Agents in Ubisoft's The Division 2 can pick the Demolitionist Specialization to add heavy firepower to their arsenal. After, unlike clandestine missions prior to the Dollar Flu outbreak, The Division's post-apocalyptic setting needs Agents to be firmer with their approach against hostile forces. Interestingly, the Demolitionist turns up the firepower to 11 with their penchant for mayhem and sheer destruction.
As a result, Agents work best with the Demolitionist Specialization if they need to wipe out the floor with enemies in quick succession. Unlike other Agents, Demolitionists want to get the job done as quickly as possible, no matter how messy things get. Interestingly, players who understand the Demolitionist well can undeniably transform their Agents into behemoths in combat. However, how should players approach the Demolitionist skill tree?
First Things First: Bombs Away
Operatives reviewing the Demolitionist might feel confused when its skill tree branches outward across all directions, instead of the usual top-down approach in other MMOs. In turn, players should learn how to navigate the skill tree first before proceeding. Essentially, the Demolitionist skill tree "branches out" for players to create builds depending on what aspects of the Demolitionist they want to focus on. As such, based on this division, the Demolitionist specializes in the following areas:
M32A1 Grenade Launcher: The Demolitionist gains the M32A1 Grenade Launcher as their signature weapon. With it, players can deal AOE damage to enemies over long distances. Moreover, its quick-fire nature and magazine size enable the Demolitionist to rain hell quite frequently.
Explosive Damage Increase, Resistance: The Demolitionist specializes in increasing the overall explosive damage of weapons, skills, and effects, as well as grenades. Moreover, the Demolitionist may gain resistance to burn damage.
Small Arms Specialty: The Demolitionist also gains modifiers that increase the potency of smaller but quick-fire weapons. These include a.357 Magnum Revolver (Diceros Special), and improved SMG and LMG damage.
Grenade Artillery: The Demolitionist can now entrust its artillery turret to launch grenades over targeted locations. This gives the Demolitionist a handy companion against large enemy clusters.
Signature Weapon: M32A1 Grenade Launcher
As with other Specializations, the Demolitionist receives their own Signature Weapon that reflects their nature. Thanks to the M32A1 Grenade Launcher, the Demolitionist can launch more powerful grenades at a distance and in quick succession. Unlike other weapons, the burst damage of the M32A1 makes it perfect for incursions involving groups of enemies.
Great For Bypassing Defense
Unlike other Signature Weapons, the M32A1 perhaps boasts the best damage options against defenses. As a combination of both grenade and revolver, the M32A1 amasses the decent firing rate of a speedy shotgun with a punch of a hard-hitting grenade. Essentially, the M32A1 can tear through most armored combatants with ease.
Moreover, its burst damage allows grenade rounds to bypass cover, provided players have a general idea of where their opponents are. This surpasses most Signature Weapons in terms of enemy accessibility. With the right skill combinations, the Grenade Launcher can easily eliminate squads of opponents. Here are its base statistics:
Damage: 949.5k
Rate of Fire: 98
Magazine: 6+1
Range: ~50 Meters
Fire Mode: Double Action
M406 HE Grenades (Weapon Talent)
The M32A1's efficiency lies in its M406 HE Grenades Talent, which reflects its unique yet deadly grenade rounds. Essentially, the M32A1 fires 40x46mm grenades. These have an effective blast radius of 5m, easily capable of ripping through a squad of enemies. However, it does deal reduced damage to Named enemies, meaning Demolitionists need to follow up their grenade rounds with a finishing blast.
Signature Weapon Damage (Passive)
Players can improve the M32A1's damage output across the three tiers of the Signature Weapon Damage Talent. When maxed out, the weapon will get (Tier 4) 145-percent increased damage.
Skill Modifiers: Ordinance To-Go
Demolitionists also gain a number of Talents and Perks to further personalize their robotic drones to their advantage. Essentially, the Demolitionist gains an Artillery Turret that enables them to fire grenades on a targeted location.
Artillery (Item, Turret)
As mentioned, the Artillery Turret enables Demolitionists to launch grenades to other targeted locations. Essentially, Demolitionists can deploy their Turret to the battlefield and direct it to launch smaller versions of the M32A1's grenades to the player's chosen location. In theory, the Artillery Turret can provide much-needed cover while the squad recovers or while the Demolitionist plans their next approach, especially when taking control points against many enemies.
However, some players might feel like the Artillery Turret is an added baggage in high-intensity situations. Having to separately aim the Artillery Turret to fire in a specific direction might be impractical, especially when opponents are also moving continuously.
Cyclone Magazine (Mod)
The Cyclone Magazine Talent simply increases the total ammunition count of the Artillery Turret.
SHD CPU V.2 (Mod)
The SHD CPU V.2 Talent simply increases the overall damage output of the Artillery Turret.
General Modifiers: Everything Goes Boom
Given its namesake, the Demolitionist specializes in making things go "boom" as frequently and efficiently as possible. In turn, the Demolitionist has four modifiers specially designed to maximize their damage output in high-intensity firefights.
Demolitionist Tactical Link (Talent)
With Demolitionist Tactical Link, the Demolitionist and their squad members gain 5-percent increased damage to targets out of cover. This Talent seems straightforward enough, but it has huge implications in combat.
Essentially, the Demolitionist and their team members have increased damage to all enemies outside cover. These include enemies transitioning from one cover to the next, or unfortunate enemies who expose themselves to the players. This advantage might seem minuscule, but rapid-firing with a 5-percent damage increase can get fatal for enemies real quick.
Explosive Ordinance (Passive)
Demolitionists love to make things go boom, and Explosive Ordinance amps that boom to 11. Maxing out this Talent grants (Tier 3) 25-percent increased explosive damage. In turn, Explosive Ordinance affects not just grenades, but also effects and skills that trigger explosions. This Talent comes in handy, considering the number of flammable materials that Demolitionists can trigger to damage opponents.
Moreover, the added kick of Demolitionist Tactical Link can make explosive effects much deadlier against opponents.