Division 2 Stretch Goals: Into the Dark Cache Rewards

The Division 2’s Stretch Goals for the “Into the Dark” season reward you with a special cache that contains one of four exclusive weapon skins, a unique gear dye, and a backpack trophy. You unlock this cache by earning 100 Stretch Goal levels, which you progress through by completing seasonal challenges and earning XP. This article explains exactly how the Stretch Goal system works, what the Into the Dark cache contains, and how to get it efficiently.

What Are Stretch Goals in The Division 2?

Stretch Goals are a seasonal progression system introduced with Year 5 content. They run alongside the main Season Pass track, which has 100 levels and rewards you with caches, gear, and cosmetics. Stretch Goals extend that progression beyond level 100, giving you an additional 100 levels of rewards. Each Stretch Goal level requires a set amount of XP, and the final reward at level 100 is the Into the Dark cache.

The system is designed for players who finish the main season track early and want more to do. Unlike the Season Pass, which resets every season, Stretch Goals are tied to a specific season—”Into the Dark” is the season name. Once the season ends, you cannot earn the cache anymore, so it’s a limited-time reward.

How the Into the Dark Cache Works

The Into the Dark cache is the level 100 Stretch Goal reward. It is a single cache that, when opened, grants you one of the following four exclusive weapon skins: “Dark Winter,” “Shadow Strike,” “Nightfall,” or “Umbral.” You also receive a unique gear dye called “Void Black” and a backpack trophy shaped like a small shadow creature.

Important: the cache is not a loot box with random duplicates. It contains all three items—the weapon skin, the dye, and the trophy—in one drop. The weapon skin is randomly chosen from the four, so you do not get all four skins from one cache. If you want all four, you would need to earn the cache across four separate seasons, as each season has its own Stretch Goal cache with a different set of skins.

How to Earn Stretch Goal Levels Fast

Stretch Goal levels are earned purely through XP. Any activity that gives you XP counts: missions, bounties, control points, open-world activities, and even killing enemies. The XP requirement per level scales, but the average is around 100,000 XP per level. So, to reach level 100, you need roughly 10 million XP.

Here are the most efficient ways to earn XP:

• Seasonal missions and manhunt targets: These give large XP bonuses, especially on challenging or heroic difficulty.
• Control points: Capturing level 4 control points gives a big XP chunk plus gear.
• Bounties: High-tier bounties (elite or challenging) reward significant XP.
• Open-world activities: Territory controls, propaganda broadcasts, and hostage rescues are quick and repeatable.
• Resource convoys: These appear after capturing a control point and give solid XP.

You can also equip gear with “XP” attributes or use the “Diplomatic” specialization perk, but these are minor. The best strategy is to run a loop of control points and bounties on challenging difficulty, as you get both XP and loot.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is assuming the Into the Dark cache is the same as the Season Pass caches. It is not—Season Pass caches contain random gear and cosmetics, while the Stretch Goal cache is a guaranteed unique reward. Another misconception is that you can earn the cache after the season ends. You cannot; the Stretch Goal track disappears when the season ends, and any unclaimed rewards are lost.

Another issue players run into is not realizing that Stretch Goal levels start only after you reach Season Pass level 100. So if you are at Season Pass level 50, you are not earning Stretch Goal progress yet. You must finish the main track first.

Comparison to Other Seasonal Rewards

The Stretch Goal cache is one of several exclusive rewards in a season. The Season Pass itself offers a weapon skin, an outfit, and a backpack trophy at various levels. The Stretch Goal cache is the “hardcore” reward for players who want to keep playing after the main track is done. It is more exclusive because it requires roughly double the XP of the main track.

Compared to the previous season’s “Vanguard” cache, the Into the Dark cache follows the same pattern: four weapon skins, one dye, one trophy. The skins are darker and more shadow-themed, matching the season’s name. The dye is a deep black with a subtle purple sheen, which is unique to this cache.

Cost and Time Investment

There is no monetary cost to earn the Stretch Goal cache—it is free in-game content. The cost is time. On average, a player earns about 800,000 XP per hour of focused play on challenging difficulty. That means 10 million XP takes roughly 12-13 hours of play. If you play on heroic or with a group, you can reduce that to about 10 hours. If you play casually, expect 20+ hours.

You can speed this up by using XP-boosting gear and playing during double XP events, which happen occasionally. But those events are not always available, so plan accordingly.

Safety and Account Considerations

There are no safety risks in earning the cache, but there are account-related pitfalls. Do not use third-party tools or exploits to farm XP—Ubisoft bans accounts for cheating. Also, do not share your account with others to farm XP, as that violates the terms of service. The cache is account-bound, so it cannot be traded or transferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the Into the Dark cache after the season ends? No. Once the “Into the Dark” season ends, the Stretch Goal track disappears, and you lose access to the cache. You cannot earn it later.

Do I need to buy the Season Pass to get Stretch Goals? No. Stretch Goals are free for all players. The Season Pass gives you premium rewards, but the Stretch Goal track is available to everyone.

What if I already have the weapon skin from a previous season? If you get a duplicate skin, it will be added to your inventory as a duplicate, and you can dismantle it for materials. There is no way to trade it.

How do I check my Stretch Goal progress? Open the Season menu (press M on PC, or the touchpad on console), go to the “Stretch Goals” tab, and you will see your current level and the rewards.

Is the Into the Dark cache worth the grind? If you are a collector or enjoy exclusive cosmetics, yes. The weapon skins are high-quality and unique. If you only care about gameplay stats, the cache offers no combat advantage.

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in t | Stretch Goal levels | levels | 100 | 0 | 1000
in x | XP per level | XP | 100000 | 1000 | 10000000
out total | Total XP needed | XP | t * x | 0
out hours | Est. play time (hrs) | hours | (t * x) / 800000 | 1