LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight Progression (Skills & Upgrades)

Curious about the progression systems in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? As confirmed by developer materials, the game features a structured progression system with multiple ways to upgrade playable characters' combat prowess, traversal skills, and puzzle-solving abilities.

If you're still deciding if you should pick up the game, check our LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight buyer’s guide for a breakdown of platforms, editions, and key features.

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By William Parks

How Progression Works in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight Batman at Batcave workbench

Progression in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is built around upgrading playable characters by collecting materials, returning to the Batcave, and improving their gadgets and core combat and traversal abilities.

Every playable character has their own progression tree and upgrade options. See our LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight guide hub for more.

The Main Progression Paths

There are several interconnected progression systems in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight:

Gadget Upgrades

Gadgets are a core part of character progression, and upgrading them can improve their combat effectiveness, puzzle-solving capabilities, and more. Here are a few examples of how you can upgrade your gadgets:

Batarang Combo increases the amount of Batarangs that Batman can hold at once, while Concussive Batarang adds a disorienting effect to the gadget.
Focus Slam allows Batman to use his Batclaw to swing enemies around before slamming them down.
Goop Trail causes the zorbs created by Jim Gordon's foam sprayer to leave sticky traps on the ground when they are rolled.
Distract gives Catwoman's kitten the ability to distract enemies, creating an opening for using stealth.

Combat and Traversal Upgrades

You can also improve the basic combat and traversal abilities of each character with Skill Bricks, a currency that is earned exclusively through story missions. These upgrades are performed separately from gadget improvements, and they'll boost the baseline power of your characters.

Upgrade Materials and Currency

As confirmed by the developers, there are two primary upgrade materials:

WayneTech Chips are found in story missions and the open world, and they are the primary currency for upgrading gadgets.
Skill Bricks are earned by progressing through story missions, and they are used for general combat and traversal ability upgrades.

Studs also appear in the game as the primary currency. They are used for unlockables like suits, vehicles, Batcave decorations, and expansions.

For more info, see our collectibles and currency breakdown.

How to Upgrade Characters

LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight upgrade menu showing goop trail skill and Batcave workbench

You can upgrade your characters' gadgets through the Workbench, one of the Batcave's facilities. Upgrades cost materials, which you'll collect during missions and while exploring the open world.

General combat and traversal upgrades also cost materials that come from story missions, though the exact structure of those upgrades has not yet been fully detailed.

Can You Upgrade Every Character?

Yes, every playable character in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has their own progression tree that can be used for upgrades.

How the Progression Loop Works

The game's core progression loop is built around:

Collecting upgrade materials from missions and the open-world Gotham.
Returning to the Batcave to use those materials to upgrade your characters.
Using your upgrades to access new areas, take on tougher challenges, and collect more materials.

This loop encourages players to keep exploring Gotham City so that they can further upgrade their abilities and reach previously inaccessible areas.

Some currencies can also be spent on Batcave expansions, vehicles, and cosmetics.

What’s Still Unknown About Progression

While the foundation of the character progression system is well-established, there are still a few unknowns:

How many WayneTech Chips and Skill Bricks are in the game.
Exactly how general combat and traversal skills are upgraded.
If gadget upgrades can be performed outside the Batcave.
If it's possible to respec characters.

Final Answer

Character progression in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is built around using currencies to upgrade gadgets and general skills. Every playable character can be upgraded, making it easier for them to explore Gotham and collect additional upgrade materials.