Marvel’s Avengers is a loot-based brawler, and much of the gameplay revolves around finding and upgrading gear. This guide will help you understand how to acquire the best exotic gear in the game.
Exotic gear is extremely rare and difficult to obtain. If you’ve played other loot-based games like Destiny or The Division, you’ll know that exotic items are hard to come by, typically requiring a significant amount of playtime. In Marvel’s Avengers, exotic gear becomes available only after finishing the main campaign, which typically takes about 10 to 12 hours. These items will form the core of your most powerful builds, but acquiring them won’t be easy. Below are the most effective ways to obtain exotics in Marvel’s Avengers.
How to Get Exotic Gear in Marvel’s Avengers
Exotic gear can only be found in the late game, usually during high-level missions. You’ll need to complete missions, open chests, and defeat tough enemies to have a chance of obtaining exotic items. Exotic gear is marked in red and is far rarer than other gear types. It only becomes available once your character has reached a high power level. While exotic gear can be found relatively late in the game, it isn’t as unique as in some other loot-based games. It offers buffs and percentage increases to your stats but doesn’t drastically alter gameplay. The gear level cap can go as high as 130, so you need to reach this threshold to equip these powerful items.
You can also acquire guaranteed exotics through specific missions, though these will be Major Artifacts rather than standard gear pieces. For example, the Sacred Norn Stone of Lethal Will is obtained after arriving at the Ant Hill, while Tactigon is earned upon completing the main story. In Avengers Initiative mode, finishing the Reigning Supreme mission rewards you with Dark Hold. Major Artifacts can increase your power level by up to +10, which is essential for reaching the current power cap of 150. The regular gear will only get you to 140, so Major Artifacts are crucial for the final push.
How to Farm Exotic Gear
There are three main methods for farming exotic gear in Marvel’s Avengers:
- War Zone Missions and Optional Objectives
War Zone missions are a great way to farm exotic gear. Focus on completing all optional objectives during these missions to increase your chances of getting exotic drops. The Utah Badlands War Zones are particularly useful, as there are several points of interest in this area. As you explore, use Tactical Awareness (up on the d-pad) to spot question marks that indicate locations of chests and high-level enemies. These encounters improve your odds of finding exotic items. - Drop Zones
Drop Zones are the shortest missions in Marvel’s Avengers and focus purely on combat. These missions allow you to quickly fight through waves of enemies without the need for exploration, making them ideal for farming. The faster you can complete these missions, the more chances you’ll have to acquire exotic gear. - Hives
Hives are among the most challenging missions in the game. They involve battling through multiple floors of enemies, and the rewards for completing them are significant. Mega Hives, which will be introduced in a post-launch update, will offer even greater challenges and rewards. AIM’s secret lab is another mission type that promises excellent gear farming opportunities, though it will also be introduced in a future update.
Exotic gear is incredibly rare, but by focusing on these activities, you can increase your chances of acquiring these coveted items.
