The Division developer Massive Entertainment outlines how loot drops will increase across the board, both in the daily story missions and the Dark Zone PvP experience.

The Division developer Massive Entertainment has finally detailed its larger plans to improve loot in game. While crafting has become the go-to source for better gear in The Division, Ubisoft and Massive hope that these new changes will urge players towards daily and weekly activities.

In a massive info dump, the developer reveals that loot is getting buffed across the board. Whether it’s daily missions, Dark Zone drops, or even new experiences – like the High Value Targets and Supply Drops – players should find that the loot is of a higher quality and gear score than in the past.

Speaking of those High Value Targets, the daily or weekly open world “boss” enemies will drop loot that starts at 182 gear score and goes up from there. The High Risk Weekly Target, in fact, can even drop a 240 gear set item, but players should be careful when attempting a takedown. It’s only possible to engage a High Risk target once per week and these enemies roll with a strong posse.

The biggest changes, of course, are coming to the Dark Zone, and not just in the new 200 GS+ Dark Zone bracket. From level 30 enemies all the way to level 34 enemies, the Dark Zone loot drops will be of a higher Gear Score than in the past.

For a full rundown of the loot changes in The Division see below:

Open World

  • High Value Target (Daily)
    • 1x 182 High End or 214 Gear Set
    • chance for 1x 191 Gear Set
  • High Value Target (Weekly)
    • 1x 182 High End or 214 Gear Set
    • chance for 1x 214 Gear Set
  • High Risk Target (Weekly)
    • 1x 204 High End or 1x 214 Gear Set
    • chance for 1x 240 Gear Set

Daily Missions

  • Hard Mode (Boss Drop)
    • 1x 163 High End
  • Hard Mode (Mission Reward)
    • 1x 163 High End
  • Challenge Mode (Boss Drop)
    • 2x 182 High End
    • 1x 182 High End or 214 Gear Set
    • chance for 1x 191 Gear Set
  • Challenge Mode (Mission Reward)
    • 1x 182 High End

Incursions

  • Hard Mode (Boss Drop)
    • 1x 204 High End Weapon
    • 1x 214 Gear Set
    • 182/204 High End or 214/240 Gear Set
  • Hard Mode (Weekly Reward)
    • 1x 204 High End Weapon
    • 1x 214 Gear Set
  • Challenge Mode (Boss Drop)
    • 1x 204 High End Weapon
    • 1x 240 Gear Set
    • 1x 204 High End or 240 Gear Set
  • Challenge Mode (Weekly Reward)
    • 1x 204 High End Weapon
    • 1x 240 Gear Set

Dark Zone (161-200)

  • Named NPC Level 30 (DZ01 and DZ02)
    • 1x 163 High End or 191 Gear Set
  • Named NPC Level 31 (DZ03 and DZ04)
    • 1x 163/182 High End or 191/214 Gear Set
  • Named NPC Level 32 (DZ05 and DZ06
    • 1x 163/182/204 High End or 191/214/240 Gear Set

Dark Zone (200+)

  • Named NPC Level 32 (DZ01 and DZ02)
    • 1x 182/204 High End or 214/240 Gear Set
  • Named NPC Level 33 (DZ03 and DZ04)
    • 1x 182/204 High End or 214/240 Gear Set
  • Named NPC Level 34 (DZ05 and DZ06)
    • 1x 204 High End or 240 Gear Set

Supply Drops (DZ 161-200)

  • DZ01 and DZ02
    • 1x 163/182 High End
    • chance for 191 Gear Set
  • DZ03 and DZ04
    • 1x 163/182 High End
    • chance for 191/214 Gear Set
  • DZ05 and DZ06
    • 1x 182/204 High End
    • chance for 214 Gear Set

Supply Drops (DZ 200+)

  • DZ01 and DZ02
    • 1x 182/204 High End
    • chance for 214/240 Gear Set
  • DZ03 and DZ04
    • 1x 182/204 High End
    • chance for 214/240 Gear Set
  • DZ05 and DZ06
    • 1x 204 High End
    • chance for 240 Gear Set
Overall, the main goal is to make loot drops feel more rewarding across the board, to give players reasons to invest as much time into The Division now as they did when it first launched. It’s a struggle that any loot-based game has, but most adapt and find a happy medium. And in most cases that happy medium, as evidenced by Diablo 3’s approach to loot, is to be more generous. It’s better to worry about enticing players back with more content then to try to keep them engaged by stifling loot drops. Whether or not Update 1.2 will have that desired effect is yet to be determined. The new Incursion for The Division is sure to be a big draw, but some would argue that the rest of the additions are repurposed content. However, many are likely just looking for any excuse to return to The Division, and Update 1.2 seems to have plenty of those. What do you think of the changes to loot drops in The Division? Will Update 1.2 encourage you to return to the game? Tom Clancy’s The Division Update 1.2 releases May 24, 2016 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Source: Ubisoft