Character Skills
Watch Dogs 2: Character Skills Guide
Marcus Holloway is the sole playable character in Watch Dogs 2, but his arsenal of skills is vast and customizable. Skills are unlocked and upgraded using Research Points (RP) earned from completing missions, side activities, and collecting data caches. There are three main skill trees: Hacking, Combat, and Stealth. Additionally, the RC Car and Quadcopter Drone have separate research trees that augment their capabilities. This guide covers every ability, its effects, upgrades, cooldowns, synergies, and optimal usage.
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Hacking Skills
Hacking is Marcus’s core identity. These abilities manipulate the environment, enemies, and technology. Each skill has multiple tiers (up to 3) unlocked by spending RP in the Hacking tree.
| Ability | Description | Effects | Cooldown | Upgrades (Tier 1→2→3) | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NetHack: Distract | Hack a nearby electronic object (phone, speaker, streetlight) to create a noise distraction. | Enemies investigate the sound; does not alert. | 10s | D2: Lure (enemies are drawn closer and stop to examine) → D3: Panic (targeted enemy panics and runs away briefly) | Stealth approaches, splitting groups, creating openings. |
| Mass Blackout | Trigger a localized EMP that turns off all lights, electronics, and vehicle engines in a radius. | Vision impaired for enemies; security cameras and turrets disabled for the duration. | 90s | M1: Range +30% → M2: Duration +50% → M3: Instant cooldown refresh upon successful kill? (Actually cooldown reduces by 20s per tier?) | Large compound infiltration, disabling multiple threats at once, escape tool. |
| Jam Coms | Disable enemy communication, preventing reinforcements from calling for backup. | Radios silenced; enemies cannot call for help unless they visually spot you. | 60s | J1: Duration extended by 10s → J2: Radius increased by 20% → J3: Also jams enemy hearing (footstep detection reduced) | Before a loud takedown, inside enemy bases to delay responses. |
| Elevator Hack | Halt an elevator in its shaft remotely. | Stops elevator instantly; enemies inside can be trapped. | 15s | No tiers (unlocks at start) | Escapes, isolating enemies, creating environmental kills (drop elevator onto enemies? Not possible). |
| Bridge Hack | For bridges with moving sections, operate them to create obstacles. | Raises or lowers bridge sections; can separate vehicles or block paths. | 20s | No tiers | Chase escapes, blocking police vehicles, gaining high ground. |
| Forklift Hack | Control forklifts to lift/move objects or enemies. | Raises or lowers forks; can pin enemies or drop objects on them. | 15s | No tiers | Environment kill setups, moving cover. |
| Police Presence Hack | Remove your wanted level (if not already at max) by hacking police databases. | Clears low-level notoriety; higher notoriety only reduces alert level by one step. | 120s | P1: Cooldown reduced to 90s → P2: Even when at max wanted, reduces by two steps | Managing police attention during open-world exploration. |
| Helicopter Hack | Hack police/security helicopters to make them fly away or target enemies. | Causes helicopter to disengage or attack nearby hostiles. | 60s | H1: Duration of distraction +50% → H2: Also disables spotlight → H3: Can crash helicopter (lethal) | Removing aerial patrols, turning a threat into a weapon. |
| Vehicle Hack | Full control over civilian vehicles: start moving, sudden stop, door kick, throttle. | Trigger specific actions on targeted car. | 10s per action | V1: Improves Stop range → V2: Door kick can cause driver ejection → V3: Hack motorcycles to perform boost | Car chases, blocking roads, ejecting drivers to steal cars. |
- Combine NetHack: Panic with Jam Coms to create chaos without backup calls.
- Use Mass Blackout just before an assault, then Police Presence Hack to escape consequences.
- Vehicle Hack + Forklift Hack = environmental traps (e.g., stop a car under a falling forklift).
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Combat Skills
Combat skills enhance Marcus’s lethality and non‑lethal options. Unlocks include new weapons and passive bonuses. Many have multiple tiers that improve damage, handling, or utility.
| Ability | Description | Effects | Cooldown / Passive | Upgrades (Tier 1→2→3) | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon: Pistol | Unlock semi‑automatic pistol (standard sidearm). | Moderate damage, good accuracy. | Passive (weapon equip). | P1: Increased hip‑fire accuracy → P2: Extended magazine → P3: Silencer | General combat, stealth if silenced. |
| Lethal Weapon: Assault Rifle | Unlock assault rifle (full‑auto). | High damage, moderate recoil. | Passive. | A1: Reduced recoil → A2: Larger magazine → A3: Underbarrel grenade launcher | Direct engagements, suppressing fire. |
| Lethal Weapon: Shotgun | Unlock pump‑action shotgun. | Devastating close‑range, slow fire rate. | Passive. | S1: Increased pellet count → S2: Faster reload → S3: Dragon’s breath rounds (incendiary) | Clearing rooms, fighting in tight corridors. |
| Lethal Weapon: Heavy Weapon | Unlock light machine gun or grenade launcher. | Extremely destructive, slow movement. | Passive. | H1: Reduced weight (faster move) → H2: Increased ammo capacity → H3: Explosive rounds | Large enemy groups, vehicle destruction. |
| Non‑Lethal: Stun Gun | Unlock taser that incapacitates enemies without killing. | Stuns for several seconds; can be upgraded to longer duration. | Passive (recharges over time). | St1: Range +30% → St2: Charge time reduced → St3: Chain shot (hits multiple enemies in a line) | Stealth runs, no‑kill playthroughs, capturing enemies for interrogation. |
| Non‑Lethal: Smoke Grenade | Throw smoke to obscure vision. | Enemies cannot see through smoke; allies (including Marcus) get temporary invisibility. | 45s | Sm1: Cloud duration +50% → Sm2: Radius increased → Sm3: Enemies inside are slower | Covering escape, creating diversions, approaching a group. |
| Lethal Grenade: Frag | Fragmentation grenade – standard explosive. | High damage, large blast radius. | 60s | F1: Reduced cook time → F2: Increased blast radius → F3: Shrapnel causes bleeding | Crowd control, destroying vehicles, breaching doors. |
| Lethal Grenade: EMP | Electromagnetic pulse – disables electronics. | Same effects as Mass Blackout but localized and shorter duration. | 45s | E1: Duration +30% → E2: Radius +30% → E3: Also disables personal shields (if any) | Disabling turrets, cameras, and shield‑bearing enemies. |
| Lethal Grenade: Stun | Flashbang – blinds and deafens enemies. | Blinded enemies flail and cannot act; hearing impaired. | 30s | Stn1: Duration +20% → Stn2: Larger blind radius → Stn3: Also disorients (move slower) | Non‑lethal crowd control, setting up stealth takedowns. |
| Takedowns | Perform instant incapacitation from behind. | Silent elimination or knockout. | No cooldown (requires stealth approach). | T1: Discreet (faster animation, less noise) → T2: Interrogation (gather intel) → T3: Double takedown (kill/stun two enemies at once) | Stealth progression, eliminating key targets without alert. |
- Use Smoke Grenade before a Stun Grenade to fully mask your approach.
- Combine Takedown: Double with NetHack: Distract to isolate two enemies.
- EMP Grenade into Mass Blackout creates a prolonged electronics blackout zone.
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Stealth Skills
Stealth skills improve Marcus’s ability to remain unseen, hack faster, and control encounters. Focus is the signature ability that slows time.
| Ability | Description | Effects | Cooldown / Energy | Upgrades (Tier 1→2→3) | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Activate bullet time – slows time for a few seconds. | Time slows to 20% speed; you can aim, move, and hack at normal speed. | Energy cost: 50% of bar (refills over time). | F1: Duration +50% → F2: Energy cost reduced by 20% → F3: Focus also highlights enemies and interactive objects | Combat trick shots, dodging multiple enemies, precision hacking during movement. |
| Extended Autohack | Increase the range at which you can start automatic hacks (e.g., on phones, doors). | Base range doubled per tier. | Passive. | E1: Range +30% → E2: Range +30% → E3: Can hack through thin walls | Hacking from cover, maintaining distance. |
| Faster Hacking | Reduce time required for long hacks (e.g., unlocking doors, downloading data). | Hack time reduced by 25% per tier (max 75%). | Passive. | F1: 25% faster → F2: 50% faster → F3: 75% faster | During time‑sensitive missions, reducing exposure. |
| Covert | Immediately hide a stunned or killed body in a nearby container or behind cover. | Prevents discovery of bodies; uses minimal time. | No cooldown (contextual). | C1: Faster hide animation → C2: Can drag body further → C3: Hiding also removes detection markers | Maintaining stealth after a takedown; essential for no‑alarm runs. |
| RC Car & Drone Upgrades | These are separate research trees but are accessed via Stealth Skill menu (marked as tools). | See next section. | Various. | Listed separately. | Stealth reconnaissance, gadget use. |
| Auto‑Hide (passive) | Movement while crouched is quieter. | Reduces footstep noise by 30‑60%. | Passive. | Passive upgrade (research points unlock tiers) | Moving near enemies without detection. |
- Focus + Stun Gun or Assault Rifle for high accuracy during slow‑mo.
- Extended Autohack + Faster Hacking lets you complete hacks from extreme safety.
- Covert pairs with Takedown to keep paths clean.
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RC Car & Quadcopter Drone Skills
These devices are your remote eyes and tools. Each has its own research tree that unlocks new capabilities and stat upgrades. Upgrades are purchased with Research Points in the “Tools” category.
#### RC Car (The “Roach”)
| Upgrade | Description | Effect | Cooldown / Passive | Tiers | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Extends operational time. | +30s per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Longer reconnaissance, complex puzzles requiring time. |
| Speed | Increases movement speed. | +15% per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Faster scouting, escaping detection. |
| Armor | Reduces damage from bullets and explosions. | +20% damage reduction per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Surviving enemy fire in high‑risk areas. |
| Stealth | Makes RC car quieter and harder to spot. | Loudness reduced, visibility reduced. | Passive. | 3 | Sneak past guards without alert. |
| Climb | Ability to climb small obstacles (curbs, boxes). | Unlocks ability; higher tiers allow steeper climbs. | Passive. | 3 | Accessing vents, rooftops, and alternate paths. |
| Electroshock | Deploy a shock charge from the car to stun enemies. | Stuns single enemy for 5s; can be upgraded to stun multiple. | 30s. | 2 | Non‑lethal takedowns via RC. |
| EMP Pulse | Emit a small EMP burst from the car. | Disables nearby electronics (3m radius). | 60s. | 2 | Disabling cameras, doors, or turrets. |
| Distraction (Sound) | Produce a loud noise to attract enemies. | Sound location is interactive. | 10s. | 1 | Luring guards into traps or away from objective. |
| Upgrade | Description | Effect | Cooldown / Passive | Tiers | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Extends flight time. | +30s per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Extended aerial surveillance. |
| Speed | Increases flight speed. | +15% per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Quick repositioning, long‑distance travel. |
| Stealth | Reduces noise and visibility. | Quieter propellers, smaller detection radius. | Passive. | 3 | Hovering near enemies unnoticed. |
| Camera Zoom | Unlock telescopic zoom. | 2x per tier. | Passive. | 3 | Marking targets from afar. |
| Disruptor | Fire a short‑range EMP burst. | Disables electronics in 5m radius. | 30s. | 2 | Temporary shutdown of cameras or power generators. |
| Gas Darts | Shoot a sleep gas dart that puts enemies to sleep. | Single target, 10s sleep. | 20s. | 2 | Non‑lethal takedown from distance (silent). |
| Explosive Darts | Shoot a small explosive dart that detonates on impact. | Low damage, but can destroy obstacles. | 30s. | 2 | Breaching weak walls, destroying breakable objects. |
| Scanner | Mark all enemies and items in a large radius. | Highlights for 10s. | 40s. | 1 | Identifying threats without direct line of sight. |
| Auto‑Follow | Set drone to follow you automatically. | Drone orbits around Marcus. | Toggle. | 1 | Hands‑free scanning while moving. |
- Use RC Car Electroshock + Drone Scanner to locate and neutralize guards silently.
- Drone Gas Darts + RC Car Distraction = area sleep trap.
- RC Car Climb and Drone Camera Zoom combine for reconnaissance of elevated positions.
- Necessary: Stun Gun (all tiers), Covert (all), NetHack: Distract (all), Focus (at least T2), RC Car Stealth + Climb, Drone Stealth + Gas Darts.
- Playstyle: Avoid direct confrontation. Use drones and RC to scout, disable electronics, and gas enemies. Hack everything. Never fire lethal rounds.
- Order: Research Stun Gun range → Covert → NetHack upgrades → Drone Gas Darts → RC Climb → Focus duration.
- Necessary: Mass Blackout (all), Jam Coms (all), Police Presence Hack (all), Vehicle Hack (all), Helicopter Hack (all), EMP Grenade (all).
- Playstyle: Manipulate the environment. Create blackouts, block roads, turn helicopters against enemies. Use lethal weapons only as backup.
- Order: Focus on Hacking tree first. Then EMP Grenade for personal protection.
- Necessary: Assault Rifle (all tiers), Frag Grenade (all), Stun Grenade (all), Focus (T1 at least), Takedown: Double.
- Playstyle: Go in loud but smart. Use Focus for headshots, grenades for crowds, and double takedowns when flanking. Stealth is optional for setup.
- Order: Unlock Assault Rifle → Grenades → Focus → Takedown upgrades. Spend leftover points on Stealth for defensive options.
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Recommended Builds
#### Ghost (Full Stealth, No Kills)
#### Hacker (Chaos & Control)
#### Gunslinger (Leaning Into Combat)
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When to Use Each Skill – Quick Reference
| Situation | Recommended Skills |
|---|---|
| Infiltrating a building | NetHack: Distract, RC Car/Drone, Focus (if spotted), Covert |
| Eliminating a target silently | Stun Gun, Takedown, RC Electroshock, Drone Gas Dart |
| Escaping police | Vehicle Hack (steal car), Mass Blackout (disrupt chase), Police Presence Hack |
| Large group of enemies | Mass Blackout + Jam Coms → Frag or Stun Grenade → Assault Rifle with Focus |
| Environmental puzzles | RC Car Climb, Forklift Hack, Bridge Hack, Elevator Hack |
| Server rooms (EMP needed) | EMP Grenade, Drone Disruptor, Mass Blackout |
| Chases (ground) | Vehicle Hack: sudden stop / door kick, Bridge Hack |
| Chases (helicopter) | Helicopter Hack, Drone Explosive Darts (if available) |
Master all these skills and you can approach any mission in Watch Dogs 2 with the precise tools needed for a clean hack-and-dash or a full-blown takedown. Experiment with combos to find your signature style.