A blackout shuts the sector's power off. A siren plays, and the map goes dark even in daytime. When it ends, a shorter siren plays and the lights return.
How to see
Thermal Goggles are the tool built for this. They show the dark clearly and highlight players and scrap piles in white. The armory lists them at $3,500, and they have a level requirement. Buy them before you need them if blackouts are common on your server. Casual runs them less often than Standard.
A body flashlight works in the sewers, the Subway, and Vibe Check, and it also works in a blackout. The beam shows everyone where you are. Use it in short looks, then turn it off before you cross an open street.
Why people still run outside
Mystery crates become the contested loot while the lights are out. Groups camp the usual crate spots. If you are solo, skip the obvious crate and loot a register that is still glowing, or wait the blackout out near an ATM so you can deposit as soon as you can see.
RCU deployments are a separate admin event. They have been started with a power cut that is brighter than a normal blackout and comes with server messages. RCU gear is not on the public dealer list. Treat a named RCU raid as a leave-the-street moment, not as a crate race.
Checklist
- If you own thermals, equip them when the siren starts.
- If you do not, get indoors or underground and keep the flashlight brief.
- Do not path straight to the nearest mystery crate on a full server.
- Bank after the second siren, before the street refills.