Dying Light 2: Stay Human is Techland's open-world action RPG set 20 years after a zombie apocalypse in the sprawling city of Villedor. The parkour system lets you run, climb, and glide across rooftops with fluid first-person movement unmatched in the genre. Faction choices between Survivors and Peacekeepers permanently alter the city layout with new parkour tools or combat traps. Night gameplay transforms the experience — volatiles roam the streets while interiors become lootable dark zones. Four-player co-op lets friends join your story with all progress carrying back to their game.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Villedor | Level 1-4 gear | Early faction choices, Paraglider unlock, basic crafting blueprints | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
| 2 | Central Loop | Level 4-9 gear | Grappling Hook, endgame weapons, major story choices | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
| 3 | Elyseum | Level 9+ gear | Elyseum weapons, new parkour moves, DLC story | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
| 4 | VNC Tower | Mid-game story | Major faction choice, best viewpoint, story progression | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
| 5 | Lawan's Hideout | Mid to late game | Central safe house, crafting access, story NPC interactions | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
Old Villedor — Starting Area
The starting region with lower rooftops and easier parkour. Features the Bazaar (Survivors hub) and PK Floating Fortress. The first 4-5 facilities you assign here set the tone for your faction alignment. Easier enemies but fewer rare loot drops.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 1-4 gear |
| Key Rewards | Early faction choices, Paraglider unlock, basic crafting blueprints |
| Recommended Build | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
| Key Equipment | Korek Charm weapons |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of parkour system — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Central Loop.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Central Loop — Early Game
The main city area with massive skyscrapers, the VNC Tower, and most of the endgame content. Significantly harder enemies but better loot. The Paraglider is essential for traversal here — walking at street level is suicidal.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 4-9 gear |
| Key Rewards | Grappling Hook, endgame weapons, major story choices |
| Recommended Build | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
| Key Equipment | Korek Charm weapons |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering faction alignment — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Korek Charm weapons if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Elyseum.
Elyseum — Mid Game
A DLC area adding a volcanic island with new enemy types and the highest-tier gear. Features a new story campaign with unique bosses and the strongest weapons in the game. Requires completing the base game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 9+ gear |
| Key Rewards | Elyseum weapons, new parkour moves, DLC story |
| Recommended Build | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
| Key Equipment | Korek Charm weapons |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Artifact Machete becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master night gameplay for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
VNC Tower — Late Game
The tallest building in the Central Loop and a major story location. Climbing it is one of the most memorable parkour sequences in the game. The facility at the top is a pivotal faction choice affecting the entire Central Loop.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-game story |
| Key Rewards | Major faction choice, best viewpoint, story progression |
| Recommended Build | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
| Key Equipment | Artifact Machete |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Artifact Machete should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- co-op progression mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Lawan's Hideout.
Lawan's Hideout — Endgame
A hidden safe area that becomes available mid-story. Provides crafting stations, stash access, and a bed for sleeping through night. Centrally located in the Central Loop for convenient access during exploration.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid to late game |
| Key Rewards | Central safe house, crafting access, story NPC interactions |
| Recommended Build | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
| Key Equipment | Artifact Machete |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Medic (Support Co-op) for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Old Villedor → Central Loop → Elyseum → VNC Tower → Lawan's Hideout. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Dying Light 2: Stay Human Guides
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Dying Light 2: Stay Human Overview
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Best Builds
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Tier List
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Walkthrough
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Beginner's Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Tips & Tricks
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Weapons Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Combat Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Boss Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Crafting Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Classes & Characters
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