With the recent early access wipe of Dark and Darker, a lot of significant changes were made to the game. One of these is the introduction of a new extraction and descension system, as they have removed the circle mechanic, which means that there is a heavier emphasis on exploring the entire map to either find a way out or further down. Here is everything you need to know about this new system!
How to Extract and Descend (New Wipe 4 Mechanics)
Because the shrinking circle is now a thing of the past, new escape methods were added to the game indicated by varying blue icons on the map. There are currently five types of extraction methods that you can find, and they are the following:
- Rope Extraction – These can only be used once by one player, and all you need to do is interact with it to start ascending. You can still take damage as you ascend the rope, so clear out any enemy players and mobs before you use this.
- Stair Extraction – These are also only usable by a single player, and you can see if they are still available by checking the torches. If they are lit with blue fire, you can take it. If the gate is open but the torches are unlit, the escape has already been used.
- Lift Extraction – These lifts are activated by pulling the lever beside them. Unlike the first two, lifts can be used by groups, as it will extract everybody who is standing on them.
- Raft Extraction – Just like the lifts, these allow multiple players to extract at once as long as they are on the raft as it drifts out of the map. These are seemingly random and you’ll have to find and get on them before they are gone for good.
- Portal Extraction – Finally, the old blue portals still appear around the map. Three of these can be used to extract near the end of a match.
Descending – Inferno
To descend to the Inferno map from the Crypt, you will need to find the red staircase icons in the map. Near the end of a match, these will open and the torches beside the gate will be lit.
These can be used by several players, and all you need to do is go down the stairs to proceed to the next zone. These will remain closed early on, so take note of their locations and come back if you plan on descending.
Descending – Ice Abyss
For the Ice Caverns, the next step will be to descend into the Ice Abyss. To do this, you have to wait until around three minutes before the match ends. Once the time is right, head over to the marked spot in the map image below. This is at the southwestern quadrant of the map.
There, if you look at the large gaping hole, there should be a faint red energy swirling down there. This is a sign that the Ice Abyss is now open, and you have to take a leap of faith into the hole. Instead of dying, you will be teleported to the next zone.
On that note, check out our guide on how to deal with the monsters in the Ice Abyss as well. You’ll be encountering a bunch of new enemy types there, so it pays to be well-prepared!
And that is everything you need to know about the new escape and descension mechanics in the latest patch of the game. While you’re here, check out our ten tips and tricks for beginners in Dark and Darker as well, since a lot has changed since the early days of the game’s testing phases!
