How to Get the Underboss Exotic in The Division 2 Y8S2 Climax Mission

The Underboss is one of two new Exotics tied to Year 8 Season 2 “Into the Dark,” and it only comes from the Manhunt Climax mission. Getting it means clearing the season’s three High-Value Target steps first, then running the final assault against Zodiac. Finishing on Master difficulty is the part that matters most, because that is the only setting that guarantees the weapon.

Quick answer: Kill the three seasonal HVT targets to unlock the Climax mission, then complete it on Master difficulty. Master gives a guaranteed Underboss drop on first clear. Lower difficulties only roll a chance.

Unlock the Climax mission first

The Climax mission does not appear until you finish the three High-Value Target objectives that run through the season’s Scout Challenges. These are the Manhunt steps gated behind the weekly track, and each HVT builds on the one before it. Once all three are down, the final mission opens up and points you toward the Underboss.

You also need a level 40 agent with access to the season’s content. The premium Season Pass is not required for the Underboss itself, since the weapon is tied to the mission rather than the pass.

Y8S2 "Into the Dark" Manhunt Scouts Solution
byu/0xStrappazzon inthedivision

Zodiac Climax mission walkthrough

Open the “Tens Nightclub: Zodiac” mission and pick your difficulty. You can matchmake here if you want a full squad, which helps a lot on higher settings. Then head through the main door into the Brass Room.

The Zodiac climax mission — The Tens Nightclub: Zodiac mission screen with matchmaking.

Clear every enemy in the Brass Room to secure it. Look for the ladder beside the double doors as Manny Ortega calls out the next objective.

Move up onto the stage and scan the body to advance the search for the missing civilians. Follow the marker toward the Platinum Lounge once the scan finishes.

The first trapped civilian is in the Platinum Lounge, but you cannot free them right away. Survive the incoming wave of enemies, and the Underboss will spawn once it is cleared. Kill the surrounding adds first, then focus the Underboss. It tries to heal itself, so keep shots on it to interrupt the process.

With the Underboss dead, take the Gold Lounge door deeper into the map. Follow the marker and force open the elevator shaft to reach a small room, clear the couple of enemies inside, then hit the switch and enter the control room.

Interacting with the Gold Lounge Door Division 2

Use the keyboard, then backtrack to the Platinum Lounge. An ambush hits here, and several of these enemies spew toxin, so keep moving and hold out until the marker points you to the lab.

In the next room, destroy the two stashes and wipe out every enemy. Turn away from the door you entered through and head upward.

The following room has two pieces of lab equipment you need to place Thermite on to destroy. Clear the room afterward, including the miniboss that spawns.

Lab equipment that you have to destroy with Thermite

Secure the final area to open the doors for the showdown. After the opening wave, Zodiac appears from the stage. Stay off the stage unless you want to go down fast, and remember this is a no-respawn zone.

Zodiac is not the toughest boss, but he sets up auto turrets. Shoot him while he is deploying them to break the process. Once he and his henchmen are dead, the mission is complete.

Why Master difficulty matters

Completing the Climax mission on Master guarantees the Underboss on your first clear. Every lower difficulty only gives a chance at the drop, with better odds the higher you go. Running it in a four-player group with loot sharing raises the number of chances per run, which is the fastest way to farm it if you are staying below Master.

You will know it worked when the Underboss appears in your loot at the end of the mission. The weapon cannot be pulled from Exotic caches, Countdown, or open-world targeted loot, so the Climax mission is the only source. If you were partied up when it dropped, you can trade it to those specific players.

Underboss stats and the Gangland Hit talent

The Underboss is an Exotic SMG built around marking targets. Its talent, Gangland Hit, applies a mark whenever you shoot an enemy. You can only hold one mark at a time, and it transfers to a new enemy if you shoot a different one. Marked targets take +20% amplified damage from the gun, and each extra mark on the same enemy adds another 5%. Multiple agents running Underboss can stack up to four marks on one target for focused burst.

Property	Value
Optics slot	+15% Critical Hit Chance
Base amplified damage to marked target	+20%
Per additional mark	+5%
Max marks on one target (grouped)	4
Reconfigurable stat	3rd attribute

The +15% crit chance from the Optics slot makes it easy to slot into a crit build while you paint priority enemies. Because the mark transfers, it works solo for quickly downing single targets and in groups for concentrating fire on a boss. You can also reconfigure the third attribute if the roll does not fit your setup.