Waking up trapped in the murky subterranean drainage tunnels of New York City leaves protagonist Anton Blackwood with only one viable escape path. To make any progress through the opening prologue of the game, mastering the BLACKWOOD stop water flow objective is your very first major gameplay hurdle. Without turning off the surging valve controls, the rushing sewer water completely blocks the drainage pipes and prevents you from reaching street level.
Fortunately, solving the BLACKWOOD stop water flow puzzle requires only a quick inspection of the nearby control office and a precise sequence of five panel levers. This guide details the exact console switch combination needed for Gate 6, how to handle the underground hazards waiting right past the barrier, and how to safely reach Anton's getaway car across the plaza.
Navigating the Drainage Tunnels to the Control Room
Act 1 opens underground with Anton recovering his footing in the sewers beneath the city. This initial stretch acts as a movement tutorial, introducing basic vaulting, crouching, and traversal controls before introducing heavy gunplay.
- Move forward down the primary linear tunnel until the introductory movement prompts appear.
- Turn right along the walkway and proceed toward the steel barricade.
- Vault over the steel gate when prompted.
- Locate the metal shelving unit pushed up against the right wall, interact with it to shove it out of the path, and squeeze through the narrow gap in the exposed brickwork.
Just past the breach, a heavy cascade of rushing wastewater bars the tunnel ahead. Trying to push directly through the torrent is impossible. Instead, turn toward the right side of the chamber, step up onto the elevated metal platform, and open the heavy access door to step inside the water control room.
Solving the Gate 6 Water Switch Console
Inside the control room, you will find a bank of five console switches along with an informational document resting on the main desk. Before flipping any switches randomly, approach the table and interact with the folder labeled Level Sequence for Gates 1-10.
As noted in community reports and walkthrough guides, the document contains separate operational codes for multiple sluice gates across the facility. There is no universal combination for every gate in the system; you must specifically match the parameters assigned to Gate 6, which governs the active current blocking Anton's route.
| Control Switch | Position Required | Console Function |
|---|---|---|
| Switch 1 (Far Left) | Down | Closes primary bypass intake |
| Switch 2 | Up | Engages secondary pressure relief |
| Switch 3 (Center) | Up | Equalizes Gate 6 chamber level |
| Switch 4 | Down | Locks lower runoff valve |
| Switch 5 (Far Right) | Down | Shuts off tunnel drainage flow |
Turn away from the desk, face the switchboard, and enter the sequence starting from the leftmost lever: Down, Up, Up, Down, Down.
Inputting this exact configuration will instantly halt the rushing current outside. The game immediately registers completion of the BLACKWOOD stop water flow task, making the previously flooded drainage pipe accessible for traversal.
Escaping the Sewers: The Reptile Hazard and Street Ladder
Once you successfully complete the BLACKWOOD stop water flow puzzle, exit the control room and return to the main drainage floor. Head to the right into the newly drained pipe passage.
As you step through, turn left along the dark canal. Waiting directly in the murky water is a dangerous crocodile-like creature. Players have two distinct ways to handle this encounter depending on their gameplay goals:
- Unlocking the Achievement: If you want to claim the Hold Your Fire Steam achievement, refrain from pulling the trigger immediately upon spotting the beast.
- Engaging in Combat: If you choose to fight, hold your aim button to stabilize the reticle. Backpedal away from the creature as it lunges forward and fire directly at its head with your sidearm to put it down quickly.
After dealing with the creature, push deeper down the stone corridor until you locate a flight of stairs on your right. Ascend the steps, pass through the maintenance door, and climb the vertical utility ladder to emerge out of the manhole onto street level.
Surviving the Plaza Firefight to Reach Anton's Car
The moment Anton climbs onto the pavement, a cinematic cutscene triggers as two vehicles filled with armed hostiles arrive on the scene. You are thrown into an extended shootout across the public square, and your primary goal is to reach Anton's vehicle parked across the far side of the plaza.
Community players frequently note that enemy fire can penetrate fragile barriers, making smart positioning essential:
- Immediately slide behind the vehicle positioned on your right rather than running into the open street.
- Utilize the dive mechanic while transitioning between cover. Diving triggers a brief bullet-time slow-motion window that enables you to align precise headshots on approaching shooters.
- Conserve ammunition by prioritizing single-shot headshots with your pistol. You can loot firearms and ammo dropped by fallen thugs during the engagement.
- Exploit the game's execution recovery system. Whenever your health drops below 30%, landing a contextual takedown restores your vitality up to 40%, rewarding calculated aggression when closing the distance.
Once the first squad is eliminated, push north toward the concrete archway. A second group of enemies will ambush you near the monument. Use the stone pillars for cover, defeat the remaining gunners, and advance past the arch to trigger a close-quarters melee tutorial. Defeat the final two brawlers using timed blocks, parries, and kicks.
Interacting with Anton's car concludes the escape sequence and rolls the official title card at roughly the twenty-minute mark of the story.
From Hitman to Shopkeeper: Anton's Dual Life Loop
Reaching the car transitions the narrative to the Brooklyn Backlot Garage, where Anton drops off his bullet-riddled vehicle with mechanic Eddie. From there, Anton returns to his daily cover life running a Brooklyn DVD rental shop in 2012 New York City.
The core loop of the game demands balancing legal retail management by day with lethal contract work by night. Neglecting the storefront directly threatens your ability to cover the recurring monthly overhead of $11,000 to $13,000. For complete technical specs, official announcements, and community discussions, you can check the BLACKWOOD Steam store page.
Morning Routine and Store Maintenance
Each morning begins in Anton's apartment before descending to the storefront:
- Use the closet to equip an outfit.
- Enter the washroom to wash Anton's face and groom his hair at the mirror.
- Prepare breakfast at the kitchen stove.
- Fulfill neighbor requests. On Monday, neighbor Ernesto asks for a movie titled Fist and Flames. Order this via the DVD Planet portal on the apartment computer, collect it downstairs, and deliver it to Ernesto's apartment door.
Maintaining high Store Popularity maximizes your daily legal revenue. To keep customer satisfaction high, complete the mandatory opening chores:
- Fill the pet food bowl near the checkout counter to feed the store cat.
- Dust down the dirty posters and straighten the comic book display racks.
- Grab the mop to clean fluid spills on the floor, specifically near the front t-shirt rack.
- Organize DVD stock by sorting titles into their matching genre sections (such as Horror, Action, Romance, and Adventure).
- Interact with counter assistant Emily Grace to build rapport and handle checkout recommendations.
Night Contracts and DarkMail Operations
Underneath the retail floor lies Anton's basement workshop. This hidden area contains a choreography punching bag for practicing contextual takedown slots, a weapon modification bench for upgrading firearm barrels, muzzles, and magazines, and a private terminal running DarkMail.
DarkMail categorizes all incoming assignments with specific header tags:
| DarkMail Tag | Assignment Type | Impact on Campaign Progress |
|---|---|---|
| [MAIN] | Core Story Mission | Advances the narrative arc across Act 1 |
| [CONTRACT] | Optional Mercenary Work | Rewards Dirty Cash for black-market weapon upgrades |
| [INVITE] | Challenge / Fight Club | Tests combat choreography under unique parameters |
Act 1 features four primary story milestones. Following the opening prologue where you deal with the BLACKWOOD stop water flow puzzle, the main jobs unfold across the week:
- Discreet Retrieval Required: The opening USB drive recovery underway during the sewer escape.
- Good Work. Next Step. ($2,200): Anton's Monday rendezvous with Littleboy42 at Chambers Street subway station at 20:15.
- Cars all patched up: Eddie's Tuesday driving and pursuit sequence once your vehicle repairs are finished.
- I got the info on Lantern: The climactic Thursday investigation leading into the finale and developer credits.
While Clean Cash earned at the register handles civilian living expenses and shop stock, Dirty Cash acquired through DarkMail contracts funds combat attachments and heavy firepower. Keeping both sides of Anton's life balanced ensures you are always prepared for whatever underworld threats emerge from the shadows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact switch code to solve the BLACKWOOD stop water flow puzzle?
To complete the BLACKWOOD stop water flow objective at Gate 6, enter the control room, inspect the folder on the table, and set the five wall console switches from left to right: Down, Up, Up, Down, Down. This immediately shuts down the drainage current blocking your route.
Can you bypass the sewer crocodile without fighting it?
Yes. If you do not shoot the creature immediately upon entering the newly opened drainage tunnel, you can bypass the aggressive confrontation and unlock the Hold Your Fire achievement. If you choose to engage, back up while firing headshots with your pistol.
How do contextual takedowns work during the plaza shootout?
Contextual takedowns let you instantly eliminate vulnerable enemies at close range. If Anton's total health falls below 30%, executing any melee takedown immediately restores his health bar to 40%, providing crucial survivability during heavy firefights.
Does completing the water puzzle finish Act 1?
No. The BLACKWOOD stop water flow sewer sequence serves as the opening tutorial of Act 1. After stopping the water and surviving the plaza shootout, you unlock Anton's DVD shop management loop and four subsequent story missions accessible through DarkMail.