Is Gear Score Gone in The Division 2? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes and no. Let me explain. In The Division 2, Gear Score is ultimately replaced, but it depends on where you are in the game. Before reaching level 40 and completing the Warlords of New York expansion, Gear Score is the primary metric for measuring the quality and power of your equipment. However, once you hit level 40 and finish the expansion’s storyline, Gear Score is superseded by SHD Levels, which then become your primary means of character progression. Essentially, Gear Score serves as a stepping stone before transitioning to the endgame SHD level system.

Understanding Gear Score Before Level 40

What is Gear Score?

Gear Score is a numerical representation of the overall power and quality of your equipped gear in The Division 2, before reaching level 40. Each piece of gear, including weapons and armor, has a Gear Score. Your agent’s overall Gear Score is an average of these individual scores. A higher Gear Score generally indicates better stats and effectiveness in combat. The maximum Gear Score in the base game is 515.

How to Increase Your Gear Score

Increasing your Gear Score is vital for progressing through the World Tiers. Here are the key methods:

• Completing Missions and Strongholds: As you progress through the main story and complete invaded missions and strongholds, you’ll receive gear with increasingly higher Gear Scores.
• Dark Zone Activities: Venturing into the Dark Zone offers the chance to acquire high-level loot, including items with improved Gear Scores. Be warned: The Dark Zone is a PvPvE environment, so expect some competition.
• Daily and Weekly Missions: Completing these special assignments rewards you with valuable gear that contributes to your overall Gear Score.
• Control Points: Seizing and upgrading Control Points (especially at Level 3) provides access to supply rooms containing gear and resources.

Gear Score and World Tiers

World Tiers are progression levels in the endgame (before the Warlords of New York expansion) that determine the difficulty of the game and the quality of the loot you receive. To advance through the World Tiers, you need to achieve certain Gear Score milestones and complete specific invaded Strongholds. For example, to reach World Tier 5 (the maximum before the expansion), you need a Gear Score of at least 425 and must complete certain invaded Strongholds.

The Transition to SHD Levels at Level 40

What are SHD Levels?

Upon reaching level 40 and completing the Warlords of New York campaign, Gear Score is replaced by SHD Levels. SHD Levels offer an infinite progression system that allows you to continuously improve your agent’s attributes and earn resource rewards and cosmetic unlocks. You earn SHD Levels by accumulating experience points (XP).

How SHD Levels Work

SHD Levels provide points to allocate to various categories:

• Offense: Improves weapon damage and critical hit chance.
• Defense: Increases armor and health regeneration.
• Utility: Enhances skill effectiveness and reduces cooldown times.
• Scavenging: Boosts resource acquisition and loot quality.
• Miscellaneous: Provides additional quality-of-life improvements.

These points are account-wide, meaning that any character who reaches level 40 on your account benefits from your cumulative SHD Level progress. Even if you start a new character, once they hit level 40 and activate the Keener watch, they will immediately have access to the SHD level points you have accumulated.

Gear After Level 40

Even though Gear Score is no longer the primary progression metric after level 40, gear still plays a vital role. Instead of focusing on a Gear Score number, you’ll be looking for gear with specific attributes, talents, and brand sets that synergize with your build. The quality and effectiveness of your gear still determine your performance, so optimizing your loadout remains crucial. Gear is also upgraded using Expertise to improve weapons, gear sets, brands, skills, and specializations.

Conclusion

So, while Gear Score is indeed superseded by SHD Levels at level 40, it’s an essential part of your journey to the endgame. Think of it as a training phase. After level 40, optimizing your gear and fine-tuning your build takes center stage. And to further enrich your knowledge of game mechanics and how they impact learning and engagement, consider exploring resources at Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org. Understanding the underlying educational principles behind game design can enhance your appreciation of games like The Division 2.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the maximum level in The Division 2 without the expansion?

Without the Warlords of New York expansion, the maximum level is 30.

2. What is the maximum Gear Score in The Division 2 without the expansion?

The maximum Gear Score in the base game is 515.

3. How do I get to World Tier 5 quickly in The Division 2?

To reach World Tier 5, get a Gear Score of at least 425 and complete the Capitol Building, District Union Arena, and Roosevelt Island invaded Strongholds, followed by the Tidal Basin invaded Stronghold.

4. What do I do after reaching level 40 in The Division 2?

After level 40, you’ll focus on earning SHD Levels, optimizing your gear build, and completing endgame activities such as missions, strongholds, and the Dark Zone.

5. How do SHD Levels affect my character in The Division 2?

SHD Levels allow you to allocate points to various attributes, improving your agent’s offensive, defensive, and utility capabilities. These points are account-wide.

6. What is the best gear in The Division 2 for different builds?

Some popular gear sets include:

• Heartbreaker Set: Best for assault rifle and LMG DPS builds.
• Hunter’s Fury Set: Best for SMG builds.
• Foundry Bulwark Set: Best for tank builds.
• Future Initiative Set: Exclusively for healer builds.
• Eclipse Protocol Set: Best for status effect builds.
• Rigger Set: The perfect choice for skill builds.

7. Can I play The Division 2 solo?

Yes, you can complete almost all content in The Division 2 solo, with the exception of raids. Countdown is also possible solo, but is designed and scaled for a full 8-person team.

8. What happens to my gear if I die in the Dark Zone in The Division 2?

If you die in the Dark Zone, you may lose some or all of the contaminated gear you were carrying. If you are targeted by “rogue” agents that have turned on their fellow players, you will probably lose all your gear.

9. How do I get better gear after level 30 in The Division 2?

After level 30, you can obtain better gear by completing bounties, daily and weekly challenges, and exploring the Dark Zone. You can also craft Exotic items by finding blueprints.

10. What is the maximum level in The Division 2 with the Warlords of New York expansion?

With the Warlords of New York expansion, the maximum level is 40.

11. What is Expertise in The Division 2?

Expertise is a system that allows you to improve weapons, gear sets, brands, skills, and specializations by using resources to increase their stats and effectiveness.

12. What are the advantages of playing in a group in The Division 2?

Playing in a group offers several benefits, including increased survivability, faster completion of missions, and enhanced tactical options. Some content, like raids, requires a group.

13. Are there any endgame activities in The Division 2 beyond missions and strongholds?

Yes, the endgame includes activities like the Dark Zone, the Summit, Countdown, raids, and targeted loot farming.

14. What are the different gear rarities in The Division 2?

The gear rarities in The Division 2 are:

• Worn
• Standard
• Specialized
• Superior
• High-End
• Gear Set
• Exotic

15. How does the season pass affect my progress in The Division 2?

The season pass provides access to additional content, including new missions, gear, and cosmetic items, as well as accelerated season pass progress with more rewards.