This is my complete guide for the Dark Hours raid in The Division 2. It’s designed for players with little to no experience with this raid.
But this guide is just the beginning—I also have additional guides that dive deeper into the specific roles I’ll be covering today. These extra guides focus entirely on each role, providing full gameplay from start to finish.
You’ll find links to the extra content at the end of this guide, and if you prefer a video format, I’ve included that below as well.
- Dark Hours Raid Introduction
- Dark Hours Raid – Tarmac
- Dark Hours Raid – Boomer Boss
- Dark Hours Raid Key 1
- Dark Hours Raid – Weasel Boss
- Backpack Trophy
- Dark Hours Raid Key 2 & 3
- Dark Hours Raid – Lucy & Buddy Boss
- Dark Hours Raid Key 4
- Dark Hours Raid – Razorback Boss
- Other Commendations
- All 40 Bear Locations
- Extended Guides
Dark Hours Raid Introduction
Please note that this guide covers the normal version of the Dark Hours raid, not the Discovery version. The Discovery version is a matchmade experience designed for players to test the raid with easier mechanics. However, certain rewards, including the raid exotic, are not obtainable in Discovery mode.
Guide Format:
- A full walkthrough of the raid from start to finish
- A breakdown of every mechanic and how to complete each encounter
- An explanation of the builds and strategies I use in my streams
- A detailed look at every commendation tied to this raid
- Guidance on obtaining the backpack trophy and raid keys
Also, keep in mind that these are the strategies and builds I prefer to use. There are countless viable setups and approaches to this raid. For example, if you’re not a fan of using Glass Cannon like I do, you can swap it for a different talent or build that still gets the job done.
Dark Hours Raid – Tarmac
Your first objective in the raid is to clear the tarmac and reach the first boss encounter. As your team ascends the rope, enemies will spawn on both the left and right sides. I like to split the team into two subgroups—one covering the left and the other covering the right. You’ll encounter drones, Chungas, and eventually Warhounds as you progress.
There are no special mechanics in this section—simply eliminate the enemies and move forward. In terms of builds, I have my team set up with the same loadouts we’ll be using for the first boss fight, including a healer to keep everyone sustained on the tarmac.
You might also spot a few blue bears hidden in this area. These will be covered at the end of the guide, where I’ll share the locations of all 40. Shooting them all is required to complete a commendation.
Dark Hours Raid – Boomer Boss
Encounter Overview:
Boomer is the first boss encounter in the raid and also one of the more challenging fights. Your team will need to manage enemy spawns while kiting Boomer around the room for damage phases. If you take too long to defeat him, he will destroy one of the mounted guns needed for the fight. Once both guns are gone, it’s game over, so efficiency is key.
Boomer also has a self-healing mechanic—when his chest glows green, he will regenerate health. Additionally, there are laptop phases, where failing to interact with the laptops in time will cause nodes to rise, making all enemies within their radius immune.
Key Aspects of This Fight:
- Ad Control
- Boomer Kiting
- Laptop Phases
Ad Control
I assign four players to cover the ad spawn locations, with their sole focus being enemy elimination. One player acts as a floater, keeping an eye on all spawns and assisting where needed. Two players are responsible for kiting and damaging Boomer, while the final team member is a healer, ensuring everyone stays alive and following the kiters.
Laptop Phases
The floater is responsible for monitoring the laptop sequence. An alarm will signal when laptops need to be interacted with, and screens will display which ones (A, B, C, or D) need activation. The number of laptops required depends on how much damage has been dealt to Boomer:
- If only one laptop is needed, the floater handles it.
- If two, the healer takes the second.
- If three, a player from ad control steps in.
- If all four are required, an additional ad-control player assists.
Failing to interact with the laptops in time causes four nodes to spawn, making enemies immune. To remove them, players must get on the two mounted guns and shoot the nodes down.
Boomer Encounter Strategy
This section covers my Boomer strategy, detailing all eight agent roles and builds needed to complete the encounter efficiently.
Agent 1 – Ongoing Directive (DPS Support Build)
- Specialization: Firewall
- Primary Weapon: Carbine 7 (or any high-end AR with Damage to Target out of Cover & Vindictive)
- Secondary Weapon: Exotic Scorpio
- Gear: Ongoing Directive set with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage (Mask, Gloves, Holster, Kneepads)
- Chest: Grupo with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage (Overwatch talent)
- Backpack: Uzina Getica – The Setup with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Assault Turret
Role:
- Take cover at Door 40 and remain there to keep the Overwatch buff active for teammates.
- Clear ads at Door 40 and Donut Shop while generating Ongoing Directive (OD) rounds by tagging enemies with Scorpio before finishing them off. Switching to your assault rifle before the enemy dies will allow you to transfer OD rounds to it, enabling you to proc OD with your AR.
- Use the Assault Turret to draw aggro and assist with clearing ads.
Agent 2 – Floater (DPS/Glass Cannon Striker Build)
- Specialization: Demolitionist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic St. Elmo’s (or any AR with Damage to Target out of Cover)
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (Perfect Sledgehammer)
- Gear: Striker set with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage (Mask, Backpack, Gloves, Holster)
- Chest: Ceska with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance & Critical Hit Damage (Glass Cannon talent)
- Kneepads: Overlord – Fox’s Prayer with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Assault Turret
Role:
- Monitor Donut Shop Corner, Burger Corner, and Doors 43 & 44 for ad control.
- Prioritize Doors 43 & 44, assisting the agent assigned there when needed.
- Laptop Phases: Identify which laptops (A, B, C, or D) need activation and call them out. Interact with one yourself and assign teammates as needed.
Agent 3 – Burger Corner Ad Clear (Striker DPS w/ Tamper Proof Build)
- Specialization: Demolitionist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic St. Elmo’s (or any AR with Damage to Target out of Cover)
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (Perfect Sledgehammer)
- Gear: Striker set with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage (Backpack, Gloves, Kneepads, Holster)
- Chest: Ceska with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage (Tamper Proof talent)
- Mask: Exotic Coyote’s Mask
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Sniper Turret
Role:
- Cover Burger Corner ad spawn using Sniper Turret to proc Tamper Proof and control enemies.
Agent 4 – Donut Shop Ad Clear (Tardigrade DPS Build)
- Specialization: Sharpshooter
- Primary Weapon: Exotic St. Elmo’s (or any AR with Damage to Target out of Cover)
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (Perfect Sledgehammer)
- Gear: Striker set with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage (Mask, Backpack, Gloves, Holster)
- Chest: Exotic Tardigrade
- Kneepads: Overlord – Fox’s Prayers with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Tactician Drone
Role:
- Cover Door 40 and Donut Shop alongside Agent 1.
- Deploy Tactician Drone in the center for enemy scanning.
- Assist with laptop phases when 3+ laptops are required.
Agent 5 – Gun 41 & Boomer Kiter (Future Initiative DPS Build)
- Specialization: Survivalist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic St. Elmo’s (or any AR with Damage to Target out of Cover)
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (Perfect Sledgehammer)
- Gear: Future Initiative set with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage (Chest, Gloves, Kneepads, Holster)
- Mask: Exotic Coyote’s Mask
- Backpack: Grupo with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage (Vigilance talent)
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Assault Turret
Role:
- Start on Gun 41 to shoot down nodes at the beginning.
- Kite Boomer to Gun 45, ensuring he follows you by shooting his green chest to gain aggro.
- Work with Agent 7 to cycle Boomer between Gun 45 and Gun 41 for consistent damage.
- Shoot his backpack to make him kneel so damage can be done.
- Interrupt healing by shooting his glowing green chest when it glows.
Agent 6 – Healer (True Patriot Healer Build)
- Specialization: Survivalist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic Scorpio Shotgun
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (Perfect Sledgehammer)
- Gear: True Patriot set with Skill Tier and Repair Skills (Mask, Backpack, Kneepads, Holster)
- Chest: Alps Summit with Skill Tier, Skill Haste and Repair Skills (Empathic Resolve talent)
- Gloves: Exotic BTSU Gloves
- Mods: Skill Haste or Repair Skills
- Skills: Restorer Hive & Reinforcer Chem Launcher
Role:
- Deploy Hive in the center so teammates can move to it for healing.
- Follow and heal the kiters (Agents 5 & 7) as they move Boomer between the guns.
- Apply True Patriot debuffs to Boomer, particularly the red debuff.
- Assist with laptop phases when 2+ laptops are needed.
Agent 7 – Gun 45 & Boomer Kiter (Glass Cannon Striker DPS Build)
- Same Build as Agent 2 (Glass Cannon Striker DPS)
Role:
- Start on Gun 45 to shoot down nodes.
- Work with Agent 5 to kite Boomer between Gun 45 & Gun 41 for damage phases.
- Shoot his backpack to make Boomer kneel so that you can do damage.
- Help interrupt healing by shooting his green chest when it glows.
Agent 8 – Doors 43 & 44 Ad Control (Striker DPS w/ Tamper Proof Build)
- Same Build as Agent 3 (Striker DPS w/ Tamper Proof)
Role:
- Cover Doors 43 & 44 with Sniper Turret to proc Tamper Proof and control ads.
- Get support from Agent 2 (Floater) if overwhelmed.
- Assist with laptop phases when 4 laptops are needed (if no ads are present).
Final Notes on the Boomer Encounter
- The main priority is efficient ad control and quick Boomer kiting to prevent the wipe mechanic.
- Boomer’s green chest must always be shot to prevent him from healing.
- Laptop callouts are crucial—failure to interact with laptops in time will trigger enemy immunity nodes, requiring gun turrets to destroy them.
This strategy ensures optimized roles, fast execution, and consistent success in the Boomer encounter.
Boomer Double Down Strategy
That covers everything you need to know about the Boomer encounter and the fundamentals. However, I want to share one additional strategy that can significantly speed up the fight—this technique is called the Boomer Double Down.
With this method, you can bring Boomer to his knees twice per gun cycle, effectively giving you two damage phases in one. To execute this:
- Have your healer fire five shots at Boomer with the Scorpio while he is on his knees.
- As Boomer starts to stand up, the healer fires a sixth shot, which shocks him and slows his movement.
- This brief delay gives the gun operator enough time to shoot his backpack again, bringing him back to his knees for another damage phase.
Key Timing Tips:
- The gun operator should watch for Boomer moving his arm towards his gun as he stands up. Timing the backpack shot with this movement increases the strategy’s success rate.
- To ensure this works, no other team members should be using Scorpio on Boomer or shock rounds from St. Elmo’s Engine.
Mastering this technique can drastically improve your team’s efficiency in taking down Boomer!
Rapid Response Merit
Before moving on, it’s worth mentioning the Rapid Response Merit commendation, which is tied to the Boomer encounter.
Commendation Description:
Defeat Max “Boomer” Bailey in the Dark Hours raid without any agent using the same mounted weapon more than once.
This challenge can be tricky, so I recommend attempting it after your team has gained experience with the fight. Mastering the Boomer Double Down strategy will make this significantly easier.
How It Works:
- Once you use a mounted gun, you cannot interact with it again.
- However, you can use both guns once—meaning after using both guns, you can no longer interact with them, or the commendation will be void.
- The team must rotate quickly and efficiently, swapping in new players to take over the guns once the kiters have used them.
Recommended Approach:
- In my strategy, the floater should be the first to step in when a gunner swap is needed.
- If things drag out and more people need to jump in, coordination can become messy.
- Using the Double Down strategy, you can complete this challenge efficiently before even needing to rotate in the floater.
If executed properly, this approach ensures a smoother path to earning the Rapid Response Merit!
Dark Hours Raid Key 1
After defeating Boomer, you’ll move on to the next area where you’ll find your first raid key. The key is located inside the sandwich shop, and you’ll notice a button nearby.
To access the key:
- Have one of your team members head to the opposite room that’s locked by a padlock.
- Shoot the padlock to reveal a switch.
- Interact with the switch, and then quickly press the button outside the sandwich shop.
This will open the gates, but be prepared for drones to spawn. Take them out, and then enter the shop to collect your raid key.
Dark Hours Raid – Weasel Boss
Encounter Overview:
Weasel is your next boss encounter in the raid. In this fight, you and your team will need to kill Weasel, but you’ll also have to manage and eliminate his two guards: Ricochet and Dizzy.
On top of that, there’s a gas mechanic in the room where the area is divided into two halves. One half will be filled with purple gas, while the other will have orange gas. The orange gas allows you to deal damage to enemies within it, while the purple gas will prevent you from dealing any damage to enemies in that area.
The gas will switch sides throughout the fight, and it only starts once the encounter begins. Additionally, there will be standard ads spawning throughout the fight.
Key Aspects of This Fight:
- Central switches
- Gas mechanic
- Killing Ricochet, Dizzy, and Weasel quickly
The central switches are what start the encounter, and you’ll need team members positioned on both sides of the room to interact with them. On B side, you’ll see which of the three switches need to be activated: front, middle, or back, which you can determine by the plane’s position. A person on B side will call out which switch needs pressing, and then a person on A side must hit the corresponding switch at the same time. Once both switches are pressed, the encounter begins. Ricochet will jump out of a window on B side, and Dizzy will jump out on A side.
The gas mechanic activates when the switches are pressed, with orange gas starting on B side and purple gas on A side. The gas works by charging up to a stack of 20, at which point it’s most potent. In orange gas, you’ll do maximum damage at 20 stacks, and in purple gas, your damage will be at its lowest. As long as Ricochet and Dizzy are alive, the gas can only switch sides if the switches in the center are pressed again.
Once Ricochet or Dizzy dies, Weasel will spawn on the opposite side of the room. The plane in the center of the room will rise, making both sides accessible. The gas will continue to work as it did before, but it will now switch sides automatically every 20 stacks.
From here, you’ll just need to finish off the remaining bosses, which can be done in any order. After the two bosses are dead, clear up the basic ads, and the encounter will be complete.
Ricochet, Dizzy, and Weasel all have abilities to make the fight more challenging. They can fire grenades and shoot at you, but Weasel also has the added ability to fire a sticky bomb, which deals significant damage to anyone caught in its blast radius. Additionally, keep an eye on the ads, especially the snipers, as they can pose a serious threat.
Weasel Encounter Strategy
Here’s a breakdown of the strategy for the Weasel encounter, covering all 8 roles and builds to help get the job done efficiently.
Agent 1 – Ongoing Directive (DPS Support Build)
You’ll continue using the Overwatch/Opportunistic Ongoing Directive build.
At the start of the encounter, head down B side and place your assault turret on the window ledge to distract a sniper. Then, take cover in the garage area, ensuring you stay in cover to maintain Overwatch for your team. When the encounter begins and Ricochet spawns in, use your Scorpio to shoot at him. Only shoot to kill when the call is made.
Once Ricochet is dead, a new ad will drop in front of you on a rope. Focus on killing this ad to get your team extra OD rounds.
Then, on the opposite side of the room, focus on the remaining bosses. Dizzy will typically appear first, so shoot at him, but avoid killing him. Once Weasel is in sight, prioritize him and focus on killing him. Once Weasel is down, shift focus back to Dizzy and finish him off. The encounter ends after clearing the remaining basic ads.
Agent 2 – DPS (Glass Cannon Striker Build)
You’ll use the glass cannon Striker DPS build that was shown during the Boomer encounter.
Start by heading to B side and placing your assault turret on the window ledge. Then, take cover in the garage and shoot at Ricochet once he spawns. When Ricochet’s armor hits one bar, wait for the call to kill him, and once the call is made, take him out quickly.
From your position, you’ll also shoot at the bosses across the room. Dizzy will usually appear first, so focus some damage on him, but don’t kill him. Once Weasel comes into view, switch your focus to him and take him down. After Weasel dies, finish off Dizzy, and then clear the ads to complete the encounter.
Agent 7 & 8 – DPS (Glass Cannon Striker Build)
Agent 7 and Agent 8 will follow the exact same strategy as Agent 2.
Agent 7 will stick with the glass cannon Striker DPS build, while Agent 8 will also need to switch to this build.
Agent 5 – DPS (Future Initiative Build)
Agent 5 will also follow Agent 2, Agent 7, and Agent 8, but with a slight modification.
You’ll maintain the Future Initiative DPS build you used for Boomer. The only difference is that instead of an assault turret, you’ll use a scanner pulse. When you hear the overcharge call, activate your scanner pulse to grant your squad 15 seconds of extra damage.
Agent 6 – Healer (True Patriot Build)
Agent 6 will keep the True Patriot healer build used for Boomer.
Start by heading to B side and place your Restorer Hive in the garage area to support your team. When the encounter begins, focus on getting True Patriot stacks on Ricochet (especially the red stack). It may be easier to use an assault rifle for this, so feel free to swap your Scorpio out for an AR. Just make sure not to kill Ricochet before the call is made.
Once Ricochet is dead, shift your focus to Dizzy and Weasel on the opposite side. Try to at least get the red stack on both of them. When the gas changes at 20 stacks, prepare for the overcharge by destroying your Hive just as orange gas fills your side of the room. Let the team know you’ve overcharged so Agent 5 can use their scanner pulse.
After overcharging, use your chem launcher to distribute overcharged chems to your entire team. By now, the encounter should be nearing its end, but continue to keep your team healed for the remainder of the fight.
Agent 4 – DPS (Tardigrade Striker Build)
Agent 4 will keep the same Tardigrade Striker build used for Boomer.
Head down B side and place your Tactician Drone near the screens in the center of the room. Once your team is ready, you’ll call out which screen (front, middle, or back) needs to be pressed. Agent 3 will press the corresponding screen on the other side, and you both press at the same time to start the encounter.
During the encounter, focus on Ricochet but do not engage him until his armor is down to one bar. At that point, you and Agent 3 will press the screens again and call for Ricochet to die. If done correctly, this will result in the gas switching and the purple gas won’t hinder damage as much, giving your team a better chance to deal more damage.
After the screens, retreat to the garage with the rest of the squad and focus on killing Weasel first, then Dizzy.
Agent 3 – Tank (Explosive Resistant Build)
For Agent 3, you’ll switch to a tank build for the Weasel encounter:
- Specialization: Firewall
- Sidearm: Exotic Mosquito
- Mask: Exotic Catharsis Mask
- Backpack: Lengmo (Armor, Armor Regen, Explosive Resistance, Adrenaline Rush)
- Chest: Gila Guard – Pointman (Armor, Armor Regen, Explosive Resistance)
- Gloves: Belstone Armory (Armor, Armor Regen, Explosive Resistance)
- Holster: Improvised (Armor, Armor Regen, Explosive Resistance)
- Kneepads: Improvised (Armor, Armor Regen, Explosive Resistance)
- Mods: Protection from Elites
- Skills: Revive Hive and Bulwark Shield
At the start of the encounter, head down A side on your own and get ready to hit the screen when everyone is in place. Agent 4 will tell you which screen to press, and once you both hit it, the encounter will begin.
Dizzy will spawn on your side, but you’ll be well-protected by your tank build. Focus on Ricochet’s armor, and once it’s at one bar, call for the screen to be pressed again with Agent 4. Let Agent 4 know which screen needs pressing.
Once Ricochet is dead, the plane in the center will rise, and you’ll want to kite Dizzy into a corner just inside B side. Use your Mosquito to pull Dizzy into position, then maintain aggro while your team kills Weasel and Dizzy. Be sure to proc Vanguard for your squad by using your shield when available.
That’s the full strategy for the Weasel encounter, with detailed instructions for all 8 agents. Keep it clean, stay focused, and the encounter will be a success!
Target Prioritization Merit
Before proceeding, it’s worth noting that the Weasel boss encounter has a commendation called the “Target Prioritization Merit”.
The requirement for this commendation is to defeat Oliver “Weasel” Gordon in the Dark Hours raid while at least one of his security detail is still alive.
The good news is that my strategy already covers this commendation. Essentially, you need to kill Weasel while either Ricochet or Dizzy are still alive. In the strategy above, you’ll kill Weasel before Dizzy, which means this commendation will unlock as you progress through the encounter.
Backpack Trophy
After the Weasel encounter, there’s a backpack trophy you can acquire. Head up the elevator shaft and cross the plane. Once you reach the other side, pass by the door you’re supposed to go through, and you’ll spot a crane platform. Jump onto it, and there will be a search interaction to collect the Riot Gas Canisters backpack trophy.
Dark Hours Raid Key 2 & 3
After defeating Weasel and collecting your backpack trophy, head outside where you’ll need to eliminate some ads and drones. Once you’re back inside, you’ll find a door with a space above it. Have someone throw a concussion grenade through this gap, which will open the door and reveal your second raid key.
Next, as you enter the following room, you’ll trigger a mechanic where elevator doors will begin to close. This elevator is on the opposite side of the room, and various ads, including Chunga’s and Warhounds, will spawn. To get the key, someone needs to rush straight for the elevator to get inside before the door closes. Once inside, they can press a button to reopen the door, and it will stay open.
My strategy is to keep everyone together while we secure the second key, then send the healer to race for the elevator while the rest of the team clears the ads. The healer can drop their healer hive along the way to ensure the team stays topped off if needed.
Dark Hours Raid – Lucy & Buddy Boss
Encounter Overview:
Lucy and Buddy will be your third boss fight in the Dark Hours raid. Your objective is to defeat both warhounds while keeping their armor bars in sync. If their armor becomes too unbalanced, they will retreat to each other and fully restore their health, forcing you to start over.
Key Aspects of This Fight::
- Managing aggro from Lucy and Buddy
- Defending against their attacks while dealing with their defenses
- Balancing damage output to keep their armor in sync
The fight begins when someone interacts with the button at the end of the room. Lucy and Buddy will wake up and move to the center. At this point, Buddy will deploy seeker mines, while Lucy will perform a 360-degree turret spin. The turret spin is deadly, so everyone must dodge it. The seeker mines are mostly harmless but can push you out of cover.
Your team needs to separate Lucy and Buddy to avoid overlapping hazards while keeping their armor bars balanced. If their armor bars fall out of sync, they will return to the center to heal. The only way to stop this is to quickly bring their armor back into balance.
Once both warhounds are down to 1-2 armor bars, call for a burn phase and kill them simultaneously.
- If Lucy dies first, Buddy will constantly self-heal, making it harder to take him down.
- If Buddy dies first, Lucy will perform repeated 360-degree turret spins, making survival difficult.
- Killing them at the same time prevents these mechanics and ensures a clean finish.
After Lucy dies, mines will drop around her location, so be cautious when moving around.
Additional Mechanic – The Hidden Wipe Timer:
Though rarely mentioned, there is a hidden wipe mechanic in this encounter. Around the room, timers indicate how long you have to complete the fight before a forced wipe occurs. However, most teams either finish the fight quickly or wipe manually if things go wrong, so this mechanic often goes unnoticed.
Lucy and Buddy Encounter Strategy
Now, let’s break down my Lucy and Buddy strategy, covering all eight roles and builds necessary to complete this encounter successfully.
Agent 1 – DPS (Glass Cannon Striker Build)
- Switch to the Striker Glass Cannon build used in previous boss fights by other agents.
- Focus on dealing damage to Buddy, ensuring his armor remains in sync with Lucy’s.
Positioning & Execution:
- As you enter the area, take position in the left corner, between two stores. Stay there throughout the encounter.
- Once the fight starts, stay in cover or break line of sight when Lucy performs her 360° turret spin.
- Agent 4 will kite Buddy toward your position—do not start shooting until the call is made, as Lucy also needs to be positioned first.
- Agent 3 or 8 will call when it’s time to engage. From this point, ignore Lucy’s turret spin and focus on Buddy, ensuring his armor bar remains aligned with Lucy’s.
- Buddy’s heal mechanic requires you to keep firing to counteract his regeneration. His seeker mines are a minor nuisance but not a major threat.
Managing Armor Sync:
- If the armor bars fall out of sync, both warhounds will retreat to the center to heal.
- The team must quickly adjust to stop them from fully restoring health—if this isn’t possible, consider resetting the fight.
- Once both armor bars are at 1-2 bars, the team will call for a burn phase. Everyone should shoot to kill both warhounds at the same time.
Agents 2, 5 & 7 – DPS (Glass Cannon Striker & Future Initiative)
- Maintain the same build used since the start of the raid.
- Role and responsibilities are identical to Agent 1—focus on Buddy, ensure armor sync, and execute the burn phase correctly.
Agent 4 – DPS (Tardigrade Striker Build)
- Continue using the Striker Tardigrade build. The only change is equipping the Exotic Mosquito sidearm.
Kiting & Positioning:
- Deploy your tactician drone in the center of the room at the start.
- Take cover near Buddy’s laptop, which is across from the group waiting for Buddy in the corner.
- Avoid Lucy’s 360° turret spin at the start.
- Once it’s safe, interact with Buddy’s laptop to gain his aggro, then kite him toward the team’s corner.
- Use the Mosquito sidearm to maintain aggro and slow Buddy down, especially if the armor bars fall out of sync.
- Keep Buddy in position and help manage armor sync until the encounter is finished.
Agents 3 & 8 – DPS (Glass Cannon Striker Build)
- Agent 3 switches to Glass Cannon Striker (like other DPS agents).
- Agent 8 continues using their Glass Cannon Striker build from the last encounter.
Positioning & Execution:
- At the start, wait by the door where Buddy will emerge.
- Once the shutters open, enter the room and climb onto the server—this will protect you from Lucy.
- The healer (Agent 6) will kite Lucy into your room after her turret spin ends.
- Once Lucy is positioned, call out for the team to begin shooting.
- Focus on dealing damage to Lucy, ignoring her 360° turret spin and sniper shots, as the healer will keep you alive.
Managing Armor Sync:
- Keep an eye on Buddy’s armor bar—if it flashes green, he is healing, and your teammates need time to fight through it.
- If you’re ahead on damage, pause your fire to allow Buddy’s team to catch up.
- If the armor bars fall out of sync, Lucy will move back to the center—you may need to jump off the servers to correct it.
- When both warhounds are at 1-2 armor bars, execute the burn phase, ensuring Lucy and Buddy die simultaneously.
- After Lucy is down, watch for mines in the area.
Agent 6 – Healer (True Patriot Build)
- Continue using the True Patriot Healer build.
- Equip the Exotic Mosquito sidearm for additional support.
Support & Kiting:
- Before starting, throw your Restorer Hive to heal the group fighting Buddy.
- To prevent it from being destroyed, throw it onto a high frame on the wall, where it will stay active.
- Press the button to start the encounter, then take cover at Lucy’s laptop.
- Avoid Lucy’s turret spin, then interact with her laptop to gain her aggro.
- Kite Lucy into the server room, where Agents 3 & 8 are waiting.
- Best method: Run straight into the room and shoot Lucy with the Mosquito to maintain aggro.
- Lucy may shoot at you with a sniper, so be ready to drop a chem heal if needed.
- If Lucy delays by stopping outside for another turret spin, alert the team to hold fire until she is repositioned.
- Once Lucy is in position, keep Agents 3 & 8 healed while continuing to shoot Lucy with the Mosquito.
- If armor sync is lost, the Mosquito can slow Lucy, giving teammates extra time to rebalance the damage.
This strategy ensures smooth execution by assigning clear roles and positioning for all agents while maintaining armor balance for a clean kill.
Lucy and Buddy – Center Strategy
Now that we’ve covered the Lucy and Buddy encounter and its fundamentals, let’s dive into an alternative approach that many experienced players prefer.
Instead of separating Lucy and Buddy, this strategy keeps both warhounds in the center and eliminates them without kiting.
Setup & Team Composition
- 1 Healer
- 7 DPS players using Striker builds (including the Striker chest piece).
Execution
1. Preparing for the Encounter
- The healer places their Restorer Hive on an elevated surface in the center of the arena.
- The healer also equips an Oxidizer Chem Launcher for additional support.
- Three players are assigned to focus on Lucy, while four players target Buddy.
2. Initial Engagement
- As the fight begins, all DPS players (except the healer) use The Lefty shotgun to quickly build Striker stacks as Lucy and Buddy move toward the center.
- Once the warhounds reach the center, everyone takes cover and prepares for Lucy’s 360° turret spin.
- During this spin, the healer fires Oxidizer at Buddy, which helps clear the seeker mines.
3. Sustained Damage Phase
- After Lucy’s turret spin ends, the healer continues using Oxidizer on Buddy if he drops to his knee.
- The assigned DPS players stay focused on their respective warhound while keeping the armor bars in sync.
Key Considerations
With practice, this method becomes an efficient and streamlined way to defeat Lucy and Buddy faster than the standard approach.
Armor bar management is still crucial, but in this strategy, both warhounds tend to lose armor at the same rate naturally.
Evasive Maneuvers Merit
Before moving on, let’s discuss the Evasive Maneuvers Merit—a commendation tied to the Lucy and Buddy encounter in the Dark Hours raid.
Commendation Requirement
- Defeat Lucy and Buddy without any agent taking damage from Buddy’s seeker mines.
How to Earn the Commendation
If Using the Center Strategy
- If you’re following the center strategy I outlined earlier, you’ll likely earn this commendation naturally.
- This is because the healer is already focused on Buddy, using an Oxidizer Chem Launcher to destroy his seeker mines before they become a threat.
If Using the Standard Strategy
- If you’re using the first strategy I detailed earlier, you’ll need to make one adjustment.
- Assign one agent on Buddy’s side to swap their Striker Glass Cannon build for a build with 6 skill tiers.
- This agent will equip an Oxidizer Chem Launcher and take on the role of destroying Buddy’s seeker mines.
Execution in the Standard Strategy
- At the Start of the Encounter
- The first time Buddy takes a knee is when he meets Lucy in the center at the start of the fight.
- The Oxidizer agent should be in a good position to fire an Oxidizer at Buddy immediately.
- When Buddy is Kited to the Corner
- Buddy will drop to his knee again after being kited to the corner.
- The Oxidizer agent must fire another round to eliminate any seeker mines before they deploy.
Final Considerations
As long as no seeker mines hit anyone, the commendation will unlock once Lucy and Buddy are defeated.
All other agents should stay clear of Buddy to avoid accidental mine damage.
Dark Hours Raid Key 4
Right after the Lucy and Buddy encounter, proceed towards the terminal. Instead of heading right towards the final boss encounter, take a left at the terminal. There, you’ll find the fourth raid key lying on the floor, ready to be picked up.
Dark Hours Raid – Razorback Boss
Encounter Overview:
Razorback serves as the final boss encounter of the Dark Hours raid. Your team will need to charge up zones to activate Razorback, allowing you to deal damage. This process must be repeated multiple times while defending against ads, drones, warhounds, and Boomers until Razorback is destroyed.
Key Aspects of This Fight:
- Charging generators
- Controlling ad spawns
- Managing drones
- Damaging Razorback
- Dodging mortars
- Handling Boomer wipe phases
- Completing the final wipe mechanic
Four players will be responsible for charging the generators, while the other four focus on ad control. Once the generators are fully charged, a wave of drones will appear, and the team will have a limited window to damage Razorback by destroying weak points and dealing direct damage.
When the timer runs out or the damage cap is reached, Razorback will close, triggering a mortar strike that must be avoided. After the mortar strike, ad spawns will resume, and a Boomer wipe phase will begin.
Boomer will spawn in one of the four corners, attempting to interact with a terminal that, if not stopped in time, will launch rockets at the team and cause a wipe. As the encounter progresses, two Boomers will spawn in two corners simultaneously, increasing the challenge.
Once Boomer is eliminated, the team will repeat the entire process until Razorback is destroyed.
After Razorback is defeated, a final wipe phase occurs. All players must return to their designated corners, where Boomers previously attempted to activate terminals. When the terminals begin to flash, the team must destroy them to complete the raid.
Razorback Encounter Strategy
Moving on to my Razorback strategy, I will now break down all eight roles and builds essential for completing this encounter.
Agent 1 – Ongoing Directive (DPS Support Build)
You will revert to your Ongoing Directive build, previously used in the first two encounters of this raid.
- After clearing the initial ads, take position at Generator 4 but avoid stepping into the area until the team is ready, as this will initiate the encounter.
- Deploy your Assault Turret at an ad spawn in the corner to help manage enemy aggro.
- Agent 6 (Drone Killer) will call for all generator agents to activate their generators and begin the first Razorback phase.
- Stay in cover on your generator to proc Overwatch and use your Scorpio to engage ads, helping generate OD rounds for your team.
- Once the generator reaches 100%, prepare for Razorback to activate. Move cover-to-cover to get a good angle on the right weak point and fire your Scorpio, triggering Overwatch and Opportunistic for your team during the Razorback damage phase.
Damage Phases:
- First damage phase: The team will attack the back of Razorback, while you are positioned at the front. Do not destroy the weak point, and if its health gets low, stop shooting.
- After the damage phase, mortar strikes will begin. Return to your corner to dodge these strikes, either sprinting or using a cover-to-cover move to maintain your Overwatch buff.
- Ad spawns and Boomer phase: Assist Agent 7 with ads and attempt to proc OD rounds. If Boomer spawns in your corner, Agent 7 is responsible for eliminating him. Only assist if necessary.
Repeating the Process:
- When called, return to your generator and repeat the process.
- This time, the front side will execute the damage phase, meaning you must destroy the right weak point and then target the top weak point for damage.
- Subsequent phases will follow this sequence:
- Charge generator
- Back side damage
- Mortars and Boomers
- Charge generator
- Front side damage
- Final wipe phase
During the final wipe phase, mortar strikes will land randomly but will not specifically target you. You and Agent 7 must return to your corner terminal and destroy it when the screen flashes red.
Once all four terminals in the corners are destroyed, the raid is complete.
Agent 6 (Drone Killer Role)
For this encounter, switch from your healer build to a drone killer build:
- Specialization: Survivalist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic Scorpio Shotgun
- Gear: Hard Wired with Skill Tier and Skill Damage (Mask, Backpack, Kneepads, Holster)
- Chest: Wyvern with Skill Tier, Skill Damage, and Repair Skills (Glass Cannon talent)
- Gloves: Exotic BTSU Gloves
- Mods: Repair Skills
- Skills: Restorer Hive & Jammer Pulse
Role Execution:
- Deploy Restorer Hive where the team enters from the terminal.
- Take position near Generator 1 and wait for the team to be ready.
- You will be in charge of generator calls, ensuring smooth timing.
- Once ready, call for all agents to activate generators.
- While your generator charges, support Agent 8 with ads.
- Keep an eye on the charge—at 80%, prepare your crossbow to shoot the gate once Razorback opens. If you lack ammo, notify the team so Agents 7 & 8 can break the gate.
- As soon as the gate is destroyed, use Jammer Pulse to clear drones. Drones will continue spawning throughout all damage phases, and it is your job to eliminate them.
- Once the damage phase ends, move to Razorback’s gate for protection from mortar strikes.
- After dodging mortars, return to your corner to assist Agent 8 with ads.
- Handle the Boomer wipe phase, ensuring the next generator cycle starts promptly.
Key Considerations:
- Call generator activation as soon as Boomer is eliminated.
- If there is a delay of more than 5 seconds, call off the Razorback phase and wait for another Boomer wipe phase.
- The final wipe phase mirrors the process for Agent 1, ensuring the terminal in Corner 1 is destroyed.
Agents 7 & 8 (Striker and Coyote Striker Builds)
Both Agents 7 & 8 will switch to the following:
Standard Striker Build (Agent 7):
- Specialization: Demolitionist
- Primary Weapon: Exotic St. Elmo’s (or any AR with Damage to Target out of Cover)
- Secondary Weapon: Lefty Shotgun (for stacking)
- Gear: Striker Set with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance & Critical Hit Damage (Mask, Backpack, Chest, Gloves)
- Holster: Ceska with Weapon Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage
- Kneepads: Overlord – Fox’s Prayer with Weapon Damage and Critical Hit Damage
- Mods: Critical Hit Chance or Critical Hit Damage
- Skills: Revive Hive & Assault Turret
Standard Coyote Striker Build (Agent 8):
Same as above, but with Coyote’s Mask and Striker Kneepads.
Role Execution:
- Take position outside Generators 1 & 4 and clear ads.
- Prepare for ad spawns when generators activate.
- Upon 100% charge, destroy Razorback’s gate if Agent 6 is out of ammo.
- Use grenade launcher to prep Razorback for damage phases.
- Execute damage phases:
- First: Prep weak points, but do not destroy them.
- Subsequent: Fully destroy weak points and deal direct damage.
- Dodge mortar strikes and return to corners.
- Handle Boomers in respective corners.
- Repeat cycle until the final wipe phase, ensuring the terminals in corners 1 & 4 are destroyed.
Agents 4 & 5 (Generator Control)
Both agents will continue using their builds from previous encounters, with Agent 5 switching back to an Assault Turret.
Role Execution:
- Agent 4: Generator 3
- Agent 5: Generator 2
- Handle generator activation and damage phases as outlined. Agent 5 will use crossbow to destroy the gate.
- During the final wipe phase, Agent 5 destroys Terminal 2, Agent 4 destroys Terminal 3.
Agents 2 & 3 (Backside DPS – Same as Agents 7 & 8)
- Agent 2: Covers Generator 3 Corner and will wear the Coyote Striker Build
- Agent 3: Covers Generator 2 Corner and will wear the Striker Build
- Follow Agents 7 & 8’s strategy but from the back side of Razorback.
- Damage sequence: Back, Front, Back, Front.
- Maintain Striker stacks by periodically shooting Razorback with Lefty Shotgun.
This strategy ensures smooth execution, optimal damage, and efficient ad control, making the Razorback encounter manageable and leading to a successful raid completion.
Fast Generators Strategy
Many teams prefer to use the “Fast Generators” strategy during the Razorback encounter. This approach is worth considering, but I recommend attempting it only once your team is confident with the mechanics.
The overall strategy remains the same; however, instead of waiting for the Boomer wipe phases, you immediately proceed to the next generator cycle. After charging the generators and completing a damage phase, generator agents will return to their stations right after the mortar strikes to begin charging them again.
This method significantly reduces the overall encounter time by skipping the wait for Boomers to be taken down. However, it requires the agents covering the four corners to effectively manage ad spawns, contribute to Razorback damage, and remain vigilant for Boomers.
While this strategy leaves little room for error, it becomes highly efficient once your team is experienced and coordinated.
Blitzkrieg Merit
The Razorback boss encounter includes a commendation called the “Blitzkrieg Merit.”
The requirement for this commendation is to defeat DDP-52 Razorback in the Dark Hours raid before it deploys its tower for the ninth time.
When the raid was first released, this was a challenge for many teams, as reaching the Razorback damage cap in a single tower phase was difficult. However, even on my first clear, we managed to complete the damage phases in two cycles, causing the tower to deploy only eight times.
Nowadays, it’s extremely unlikely for Razorback to last beyond eight tower deployments. Most teams will naturally earn this commendation on their first clear without even trying.
However, if you’re struggling and find that the tower is deploying nine or more times, you’ll need to optimize your damage output and increase efficiency during each phase to finish the encounter before the ninth deployment.
Other Commendations
Wrapping Up the Guide
We’ve now reached the end of this guide, and I hope it has been helpful in covering every aspect of the Dark Hours raid. Before we conclude, let’s go over the remaining commendations you can earn.
So far, we’ve already covered the commendations tied to each boss encounter:
- Rapid Response Merit
- Target Prioritization Merit
- Evasive Maneuvers Merit
- Blitzkrieg Merit
By completing your first Dark Hours raid, you’ll also unlock:
- Max “Boomer” Bailey Award
- Oliver “Weasel” Gordon Award
- Lucy & Buddy Award
- DDP-52 Razorback Award
Remaining Commendations
There are still five more commendations to earn in the Dark Hours raid:
- Dark Hours Merit – Complete the raid on Discovery Mode. This mode allows matchmaking and is significantly easier than the standard raid. With the right strategy, it’s possible to complete it with just two players.
- Extreme Service Distinction – Complete the Dark Hours raid five times from start to finish.
- Extreme Operations Distinction – Complete the Dark Hours raid without any agent being killed. This means no one on your team can go unconscious, but going down to your knees is fine. With practice and the strategies in this guide, you’ll be able to flawless the raid consistently. Keep in mind that completions on Discovery Mode do not count.
- Hardcore Raid Distinction – Complete the Dark Hours Raid with a Hardcore Agent on normal difficulty or higher. This is similar to the Extreme Operations Distinction, as your team must complete the raid flawlessly. However, you need to start with a hardcore character and progress through the game again while grinding out all your builds. Hardcore is a permadeath mode, meaning if any member of your team dies, you must start a new character and try again.
- Blueberry the Bear Merit – Find and shoot 40 blue bears hidden throughout the Dark Hours raid. This must be done in a single raid run—missing even one means starting over in a new attempt.
Final Thoughts
To close out this guide, I’ll now show you the location of all 40 blue bears. But before that, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in making these guides. And an even bigger thank you if you’ve made it this far and read the entire thing!
If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to check out some extended guides down below after the bear locations!
All 40 Bear Locations
Blueberry the Bear Merit
I’ve made a video guide covering all the blue bear locations if that’s what you prefer.
Blue Bear 1/40
You’ll find your first bear right at the start of the raid. Head down the tunnel, and on the right side, you’ll spot him hiding inside a pipe.
Blue Bear 2/40
Keep going and climb up the rope to the tarmac. Once you’re at the top, head right, and you’ll find a bear inside the plane you can enter.
Blue Bear 3/40
There are three bears to find in the Boomer boss room, and you can collect them all before starting the encounter. As soon as you enter, look straight ahead to spot a bear above on the arch, just past the Kerman Coffee sign.
Blue Bear 4/40
You’ll find the next bear just to the right of the previous one, sitting on a server box in the center below the Kerman Coffee sign.
Blue Bear 5/40
The final bear in this area is inside a box on the floor in the corner of the Donut shop.
Blue Bear 6/40
After the Boomer boss encounter, in the next area, you’ll find the next bear on the left side inside some luggage.
Blue Bear 7/40
In the same area, you’ll need to complete the mechanics to open the sandwich shop where the first raid key is located. The bear can be found behind the counter, near the key.
Blue Bear 8/40
From the previous area, go through a door, and you’ll be able to look outside through some windows. The next bear is sitting on top of some storage boxes on a truck visible through the window.
Blue Bear 9/40
Continue forward from the last bear, and you’ll enter a small room where the next bear is perched in the corner on top of some wall cabinets among the cardboard boxes.
Blue Bear 10/40
Near the last bear, and just before you enter the room where you need to interact with a laptop, you’ll find a bear behind a whiteboard next to a lamp.
Blue Bear 11/40
In the room where you interact with the laptop, you’ll find this bear hiding under a desk.
Blue Bear 12/40
After interacting with the laptop, you’ll gain access to the A and B sides of the next boss encounter. There are two bears here—one on A side and one on B side—and both can be shot before starting the encounter.
The bear on A side is located to the far right of the area, near the elevator door, hidden between some boxes.
Blue Bear 13/40
On B side, the other bear is located at the far left of the area, hidden underneath a truck.
Blue Bear 14/40
After the Weasel boss encounter, you’ll climb a rope through the elevator shaft. Once you reach the top, you’ll spot the bear straight ahead on a table in a fenced-off area.
Blue Bear 15/40
From the last bear, cross the plane wing. Before going through the door, continue straight ahead to find a platform with a backpack trophy and another blue bear.
Blue Bear 16/40
As you continue and head outside, you’ll find the next bear hidden beneath some satellite dishes, just before you take the rope down.
Blue Bear 17/40
From the last bear, descend the rope and hug the right-side wall. You’ll find an alcove with a bear hiding behind some crates.
Blue Bear 18/40
In the same area as the last bear, you’ll find an ambulance. The next bear can be seen through the back window of the ambulance.
Blue Bear 19/40
Near the ambulance, there’s a police car. If you look in the trunk, you’ll spot the next bear. Be careful not to close the trunk door by vaulting over it, as you won’t be able to shoot the bear if you do.
Blue Bear 20/40
In the same area, before you enter a narrow passage, there are two more bears. One is to the right of the passage, sitting on top of a white container.
Blue Bear 21/40
The next bear is to the left of the passage, hidden among the trash bags in the waste bin.
Blue Bear 22/40
As you go through the passage and before reaching the next room with the second raid key, you’ll find this bear hidden on the floor in a corner with more trash bags.
Blue Bear 23/40
In the next room where the second raid key is located, you’ll find this bear opposite the key, hidden under a table with more yellow trash bags.
Blue Bear 24/40
From the room with the raid key, and before reaching the next large area, you’ll find a room with some hospital beds. This bear is located on one of the beds.
Blue Bear 25/40
Near the last bear, in the corner of this room, you’ll find this bear hidden among some plush teddies.
Blue Bear 26, 27 & 28/40
As you move into the next area, you’ll come across three bears next to each other on top of a tabletop, and they’re hard to miss.
Blue Bear 29/40
In the same area as the last bears, on the right side of the escalators, you’ll find this bear on a wheelchair.
Blue Bear 30/40
At the top of the escalators, there are two bears on either side of the room in fenced-off areas. On the right side, you’ll find a bear sitting on a table inside a booth.
Blue Bear 31/40
On the left side, a bear can be found sitting on a chair behind a desk in a waiting area.
Blue Bear 32/40
Move forward into the next boss encounter room, where you’ll find three bears. All of them can be shot before the boss encounter begins.
As you enter the room, look to the left to find this bear hidden on some water barrels in a gated-off area. You’ll have access to this room after the boss encounter, or you can shoot through the gate beforehand.
Blue Bear 33/40
In the center of the room, look up to find the next bear on a ledge among some greenery.
Blue Bear 34/40
On the right side of the room, you’ll find the last bear in the area. It’s visible on the shelving along the far wall beyond the gate. You can either shoot it through the gate or wait until after the boss encounter when you can enter the room.
Blue Bear 35/40
After the Lucy & Buddy boss encounter, you’ll make your way to the terminal. Along the way, there are two more bears. The first one can be found in a flower pot just after leaving the Lucy & Buddy area.
Blue Bear 36/40
The next bear can be found just after the flower pot, nestled between two vending machines.
Blue Bear 37/40
Once you reach the terminal, just before the final area of the raid, you’ll find two bears. Head left when you reach the terminal to find one of the bears inside a box, across from the 4th raid key.
Blue Bear 38/40
The next bear can be found above on a banister rail, near the check-in/ticketing sign, close to the window you drop down from into the final area.
Blue Bear 39/40
The final two bears are located in the last area. Be sure to collect them before completing the final encounter and clearing the Dark Hours Raid, or they won’t count.
As you drop into the area, look up to find one bear in some scaffolding near the number 1 generator.
Blue Bear 40/40
The final bear of the Dark Hours raid can be found to the left of generator 1, inside a booth/container.
Extended Guides
To wrap up this guide, I’ve created 8 individual articles that focus exclusively on each of the roles I’ve discussed. Each article provides an in-depth look at the role, along with gameplay from start to finish, demonstrating how to perform each role effectively.
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 1 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 2 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 3 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 4 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 5 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 6 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 7 Role
- Dark Hours Raid Roles – Agent 8 Role
I hope this guide has been helpful. The strategies shared here are the same ones I perform live on my YouTube channel. I also teach these strategies to teams in my personal Discord server, so if you’re looking to join a team, feel free to check it out.
Be sure to visit my channel and subscribe to catch my live streams and ask any questions. Join my server to get involved or receive help from one of the many Team GC teams. Thank you for checking out my guide!
The last video I have for you is a full run of the Dark Hours raid, showcasing all of these strategies in action as we push to see how quickly we can complete the raid.
