What Is The Highest Level Gear In The Division?
The pursuit of top-tier gear is a cornerstone of the experience in both The Division and The Division 2. While the concept of “highest level gear” differs between the two games, understanding how gear progression works is crucial for maximizing your agent’s potential. In short, the highest level gear in The Division and The Division 2 are defined differently due to changes in game mechanics.
In The Division, the highest achievable gear score was 295, obtained by optimizing Classified gear. This was a significant endgame goal after reaching the level cap of 30 and completing the main story.
In The Division 2, the concept of gear score evolves over time and eventually, it gets replaced by SHD levels after reaching Level 40 and completing the Warlords of New York expansion. Once you’ve completed the Warlords of New York expansion and reached Level 40, you unlock an infinite SHD Level progression. This progression system replaces Gear Score, allowing continuous enhancement to agent attributes and resource rewards, rather than aiming for a static “highest gear score” figure. However, when the base game was released and up to a point in time, the highest gear score obtainable was 515 achieved in World Tier 5.
Understanding how to reach these peaks in each game is vital for players aiming for the ultimate build.
The Division 1: Reaching Max Gear Score
Gear Score and Its Significance
In The Division, Gear Score is a numerical value representing the power and quality of your equipment. It’s a key factor in determining your agent’s effectiveness in combat. The gear score was used to determine how powerful your agent was. The max gear score was 295 with Classified gear. Reaching higher Gear Score was important to participate in specific activities and tackle more challenging content.
How to Get High-End Gear
- Dark Zone Bosses: Defeating Dark Zone bosses is a reliable way to acquire high-end weapons and gear.
- Vendors: Buying gear from vendors at the Base of Operations can provide a quick upgrade, but may not always give you the highest gear score.
- Crafting: Utilizing crafting is another way to obtain gear, especially when paired with collecting blueprints.
- Looting Crates: Be vigilant in opening every crate you see to maximize your chance of receiving good drops.
- Replaying Missions: Certain missions, like the General Assembly mission, are known for good loot.
- Classified Gear Sets: This is the top-tier gear in The Division with the highest possible stat roll. It was necessary to gain it to increase Gear Score to the maximum.
Achieving Maximum Gear Score in The Division
To achieve the maximum gear score of 295, players need to focus on the following:
- Acquire Classified Gear: Each slot needs to be equipped with a Classified gear piece.
- Optimize your gear: After acquiring the desired piece of Classified gear, you must optimize it to get the absolute maximum gear score.
- Upgrade weapons: Aim for WT5 item level weapons (286 max) and optimize them.
- Don’t Forget the Pistol: All gear needs to be upgraded including your pistol.
The Division 2: From Gear Score to SHD Levels
The Evolution of Gear Score
In The Division 2, gear score serves as the primary metric for player progression through the various World Tiers, culminating at a max of 515. However, things changed with the Warlords of New York expansion. After completing the expansion and reaching Level 40, the Gear Score system is replaced with SHD Levels.
World Tiers and Gear Score
- To reach World Tier 5, the max Gear Score was 515. This required players to reach a Gear Score of at least 425 and complete all the invaded strongholds.
- Loot drops are based on your peak available Gear Score within your inventory or stash.
SHD Levels and Infinite Progression
The SHD Level system provides a new form of progression, allowing players to continuously enhance their agents beyond the limits of Gear Score. This is an account-wide system; so any SHD Level you gain with a character will apply to other characters in the same account.
How to Progress
- Reach Level 40: The base game level cap was 30, but it was increased to 40 with the Warlords of New York expansion.
- Complete Warlords of New York: By completing this campaign, you unlock access to the Keener’s Watch and SHD Level system.
- Earn SHD Levels: With each SHD Level gained, you’ll increase a character’s core attributes and improve resource rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the level cap in The Division 1?
The level cap in The Division is 30 for PVE levels, and the maximum rank in the Dark Zone is 50.
2. How do I get high-end weapons in The Division 1?
You can get High-End weapons by defeating Dark Zone bosses, buying them from vendors, crafting them, looting crates, or replaying missions.
3. What does Gear Score represent?
Gear Score is a numerical representation of an item’s power and quality, used to assess its value.
4. How did gear score increase in the Division 1?
The gear score increased by increasing the quality of gear equipped and then optimizing it to get the most value out of every stat.
5. How to get Classified gear in Division 1?
Classified gear can be obtained by completing missions, bosses, or weekly events.
6. How to get the bullet king in The Division 1?
The Bullet King is dropped by the end bosses Theo Parnell and James Dragov in the Lower Manhattan missions, at low drop rates.
7. Is there a Division 3?
While not officially announced, a new The Division game is in development.
8. Is Division 1 better than Division 2?
This is subjective, with The Division having a more intense and challenging style compared to The Division 2.
9. What was the max gear score in Division 2 before the SHD level?
The maximum gear score was 515 before the introduction of SHD Levels.
10. What are SHD Levels?
SHD Levels are a continuous progression system in The Division 2, replacing gear score after reaching Level 40 and completing the Warlords of New York expansion. These levels enhance agent attributes and resource rewards.
11. How do I unlock SHD levels?
You must complete the Warlords of New York campaign and reach Level 40 to unlock the Keener Watch and access to SHD Levels.
12. What are the best gear sets in Division 2?
Some of the best gear sets in The Division 2 include Heartbreaker (assault rifle/LMG builds), Hunter’s Fury (SMG builds), Foundry Bulwark (tank builds), Future Initiative (healer builds), Eclipse Protocol (status effect builds), and Rigger (skill builds).
13. Can you skip to level 30 in The Division 2?
Yes, you can use a character boost to speed up your progression to Level 30.
14. Does gear score matter in Division 2?
Yes, Gear Score matters until you reach Level 40 and complete Warlords of New York. After that, it’s replaced by SHD Levels.
15. What happens when you reach level 1000 SHD in Division 2?
When you reach SHD Level 1000, you will receive additional resource rewards and cosmetic unlocks, and it applies account-wide to all characters.
By understanding how gear progression and level systems work in both The Division and The Division 2, players can effectively pursue their agent’s potential, whether that’s the max Gear Score in The Division, or the endless SHD Level progression in The Division 2.