New Player Non-Classified Build

[0033]

What's up Agents.
The last few weeks I have started a project to collect as much classified and exotic drops as I can using non-classified gear. I also wanted to share the builds I use for this in order to not only give a demonstration to new players how I get this stuff, but also to show the power and utility of Skill Builds in the Division, specifically Non-Classified Skill Builds. NO Exotics here, NO Blue Printed Weapons, NO Ninjabike, everything is very very down to earth, and shown in my video as I have in my guide. No Armchair bullsh*t, this was and is done all in the game, to be sure you can use it too - the way it is intended.

I hear a lot, a LOT of noise about how the Division is "dead". Flat out... it's a lie.
Now, I'll give it to these negative nellys, logging in to a US instance is waaaay different than joining a European instance, it's like night and day. People here just follow the herd I guess, I have met a lot of Americans who "played division" and never saw half of the end game, never got even the same amount of commendations I have, and who only have one character.... kek. ... it seems like tons of potential players would rather faf off in Division 2 or the "wooden Just Cause" Ghost Recon games. I pretty much main Division 1 at the moment and I meet a lot of new players, there are many noobing in chat, matchmaking legendary for boosts (lol), and even more who won't type anything - resigned to the idea that they "don't have the gear" to play most of the end game. So, in an effort to help these folks, I wanted to share my project and show them that Non-Classified Skill Builds can still be Kill Builds.

TACTICIANxNOMAD
https://division-builds.com/build/8165-highlife-tacxnomad

Check out my video on the page where I show gameplay from WSP (vanilla, no DLC required, this is why I am starting here) .... Not Resistance, just Div-Tech farming, deconstructing drops and doing the random missions. Next I am putting together a build for Resistance. RNGzus give me the strength and black coffee to stay awake in that bore-fest....

I'll be making video from the Underground after that, since I believe that outside of Legendaries, it is the best place to farm. The DLC, by the way, is totally worth the price. Random missions, dark, dank, quality environments, and the threat of Hunters appearing at every turn. They will outnumber your team, and kill you in an instant. They also drop pretty good loot. So if you want a PVE focused expansion where you can take your gear with you and explore a new place with friends - I highly recommend it. You can sometimes find cheap codes on some websites for it, cough cough.

Anyway. More videos and a few more ideas ahead. Going to be attempting a few legendaries too with a different non-classified build, from matchmaking, so you guys will know it's the real deal. Stay Safe out there Agents.

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Oh, and I forgot to mention, that there are a LOT of different ways to play this game, and about twice as many opinions about the topics I touched on here, helping new players, non-classified builds, etc etc. If you guys have something to add, or want to share your idea for a better way to accomplish the goals I have - please share them. I would recommend using this website division-builds, since it clearly outlines all the details of the gear and weapons for new players, without all the lingo. Thanks

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Maybe someone has some solid advice for Dark Zone? I've played a lot of PVP and... it's not for me lol. However it is worth mentioning that I think DZ is just as good as Underground, in terms of farming, with the added point that you get Div-Tech as well. I'm focusing on PVE with the idea that players need Classed sets BEFORE going into the DZ. Personally I don't feel like there is really anything new players can practically do to defend/compete against even one nerd rogue in wt5 256+ bracket without a solid PVP build, and I think we should assume these new players will be outnumbered more often than not if we will talk about DZ. Ok, I've read everyone's mind I think, signing off!

[it's a gabe]

First of all, as someone who prefers the first game over the second, I get your sentiment. But I think the entire paragraph you spent dissing the sequel and those who didn't give the first a chance was unnecessary. Unfortunately, the game is indeed dead. It might not be a ghosttown depending on where you live, but the player base is only a shadow of its former self and there will be no more content updates. That's basically what defines a dead game. We who love games in a state where TD is right now might try and say "oh, the game isn't DEAD, but there aren't that many players as before." But the harsh reality is that yes, the game is dead.

Now to what really matters:

1. I think you're going about this the wrong way. Instead of showing to newbies that they can run non-classified builds (which would still require a ninja backpack for optimized mixed builds, otherwise you won't get the actual benefits of one of the sets you're mixing up), I think explaining what sort of content you can start at might be a better idea. It's slow, it's something a lot of people dismiss (especially veterans), but LZ bosses is a wonderful daily farming source for anyone who's either not confident enough in their skills or doesn't have the gear to run legendaries and resistance without being a liability. Heck, they can even be a fun way for veterans to try their luck on drops without dedicating the time and energy more difficult activies require. A DPS build breezes through them in an instant.

2. Farming division tech at the WSP is actually a pretty bad idea. It's far more profitable to focus on dailies, weeklies, and even tech caches in the DZ. You get 25 div. tech from each daily cache while WSP activities reward you a maximum of 3 (although that might be a stretch as I think we only get 1, so anyone feel free to correct me). You also get very little tech from dismantling items. For example, you can dismantle all of the drops you get and be rewarded up to 5 or 7 tech, even if you had about 20 drops or so. And finally, division shields, each giving 500 tech. Some of those are laughably easy to complete, especially if you got someone to help you with them. Definitely worth it and it goes a long way.

3. You are right that there's a lot of different ways to play the game. But mixing non-classified gear (especially if you're not using a ninja backpack) is undeniably weaker than a full classified set. The problem here is that I'm seeing too much effort in your discourse about making the game appealing to newbies by showing how they can use what they have (although they gotta farm those regulalr set pieces and there's no guarantee they'll get them anyway). As I said, I think it's better to show that there are ways for them to get started on endgame before they can jump into heavier activities without being a liability. I should know because optimizing a non-classified set is actually quite a waste of resources for nothing, cuz you're still not able to run stuff such as legendaries and resistance as efficiently as someone with a 6-piece. I've been there. But then, if a newbie with a mixed set finds a party willing to carry them (which they most likely will if they're conscious enough to stay back instead of trying to take on enemies as if they were as strong as someone with a classified set), then that's great. Better chances at classified and exotics. Otherwise, I don't think that's the sort of thing we should be encouraging because once again, mixed sets are undeniably weaker when compared to 6-piece classified sets and it shows. I've been there, as many of us have. And a twig throwing itself in the middle of a storm isn't helpful to anyone.

4. The DZ is actually the worst place to farm anything but division tech (and even then, dailies and weeklies are more reliable sources). And the reason you're having a hard time at the DZ is because everyone there is running with 6-pieces classified sets fully optimized for PVP. For instance, you'll never be able to take on a classified Nomad, whether they dumped resources into FA or STAM. It's not impossible to get to their level, but it's gonna take time. Unfortunately, it's just unrealistic to try and take on them with a mixed regular set that doesn't even have the ninja backpack. You will never have the stats because exotic gear and regular set pieces have a cap below classified pieces.

Now here's what we should actually be encouraging newbies to do:

1. Farm what you can. If you can't find a party to carry you through legendaries, resistance, and challenging UG, then do LZ bosses, hard to challenging missions, maybe even craft some regular set pieces when possible. It's gonna be slow, but less frustrating. And since drop is randomized throughout the entire game, they should keep their eyes out for a ninja backpack. Here's why:
- The ninja backpack counts as a backpack from all sets, meaning you effectively have four pieces of one and three pieces of the other equipped.
- When you have three pieces of one set and three of the other equipped, you only gain the effect of the 3-piece bonus for each. The 4-piece bonus of many sets is very useful and anyone without a 6-piece classy should find a 4-piece bonus that works for them. This is literally what the ninja backpack was designed for and anyone should focus on one before a classified set because outside of GEs, you'll likely have a ninja backpack and a bunch of set pieces before you have a 6-piece classified set.

2. You're right about UG being great for newbies. WSP? I'm not sure about that. That area can be quite difficult if you don't have the skill and stats to power through the many ambushes. Not only that, but running only with the 3-piece bonus from two sets doesn't amount to a whole lot. That you can do that is proof that you're skilled. But you shouldn't assume everyone else is gonna be on that same level, especially because you seem to be a veteran from some of the things you've said. But most importantly, GLOBAL EVENTS! That's the best way to get classified pieces and newbies can get in on the party as well. If they got no one to carry them through challenging or legendary missions, they can farm hard at their own pace (and it's impoortant to note that a bunch of activities award GE credits, even LZ bosses). This might be a case where I think the 1500 caches are quite useful, but this is a topic for another time. So here's what I think newbies should stick to if they have no one to carry them:
- LZ bosses
- Dailies and weeklies
- UG
- Global events

At the end of the day, newbies just gotta power through with whatever they can get until they get their hands on a ninja backpack, at which point they'll be able to come up with more efficient combos that will help them get into challenging missions and even incursions and resistance with the right party (althouugh they still won't be strong enough, and that's just the reality). The goal from there should be looking for classified pieces and exotic weapons.