Artifacts and Allies are two of the most important long-term power systems in DC Universe Online. Artifacts shape your build at all times, while Allies add combat abilities and support effects—so choosing the right upgrades first matters far more than trying to level everything at once.
Artifacts and Allies both make your character stronger, but they serve different roles in a DCUO build.
Artifacts are equippable progression items that provide stats, passive effects, and gameplay-changing bonuses. They are a permanent part of your active build and often define how a Damage, Tank, Healer, or Controller plays.
Allies provide a Signature Ability that can be summoned in combat plus Support Abilities that add passive benefits. Modern combat Allies stay engaged longer than the original Ally design, making a well-chosen Ally more meaningful than a simple one-time attack.
Neither system directly increases Combat Rating. CR comes from gear, while Artifacts and Allies determine how well your character performs once you enter the content.
For most players, the best upgrade order is:
Choose your main role and build style.
Upgrade one core Artifact that directly supports that role.
Upgrade a second Artifact that strengthens your main rotation or role job.
Unlock and develop one useful combat Ally.
Add a third core Artifact.
Build Support Allies and flexible Artifact choices after your foundation is secure.
This is the safest route because Artifacts are always active and improve the core of your build. However, you should not ignore Allies completely—especially if you have an Ally whose Signature Ability or Support Ability directly helps your role.
The biggest Artifact and Ally mistake is investing heavily in items that do not match your character.
Before spending Nth Metal, Ally Favor, Catalysts, Alliances, or Seals, decide:
Do you mainly play Damage, Tank, Healer, or Controller?
Do you prefer superpower damage, weapon damage, or a hybrid setup?
Do you mostly play Solo content, group content, Raids, or Elite content?
Do you want one main character or several alternate characters?
Does the Artifact or Ally improve something you actually use in combat?
A powerful Artifact for a weapon-focused Damage build may be a poor choice for a superpower rotation. A strong Tank Ally may not help a Healer solve their main problem. Build around the character you play, not a random list of popular items.
Many powers can play both Damage and a support role. It is tempting to upgrade separate Artifacts for both immediately, but this spreads resources too thin.
Build one role first. Once your main setup is reliable, begin investing in the second role. This gives you a useful character sooner and makes later experimentation much easier.
Artifacts provide passive bonuses and unique effects that can change how your character deals damage, heals allies, controls enemies, manages shields, or survives heavy attacks.
DCUO has expanded the number of Artifact slots available, which creates more build flexibility. It does not mean every player should immediately level a full collection of unrelated Artifacts.
More slots make a focused build stronger. They also make poor investment decisions more expensive.
Artifacts gain experience through Nth Metal and other Artifact experience sources. As an Artifact gains ranks, it becomes stronger and reaches Breakthrough points that unlock more meaningful bonuses.
A Breakthrough requires the correct Catalyst materials. At higher-risk breakthroughs, review the success chance in-game before committing resources.
A Seal of Completion guarantees that a Breakthrough succeeds. This makes it valuable when failure would cost too many materials or create an avoidable setback. Do not waste a guaranteed Seal on a low-risk breakthrough that you can complete comfortably without it.
An Artifact rank is useful, but its major effects are often tied to specific Breakthrough thresholds. Read the next unlocked effect before deciding where to place your Nth Metal.
Ask these questions:
Does the next Breakthrough unlock a major bonus for my role?
Will it noticeably improve my main rotation, healing, defense, or control?
Is this more useful than progressing my second core Artifact?
Do I have the Catalysts and Seal strategy needed to complete it safely?
This prevents you from dumping every resource into one Artifact while the rest of your build remains underdeveloped.
Damage players should choose Artifacts that match how they deal damage.
A superpower Damage build should prioritize effects that improve ability damage, power efficiency, supercharge use, or its main power interactions. A weapon Damage build should prioritize effects that support weapon attacks, Precision, combo play, or weapon-based burst damage.
For most Damage players, the first core Artifacts should cover:
Main single-target or boss damage
Area damage or rotation support
A strong utility, survivability, supercharge, or group-benefit effect
Do not choose an Artifact only because it appears on a list. If its effect does not interact with your rotation, it may provide less value than a more focused alternative.
Healers should begin with Artifacts that improve consistent healing, shields, healing efficiency, survivability, or group utility.
Your first choices should support the way your power heals. Some Healer builds rely heavily on restoration and large direct heals, while others gain more value from shields, heal-over-time effects, pets, group buffs, or a particular healing mechanic.
A good Healer Artifact setup should help you keep the group stable before adding optional damage or niche effects.
Controllers should look for Artifacts that strengthen their ability to support power, apply useful debuffs, control enemies, or contribute group utility.
A Controller is more than a Damage player with a blue power bar. Choose upgrades that fit the actual content you play and your group’s needs.
In Solo content, your build can be more flexible. In Raids and difficult group content, reliable power support, debuffs, crowd control, and survival are more valuable than an unfocused damage setup.
Tanks should select Artifacts that improve damage mitigation, health, shields, control effects, self-sustain, or their specific power’s defensive mechanics.
A Tank’s job is not simply to have the highest health stat. Your Artifact choices should help you maintain aggro, survive heavy damage, position enemies, and protect the group during difficult mechanics.
Avoid copying a Tank Artifact build from another power without checking whether the effect supports your own power set.
Allies can be equipped through the Allies interface in your PDA. A combat Ally has a Signature Ability that you call during combat and one or more Support Abilities that provide passive benefits.
The Signature Ability can add damage, healing, shielding, control, defense, debuffs, or other useful combat effects. Support Abilities stay active when equipped and should be chosen for your role and build.
A strong Ally is not always the one with the biggest visual attack. The best Ally is the one whose Signature and Support effects solve a real problem in your build.
Allies are improved through Ally Favor and Alliances. Their Affinity Rank increases as you invest these resources, making their Signature and Support benefits stronger.
Like Artifacts, Allies reward focused investment. Choose one combat Ally you actually summon and one or two passive options that fit your role before investing in a large roster.
Do not upgrade an Ally only because you like the character or because another player says it is popular. Read the effects and decide whether they support your current content and loadout.
Your first Ally should have a Signature Ability that fits your main role and is useful in the content you play most often.
Damage players may want an Ally that improves burst damage, adds a useful debuff, or complements a strong combat window. Healers may want a reliable healing, shielding, or group-support effect. Tanks may prefer defensive support, crowd control, or survival utility. Controllers can benefit from Allies that work with debuffs, power support, or control effects.
The right first Ally is one that you will actively use—not an Ally you equip once and forget.
After choosing your combat Ally, fill passive slots with effects that strengthen your role.
Useful passive effects may support:
Damage during specific combat conditions
Healing output or defensive support
Power efficiency or Vitalization-focused play
Shielding, health, mitigation, or crowd control
Group utility and ally survival
A specific power interaction or loadout mechanic
Avoid stacking passive effects that do the same thing if your build cannot benefit from all of them. A balanced set of useful passives is often stronger than several effects aimed at one minor stat.
Allies can take a significant amount of Ally Favor and Alliances to develop. A wide collection of low-rank Allies usually gives less value than one well-developed combat Ally plus carefully selected Support Allies.
Build your core roster first. Add situational or collection-focused Allies later.
Artifacts are usually the first long-term priority, but an Ally can deserve early investment if it provides a major improvement your character currently lacks.
For example, an early Ally upgrade may be worthwhile if it gives your build:
A strong emergency survival effect
Reliable healing or shielding
A key group-support bonus
A useful damage window that matches your rotation
A passive effect that benefits every encounter you play
Even then, avoid abandoning your core Artifacts. The goal is balance, not replacing one incomplete system with another.
The Ally Legion system lets eligible Legendary-tier Allies be shared across characters after they are bound to a character or account with Ally Legion Tributes.
For players who actively use several characters, this can make a well-developed Ally more valuable across an entire roster. An account-bound eligible Ally can match the Affinity Rank of the highest-ranked version on your account and be used by multiple characters.
This does not mean every Ally should be made account-wide immediately. First choose an Ally that is useful to several characters, then decide whether the broader account benefit justifies the Legion Tribute cost.
Use this practical progression approach:
Pick one main role.
Choose two Artifacts that directly support that role.
Upgrade them toward their next meaningful Breakthroughs.
Unlock and develop one combat Ally you will use often.
Add a third Artifact that completes your core build.
Choose passive Allies that strengthen your main role.
Add flexible Artifacts and alternative Allies only after your foundation is stable.
This avoids the most common resource trap: owning many promising options but having none at a useful rank.
Do not spend all your Nth Metal, Catalysts, Seals, Ally Favor, or Alliances the moment you receive them. New builds, new content, and changing role needs can alter your priorities.
Keep enough resources to finish your current plan. If you are close to a major Artifact Breakthrough or a valuable Ally Affinity Rank, saving for that goal is usually better than making several small, unfocused upgrades.
DCUO now includes progression activities such as Trouble Alerts that are designed to help players advance Artifact and Ally development. When available in-game, these can be useful sources of materials and a practical way to develop both systems through active play.
Current content, special events, and reward paths can also provide Artifact experience, Ally Favor, Alliances, Catalysts, or account-wide progression choices. Treat these as opportunities rather than guaranteed future rewards, because availability can change.
Power Array Augments are not Artifacts or Allies. They are upgradeable items that add alternate abilities and more build experimentation without requiring a full power change.
They can be useful later, but they should not replace your core Artifact and Ally foundation. A new player will usually gain more reliable value by first choosing role-appropriate Artifacts, one useful Ally, and a clear Skill Point setup.
Once your core build works, Power Array Augments can add another layer of customization.
This is the biggest mistake. Every new Artifact and Ally looks useful, but spreading resources across too many options slows down every part of your build.
Keep a written or mental priority list and follow it until you reach the next meaningful upgrade point.
Do not copy a Damage Artifact setup onto a Tank, Healer, or Controller. Do not copy a superpower build if you mostly use weapons. Your upgrades must match your role, power, and rotation.
Artifact progress is not only about feeding Nth Metal. Catalysts and Breakthrough success matter. Check your next rank, gather the required materials, and decide whether a Seal is worth using before you commit.
Allies are collectible, but their practical value comes from Signature and Support effects. Upgrade Allies that improve your combat performance first, then collect personal favourites later.
If you have several characters, check whether a powerful eligible Legendary Ally could be shared through Ally Legion. A smart account-wide choice can save substantial duplicate progression work.
Artifacts and Allies can be difficult to plan when you are new to DCUO or returning after a long break. If you want help progressing through content, completing difficult objectives, or preparing a character for modern endgame activities, BoostRoom can help you find available DC Universe Online services that match your platform, region, and preferred play method.
For most players, upgrade two core Artifacts for your main role first, then build one useful combat Ally before expanding into additional Artifacts and Support Allies.
No. Artifacts improve your combat performance but do not directly increase Combat Rating. CR mainly comes from equipped PvE gear.
The best first Ally depends on your role and build. Choose one with a Signature Ability and Support effect you will actively use, rather than choosing only by character popularity.
Eligible Legendary-tier Allies can be shared through the Ally Legion system after being bound with Ally Legion Tributes. Some special Allies may not be eligible, so check the Ally interface before making a decision.
A Seal of Completion guarantees that an Artifact Breakthrough succeeds. It is most valuable when a failed Breakthrough would cost too many resources or delay an important Artifact upgrade.
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What Combat Rating Means in DCUO Combat Rating, usually called CR, measures the strength of your character’s gear. Each piece of PvE equipment contributes to your rating, and DCUO uses CR requirements to decide which content you can enter. Raising CR unlocks more Solo missions, Duos, Alerts, Raids, open-world areas, and eventually the newest endgame Chapter. It is the key that opens content—but it is not the same as a fully developed character. Combat Rating Comes From Your Gear Your equipped gear is the main source of Combat Rating. Higher item-level equipment raises your overall rating and gets you closer to the next content requirement. This means the fastest CR progress is not about farming random enemies or collecting styles. It is about earning and equipping meaningful gear upgrades, then moving into the next eligible content bracket. Always compare the item level of a new piece with what you are currently wearing. If it is a clear upgrade for that slot, equip it before opening more gear boxes or choosing further rewards. CR Unlocks Content, but Does Not Replace a Build A player can reach a high CR and still feel weak if their Skill Points, Artifacts, Allies, Augments, loadout, and role knowledge are undeveloped. Think of CR as access progression. It lets you enter stronger content and obtain better gear. Your build systems determine how powerful and useful you are once you get there. Do not delay CR progression while trying to perfect every Artifact or collect every feat. Raise your CR first to open more content, then strengthen the rest of your character alongside it. The Fastest Way to Raise Combat Rating After Level 30 Equip Every Real Upgrade Immediately The simplest and most important CR rule is to equip higher-item-level gear when you get it. Leaving upgrades in your inventory slows your progress and can prevent new content from unlocking. Pay special attention to your weakest equipment pieces. One very low slot can hold back your average gear level more than players expect. Before queuing again, inspect your equipment and make sure you have not forgotten: A weapon upgrade A ring, face, neck, or trinket upgrade A gear box that still needs to be selected A stronger piece you received for your current role Do not keep low-item-level PvE gear equipped only because you like its appearance. DCUO styles can be collected separately, so you can wear stronger equipment while keeping the look you want. Run Content That Can Still Improve Your Gear The best CR progression comes from content that drops or awards gear above your current item level. Once an activity stops giving useful upgrades, it may still be worth doing for Source Marks, feats, styles, and other rewards—but it is no longer your fastest direct CR path. Use the On Duty menu to find the highest Solo, Duo, Alert, or Raid you can enter comfortably. As your CR rises, check the menu again and move into newly unlocked activities. A fast route is not always the hardest activity available. Reliable completions with regular gear rewards are better than repeatedly failing content that is far above your current character strength. Focus on Current Chapter Content When Eligible The newest DCUO Chapter is the main destination for endgame gear progression. Current Chapter content typically includes open-world objectives and a mix of Solo, Alert, and Raid activities, with relevant gear, currency, feats, styles, and Augments. At the time of writing, the current Shadows Over Argo Chapter follows this format with Sunken Argo City open-world content plus a Solo, Alert, and Raid. Future Chapters will change the setting and rewards, but the CR strategy remains the same: move into the newest available Chapter as soon as you meet its entry requirement. Check the exact CR requirement in-game before trying to queue. Requirements can change with updates, and Normal and Elite versions do not always have the same minimum. Use the On Duty Menu Efficiently Omnibus Is Excellent for Source Marks and General Progress Omnibus and Quick Play allow you to queue into a broad selection of eligible older content. This is useful for Source Marks, feats, styles, role practice, and building confidence in group activities. It can also help early post-Level-30 characters gain gear upgrades. However, once your CR is much higher than the content you are entering, Omnibus should be treated mainly as a Source Mark and feat route rather than your main endgame gear source. Older content is stat-scaled, so do not expect a high CR alone to let you ignore every mechanic. Block, avoid hazards, follow objectives, and work with the group. Choose Content You Can Complete Consistently Solos are useful when you want a predictable activity without waiting for a group. Duos and Alerts add more group experience, while Raids can offer stronger rewards but require coordination and more time. Use a mixture of content rather than relying on only one activity. If queue times are slow, run Solo content, open-world missions, or organize a group through your league while you wait. The goal is to keep earning gear and progression currency without spending long periods in activities that no longer move your character forward. Learn the Difference Between Normal and Elite Normal content is the correct place to learn a new Chapter, boss mechanics, positioning, and your role. Elite content is not a shortcut to a complete character. Elite gear may be desirable, but entering difficult content underprepared can slow your overall progress. Learn the Normal version first, raise your CR through reliable upgrades, and build your character systems before pursuing the hardest version. Upgrade the Right Gear Slots First Fix Low Item-Level Slots Before Replacing Strong Ones If one equipment slot is far behind the rest of your gear, improving it is usually the fastest way to lift your overall CR. Buying or choosing another upgrade for an already strong slot may produce a much smaller result. When you receive a choice of gear rewards, check which slot is weakest before claiming one. This is especially important for accessories and utility slots that players often overlook. A good habit is to inspect your full equipment screen after any major set of rewards. Your next best upgrade may not be the most exciting item—it may simply be the slot with the lowest item level. Use Gear Boxes Carefully Some rewards come as gear boxes or selection boxes. Do not open them without checking your current equipment first. If several slots are available, choose the upgrade that gives the strongest practical increase for your character. Avoid claiming a duplicate or selecting gear for a slot that is already significantly ahead of the rest of your build. If the reward is role-specific, make sure you claim the correct version for the role you actively play. Use Vendors and Currency to Break CR Barriers Buy Targeted Gear, Not Random Pieces Vendor gear is valuable when dropped upgrades are not fixing the slot you need. It gives you control over your progression and can help you reach the CR requirement for the next activity. Before spending currency, compare your equipment carefully. Buy a meaningful upgrade for a weak slot instead of purchasing an item just because it is available. Vendor gear is especially useful when: One low item-level slot is preventing your CR from increasing You need a small CR increase to unlock the next activity You have received upgrades for most slots except one or two You want a dependable alternative to waiting for a random drop Save Source Marks for Progression Needs Source Marks are important for a variety of useful purchases. They are earned throughout non-endgame content and are especially valuable while you are building a newer character. Use them thoughtfully. If your CR progression is blocked by weak gear, a targeted purchase can be worth far more than spending Marks on a cosmetic item you can collect later. That does not mean every Source Mark should go into gear. Keep some available for important long-term systems and vendor needs. The best approach is to spend only when the purchase creates a real progression result. Understand Chapter Currency Current Chapter rewards often use their own currency for gear and other rewards. That currency is meant to support progression through the active endgame content. Do not waste Chapter currency on optional rewards when your character still needs gear to move forward. Secure important upgrades first, then work toward styles, collections, and other goals once your CR path is stable. Use Catch-Up Opportunities Wisely Events Can Help, but They Should Not Be Your Only Plan DCUO regularly features events, special content, anniversary rewards, and other catch-up opportunities. These can sometimes provide useful gear, Source Marks, Artifact materials, Ally resources, or progression rewards. They are helpful bonuses, but their availability and rewards change. Do not build your entire CR plan around a past event or assume a specific reward will return. The reliable method is still current eligible content, targeted vendors, and smart gear upgrades. Account-Bound Gear Can Help Alternate Characters If you have a stronger main character, account-bound gear and shared progression systems can make alternate characters easier to develop. This is useful for players who want to try a new power or support role without starting every system from nothing. However, an alt still needs its own gear progression, Combat Rating, loadout, and role practice. Shared resources help, but they do not replace learning the character. Avoid These Combat Rating Progression Mistakes Staying in Content That No Longer Gives Upgrades Running familiar content is comfortable, but it can stall CR progress. If you are no longer receiving gear improvements, use that activity for feats and Source Marks while shifting your main progression toward higher eligible content. Ignoring Accessory and Weapon Slots Players often focus only on chest, head, legs, and weapon pieces. Rings, neck, face, trinket, and other equipment slots can also hold back your CR when they fall behind. Inspect the full set, not only the most visible armor pieces. Spending Every Currency on Cosmetics Styles and collectibles are an important part of DCUO, but progression currency has more value when your character is still trying to reach new content thresholds. Get your CR stable first. You can return for many cosmetic goals later while farming feats and Source Marks. Treating Elite Gear as Mandatory for Basic Progression Elite content is a long-term challenge and reward path. It is not required to raise CR through Normal content and the active Chapter’s standard gear progression. Build your character gradually, learn encounters, and enter Elite when you are ready to contribute properly. Believing CR Is the Only Thing That Matters Combat Rating helps you enter content, but it does not automatically improve your rotation, survivability, healing, control, or ability to handle mechanics. Continue earning Skill Points, using role-appropriate Artifacts, developing Allies, and learning your power. A well-rounded character performs far better than a high-CR character with no supporting progression. Build Character Strength While You Raise CR Collect Easy Feats Along the Way You do not need to stop CR progression to chase every feat, but do not ignore feats completely. Complete accessible story, exploration, style, instance, and open-world feats as you encounter them. This steadily grows your Skill Points without turning your CR guide into a long detour through old content. Keep Artifact and Ally Investment Focused Artifacts and Allies do not raise your Combat Rating directly, but they strongly affect your real performance. Choose a small core setup that supports your main role instead of spreading upgrade materials across many unfinished options. For a more detailed breakdown of these systems, focus on a dedicated DCUO Artifacts and Allies Guide rather than trying to solve every build decision while you are simply working toward your next CR threshold. Get Faster DCUO CR Progression With BoostRoom If you want to spend less time searching for groups, repeating difficult content, or finding the most efficient way through endgame gear progression, BoostRoom can help you find available DC Universe Online services that fit your character goal. Whether you need help with progression content, group activities, gear-related objectives, or preparing a character for the newest Chapter, choose the available option that matches your platform, region, and preferred play method. Combat Rating in DCUO FAQ What is the fastest way to increase Combat Rating in DCUO? Equip every higher-item-level upgrade, complete the highest relevant content you can reliably finish, use vendor gear to fix weak slots, and move into the current Chapter as soon as you meet its requirement. Does upgrading Artifacts increase Combat Rating? No. Artifacts improve your character’s strength and build performance, but they do not directly increase CR. Your Combat Rating primarily comes from your equipped PvE gear. Is Omnibus the fastest way to reach endgame CR? Omnibus is very useful for Source Marks, feats, and accessible group content. It can help early on, but the fastest direct CR progression eventually comes from the newest eligible Chapter and its gear rewards. Should I buy gear for my weakest slot first? Usually, yes. A weak item-level slot can hold back your total CR, so targeted upgrades are often the most efficient use of vendor currency. Can I enter Elite content as soon as my CR meets the requirement? You may meet the entry requirement, but that does not mean you are ready to perform well there. Learn the Normal version, develop your build, and understand the mechanics before moving into Elite content.
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