Ubisoft’s new season for Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2, Rise Up, focuses on an intensified Black Tusk offensive and introduces features designed for experienced players. If you’ve completed the campaign and reached Level 40, this update offers fresh challenges to try out optimized builds, hunt for rare Prototype gear, and take on some of the toughest threats in the open world.
Escalation: endgame runs with real stakes
Escalation is the main attraction, a weekly rotation of replayable missions and strongholds with 10 difficulty levels. Each run is a one-shot deal with no checkpoints, higher levels require Escalation Tokens to try but offer bigger rewards and more tokens if you succeed.
Different mutators like Harvester, Suppressor, and Aid Specialist shake up enemy behavior at each level. Matchmaking matches you with players tackling the same difficulty, so you can team up for the challenge. Escalation is also the best place to hunt for Prototype Gear, making it the go-to grind for players after the best loot.
Prototype Gear: push your build ceiling
Prototype Gear takes things up a notch from High-End and Named items, with higher attribute limits and a fresh set of Augments, which are special effects that improve the more you use them and can be rerolled with Prototype Cores. Once you hit Level 40 and max Expertise, you can convert most High-End and Named items into Prototype versions by spending a Prototype Core.
This guarantees one attribute will hit the new max, and others might roll higher too. Since Prototype items can’t be recalibrated after conversion, it’s smart to farm carefully and keep multiple copies if you’re aiming to optimize. Prototype Cores are rare, mostly earned by dismantling Prototype Gear or found in raid and incursion rewards.
Retaliation and Black Tusk escalation
Black Tusk is back with new Retaliation tactics and tougher Kill Squads. Now, if a Retaliation mission is lost, they can take over Control Points. Taking down Black Tusk forces might reward you with DIAMOND Transceivers, which unlock Retaliation blueprints.
Kill Squads, including the elite BTSU Team 9, offer risky but rewarding fights that can drop blueprints for rare Exotics and Climax exclusives. Some handy improvements include the Agitation Overclock, letting you face up to three Retaliations in a row, an in-game timer to track event playtime, longer loot windows, and matchmaking tailored for Retaliation missions.
Recombinant modifiers: customize your tech loadout
The new Recombinant system lets you customize your Offense, Defense, and Utility stacks using Active and Passive Modifiers. Active Modifiers like Blackout Pulse, Cloud Armor, and Optimize/Overload give you abilities that get stronger the more you use them.
Passive Modifiers change how your stacks work and can be combined for layered effects. Enemies can fight back with countermeasures like System Drain, Inversion Field, and Obstructor Virus that mess with your modules, making battles more tactical and rewarding players who stay alert.
Weapons, gear sets, and weapon‑swap gameplay
This season puts the spotlight on weapon swapping and adapting on the fly. New Exotics like the Agitator AR and the Whiplash pistol (which you get for sure after your first Climax) bring swap-priming mechanics that reward good timing and smooth play. New gear sets like Core Strength and Royal Works, along with named pieces, offer talents that work great with swapping. These are ideal for players who prefer staying agile and flexible instead of sticking to one playstyle.
Story content, Classified Assignments, and progression
Two new Classified Assignments, Library of Congress Retrieval and The Capitol Globe Anomaly, bring focused, exploration-rich missions filled with collectibles, echoes, and unique rewards. The Season Pass is back with free and premium tracks, featuring cosmetics, weapon skins, named gear, and Premium Credits. For those wanting it all, there’s a Premium+ bundle available. Plus, a one-time offer combines Premium Credits with the Bug Mask headgear for quick value.
Who this season is for
Rise Up really shines for endgame players. Escalation and Prototype Gear offer a satisfying cycle for those who love hunting loot and fine-tuning their builds. Black Tusk’s new Retaliation tactics and Kill Squads bring tougher challenges to the open world. The Recombinant system and weapon-swap talents encourage flexible, tactical play, while the Classified Assignments add rich story moments and exploration for fans of environmental storytelling.
Quick tips to get started
Start Escalation at lower Tiers
To get a feel for the mutators before using your tokens on tougher runs.
Collect Prototype Cores
By breaking down extra Prototype gear and searching raid or incursion rewards.
Make the most of weapon-swap talents
With the new Exotics and named weapons, timing your swaps is key.
Team up for Kill Squads
BTSU Team 9 is tough alone, so bring friends and plan your roles carefully.
Rise Up changes The Division 2’s late game by introducing deeper progression and tougher, more strategic challenges. This is ideal for agents looking to fine-tune their builds and take back the city.