The IED

Lore & Background

The IED is a signature of DedSec's guerrilla tactics, a physical manifesto of their belief: turn the oppressor's own junk against them. In Watch Dogs 2, Marcus Holloway and his crew craft these devices from common electronics and explosives, often looted from San Francisco's back alleys, toolboxes, and downed drones. The IED embodies player creativity—stick it on walls, vehicles, or the ground to spring ambushes, sabotage ctOS nodes, or create diversions that send enemies scrambling.

In the Watch Dogs universe, the IED is more than a weapon—it's a symbol of resistance. DedSec uses it to cripple ctOS infrastructure, ambush enforcers, or draw guards away from objectives. Its remote detonation aligns with the franchise's hacking ethos, letting you trigger explosions from cover, often pairing it with an RC car or quadcopter for surgical strikes.

The IED's design is deliberately crude: exposed wires, a makeshift casing of scrap metal and tape. This rough-hewn look contrasts with the sleek tech of the city, reinforcing DedSec's underdog narrative—where ingenuity and grit beat corporate polish. Its presence in the game underscores the tension between order and chaos, as you decide when and where to light the fuse.

In Their Own Story

The warehouse hummed with server fans. Marcus crouched behind a crate, the IED cold and heavy in his palm. He'd scavenged the guts from a busted drone and a security camera—nothing fancy, but it would do. With a soft slap, he pressed the device onto the wall near the guard's patrol route. He melted into the shadows, phone ready. The guard strolled past, oblivious, and Marcus tapped the screen. A muffled thump, a spray of sparks, then silence. The path was clear.

Reader's Guide

**Crafting** The IED requires 2 Electronics and 1 Explosive component, found in toolboxes, vehicle trunks, or looted from enemies. Unlocked early in Watch Dogs 2 after the 'Backup' mission.

**Mechanics** - Damage: High (lethal to most enemies; destroys vehicles in 1-2 hits) - Stealth: Silent placement; detonation is loud but doubles as a distraction - Hack Range: Remote detonation up to 50 meters - Flavor: 'A bomb built from junk, powered by fury.'

**Tips** - Stick IEDs on walls near guard clusters for a single, devastating blast. - Pair with the RC car to deliver an IED into tight spaces or under vehicles. - Use to destroy ctOS boxes or ambush enemy reinforcements before they arrive.

Did You Know?

• The IED can be attached to vehicles and detonated remotely, turning them into mobile bombs.
• In Watch Dogs 2, the IED is one of the few lethal craftable items, reflecting DedSec's willingness to use deadly force when necessary.
• The IED's design was inspired by real-world improvised explosives, but its remote trigger is a direct nod to the game's hacking mechanics.
• Players can place multiple IEDs and detonate them simultaneously for a chain reaction, wiping out entire patrols in a single, thunderous moment.