Fans of Ghost Recon Breakpoint can explore the game's captivating open world of Auroa and its many biomes in teams of four, be it throughout the story or the game's many DLCs. Interestingly, fans up for a challenge might have the "Project Titan" DLC in their crosshairs. This DLC takes place in the dangerous Golem Island, located north east of Auroa. In this raid, players not only need to fight against elite enemies, but also an active volcano that adds a new level of lethality to Ghost Recon's elite missions.
However, Golem Island as a setting might be more than just a DLC location. Players who take the time to explore Golem Island might find some clues to some of the secrets it's hiding, and how it affects Auroa and Breakpoint from a lore perspective.
Updated on August 22, 2021 by Rhenn Taguiam: In its original introduction, Golem Island served as a restricted volcanic island located to the northeast of Auroa. Unlike other Breakpoint zones, players either had to go to Golem Island on official missions, or exploit a glitch and risk going solo in one of the most dangerous zones in the game. Thanks to a 2020 patch, solo players can finally go to Golem Island unhindered, and enjoy its scenery or fight its combatants. However, being able to explore Golem Island without limitations does open up some interesting insights into the Island’s nature, purpose, and history. For Ghost Recon lore fans, Golem Island is packing with lore that further expands on factions and concepts in Breakpoint as a whole.
14 Enter The Three Sectors*
Newcomers to Golem Island will soon realize that the Island is actually divided into three Sectors. Similar to the entire map of Auroa, the sub-area of Golem Island has scattered biomes of their own. As it is, explorers will absolutely adore Golem Island for its stunning landscapes, making it perfect for photo capturing.
In terms of exploration, players need to note that each Sector within Golem Island has different themes.
- Sector 1 to the upper-left contains a mixture of rocky landscapes to the beginnings of a forest. A lot of ruins and fewer opponents are located here.
- Sector 2 to the lower-left is home to a lush forest and various research facilities. Enemies flock to the area but the Island provides enough cover for players to sneak around.
- Sector 3 to the upper right lies near the dormant volcano in the Island. This Sector contains some of the more vital research facilities of the Island, making it more guarded compared to other parts of the Island.
13 Home To Project Titan
The main importance of Golem Island when it comes to Breakpoint lore lies in its very purpose. Prior to its occupation by the Red Wolves, Skell Technology developed the volcanic island precisely to house their military research unit. Unlike other parts of Auroa, Golem Island is precisely dedicated to researching experimental drones. Due to the research’s sensitivity, Skell implemented a self-learning AI to protect the island. When the Red Wolves cemented their occupation, they reprogrammed the AI to work to their advantage.
This tampering with the AI explains why Titans Alpha, Beta, Omega, and Zeta were reprogrammed to fight the players. The advanced algorithms of the AI may explain why boss battles introduce unique gameplay mechanics exclusive to the Island.
12 Raid Approached In Sequence
Players who want to accomplish the Golem Island raid should remember that it’s a straightforward mission divided into four parts. Unlike other raids, Golem Island will need players to accomplish each segment in sequence to fully complete the challenge. Each segment is stealth missions designed for players to gather intel and eliminate enemies quietly before a multi-stage boss fight.
When facing the titans, here's what players should keep in mind:
- Titan Alpha Baal: Stay away from its deadly lasers while attacking its weak spots.
- Titan Beta Super Computer: Players must destroy servers while fighting drones and toxic gas.
- Titan Omega Gargoyle: Players need to fight a large floating drone while avoiding area-wide lasers.
- Titan Zeta Cerberus: Players will have to fight three drones at once.
11 Solo Exploration Still Holds Loot
Thanks to the November 2020 update, players can finally explore Golem Island without the need to participate in the raid. Additionally, players can actually gather loot via Golem Island Missions and via Chests scattered around the Island. Here are the aforementioned items:
Golem Island Missions:
- Heli Helmet
- Wolf Mask
- PASGT Helmet
- Revision Bullet ANT Goggles
- Wolf Fingerless Gloves
- Sentinel Knee Pads
- Walker Vest
- TAC Tailor Operator Pack
- MICROT1 +G33 Scope
Golem Island Chests:
- Oakley Halo Goggles
- 5.11 Burner Sunglasses
- Heavy Duty Gas Mask
- Revision ComCenter2 Headset
- Wolf Gloves
- S&S Plate Frame
- Eagle Industries Chest Rig
- Blackhawk Lightweight Knee Pads
- MK17 Shorty
- TAVOR Assault
- Stoner Compact
- M4 Shorty
- RU12SG Assault
- Tactical Vertical Foregrip
- Vented Angled Foregrip
10 Previously Accessible Via Raids Only
Newcomers to Breakpoint might wonder about the significance of being able to access Golem Island. However, it's important for new players to understand that Golem Island used to be a raid-only map. As fans might remember, Golem Island serves as the setting of the "Project Titan" free DLC. Back then, as a raid-only zone, this means players need three to be in a squad with three other players just to access the island. Unfortunately, the urgency of the raid's missions means there won't be much time to explore the island, further.
Players back then who attempt to access the island won't even make it that far into the island. Players who try to get to Golem Island via boat or aircraft will meet a fiery doom at the hands of Legion drones guarding the island.
9 Solo Players Once Needed A Glitch
Even the best players of Breakpoint know that nothing is ever "inaccessible" to special agents. Back when Golem Island was raid-only, players found a way to actually access the island solo. Unfortunately, it did need a bit of a gitch back then to work. Players need to get first to the WIld Island Bivouac on the far northeastern end of Auroa before getting on a chopper headed straight to Wreck Ship Bivouac, located on the south side of the island.
When they reach the Wreck Ship Bivouac, they should continue further to the center of the island, following the open crevice. This should bring their chopper to another bivouac, the Sector 2 Western Bivouac. Players will trigger the Legion swarm before even reaching any further. The drones will destroy the chopper and kill the player. They will end up in the Sector 2 Western Bivouac as soon as they respawn, giving them free access to the rest of the island.
8 No Bosses During The Glitch
Players who get glitched solo access to a special area will likely get special perks, right? Unfortunately, players couldn't say the same with Golem Island back then. If players used that glitch to enter Golem Island, they'll likely encounter the same set of elite troops as those in the raid. There won't be any bosses as they appeared in the raid. Unfortunately, this means solo players can't use glitched-based Golem Island as practice, should they want to know how the bosses acted before joining a raid team.
It seems the recent "legit" solo mode of Golem Island has this caveat as well, meaning players really need to tap into their squads in order to relish in the full glory of destroying Titan drones.
7 Access With Specifics
As a solo experience, Golem Island gives players a ton of specific solo options to accomplish. For instance, Golem Island contains 12 mission milestones, 15 unique settlements, and 50 wild mysteries for players to discover.
Just because Ubisoft opened access to Golem Island in solo mode doesn't necessarily mean it's free real estate for anyone. In fact, players still need to accomplish certain objectives in order to get full access to Golem Island and its solo features. Players need to head to Erewhon and talk to Jericho after completing the "No Way Out" mission.
6 Drone Specialization
Fans who play through the Golem Island raid will notice that all of its bosses are Titan drones. Franchise fans know these Titan drones as "boss forms" of drones in the franchise. Unlike older games such as Ghost Recon Predator and Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Breakpoint's drones seem more sophisticated, courtesy of Skell Technology's research.
Whereas Auroa serves as its main research hub, Skell used Golem Island for its experimental drone research. Unfortunately, Golem Island was left largely abandoned when the Red Wolves took over the Island.
5 Red Wolves Hold The Area
Players might notice that the Wolves hold official guardianship over Golem Island. However, these Wolves don't seem to have any idea about the main businesses of the Wolves faction in the main game. That's because the Wolves here are the "Red Wolves," a splinter faction that took over Golem Island. While they look like ordinary Wolves, Red Wolves have red masks instead of the usual grey and black of the original faction.
Back then, the Wolves programmed a self-learning AI to manage all aspects of the Island's operations. Unfortunately, the Red Wolves got to "reprogram" the self-learning AI to serve their interests.
4 Hidden Mass Grave Mystery
Players who visit Golem Island will definitely remember the large crevice that divides Sectors 1 and 2 of the main island. However, players can actually find some mysteries inside that very crevice, if they know where to look. Somewhere in the crevice north of Golem Island Heliport is a small cave that players can only access once they get themselves prone.
However, once inside, what they see is one of the biggest mysteries in the game so far. Players can only describe it as a mass grave, given the rather ludicrous amount of grave markings and tombstones inside, as well as a few lit candles. None of the names in the tombstone are legible.
3 Mysterious Dead Body
The appearance of a dead body in Golem Island with no possible interactions creates a point of contention amongst lore fans of the game. In Golem Island, players can head to the very end of the Sector 1 and 2 crevices, and then turn right to see a bush hiding an opening.
Players who do get to see this opening will see the body of a dead soldier and some supplies beside them. Eagle-eyed fans will notice two shots below the chest, possibly the killing wounds. Interestingly, players suspect this soldier died because of a drone attack. However, another point of contention is the fact that the soldier is from Sentinel, the very faction the drones work for.
2 New Critical Threats
Players who play Breakpoint today can enjoy new perks when undertaking the Golem Island raid. For instance, players now have access to Threat: Critical settings for Golem Island. This Hardcore Mode gives players access to harder objectives, tougher enemies, and better loot. To access Threat: Critical, players need to have 150 Gear Score. In exchange, Threat: Critical enemies now have 300 Difficulties. Moreover, more enemies arrive in waves, and bosses have shorter ability cooldowns.
Even game modifiers in Golem Island change depending on a shuffle system. The game pool adds two Major and one MInor Modifier in every Golem Island instance. Major Modifiers include losing current ammo when reloading a weapon or only having one main weapon. Meanwhile, Minor Modifiers include the activation of friendly fire.
1 Chill In The Island
Players who want a more enjoyable experience in Golem Island can apply Threat: Low modifiers to a standard raid. As with Threat: Critical, Threat: Low adds a new twist to enemy patterns in any raid, which players can try out in Golem Island. Unlike Threat: Critical, Low Threat raids only have a 150 Gear Score minimum. Enemies will low their difficulty to 250 in Threat: Low. Moreover, bosses here have longer ability cooldowns and the absence of second-phase fights.
Granted, some players might see Threat: Low as an easy way out for "casuals." However, a biome as diverse as Golem Island can be enjoyed fully with friends in Threat: Low without the pressure of taking down enemies.