Gear pieces are collectible items scattered throughout BioShock Infinite that provide various passive abilities. These abilities can range from increasing damage to improving survivability or granting unique effects that enhance your play style. Gear is divided into four slots: hat, shirt, pants, and boots, and only one piece of gear can be equipped in each slot at a time.
The variety of gear ensures that players have numerous ways to customize their approach to combat and exploration. Whether you prefer a more aggressive playstyle, focus on stealth, or emphasize survivability, gear pieces can complement and amplify your strategy.
Why Should You Pick Up Gear Pieces?
1. Enhanced Gameplay Options
Each piece of gear you pick up adds to your inventory of passive abilities, allowing for greater flexibility and experimentation. For example:
- Some gear increases damage after a melee attack, which is perfect for players who engage enemies up close.
- Others might reduce the damage you take when on skylines, a must-have for players who often utilize Columbia’s dynamic traversal systems.
By collecting all gear, you open up opportunities to adapt your loadout as needed.
2. Customization of Playstyle
The right gear can significantly enhance your chosen combat approach. Here are a few examples:
- Aggressive Playstyle: Gear that boosts damage or critical hit chances pairs well with weapons like the Carbine or RPG.
- Defensive Playstyle: Gear focused on shield regeneration, health recovery, or reduced incoming damage ensures greater survivability.
- Skyline Tactics: If you rely heavily on skylines, certain gear reduces damage taken while riding them or increases your damage when leaping off them.
Picking up all gear ensures you have the tools to adjust your loadout to different situations or combat challenges.
3. Swapping Is Free
One of the game’s core features is the ability to swap gear pieces at any time. You’re not locked into a specific setup, so you can experiment with different combinations to discover what works best for you. Picking up every piece of gear ensures you won’t miss out on something that could make a big difference in certain encounters.
4. Synergies with Vigors
Many gear pieces work synergistically with the game’s Vigor abilities, allowing for powerful combos. For instance:
- A piece of gear that increases melee damage can be highly effective when combined with the Charge Vigor, which launches you into enemies for a devastating blow.
- Gear that enhances fire damage pairs well with the Devil’s Kiss Vigor for area-of-effect destruction.
The more gear you collect, the more opportunities you have to optimize these combinations.
5. Non-Retrievable Gear
It’s important to note that some gear is located in areas that you can’t revisit. If you decide not to pick it up, it’s likely gone for good. While not every piece of gear may suit your playstyle initially, it’s better to have it in your inventory for potential use than to leave it behind permanently.
When Might You Skip Picking Up Gear?
While collecting gear is generally advantageous, there are a few scenarios where you might consider leaving a piece behind:
- Inventory Space: Gear isn’t unlimited in inventory space. While the game allows you to swap pieces freely, having too many can make managing your inventory cumbersome.
- Familiarity with Playstyle: If you’ve already established a clear preference for certain gear combinations, you might feel some pieces don’t warrant being added to your inventory.
- Lack of Need: If a piece of gear offers a benefit that you know you’ll never use (e.g., reduced damage on skylines when you rarely use them), it might not be worth picking up.
Even in these cases, the game provides enough flexibility to make picking up gear generally beneficial.
Examples of Notable Gear in BioShock Infinite
Here are a few examples of gear effects that demonstrate their usefulness:
- Blood to Salt: Melee kills provide Salts, a great option for players who use Vigors frequently.
- Fleet Feet: Movement speed is increased while aiming or firing, perfect for mobile, aggressive playstyles.
- Fire Bird: Jumping off a skyline ignites enemies near the landing zone, which is ideal for players who frequently use skylines.
- Shock Jacket: Enemies who melee you are struck by lightning, offering a defensive bonus in close combat.
These effects can turn the tide in difficult battles or allow you to tackle enemies in innovative ways.
Strategies for Using Gear Effectively
- Prioritize Versatility: Early in the game, focus on gear that enhances general survivability, such as faster shield regeneration or increased health. This ensures you can handle various enemy types and situations.
- Experiment Often: Don’t be afraid to swap gear frequently. As you unlock new weapons and Vigors, different combinations of gear may become more effective.
- Adapt to Combat Scenarios: Certain fights, such as those involving Patriots or Zeppelins, may call for gear that boosts damage to specific enemy types or improves ranged attacks. Be ready to adjust your loadout accordingly.
