Dying Light 2: Who Should You Side With? A Comprehensive Guide
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Deciding which faction to align with in Dying Light 2 is a crucial part of the gameplay experience, significantly influencing your traversal abilities, combat effectiveness, and even the overall atmosphere of Villedor. So, the direct answer to the question “Who is it best to side with in Dying Light 2?” is that there isn’t a single universally “best” faction. The ideal choice depends entirely on your personal playstyle and preferences. If you favor parkour and swift movement, the Survivors are your best bet. If you prefer direct combat and overwhelming firepower, the Peacekeepers will be a better match. The beauty of Dying Light 2 lies in this flexibility, where neither faction is truly “good” or “evil”, but each offers distinct advantages. Let’s explore these factions in detail to help you make the most informed decision.
The Survivors: Masters of Mobility
Perks and Benefits
Siding with the Survivors dramatically enhances your ability to traverse the urban landscape of Villedor. Their upgrades to the environment primarily focus on improving mobility, allowing you to quickly navigate the city and escape threats. Key Survivor perks include:
- Air Vents: Activated air vents propel you higher and further across rooftops.
- Zip Lines: Strategically placed zip lines offer fast horizontal travel.
- Landing Bags: These cushions break your falls and help you safely descend from great heights.
- Survivor Assistants: If you die from a fall, a nearby survivor can now pick you up, preventing unnecessary deaths.
- Launch Pads: These allow you to launch up and across greater distances.
These enhancements make exploration significantly more enjoyable and efficient, allowing you to quickly access hidden areas and avoid direct confrontation with infected hordes. If you prefer to avoid fights and focus on exploration, the Survivors are unequivocally the better choice. They enable you to become a true parkour master, fluidly moving through the city and only engaging in combat on your own terms.
The Peacekeepers: Power Through Force
Perks and Benefits
Choosing the Peacekeepers provides access to a different set of advantages, centered around combat prowess and control. They turn Villedor into a hazardous environment for enemies, giving you a significant edge in direct confrontations. Core Peacekeeper perks are:
- Car Traps: Activate vehicle traps to deal significant damage to nearby infected and bandits.
- Electrical Fencer Traps: Electrified fences that slow or eliminate enemies within their range.
- Cannons: Powerful cannons that can take out groups of enemies with ease.
- Lanterns: Strategically placed lanterns can be knocked down and used as Molotovs.
If you’d rather take the fight to the infected and bandits, the Peacekeepers will be your allies of choice. Their enhancements make combat less about evasion and more about aggression, transforming the environment into your personal battlefield. They allow you to confidently take on large groups of enemies, making you feel like a force to be reckoned with.
Faction Assignment: Does It Really Matter?
In Dying Light 2, assigning facilities like water towers and electrical stations directly impacts the city environment. Choosing which faction controls a given facility will determine the kind of perks you receive in that area. The choice ultimately boils down to whether you value mobility perks from the Survivors or combat advantages from the Peacekeepers more. Notably, regardless of who you assign these facilities to, you will still be able to do business and accept quests from both sides, ensuring that you aren’t locked out of content due to your alignment with one faction over the other.
The “Best” Ending and Faction Influence
Interestingly, achieving the “best” ending, often referred to as the Lawan Ending, doesn’t solely depend on your faction choices. This ending is achieved by making the following choices:
- Spare Hakon in Old Villedor.
- Give the Radio Tower to Frank.
This clearly shows that achieving the optimal outcome isn’t just about siding with one faction but about navigating critical story decisions with care. Your faction allegiance does contribute to the type of environment you’ll be playing in, it does not directly impact your overall story outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions that address key aspects of siding with factions in Dying Light 2:
1. Is there a “right” or “wrong” choice when picking a faction?
No, there is no right or wrong choice. It’s entirely about whether you value parkour and traversal more, or combat effectiveness.
2. Can you switch factions?
You cannot fully “switch” factions once you’ve started assigning facilities, but your decisions don’t lock you out of content from the other side. You can still complete quests and interact with both factions regardless of your primary allegiance.
3. What happens if you side with the Survivors?
You gain access to mobility perks like zip lines, air vents, and landing bags, making traversal significantly easier.
4. What happens if you side with the Peacekeepers?
You gain access to combat-oriented perks such as car traps, electrical fences, and cannons, making combat encounters more manageable.
5. Does assigning facilities to a faction change the story?
Assigning facilities primarily affects gameplay, altering the map with traps and tools. It does not have a direct impact on the main story or ending.
6. Does choosing one faction lock you out of content?
No, you can still complete quests and trade with both factions regardless of which one you assign facilities to.
7. Should I save Aitor if I sided with the Survivors?
Yes, saving Aitor is generally considered the best decision, regardless of your faction allegiance. Giving him the Recluse Herb will reward you later.
8. Should I trust The Colonel or Matt?
If you choose to believe The Colonel, Matt will become hostile towards you. However, if you’ve kept Frank alive, the Nightrunners will prevent Matt from ambushing you.
9. What is the best ending in Dying Light 2 and how do I get it?
The best ending is the Lawan ending, which is achieved by sparing Hakon and giving the Radio Tower to Frank.
10. Does siding with Sophie or Aitor matter?
No, siding with Sophie or Aitor both lead to the same general conclusion, so choose who you prefer.
11. Should I press Frank for the GRE key?
Pressing Frank for the GRE key has no significant impact on the overall story or ending.
12. Are the Peacekeepers evil?
The Peacekeepers are not inherently “evil,” but they are authoritarian and can seem oppressive to the Survivors.
13. Can you romance Lawan?
No, romance is not a feature in Dying Light 2, though you can still run away with Lawan in certain endings.
14. Should I fight Jack and Joe?
Helping Jack and Joe is considered the slightly better choice in terms of a moral standpoint, but it’s your decision.
15. Who gave Aiden the GRE Key?
Dylan gives Aiden the GRE key before he dies; Waltz kills Dylan trying to get it, believing he had swallowed it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the optimal faction choice in Dying Light 2 is a highly personal decision. The Survivors offer unparalleled mobility, while the Peacekeepers provide combat advantages. Both factions have their own pros and cons, neither leading to a “good” or “bad” ending by themselves. Consider your gameplay style, your goals, and the kind of experience you wish to have in Villedor. Ultimately, the best way to decide which faction to side with is to weigh their perks and benefits against your own preferences, and then simply dive in and explore what Dying Light 2 has to offer.