naturally, players who want to get a headstart in crafting effective builds would want to stick to a Specialization on the get-go.
Thankfully, this isn’t necessarily the case. In the game, players can freely switch between Specializations provided they’ve unlocked them. That way, they can prepare ideal builds based on their preferred combat roles. This also helps players avoid having to build another character.
14Cling To Old Gear For Projects
Players progressing through the game will likely gather a ton of loot - particularly gear that can improve their character’s base stats. As with any MMO, loot lovers might find it difficult to separate with even the earliest ofloot they uncover. Thankfully, the game does incentive players who periodically let go of unnecessary items.
In the player’s mission to rebuild order in Washington DC, they will be tasked to help the Division recreate critical infrastructure around the region. The game refers to these establishments as Projects, and they need players to trade in their old gear to generate new supplies. Players who complete Projects not only get rewards but also access to safe zones and unique gameplay elements.
