Diggle and Felicity travel to the island of Lian Yu in search of Oliver, who left Starling City after the devastation of The Undertaking and his failure to avert it. Convinced to return home, Oliver finds that things are in much worse shape than he imagined – Isabel Rochev is preparing a hostile takeover of Queen Consolidated, Thea refuses to visit Moira in jail, Roy is trying to fill the void left by the Arrow's absence, and Laurel is working with the District Attorney's office to take down the vigilante. Meanwhile, flashbacks to the island show Oliver's mentors Slade, Shado and Oliver in a desperate situation.

Thieves hijack medical supplies sent to Glades Memorial. Oliver gets into a heated battle with China White and her new partner, the Bronze Tiger, over the supplies. Meanwhile, Laurel makes plans to catch the Arrow; and Thea give Roy an ultimatum.

When a dangerous criminal from Lance's past escapes from prison, Felicity offers herself up as bait so Arrow, Diggle and Lance can capture him...but plans go awry.

Oliver discovers a man who goes by the name “The Mayor” is bringing illegal guns in to The Glades, so Oliver sponsors a “Cash for Guns” event to help clean up the city. Unfortunately, The Mayor crashes the event with his gang and seriously injures Sin. The Canary is furious when she learns her friend is in the hospital and sets out for revenge. Meanwhile, Felicity stuns Oliver with a bit of information about the Canary, Donner asks Laurel to dinner, and Diggle reconnects with an old friend.

Oliver puts Sara Lance up at the manor and soon discovers that she doesn't want to contact her family... both because she would put them in danger, and because she become a killer since the last time they saw her. Meanwhile, the League of Assassins send men to bring Sara back, alive or dead. And Oliver discovers that Laurel will be sitting second chair for his mother's trial.

A.R.G.U.S. abducts Diggle and asks him to help recover Lyla from a Russian prison. Oliver and Felicity insist on going along to help and Isabel tags along. Meanwhile, Jean Loring advises Thea that her dating Roy is hurting Moira's chance of getting an acquittal.

The Count has a new scheme to turn Starling City's residents into clients by addicting them to a new drug and then selling them Vertigo to cure it. among those stricken are Diggle and DA Donner, who collapses in the middle of presenting his case against Moira.

When a superhumanly strong thief robs a Queen Consolidated warehouse, Central City police scientist Barry Allen comes to Starling City to investigate the case. However, despite his close working relationship with Felicity, Oliver suspects that there's more to the young scientist than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Sin asks Roy to help investigate the disappearance of a friend. In the past, Oliver, Shado, and Sara try to get Slade to the submarine so they can use the serum to save his life.

After covering from a near-fatal drug overdose, Oliver begins hallucinating people from his past. Believing he's a liability, Oliver gives the information he has on Cyrus Gold to Quentin... which results in the deaths of several police officers. Meanwhile, Brother Blood captures Roy and uses him as a test subject for his new serum. In the past on the island, Ivo gives Oliver an impossible choice to make.

A bomber nicknamed Shrapnel has set his sights on Sebastian Blood, and Oliver dons his mask to protect his newfound ally. Meanwhile, Laurel investigates Sebastian's aunt who is locked up in a mental institution, and Thea learns about Roy's newfound superstrength.

When her father won't believe her accusations against Sebastian, Laurel turns to the Arrow for help. Oliver has his own doubts about Laurel, particularly when she is arrested on a charge of drug possession. Meanwhile, Roy sets out to test his new abilities but goes berserk, putting a man in the hospital.

While the Arrow trains Roy how to control his anger--and his super-strength--Bronze Tiger steals a prototype of Malcolm's earthquake machine to sell to an arms dealer. Meanwhile, Laurel discovers that she's being disbarred and goes out of control, and Walter has an offer for Moira. On the island, Oliver wonders whether to tell Slade the truth about how Shado died.

As Laurel continues to unravel, Oliver and Lance try to convince Sara to stay in Starling City and finally reunite with Laurel and Dinah. However, Sara’s fellow League of Assassins member, Nyssa, comes to bring Sara back to the fold, but when Sara refuses, Nyssa kidnaps Dinah. Realizing she’s putting her family in danger by staying in town, Sara considers re-joining the league.