Watch Dogs: Legion: Complete Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Watch Dogs: Legion

The tutorial introduces DedSec's objectives and the recruitment system. Your first task is recruiting three operatives of different skill types: a combat specialist, a hacker, and a stealth operative. Each type excels at different mission approaches — always have all three available. Use the Profiler (hold L2/LT near any NPC) to see their background, skills, and potential mission value before deciding whether to recruit them.

London's borough districts must be liberated by completing faction missions and reducing Albion's presence level (a percentage indicator shown on your map). Fully liberated boroughs unlock better recruit quality in that area. Start with Lambeth — its Clan Kelley missions are the most accessible introduction to the game's systems.

Recruitment Strategy

Priority recruits: 1) Infiltrators with "Police/Albion Contacts" background — they can enter restricted areas without triggering alarms. 2) Hackers with "Spiderbot Specialist" background — their Spiderbot has extra abilities. 3) Combat specialists with "Body Armour" or "Combat Training" — for missions that require direct confrontation. The Profiler shows each NPC's skills before you commit to recruitment — profile everyone before approaching.

Hacking Approach Strategy

The optimal approach for most missions: enter hacking range, deploy Spiderbot, have the Spiderbot access the internal network from inside the building, complete the objective remotely, then walk away. This approach prevents combat entirely and is viable for 60–70% of missions. When physical access is required: hijack a cargo drone, use it to fly to the objective floor, deploy Spiderbot inside, complete the objective, and fly the drone back to extraction.

Essential Tips

1. Permadeath mode is hardcore. Default mode only benches operatives temporarily when they're captured or downed — they recover after time. Permadeath permanently removes them.
2. The Cargo Drone (hackable from anywhere in London) is the fastest aerial transport to elevated objectives — use it instead of ground-level driving whenever possible.
3. Recruiting Albion soldiers provides access to Albion's internal network and restricted areas without triggering their standard alert systems.
4. Each borough has a hidden Tech Point cache — find them for upgrade resources to buy the best hacking abilities.
5. The Camden borough operatives (artists and musicians) have unique dialogue and the most charismatic personalities in the city — worth recruiting for entertainment alone.
6. Bloodline DLC (Aiden Pearce and Wrench) provides the game's best narrative content — play it after completing two or three main story missions to appreciate the contrast.
7. Online Heists (four-player) are the best co-op content in the game — find three friends for the Tactical Operations for the most polished experience.

First Major Mission: Skye Larsen Infiltration

Your first major story infiltration targets Skye Larsen's Blume Corporation data center in the East End. Optimal approach: recruit an IT worker (profile NPCs near the building — IT workers have internal system access) before attempting the mission. With an IT worker operative, enter through the front entrance using their access badge. Navigate to the server room using the internal camera network rather than walking — hijack cameras from room to room, identifying guard positions before physically moving. Deploy the Spiderbot to access the server terminal directly. The entire mission can be completed without triggering a single alarm if you profile the right operative first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can every NPC in London be recruited?
A: Almost — a small number of story-critical NPCs cannot be recruited. Everyone else is a potential DedSec operative.

Q: What happens when an operative is captured?
A: In standard mode, they're held in a Albion facility and can be rescued in a side mission. In Permadeath mode, they die permanently.

Q: Is the game better in co-op?
A: Yes — the four-player co-op missions have the best mission design in the game and are significantly more enjoyable with friends than the solo campaign.

Q: Is the London recreation accurate?
A: Remarkably so — real landmarks, real neighborhoods, and real street layouts are reproduced with high fidelity in a near-future context.

Q: Is the Bloodline DLC worth it?
A: If you enjoy the main game, yes — Aiden and Wrench as fixed protagonists demonstrate how much better the narrative works with defined characters.