Mastering Mayhem: How to Earn a 5-Star Wanted Level in Watch Dogs 2
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So, you want to paint San Francisco red, white, and blue (lights) and attract the full attention of the Bay Area’s finest in Watch Dogs 2? Earning that coveted 5-star wanted level is your ticket to chaos, adrenaline-pumping chases, and a true test of your hacking and driving skills. The core principle is simple: cause enough mayhem to anger law enforcement to the maximum extent. This primarily involves committing crimes within sight of police, Albion security personnel, or triggering widespread chaos through hacking. Remember, it’s not enough to just get a wanted level; you need to escalate it to the maximum.
Step-by-Step to a Five-Star Fiesta
Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients for a five-star recipe of destruction:
- Location, Location, Location: Choose a densely populated area with a high police presence. Prime spots include:
- Downtown San Francisco: The financial district offers plenty of civilians and Albion presence.
- Oakland: The city’s bustling streets and numerous gangs provide ample opportunities for chaos.
- Trafalgar Square: A location mentioned in the provided old article, although it applies to Watch Dogs 1, it emphasizes the strategy of choosing a location with civilians and places to hide.
- Start with the Basics: Begin by committing minor crimes like:
- Vehicle Theft: Steal parked cars in plain sight.
- Reckless Driving: Speed through crowded streets, run red lights, and cause minor accidents.
- Minor Hacking: Cause distractions by hacking traffic lights, forklifts, and other environmental elements.
- Ramping Up the Offense: As your wanted level increases, escalate your actions:
- Assault: Begin attacking civilians or police officers (be prepared for a fight!).
- Property Damage: Smash through storefronts, destroy vehicles, and generally wreak havoc on public property.
- Aggressive Hacking: Trigger explosions, blackout entire city blocks, and use gang attacks to create chaos.
- Keep the Pressure On: The key is to maintain the momentum. If the police are losing sight of you, quickly commit another crime to reignite their interest.
- Albion Attention: When you commit crimes, the police will respond. However, the Albion security group will also respond if crimes are being committed in areas where they are present.
- Survive: This is the fun part. Once you’ve achieved a 5-star wanted level, your focus shifts to evasion and survival. Use your hacking skills, driving prowess, and knowledge of the city to outmaneuver and escape the relentless pursuit of law enforcement. Remember to use cover and get out of line of sight whenever possible.
- Strategic Hacking: This is your bread and butter.
- Jam Comms: Prevent police reinforcements from arriving.
- Disable Vehicles: Hack police cars to disable their engines or steering.
- Traffic Manipulation: Cause massive pileups to block pursuing vehicles.
- Environmental Exploits: Use the environment to your advantage by raising bridges, activating steam vents, or triggering explosions.
- Use the surroundings for cover: Find places the police can’t easily reach you, such as alleyways with only one entrance or places with low overhead. The police will have a hard time aiming at you if you’re in these kinds of places.
Achieving a 5-star wanted level in Watch Dogs 2 is all about calculated chaos. By combining criminal activity with strategic hacking and skillful evasion, you can transform San Francisco into your personal playground of mayhem.
Watch Dogs 2: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions to further refine your criminal masterplan in Watch Dogs 2:
1. What is the maximum level in Watch Dogs 2?
The maximum level achievable in Watch Dogs 2 is level 23. Once you hit this level, you’ve essentially maxed out your character’s progression.
2. How do I quickly lose a wanted level in Watch Dogs 2?
There are several effective methods:
- Hiding: Find a secluded spot where the police lose sight of you. Alleyways, underground parking garages, and dense foliage are your friends.
- Blending In: Act like a normal pedestrian. Avoid suspicious behavior and try to blend in with the crowd.
- Hacking: Hack pursuing police vehicles to disable them or cause them to crash.
- Jam Comms: Prevent police reinforcements from arriving by hacking their communication network.
3. What’s the best car for escaping the police in Watch Dogs 2?
Speed and maneuverability are key. Some top contenders include:
- The Fiammetta: This performance car will cost you $700,000, but it has speed, a small turning radius, and quick acceleration.
- Any Performance Car: Experiment with different vehicles to find one that suits your driving style.
4. Can you play as Aiden Pearce in Watch Dogs 2?
While Aiden Pearce is not the main character in Watch Dogs 2, he does make a brief appearance. Furthermore, he is a playable character in Watch Dogs: Legion and its Bloodline DLC.
5. Where can I find bags of money in Watch Dogs 2?
Bags of money are scattered throughout the game world. Use your NetHack ability to locate them. They often appear in gang hideouts, restricted areas, and hidden caches.
6. What are the best skills to unlock early in Watch Dogs 2?
Prioritize skills that enhance your hacking and evasion abilities:
- Botnet Upgrade: Increase your hacking capacity.
- Create Distraction: Generate diversions to distract enemies.
- Vehicle Directional Hack: Control the movement of vehicles.
- Gang Attack/APB: Suspect Located: Call in reinforcements to create chaos.
7. Is Watch Dogs 2 a direct sequel to Watch Dogs 1?
While Watch Dogs 2 shares the same universe and thematic elements as Watch Dogs 1, it features a new protagonist, setting, and storyline. Playing the first game is not required to enjoy the second.
8. What is the Zodiac Killer mission in Watch Dogs 2?
The Zodiac Killer mission is a side quest where you investigate a series of murders inspired by the infamous Zodiac Killer of the 1960s. Decrypt coded messages and track down the copycat killer. Completing this mission gets you an additional outfit.
9. What should I do after beating Watch Dogs 2?
The game continues after the main story. You can:
- Complete side missions and activities.
- Explore the open world and discover hidden secrets.
- Experiment with different hacking techniques.
- Play online with friends.
- Pursue the Platinum trophy or 100% completion.
10. How can I make money quickly in Watch Dogs 2?
Several methods exist:
- Exploit the “Eye for an Eye” mission: Repeatedly hack Pablo Cortes’ bank account.
- Participate in races.
- Find bags of money.
- Break into armored trucks.
- Complete Driver SF missions.
- Hack everyone’s bank account.
11. Are there any cheat codes for money in Watch Dogs 2?
The “Eye for an Eye” hack is commonly referred to as a money cheat. This allows you to keep the money you stole from Pablo, and then repeatedly load your most recent checkpoint. This will net you about $18,000 per iteration.
12. Is Watch Dogs 2 suitable for children?
Watch Dogs 2 contains mature themes, violence, and strong language, making it unsuitable for young children. It is generally recommended for mature audiences.
13. What are the online modes in Watch Dogs 2?
Watch Dogs 2 features several online modes, including:
- Online Hacking: Invade other players’ games and steal their data.
- Bounty Hunter: Hunt down or be hunted by other players.
- Co-op Missions: Team up with friends to complete missions and challenges.
14. Which game is better, GTA 5 or Watch Dogs 2?
The choice between GTA 5 and Watch Dogs 2 depends on your preferences. GTA 5 is known for its compelling story, memorable characters, and expansive online mode. Watch Dogs 2 offers unique hacking mechanics, a vibrant open world, and a focus on social commentary.
15. How does Watch Dogs 2 explore themes of learning and technology?
The game is developed by Ubisoft, and it explores the interplay between technology, activism, and social change, making it relevant for discussions within the Games Learning Society, which explores the relationship between video games and education. You can learn more about this organization at GamesLearningSociety.org.