Black tar

The Black Tar is a mind control substance used by the Reapers that is pumped into water supply lines and water towers. The Tar is the source of the plague affecting Empire City but this is unknown to the United States government, who issued a quarantine when the plague began to spread through the Neon District. The Black Tar is produced by Sasha, and is one of the powers granted to her by the Ray Sphere. The Black Tar is transported via trucks, which are part of the side missions called Mobile Poison to destroy. There are two other missions in which you must stop black tar from spreading. One is the story mission Nemesis Revealed, in which you must destroy machines that pump tar into the water towers. This is also the mission where you meet Kessler for the first time. In a side mission, called Dark Water, you must do the same thing, but only once. It is revealed in one of John White's Dead Drops that Sasha was experimenting on a form of the tar when she worked in the First Sons possibly indicating she had powers before The Blast, or at least, was aware of them.

The Reapers apply the Tar to citizens by kidnapping them and locking them in cages located in their hideout within the Jackson Tunnel. The Reapers then use a machine to coat the innocent civillians in the Black Tar until Sasha's mind control kicks in and are given the Reaper uniform and weapons. Sasha also has a machine that sucks the Black Tar from her and transfers it to the machine the sprays in on the civillians

The Tar can also be turned into a gas as shown when Kessler and the First Sons kidnap Sasha and drain the Tar from her. The pedestrians throw rocks, head butt, and do anything they can to hurt you. Policemen will side with the Reapers and shoot him but Cole manages to take down the balloons delivering the gas to the citizens, thus preventing the First Sons from turning the entire city against him.

Near the end of the game there is a news broadcast stating that a cure has been found for the Tar. The reporter also stated that because of this, the lockdown should end in a couple of weeks. Although if you are evil, you do not hear this broadcast.

Effects

Side effects of Black Tar immersion include hallucinations, sickness, and a mental link with Sasha. Prolonged exposure can lead to death or mental control. Reapers will often throw up a black substance when fighting, likely the Tar. This may mean that it multiplies within their bodies after prolonged exposure, or that continuous doses must be given to ensure continued mind control. As stated above, prolonged and constant exposure will result in the person afflicted being put under Sasha's control. Cole has shown more resistance to the tar than anyone else, most likely due to his abilities. In the side misson; Black Water, there will occasionally be pedestrians lying in puddles of tar on the roofs. If you heal these pedestrians they will attack you. Their attacks cause you to become disoriented much like the effects of the tar. Since hurting them gives you bad karma you should only heal those pedestrians after you have blown up the tar barrels and are ready to leave that roof.

Trivia

• Black Tar may have been a leading cause to the death of all the children in the city, thus the reason why you never see one in the game.
• The Black Tar may have been a reference to Bane's Venom in Batman as well as Scarecrow's Fear Gas.
• When you overload the tar kegs in the side mission of Dark Water, you can create certain areas full of infected people.
• It may also be a reference to Sly 3's Venice stage, where tar was being pumped into the water.
• The Voice of Survival makes a referrence to your actions on destroying the Tar pumpers, claiming you are destroying the water supply.