007 First Light: The Past Never Dies

The Past Never Dies is one of the biggest missions in 007 First Light. Set in the desert black market of Aleph in Mauritania, it packs in 23 challenges across multiple sections. Completing all of them unlocks the Mauritania outfit for TacSim and counts toward 100% mastery. This guide covers every challenge and how to get through the trickiest ones.

TL;DR

The Past Never Dies is the 4th mission with challenges in 007 First Light.
There are 23 challenges total to complete in this mission.
Completing all 23 unlocks the Mauritania outfit for TacSim.
The mission is set in the black market of Aleph in Mauritania.
Key challenge areas include the market, Scorpius hideout, antenna section, and crane escape.
You can replay checkpoints via Chapter Select to mop up missed challenges.
Challenges can be completed on any difficulty, including Novice.

Table of Contents

The Past Never Dies — Mission Overview

The Past Never Dies is the 4th major mission in 007 First Light and one of the largest in the game. Bond and Greenway arrive in Mauritania and are stopped at the entrance to a black market called Aleph, where they are told they need $100,000 to attend an auction. The market is packed with side activities, shady characters, and plenty of opportunities to earn money, gather intel, and complete challenges.

This mission is split across several distinct areas: the black market itself, the Scorpius hideout, the antenna area, and the crane escape after the auction. Each section has its own set of challenges tied to it.

If you need to go back and retry specific checkpoints, here is how to replay missions in 007 First Light using Chapter Select.

007 first light the past never dies all challenges guide

How Many Challenges Are in The Past Never Dies?

There are 23 challenges in The Past Never Dies. This is one of the higher challenge counts in the game. Because the mission has so many distinct areas and optional activities, you will almost certainly need more than one run of certain checkpoints to complete everything. Use Chapter Select to return to any checkpoint once you know what you missed.

Challenges in 007 First Light are not locked to any specific difficulty. You can complete every challenge on Novice if you prefer. See our difficulty settings guide if you are unsure which mode to play on.

The Past Never Dies — All Challenges Breakdown

Black Market Challenges

The black market section of Aleph is where most of the mission’s challenges are concentrated. There is a lot to do here, and the order you do things in matters for a few specific challenges.

Show Me the Money — Earn $140,000 in the market. This goes beyond the required $100,000 auction fee. To hit $140,000, you need to complete the Fight Pit, the Cup Game, and the Shooting Range without locking yourself out of money-making opportunities too early. Head to the Fight Pit first, win all three rounds against your opponents, and collect your $60,000 reward. Then tackle the other activities before spending any more than necessary.

Fight Pit Challenges (Champ and related) — You need to enter the Fight Pit and win all three rounds of combat. To start, head east from the market entrance, find the yellow container, and look for the Fighting Pit sign. Eavesdrop on the conversation near the blue barrel, then speak with the man who directs you to the trainer outside the bar. Sign up, win your trial fight, and then complete all three Fight Pit rounds. The second round includes two opponents at once, so make sure you know how to parry and throw enemies into walls.

Gunslinger and Shoot ‘Em Up — These two challenges require you to find and beat the Shooting Range in the market. Head east through the yellow shipping container and navigate past the truck with weapons. Use your Q-Lens to locate a soldier you can pickpocket for cash. The Shooting Range costs $3,000 to enter. You pay Basim, who is at the back left of the market. Targets appear one by one in a set order, so take your time and hit each one cleanly.

Cupped (Cup Game Challenge) — Find Aadan next to the shoe stall, which is to the right of the Fighting Pit. It costs $3,500 to play. When Aadan reveals the jewel under a cup, immediately hold L1 (or LB on Xbox) to activate the Q-Lens. This highlights the jewel in orange, letting you track it as Aadan moves the cups. If you use the Q-Lens correctly, the jewel should always end up in the middle. Win and you collect $30,000.

Secure Transaction (Crypto Wallet Challenge) — Talk to Nirmala near the left of the ramp used to enter the market. Exhaust all dialogue. You will learn about a buyer who tried to purchase weapons using a crypto hardware wallet. Follow the objectives to reach a woman in the market square near a tea stall — she is carrying the wallet. Pickpocket her using the Dart Phone or laser gadget to distract her. Then connect the wallet to a nearby tower by navigating through a thug hideout. Avoid combat here as multiple enemies will rush Bond if you are spotted. Reach the top floor, connect the wallet, and the challenge is done.

Pirate Grillz Memento — Once you are in the market, head directly to the stall across from the entry stairs where a man is selling the Pirate Grillz for $1,000. Buy it early — this is a collectible memento and counts toward full completion of the mission.

Scorpius Hideout Challenges

After gathering your auction fee, you will be directed to investigate the Scorpius group. A deal is being made inside their hideout, and Bond needs to get inside without raising the alarm.

Soldier Boy Challenge (Scorpius Disguise) — To get the Scorpius disguise, enter the black market and head immediately right from the entrance. Two guards stand by a chain-linked door — eavesdrop on their conversation about a deal and a burner phone inside. Then distract the guard at the entrance using the electrical box behind the container, or by using the Dart Phone or laser gadget. Crouch-walk past the first guard inside, take him down quietly, and put on the Scorpius disguise. Check out the full Scorpius Disguise — Soldier Boy challenge guide for step-by-step help.

Art Lover Challenge (Scorpius Deal) — Once inside the Scorpius hideout, you need to reach the deal location without alerting or defeating any enemies. Hack the TV near the guarded door to distract the two soldiers, then slip past them on the left. Inside, stay crouched. Climb the box on the left side of the room, go up the stairs, and navigate right to reach your objective. The video walkthrough for the Scorpius Deal challenge shows the cleanest route through this area.

Antenna Section Challenges

Ghost Antenna Challenge — After dealing with the Crypto Wallet side quest, Bond needs to reach an antenna in a heavily guarded area. The challenge here requires you to reach the antenna without alerting or fighting any guards at all. The guards follow scripted patrol paths, which you can use to your advantage. Wait for the right gaps in patrols, use your Q-Lens to track their positions, and move carefully from cover to cover. Rushing this section will almost always get you spotted.

Crane Escape Challenges

Ghost Crane Challenges — After the auction, Bond needs to reach 009’s boat via a crane. This escape section has two distinct areas, and the challenges require you to avoid detecting and defeating enemies in both of them. This is a longer section, so patience is key. Stick to cover, use the Q-Lens to mark enemy positions, and look for paths that let you go around guards entirely rather than past them.

Tips for Completing All 23 Challenges

The Past Never Dies has a lot going on at once. Here are some things to keep in mind before you dive in:

Do not spend money carelessly. Several challenges require you to hit $140,000 total. Plan your spending around the Fight Pit, Shooting Range, and Cup Game earnings first.
Use the Q-Lens constantly. It tracks enemies, highlights interactive objects, and helps you win the Cup Game. Never enter a new area without scanning first.
Stealth is key in the hideout and antenna areas. Multiple challenges in this mission require you to pass through sections without alerting or fighting anyone. Combat will lock you out of those challenges.
Pick up the Pirate Grillz early. It only costs $1,000 and can easily be missed if you rush to complete the auction objective.
Use Chapter Select to replay checkpoints. You do not need to redo the entire mission for missed challenges. Return to the relevant checkpoint and try again.

If you want to understand your full gadget setup before entering the market, check out the best gadget loadout guide and the full list of all gadgets in 007 First Light.

What Do You Unlock for Completing All Challenges?

Completing all 23 challenges in The Past Never Dies unlocks the Mauritania outfit for use in TacSim. Even if you are not focused on TacSim, finishing every challenge counts toward 100% mission mastery and overall game completion.

There are no difficulty-related restrictions on challenge rewards. Everything unlocks the same whether you play on Novice, Intended, or Purist.

Related 007 First Light Guides

Here are some more guides to help you across the full game:

The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. For more details on the game itself, visit the official IO Interactive site.

007 First Light: The Past Never Dies — All Challenges Guide

The Past Never Dies — Mission Overview

How Many Challenges Are in The Past Never Dies?