In The Division 2, many agents are currently focusing on damage to combat incoming bullet sponges. Here are 3 items that are currently considered “Best in Slot” and how to obtain them.
What items are we talking about? For many players, damage builds in The Division 2 yield the best results after the “Warlords of New York” expansion. There are 3 items that belong in every DPS build due to their unique attributes and give your damage a significant boost:
- Fox’s Prayer – Named Overlord Knee Pads
- Contractor’s Gloves – Named Petrov Gloves
- The Invisible Man – Named Yaahl Mask
These 3 gear pieces are currently considered “Best in Slot” and elevate the damage of your builds to a new level. The German Division YouTuber “Holy_13 Gaming” showcases all 3 items along with their locations in a recent video and explains what makes them so powerful.
Update – April 21: With TU9, the 3 items have been nerfed. “The Invisible Man” now provides 10% health damage and the values of the other two items have been reduced to 8% each.
3 named items are currently “Best in Slot” for damage builds
Why are these items so strong? The reason is the same for all three armor pieces. With named items, you receive an attribute that does not appear on regular armor pieces. These are:
- Damage to uncovered targets
- Armor Damage
- Health Damage
These attributes function a bit differently than the usual weapon damage attributes. They do not “increase” damage; they “amplify” it. A small but significant difference that can have a big impact in Division 2.
Why are these values present? Some named items come with so-called “Super-God-Rolls” that are either higher than the standard “God-Rolls” of attributes or have special values that do not appear on other armor pieces. These 3 attributes fall into this category.
Example:
1,000 base damage + 3 items with 15% damage increase
Damage is increased by 45% (15 + 15 + 15)
So 1,000 × 1.45 = 1,450 damage
1,000 base damage + 2 items with 15% damage increase and 1 item with 15% damage amplification
Damage is increased by 30% (15 + 15) and then amplified by 15%
So (1,000 × 1.30) × 1.15 = 1,495 damage
This calculation is somewhat simplified, as there are multiple damage categories in Division 2. However, generally, a subsequent “amplification” provides a higher bonus and should always be preferred over an “increase.”
Fox’s Prayer with +15% to uncovered targets
What can this item do? The named knee pads “Fox’s Prayer” are part of the Overlord brand armor and provide a strong bonus against targets that are not in cover. The attribute always rolls at the maximum and “amplifies” the total “damage to uncovered targets” at level 40 by 15%.
Overlord items come with the main attribute “weapon damage,” making them ideal for a DMG build. Additionally, you receive 10% rifle damage from the brand bonus.
If the values of the core attribute align, you can roll the third attribute, thanks to the attribute library, however you like, obtaining the currently strongest knee pads for damage builds. Equip these pads even if you aren’t using a rifle. The 15% is still worth it.
Where can I find it best? There is no direct way. However, you can significantly increase your chances by choosing activities with loot targeting that feature a higher concentration of Overlord items or knee pads.
Contractor’s Gloves with +11% armor damage
What do the gloves offer? The named “Contractor’s Gloves” belong to the Petrov armor items and elevate damage against armor to a new level. With 11%, this item provides the smallest bonus, but since most bullets penetrate the armor of enemies, you effectively benefit from this bonus almost continuously.
Another advantage for damage builds – the gloves belong to the Petrov brand. You receive 10% LMG damage, and since light machine guns are currently among the strongest weapon classes, this bonus can often be beneficial as well. By the way, there are a few talents that can enhance your LMGs.
Petrov also comes with the core attribute “weapon damage,” and if you’re lucky here, you can obtain one of the best items for increased damage and recalibrate the third value to your liking.
Where can I find the gloves? Again, this can be done through loot targeting. Choose missions or areas where gloves or Petrov items are targeted loot, and engage in a few activities there. The chances are significantly higher this way.
The Invisible Man with +21% health damage
What does this armor piece do? “The Invisible Man” is a mask from “Yaahl Gear” and provides you with +21% damage against the health of enemies. Anything that no longer has armor takes significant damage when you focus on it.
Although this item offers the highest bonus in terms of values, it may not be advantageous in many situations, as you usually need to shoot through the high armor values of enemies before the 21% applies. However, if you do have enemies or devices in front of you that lack armor, they will feel this powerful boost.
The bonus of the Yaahl brand set is nothing special either. Here, you receive 10% hazard protection to shield yourself from status effects like “Burning” or “Bleeding.” The core attribute is armor. Although this all may not necessarily fit into a damage build, you still get an extremely strong item if you find it with the right values. After all, the mask comes with an offensive mod slot.
Where can I get the mask? Obtaining the Yaahl piece is the most inconvenient, as it is only available in the Dark Zone. Here, you can rarely utilize loot targeting, as there are not always specific gloves available in the Dark Zone, and according to “Holy_13 Gaming,” Yaahl Gear does not even appear in the targeted loot system.
With these 3 items, you don’t need a DPS buff to quickly farm Exos. However, the search for the perfect build continues steadily, even with the best loadout. Not everyone appreciates a pure focus on damage, even if it is currently considered very strong. If you’re looking for alternatives or want to try something new, check this out:
- The best healer build for “Legendary Missions” – Effective and easy to farm
- Strong damage build for all frontline fighters
- Underappreciated skills that you should try out
