Dying Light 2: Save Frank or Chase the Truck – A Definitive Guide
In the desolate, infected world of Villedor, choices often carry the weight of life and death, and few decisions in Dying Light 2 Stay Human are as pivotal and emotionally charged as the one presented during the "Broadcast" main quest: Do you save Frank or chase the truck carrying Waltz? This isn’t just a simple branching path; it’s a moral crucible that significantly shapes the narrative, influences key character relationships, and directly impacts the game’s various endings. For many players, this moment defines their journey as Aiden Caldwell, forcing them to weigh immediate vengeance against the preservation of a fragile hope for the future.
This comprehensive guide will delve deep into this critical juncture, exploring the context, the immediate and long-term consequences of each choice, and offering insights to help you navigate one of Dying Light 2‘s most impactful decisions.
The Crucible of Choice: Understanding the "Broadcast" Dilemma
The "Save Frank or Chase the Truck" dilemma arises late in Dying Light 2‘s main story, during the "Broadcast" quest. Aiden, having finally gained access to the VNC Tower, is attempting to reactivate a powerful radio transmitter. However, events quickly spiral:
- Frank’s Plight: Frank, the disillusioned but morally grounded leader of the Nightrunners and a pivotal figure in Aiden’s quest for information, is suddenly poisoned. His life hangs by a thread, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Waltz’s Escape: Simultaneously, Waltz, the elusive antagonist central to Aiden’s personal quest to find his sister Mia, is spotted making a getaway in a heavily armored truck, likely heading towards the next crucial objective.
Aiden is presented with a stark choice, relayed through a frantic communication: either rush to Frank’s side and secure medical aid, or abandon Frank to pursue Waltz and the truck. The game pauses, the world holds its breath, and the fate of several key characters and the direction of the narrative rests squarely on your shoulders. This decision isn’t just about Frank or Waltz; it’s about what kind of hero Aiden truly is and what he prioritizes in a world teetering on the brink.
Option 1: Save Frank – The Path of Empathy and Alliance
Choosing to save Frank means prioritizing the life of an ally and the potential revival of a vital faction over the immediate pursuit of your primary antagonist.
How to Choose: When prompted, choose the option to go to the Bazaar/Fish Eye to help Frank.
Immediate Consequences:
- Frank’s Survival: Aiden rushes to Frank’s location, ensuring he receives the necessary antidote. Frank survives the poisoning, albeit still weakened.
- Waltz Escapes: The truck carrying Waltz gets away unimpeded, meaning you lose the immediate lead on him and Mia.
- Lawan’s Reaction: Lawan, deeply loyal to Frank and a former Nightrunner herself, is immensely grateful for your decision. Your bond with her strengthens significantly.
- Faction Reactions: The Nightrunners are revitalized by Frank’s survival. Jack Matt and Juan, leaders of the Peacekeepers and Survivors respectively, react based on their prior relationship with Frank and your previous choices.
Long-Term Impacts and Benefits:
- Nightrunner Resurgence: Frank’s survival allows for the re-establishment of the Nightrunners as a viable, albeit small, faction. This is crucial for certain ending paths.
- VNC Tower Control (Frank/Lawan’s Way): If you save Frank, the VNC Tower will ultimately fall under the control of the Nightrunners, with Frank or Lawan (if Frank dies later) overseeing its operations. This is essential for unlocking specific radio frequencies vital for the "true" endings.
- Strengthened Lawan Relationship: Your bond with Lawan becomes one of deep trust and camaraderie. This influences her character arc, making her more likely to stick by Aiden and potentially influencing her ultimate fate. She might even stay in Villedor with you.
- Moral High Ground: This choice generally aligns with a more altruistic and empathetic playthrough, emphasizing the importance of human connection and loyalty over singular revenge.
- Access to Specific Ending Paths: Saving Frank opens up endings where the Nightrunners play a crucial role, particularly those focused on rebuilding Villedor and potentially finding a cure.
- Potential for Frank’s Guidance: Frank, as an experienced Nightrunner, can offer valuable insights and guidance later in the story, enriching the narrative.
Potential Challenges:
- Delayed Waltz Pursuit: You miss the immediate opportunity to confront Waltz, potentially prolonging your search for Mia.
- Reliance on Others: You become more reliant on others to track Waltz, rather than taking direct action yourself.
Option 2: Chase the Truck – The Path of Vengeance and Direct Action
Choosing to chase the truck means prioritizing the immediate pursuit of Waltz and the answers he holds about Mia, even at the cost of an ally’s life.
How to Choose: When prompted, choose the option to go after Waltz’s truck.
Immediate Consequences:
- Frank’s Death: Aiden abandons Frank to his fate. Frank succumbs to the poison and dies.
- Waltz’s Pursuit (Partial Success): Aiden gets to directly pursue Waltz’s truck, leading to a tense chase sequence. However, Waltz still manages to escape, leaving Aiden frustrated but having gained some immediate ground.
- Lawan’s Reaction: Lawan is absolutely devastated and furious at Aiden for letting Frank die. Her relationship with Aiden takes a severe hit, potentially becoming hostile or strained.
- Faction Reactions: The Nightrunners are effectively disbanded with Frank’s death. The Peacekeepers and Survivors will vie for control of the VNC Tower, with your previous choices determining who takes over.
Long-Term Impacts and Benefits:
- Direct Pursuit of Waltz: This choice offers the most direct path to confronting Waltz and uncovering the truth about Mia, potentially leading to answers sooner.
- VNC Tower Control (PKs/Survivors’ Way): Without Frank to guide the Nightrunners, the VNC Tower will fall under the control of either Jack Matt’s Peacekeepers or Juan’s Survivors, depending on your prior allegiance and resource allocation throughout the game. This influences the ending and the dominant faction in Villedor.
- Strained Lawan Relationship: Lawan’s trust in Aiden is severely damaged. She may become an antagonist, leave Villedor, or have a much more volatile role in the story’s climax, potentially leading to a different ending for her.
- Focus on Core Narrative: The story’s focus shifts more acutely to Aiden’s personal quest for Mia and Waltz, potentially streamlining the narrative by removing the Nightrunner faction element.
- Access to Specific Ending Paths: This choice opens up endings heavily influenced by either the Peacekeepers or the Survivors, reflecting a more pragmatic or authoritarian future for Villedor.
Potential Challenges:
- Loss of a Key Ally: Frank’s wisdom and moral compass are lost, removing a significant character from the narrative.
- Alienation of Lawan: The strained relationship with Lawan can make later segments of the game more difficult or emotionally taxing, as she may not fully cooperate.
- More Ambiguous Morality: This path often feels more driven by personal vengeance, potentially leading to endings that are less "heroic" or more morally grey.
Decision Outcome Comparison Table
To help visualize the stark differences, here’s a comparison of the key outcomes:
| Aspect | Save Frank | Chase the Truck |
|---|---|---|
| Frank’s Fate | Survives (though still vulnerable) | Dies |
| Lawan’s Reaction | Grateful, relationship strengthens | Devastated, relationship severely strained/hostile |
| VNC Tower Control | Nightrunners (Frank/Lawan) | Peacekeepers (Matt) or Survivors (Juan) |
| Nightrunner Status | Revitalized, potential for resurgence | Disbanded, effectively irrelevant |
| Primary Antagonist Focus | Waltz’s pursuit delayed, more faction focus | Direct, immediate focus on Waltz and Mia |
| Ending Influence | Leads to Nightrunner/Lawan-centric endings | Leads to PK/Survivor-centric endings |
| Overall Tone | More hopeful, emphasizes alliances/morality | More pragmatic, emphasizes vengeance/direct action |
Which is "Better"? Practical Advice and Actionable Insights
There is no single "correct" answer to the "Save Frank or Chase the Truck" dilemma. Dying Light 2 is designed to offer meaningful choices with lasting consequences, and the "best" option depends entirely on your playstyle, your desired narrative outcome, and what you prioritize as a player.
-
Consider Your Desired Ending:
- For a more "heroic" or "balanced" ending, or one focused on rebuilding society and potentially securing a future for Villedor with the Nightrunners: Save Frank. This path often leads to endings where Lawan stays and helps rebuild, and the city has a chance at stability.
- For an ending focused purely on Aiden’s personal quest for Mia, or one where you want to see the Peacekeepers or Survivors fully dominate Villedor: Chase the Truck. This path often leads to more ambiguous endings, with Lawan potentially leaving or having a tragic fate.
-
Think About Lawan: Your relationship with Lawan is one of the most significant in the game. If you value her loyalty, her well-being, and want to keep her as a strong ally, save Frank. If you are willing to sacrifice that bond for direct action, or want to explore a more fraught relationship, chase the truck.
-
Faction Allegiance: Your prior choices regarding territory assignments (water towers, electrical stations) will influence who takes control of the VNC Tower if Frank dies. If you’ve been heavily siding with one faction, chasing the truck will solidify their power. Saving Frank creates a third power dynamic.
-
Moral vs. Pragmatic:
- Saving Frank is the moral choice, prioritizing an ally’s life and the potential for a collective future.
- Chasing the Truck is the pragmatic choice, prioritizing the immediate pursuit of your main objective.
-
Replayability: Dying Light 2 is built for multiple playthroughs. If you’re unsure, or simply curious, consider playing through the game twice to experience both paths and their unique outcomes. This decision is one of the strongest reasons to do so.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Weigh the consequences, consider your priorities, and let Aiden’s actions reflect the kind of story you want to tell in the brutal, beautiful world of Villedor.
Conclusion
The "Save Frank or Chase the Truck" decision in Dying Light 2 stands as a monumental crossroads, shaping not only the immediate narrative but the very fabric of Villedor’s future and Aiden’s personal journey. It forces players to confront a classic dilemma: the needs of the many versus the pursuit of personal vengeance. Whether you choose to extend a helping hand to a dying ally, revitalizing a crucial faction and securing a more hopeful path for Villedor, or to relentlessly pursue your ultimate antagonist, sacrificing an important life for immediate answers, your choice will echo through the game’s final acts and define Aiden Caldwell’s legacy. Choose wisely, Pilgrim, for the fate of Villedor, and your own soul, hangs in the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does this choice affect the game’s final ending significantly?
A1: Yes, absolutely. This is one of the most impactful choices in Dying Light 2 that directly influences which of the major endings you will receive, particularly concerning the fate of Villedor, Lawan, and Aiden himself.
Q2: Can I save Frank and still pursue Waltz later?
A2: Yes. While chasing the truck offers an immediate pursuit, Waltz is a central antagonist and will be encountered again regardless of this choice. Saving Frank simply means you don’t get the direct chase sequence immediately after the "Broadcast" quest.
Q3: What happens if I make this choice but my previous choices favor a different faction?
A3: Your previous choices regarding territory assignments (Water Tower, Electrical Station) will influence which faction gains control of the VNC Tower if Frank dies. If you save Frank, the VNC Tower will be controlled by the Nightrunners (Frank/Lawan), regardless of your previous faction alignments.
Q4: Is one choice objectively "better" for a "good" ending?
A4: Many players consider saving Frank to lead to a more "optimistic" or "heroic" ending, as it preserves a vital alliance and allows for the Nightrunners to potentially rebuild society. However, "good" is subjective in Dying Light 2. Chasing the truck offers a more direct, albeit potentially darker, resolution to Aiden’s personal quest.
Q5: Does this choice unlock specific quests or items?
A5: While it doesn’t unlock unique side quests directly, it heavily influences the main quest path and character interactions from this point forward. The control of the VNC Tower also impacts which faction perks (e.g., ziplines vs. traps) are active in the central loop.
Q6: What happens to Lawan if Frank dies?
A6: Lawan is devastated and becomes very angry with Aiden. Her relationship with you will be severely strained, potentially leading to her making different, more aggressive choices later in the story, and possibly influencing her ultimate fate in the ending.
Q7: What if I don’t care about Frank or Lawan?
A7: While the game encourages emotional investment, if your sole priority is finding Mia and confronting Waltz as quickly as possible, chasing the truck is the more direct path. However, even without emotional attachment, understanding the faction control and ending implications is still crucial for your preferred narrative outcome.
