If you’ve spent any time running void intercepts or grinding boss fights in The First Descendant, you know that top-tier gear is the difference between getting one-shot by a late-game boss and clearing the hardest content with your squad. A lot of players hit a wall once they reach endgame, unsure how to get level 100 weapons in the first descendant without wasting dozens of hours on inefficient farm routes. I’ve put over 120 hours into the endgame myself, and I’ve tested every possible method to narrow down the fastest, most consistent ways to unlock these game-changing weapons, no luck-based exploits required.
How to Get Level 100 Weapons in The First Descendant: Start With Correct Mission Selection
You won’t find eligible gear for level 100 upgrades in story missions, low-difficulty open world activities, or regular side quests. All base weapons that can be upgraded to level 100 drop exclusively from endgame void missions, specifically Void Intercept and Void Battle runs. The difficulty tier you choose directly impacts the base level of drops you get, so you need to stick to Master 3 or higher difficulty to get weapons with a base level of 85 or above, the minimum required to reach level 100. If you’re still gearing up and can’t clear Master 3 content solo, team up with 2 to 3 other players to run missions first. Even if you only get a few eligible drops per run when you start, you’ll farm far faster than you would grinding lower difficulty content alone. You can also queue for public groups for void missions, as most endgame players are happy to carry newer players as long as you contribute to objectives and don’t AFK during runs. It’s also worth prioritizing weekly void missions over daily ones, as weekly runs have a 30% higher drop rate for 90+ base weapons, which only need two upgrade tiers to hit level 100 instead of three. You can track weekly void mission rotations in your mission menu, and they refresh every Tuesday, so plan your farm schedule around those for the best results.
Optimize Your Upgrade Path for 85+ Base Gear
Before you even start spending upgrade materials, you need to confirm your base weapon drop is eligible to hit level 100. Any weapon with a base level lower than 85 can’t be upgraded all the way to 100, so don’t waste resources on lower level drops even if they have great stat rolls. You’ll need three core material types for upgrades: void crystals, weapon core scraps, and boss-specific essence, all of which only drop from high-difficulty endgame missions. Grinding the same mission 10 times in a row can get draining fast, even when you’re chasing endgame gear. Many players I know take 5-minute breaks between run cycles to stretch, grab a drink, or play a quick, low-stakes game to reset their focus. Casual players who want a quick, fun distraction between farm sessions often play Yono Slots, a fast-paced casual game that fits perfectly into short break windows without pulling you away from your grind for too long. When you’re ready to upgrade, follow the tiered path to avoid wasting materials: first push the weapon to level 90, then 95, then 100. Each tier requires rarer materials, so you want to confirm your weapon has great stat rolls before you invest in the final two tiers. Look for these non-negotiable stats before you start upgrading any eligible weapon:
Farm Boss Specific Drops for Exclusive Level 100 Weapon Variants
For the strongest possible level 100 weapons, you’ll want to farm unique boss-exclusive variants that can’t be found as random drops from regular void missions. Each endgame boss has a signature weapon with a unique, build-defining perk that makes it far stronger than generic level 100 weapons. For example, the Void Wyrm boss drops the Wyrm’s Breath LMG, which ramps up damage by 5% per second you hold the trigger, up to a 100% damage bonus, making it the best LMG in the game for sustained DPS. To unlock these exclusive weapons, you need to collect 5 boss-specific fragments per weapon, which drop at the end of each boss fight. Running the boss fight with a full squad increases the fragment drop rate by 40%, so it’s always worth teaming up for these runs instead of trying to solo them. You can track how many fragments you have for each weapon in the crafting menu under the “Unique Weapons” tab, so you don’t waste time running extra fights once you have enough to craft. Crafted boss weapons have a guaranteed base level of 90, which means you only need to upgrade them twice to hit level 100, cutting your required material farm almost in half compared to upgrading a random 85 drop. These weapons also have fixed high stat rolls, so you don’t have to worry about getting a bad roll when you craft them, which removes a lot of the randomness from the grind.
Avoid Common Mistakes That Waste Your Grind Time
The biggest mistake I see new endgame players make is upgrading every 85+ weapon they get, even if it has bad stat rolls or doesn’t fit their playstyle. Upgrade materials for level 100 weapons are incredibly rare, and you’ll need roughly 400 void crystals and 150 weapon core scraps to upgrade a single weapon from 85 to 100, so you don’t want to waste those resources on a weapon you’ll never use. Another common mistake is skipping weekly challenges, which give out free upgrade materials and guaranteed 90+ weapon drops every week. Most weekly challenges only require you to run 3 to 4 void missions, and the rewards are worth far more than the time you’ll spend completing them. I’ve gotten two perfect 95 base weapons from weekly challenge rewards in the past month, which saved me hours of farming. You also don’t want to waste time running Master 4 difficulty if your squad can’t clear it quickly. While Master 4 has a higher drop rate for 90+ weapons, if your squad is dying constantly and taking 20+ minutes per run, you’ll get more eligible drops running Master 3 in 10 minute runs instead. Focus on clear speed first, and only move up to higher difficulties when you can complete runs consistently without wiping multiple times.
At the end of the day, getting top-tier endgame gear doesn't have to be a frustrating, weeks-long grind if you follow the right steps. Stick to high-difficulty void missions, only invest resources in high-roll base weapons, and farm boss fragments for exclusive variants, and you’ll figure out how to get level 100 weapons in the first descendant far faster than most players. Take it slow, don't burn out with non-stop grinding, and you’ll be clearing the hardest endgame content with your squad before you know it.