⚠️ Early Access Notice
The Cartel system is still under active development. Level names, perk descriptions, and values shown below are extracted from current game files and may change with future updates. Placeholder entries from the data have been excluded.
📊 Cartel Levels
There are 5 confirmed cartel levels in the current game data. Each level requires a set amount of Cartel XP to unlock and increases your maximum debt limit with the cartel.
| Level | XP Required | Cumulative XP | Debt Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 0 (Starting) | 0 | $50,000 |
| Level 2 | 10,000 | 10,000 | $60,000 |
| Level 3 | 13,000 | 23,000 | $70,000 |
| Level 4 | 13,000 | 36,000 | $80,000 |
| Level 5 (END) | 25,000 | 61,000 | $150,000 |
Key Takeaways:
- You start at Level 1 with a $50,000 debt limit — no XP needed.
- Levels 2–4 require 10,000–13,000 XP each, gradually increasing your debt capacity by $10,000 per level.
- The final level (END) is the biggest jump — 25,000 XP required, but your debt limit nearly doubles to $150,000.
- Total XP needed to max out: 61,000 Cartel XP.
🎖️ Cartel Perks
There are 8 cartel perks across 4 categories that you can unlock as you progress. Each perk has a minimum cartel level requirement and costs perk points to unlock.
| Perk | Category | Min Level | Cost (Points) | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Crime Perk 1 | CRIME | Level 2 | 0 (Free) | Combat-related — unlocks at Level 2 for free |
| 💰 Business Perk 1 | BUSINESS | Level 3 | 2 | Earnings boost (value: $500,000 threshold) |
| 💰 Business Perk 2 | BUSINESS | Level 3 | 2 | Earnings boost (value: $500,000 threshold) |
| 📱 Respect Perk 1 | RESPECT | Level 4 | 3 | Reputation gain boost (value: 500) |
| 🔴 Crime Perk 2 | CRIME | Level 5 | 1 | Advanced combat perk (value: 2) |
| 📱 Respect Perk 2 | RESPECT | Level 5 | 4 | Advanced reputation boost (value: 1,000) |
| ⚔️ Rank Perk 1 | RANK | Level 5 | 5 | Guard/bodyguard improvement (value: 5) |
| ⚔️ Rank Perk 2 | RANK | Level 6+ | 6 | Dealer improvement (value: 8) |
Perk Categories
| Category | Icon | Focus | Perks Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRIME | 🔴 | Combat & intimidation abilities | 2 |
| BUSINESS | 💰 | Money earning & sales bonuses | 2 |
| RESPECT | 📱 | Reputation gains with clients | 2 |
| RANK | ⚔️ | Guards & dealer effectiveness | 2 |
Perk Point Strategy
- Crime Perk 1 is free at Level 2 — always grab this first.
- At Level 3, you need 4 points total to grab both Business perks.
- The most expensive perks (Rank 1 & 2) cost 5 and 6 points respectively and require Level 5+.
- Total perk points needed to unlock everything: 23 points.
Data extracted from DDS2 game files. Perk names and descriptions are currently developer placeholders — the actual in-game names may differ. Last updated from current game build.