Gaming How-To

Examination: How to Get Underequipped Badge Solo

The exact solo route through Sectors 1 and 2 that unlocks the badge at the Sector 3 gate.

The exact solo route through Sectors 1 and 2 that unlocks the badge at the Sector 3 gate.

The Underequipped badge in Examination is a solo-only challenge that pushes you through the early sectors with limited gear. You earn it by reaching and entering the Sector 3 gate on your own, without relying on a full loadout or teammates. The run rewards clean shooting, smart use of respawns, and knowing which fights to skip entirely.

Quick answer: Play solo, clear Sector 1 and Sector 2 objectives while conserving ammo, bypass the Gilbert boss by crouching past him, then open and step through the Sector 3 gate. The badge unlocks the moment you enter Sector 3.


Before you start: solo rule and Night Vision

Underequipped only counts when you attempt it by yourself. The whole point is finishing the route without a team backing you up, so start a solo run rather than joining others.

Completing Yuri’s quest to get Night Vision first makes the dark corridors far easier to read. It is not strictly required, but it removes a lot of guesswork when you are moving fast through unlit sections.

Two habits carry the entire run. Aim for headshots to drop enemies with fewer rounds, and loot lockers along the way for extra ammo and supplies. Ammo is your main limiting factor, so every wasted shot matters.

  • Start a solo session, not a team lobby.
  • Grab Night Vision from Yuri’s quest beforehand if you can.
  • Prioritize headshots and open lockers for supplies.
  • Watch for Deceivers, which disguise themselves as teammates and can one-shot you.

Sector 1: generators, Reactor 4, and the valve

Leave the safe zone and move into Sector 1. Find the first generator and boot it up to open your path forward.
Navigating the dark Sector 1 corridors toward the first generator in Examination
Booting up the first generator in Sector 1. Image: Gilbert
Head into Reactor 4. Grab Research Report #088, deal with the enemies inside, then boot up the backup generator and turn the valve to complete the objective.
After the valve, intentionally die to restock ammo and respawn closer to the next objective. This death shortcut is a reliable way to refill supplies and fast-travel back toward the spawn area.
A9 Brigadier weapon slot selected with the power on generator 2 objective active
The Current Objectives panel tracking the generator task with the A9 Brigadier equipped. Image: Gilbert
Run back through Sector 1 toward the next section. Be careful with Deceivers here, since they can one-shot you if you mistake one for a teammate.

Tip: When you reach the Gilbert room, you can trigger the boss activation and then die again to reset your position instead of committing to a long fight. Brute-forcing through repeated deaths is a legitimate way to make progress.


Sector 2: laptops, stealth, and the drop-down shortcut

After respawning, run to Sector 2 and climb the stairs to the upper level. Enemies wait up top, so approach ready to fire.
Fight through the rifle and SMG enemies. Loot the left room for flashbangs, which help you control tighter encounters ahead.
Aiming the equipped pistol at armed enemies inside Sector 2
Clearing rifle and SMG enemies while holding the A9 Brigadier. Image: Gilbert
Clear the Executive Offices and interact with the first laptop to transmit data. This is one of two laptop objectives in Sector 2.
Reach the heavy boss enemy in the hallway and crouch to sneak past him. Staying crouched lets you bypass the fight entirely instead of triggering it.
Current Objectives panel showing the pick up the recorder task in Sector 2
Working through the Sector 2 objectives after slipping past the heavy enemy. Image: Gilbert
Clear the remaining enemies and activate the second laptop. Once it is done, a drop-down shortcut opens that sends you straight back toward Sector 1.

Reach the Sector 3 gate to unlock the badge

Take the drop-down shortcut back to Sector 1 and run directly to the Sector 3 gate. This is the final stretch of the route.
Dropping back down toward Sector 1 to head for the Sector 3 gate
Using the drop-down shortcut to head for the Sector 3 gate. Image: Gilbert
Open the gate and step into Sector 3. The badge unlocks immediately upon entering, so you do not need to survive further to keep it.

You will know it worked when the award pops on screen, shown as the player winning the Underequipped badge. That confirmation is your signal the run is complete.


Route summary and common failure points

StageKey action
Sector 1Boot the first generator, then move toward Reactor 4.
Reactor 4Grab the research report, power the backup generator, turn the valve.
Death shortcutDie on purpose to restock ammo and respawn nearer the objective.
Gilbert roomCrouch past the heavy boss instead of fighting him.
Sector 2Activate both laptops, loot flashbangs from the left room.
Drop-down shortcutReturn to Sector 1 and run to the Sector 3 gate.
Sector 3 gateOpen and enter to unlock the badge.

The most common reasons a run falls apart are running out of ammo before Sector 2, getting one-shot by a Deceiver, or triggering the heavy boss instead of sneaking past. Persistence against Gilbert matters, and many players lean on repeated deaths to keep pushing forward. If the crouch bypass fails, expect to reset and try the hallway again.

The difficulty of this challenge has shifted over time, so a route that worked smoothly for one player may feel tighter for another. Stick to the core plan, conserve ammo, and treat deaths as a tool rather than a setback, and the Sector 3 gate is well within reach.