Let’s be real for a second. Most people play Lego games to smash plastic bricks and watch goofy cutscenes. It’s relaxing. But then you look at that 100% completion bar and realize you’ve barely scratched the surface because of the Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 challenges. They aren't just extra fluff. Honestly, they’re the backbone of the entire Chronopolis experience, forcing you to explore corners of the map you’d otherwise ignore.
Chronopolis is huge. It’s a messy, beautiful mashup of Noir New York, Sakaar, Medieval England, and about fifteen other places. If you aren't hunting down those specific challenge objectives, you're missing half the game. You're just flying over the most detailed parts of the map. That’s a waste.
The Grind is Real (But Kind Of Great)
There are dozens of these things. We’re talking about 255 Gold Bricks in total across the game, and a massive chunk of those are tied directly to the challenge menu in your map screen. Some are simple. You find a few posters, you spray-paint them, you get a brick. Others? They’re a total nightmare if you don't know where to look.
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Take the "Who’s the Boss?" challenge. You have to find and defeat hidden mini-bosses scattered across the hub world. It sounds easy until you’re wandering around the Hydra Empire trying to trigger a fight that just won't start because you haven't finished a specific side quest yet. The game doesn't always hold your hand. It expects you to actually explore.
The variety is what keeps it from feeling like a total chore. One minute you’re destroying gold statues in Attilan, and the next you’re rescuing trapped citizens in Kang’s Citadel. It’s chaotic. It’s Marvel.
Why People Get Stuck on Challenges
Usually, it's not the difficulty. It’s the triggers. Lego games are notorious for "soft-locking" or just being plain finicky. If a challenge objective isn't appearing, it's almost always because you're in the middle of a different mission that occupies that part of the map.
You’ve probably spent twenty minutes looking for a specific cat in the "Animal Lover" challenge. I've been there. It’s frustrating. But there’s a logic to it. Most challenges are regional. If you’re looking for something related to the Guardians of the Galaxy, check Knowhere or Milan. If it’s Defenders-related, stick to Manhattan or Noir New York.
Breaking Down the Heavy Hitters
Let's talk specifics because general advice doesn't help when you're missing one gold brick.
The "Poster Painter" Challenge
This one is a classic. You need to find 10 posters throughout Chronopolis and "re-decorate" them. Most are in the Manhattan and Noir sections. It’s a great way to earn the "Classic Captain America" variant. It’s simple, but it teaches you to look at the walls, not just the studs on the floor.
The "Trap-Smasher" Challenge
You have to find and destroy 10 of Kang's traps. These are usually hidden in plain sight near major landmarks. The one in Egypt is particularly annoying because it blends into the sand textures. Keep your eyes peeled for anything that looks slightly more "high-tech" than the surrounding ruins.
The "Citizen in Peril" Tradition
It wouldn't be a Lego game without people getting stuck in bins or under rubble. There are 25 of these. Completing this is basically mandatory if you want the big rewards. You'll need a diverse roster—someone with heat beams, someone with telekinesis, and someone who can shrink. This is why you shouldn't focus on challenges until after you’ve finished the main story. You need the full toolbox.
The Secret Rewards Nobody Mentions
Everyone knows challenges give you Gold Bricks. That’s the baseline. But the real reason to finish the Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 challenges is the vehicle and character unlocks.
Some of the coolest vehicles in the game, like the Lola (Coulson’s car) or the various specialized motorcycles, are locked behind these specific milestones. If you want to fly around in a customized Quinjet, you have to put in the work.
Also, the Pink Bricks (this game’s version of Red Bricks) are often easier to buy once you’ve cleared challenges because the challenges give you the "stud multipliers" indirectly through the bricks you earn. It’s a cycle. You do challenges to get bricks, you use bricks to get multipliers, and then the rest of the game becomes a breeze.
The Problem With Underwater Challenges
Lemuria is beautiful, but the swimming mechanics in this game can be a bit clunky. Doing the "Underwater Exploration" challenges is probably the most polarizing part of the 100% run. You’re fighting the camera as much as you’re fighting Kang’s minions.
My advice? Use a character like Attuma or Stingray. They move significantly better underwater than someone like Iron Man in a diver suit. It makes the "Sea-Cucumbers" or whatever weird collectible you’re hunting much less of a headache.
Navigating the Map Without Losing Your Mind
Chronopolis is a literal jigsaw puzzle. The borders between zones are invisible but strict. If you're hunting for a challenge item in the Old West, and you accidentally cross the line into the Medieval Forest, the icons on your mini-map will change.
- Check the Challenge Tab: Don't just rely on the icons in the world. Open the actual menu to see your progress.
- The Arrow is Your Friend: When you're close to a challenge objective, a small arrow usually appears on the edge of your screen.
- Audio Cues: Listen for the "sparkle" sound. Lego games use a specific sound effect for interactable challenge objects. Turn down the music if you have to.
Honestly, the best way to tackle these is by zone. Don't try to do all the "Posters" at once. Pick a zone, like Nueva York, and do every single challenge available in that specific area. Then move to the next. It’s way more efficient than flying back and forth across the map like a caffeinated Silver Surfer.
Dealing With Bugs
Sometimes a challenge just won't pop. It happens. The most common fix? Leave the area, go into a level (any level), and then come back to the hub. This forces the hub world to reload its assets. If a "Citizen in Peril" isn't responding to your attacks, this usually resets their AI.
Essential Character Roster for Challenges
You can't do this with just the starting lineup. To clear the board, you need a specific "Swiss Army Knife" team.
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- Doctor Strange: You need him for time manipulation. Several challenges in Egypt and Babylon require you to age or de-age objects.
- Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan): Her ability to go through vents and use "handle" points is used in almost every "Infiltrator" style challenge.
- Iron Man (Main Suit): You need the silver-blow-up ability and the gold-melt ability. He’s the most efficient for this.
- Black Panther: His scent-tracking is vital for the "Find the Hidden Item" challenges.
- Star-Lord: His gravity grenades are required for specific environmental puzzles.
Without these five, you’re going to be constantly switching characters, which adds hours to your playtime.
The Completionist's Final Hurdle
When you get to 99.9%, it’s almost always a challenge you forgot. Maybe it’s a race. Maybe it’s a single hidden "Kang Statue" in the middle of nowhere.
The "Toby the Dog" challenge is a frequent culprit for the missing 0.1%. You have to find him in several different locations across the map. He doesn't show up on the map until you're practically on top of him. It’s little things like that which make the Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 challenges both a joy and a massive pain in the neck.
But when that 100% trophy pops? It feels good. You’ve seen everything Chronopolis has to offer. You’ve beaten Kang at his own game.
Actionable Next Steps for Your 100% Run:
- Finish the Story First: Do not waste time on challenges until you have the "Free Play" ability and a diverse roster of at least 20-30 characters.
- Buy the Stud Multipliers: Use your first few Gold Bricks from easy challenges to unlock the x2 and x4 multipliers. This makes buying the characters needed for harder challenges much faster.
- Toggle the Collectible Detector: Go to the "Extras" menu and turn on any detectors you've unlocked. The Gold Brick detector is non-negotiable for finding the final few challenge locations.
- Focus on One Zone at a Time: Clear Manhattan, then move to Manhattan Noir, then to Hydra Empire. Jumping around leads to missed objectives and map confusion.
- Use a Character with Flight and Lasers: Captain Marvel or Iron Man should be your "default" for traversing the hub, as they can trigger almost any combat or destruction challenge instantly.