In the Ubisoft Lounge we had access to the new Underground content and could directly talk with the responsible developers about the new mechanics and how the whole system works. This is the summary of what I could learn so far from the developers and from playing the new content. Please note, that this build was still in development, so it is still subject to change.

What is UndergroundUnderground is a completely new addition to The Division and has the goal to give the players new endgame content that can be enjoyed by more causal/solo players but also by high-end groups that can farm Challenge Mode Incursions.
Let’s take a look at the different mechanics and systems that will be added with Underground:
How can I access Underground?

To access Underground, you first need to finish a mission that will be available for all players (not only Season Pass owners). It will appear on the Mega-Map when you have reached level 30 and it will lead you to Chelsea. There you start an investigation, that will - without giving too much away - establish the stakes of Underground and why you venture into the dangerous underworld of Manhattan.
After this mission is complete, you can access the Tactical Operation Center in the Base of Operation. This is a safe underground area that is basically your new hub to group up with other players, restock, buy items from the Underground Vendor and start the Operations.
The Fight is never the same
It is the goal of Underground to give players new content that stays fresh and is different every time you play it. Each time you start an Operation, the details and the layout progression will be randomly generated and depending on the faction you are fighting, the objectives and the story of the Operation, you will encounter a different Operation.
Operation ParametersNot only the layout of the Operation is generated, there are also a lot more layers that should make each run unique:
Random Enemies- Each time you start a mission, one of the four enemy factions (Rioters, Cleaners, Rikers, LMBs) will be selected as your opponent.
Random Objectives
- Each Operation has a randomly selected Objectives that can range from killing an enemy boss, to save JTF soldiers or just get GPS coordinates (these are just examples).
- Sometimes there is even a time-limit that forces you to push on.
Random Hazards
As you are exploring the tunnels of Underground you can encounter multiple hazards:
- Traps
You can encounter the already known traps – such as Mines or Napalm bombs - but now you can also encounter Skill Jammers. The Skill Jammers – as the name suggests – prevent you from using any skills as long as you are in the area of effect. The Jammers will announce themselves with a sound that resembles a heartbeat.
- Environmental
Some areas can have can have smoke, fire or electricity hazards that can damage or kill you. But there is a counter for each hazard. Electricity for example can be deactivated with buttons on the walls. (you can also run through it)
New Mechanics
- Zone Alarms - The enemies can activate an alarm with a button on the wall. As long as this alarm is active, new enemies will spawn. You can deactivate this alarm by interacting with the alarm button or just shooting it from the distance.
1-4 Players
While Incursions are balanced for a 4 player group, Underground can be played solo or in a group. This allows all players to take on this new challenge and get the new equipment and weapons.
Operation start and configurationWhen you start a new Operation you can select multiple options that will define your experience in the Operation:
Difficulty- You can select four difficulties. Normal, Hard, Challenge and Heroic. While normal difficulty requires a low gear-score that equals the level you have with a few equipped purples, the higher difficulties require very good equipment to even attempt.
Phases- Each Operation can have 1-3 Phases that can be selected and basically define the lengths of the Operation. When you only have a short time-window, just select one phase, or select 2-3 phases, when you have the whole evening. This way you can tailor the Operation to your situation.
Directives
- When you start an Operation, you can select 0-5 Directives, that have a small or a very high impact on the Operation. While some directives just hide the minimap, others will constantly damage you.
- You can select zero, just a few or all of them to make the mission more or less difficult.
No respawn / No Checkpoints
Underground has no checkpoints and there are no respawns. So, when you have a wipe, the Operation is over and you have to restart again. But that is the high risk / high reward system.
Restock CratesThe Restock Crates are scattered all over the Operation. While some will only give ammo, others will give you Med-Packs and grenades. So you will be able to restock your Med-Packs during the Operation. Of course you can also fully restock in the Tactical Operation Center.
Different Difficulties / Requirements
Underground can be played in four difficulties (normal – heroic). These are the gear-score requirements and other conditions you have to consider:
Normal
- Gear Score: 112
- Possible Phases: 1
- Level 31 Veteran / Elite enemies
Hard
- Gear Score: 160
- Possible Phases: 1-3
- Level 32 Veteran / Elite Enemies
Challenge
- Gear Score: 200
- Possible Phases: 1-3
- Level 34 Elite enemies
Heroic
- Gear Score: 230
- Possible Phases: 2-3
- Level 35 Elite enemies
Operation Directives
As mentioned above, you can select 0-5 Directives that have a small or a huge impact. These are the Directives you can select and how they change the mission. To activate the different Directives in an Operation you need to reach a specific Underground Rank first. After that you can simply use the directive any time you want.
Fog of War
- Hides the Minimap
Special Forces
- Enemies have special ammo
Waste not Want not
- Enemies don´t drop ammo
- When you reload with a half used magazine, you will lose the remaining bullets
Mad Skills
- When you use one skill, both are placed on cooldown. Additionally, using a Signature Skill will trigger the cooldown for everyone in the group.
Sickness
- You take constantly damage until only one health-segment is left.
- When you want to get you full health back again, you need to heal yourself or use a med-pack
Directive Intel
Directive Intel can drop from named enemies or are random drops from killed NPCs. This is the new currency that is introduced with Underground. It is needed to activate the Directives for the Operations. Each time you activate a Directive you have to pay a Directive Intel. When you restart the Operation, you have to pay again.
New CollectiblesUnderground is not only just a new area; it also tells a story that can be explored. To help you understand the story, 55 new collectibles have been added to the the area.
New Vanity ItemsAs revealed during the Ubisoft Press Conference, there will be 3 new cosmetic sets (Ghost Recon Wildlands / Splinter Cell / RainbowSix Siege) that will be added for free. In addition to that, there is also new special Underground vanity set.
Underground RankUnderground introduces a new Rank-System into The Division. It is called Underground Rank. As you do Operations in Underground you will get Underground XP and this way you can rank up your character, unlock Operation Directives, get access to better loot drops and higher quality equipment from the Underground Vendor. As you rank up, the enemies in the Operations will also get stronger. As of now, the Underground Rank Cap has not been revealed.
Underground VendorYou can find the Underground Vendor in the Tactical Operation Center. This vendor sells – among other things - Blueprints for the new gear-sets. Like the Dark Zone Vendors, you need a specific Underground Rank to buy specific items.
New Gear ScoresWith Underground we get a gear-score upgrade. With 1.3 the new max-gear-scores are:
Equipment: 268
Weapons: 229
This new gear-score equipment is not restricted to Underground content. With the new Heroic Difficulty that has been added to Story Missions that have Challenge Mode Difficulty and all Incursions – all players can get the new gear-score items.
New Gear SetsUnderground also introduces new gear-sets that give the current combat-meta an additional twist.
Please note, that all numbers are from a development build and are still subject to change.
FireCrest
2 Piece Bonus:
+3 Incendiary Bullets
3 Piece Bonus:
+100 reload speed
4 Piece Bonus:
Killing a burning enemy grans Incendiary Bullet
This can be a very interesting combination with shotguns and CQC characters, that can now literally burn through enemies. Especially with the “Waste not Want not” Directive active, where the enemies don´t drop ammo, you need all the bonus DPS that you can get.
B.L.I.N.D.
2 Piece Bonus:
100% Critical Hit Damage
3 Piece Bonus:
100% Blind / Deaf resistance
4 Piece Bonus:
Killing a target creates a Flashbang effect at that position.
This is a very tactical set, that helps you control the battlefield. In combination with a Marksmen Rifle, where you can take out enemies from the distance, you can support your front-line team members by chain-stunning the enemies. Or you can also use it - like FireCrest - as CQC build.
Reclaimer
2 Piece Bonus:
100% Support Station healing speed
3 Piece Bonus:
50% longer Consumables Duration
4 Piece Bonus:
Consumables and Special Ammo applies to the whole group and no longer consume Inventory
That is a very classic support set that allows you to heal your group and support them with healing, status effect removal and damage boost from consumables.
New IncursionWith the Underground DLC we also get the new Incursion “Dragon´s Nest”. It is located in Hells Kitchen and – as the title suggest – your main opponent are the cleaners. They have been working on a new type of weapon, that if deployed would wreak havoc on the streets of Manhattan. Players have to breach the facility they are working in, fight their way through flames and smoke until they finally reach the Dragon’s nest. It has also been confirmed, that the last boss will be a modified fire truck that spits fire.
1.3 Public ContentThere has been a lot of confusion what will be public/free content and what will be paid DLC content. As of now, these are the Updates that will be available for all players:
Balancing
With 1.3 all weapon archetypes get a specific perk:
- SMGs = Critical Hit Damage Bonus
- Assault Rifles = Enemy Armor Damage Bonus
- LMG = More damage to targets out of cover
- Shotguns = Added Stagger
- Marksman Rifles = Headshot Damage
Bugfixing
New Challenge Mode Missions
- Hudson Yard and Queen’s Tunnel
New Heroic Difficulty
- Story Missions with Challenge Mode Difficulty
- all Incursions (Dragon´s Nest only for Underground owners)