Those who played the World of Assassination trilogy from start to finish were treated to a sandbox unlike any other. From the racetracks of Miami to the vineyards of Argentina, Agent 47 kept the Hitman legacy alive for many generations to come.
Players can beat any mission in the game with bare essentials. Gear isn't meant to be required or even make the levels easier. it's there for personal preference and downright fun. When measuring the best gear in Hitman, entertainment value, usefulness, and versatility all have a part to play.
Updated on February 7th, 2022 by Hodey Johns: This article was initially written after Hitman 2 but before Hitman 3. In that time, players not only were treated to another game, but DLC, patches, and special unlockables that few games can match. However, that does not mean that the gear in the first two games is suddenly less valuable; quite the opposite, some of the more obscure pieces ended up playing a pivotal part in many challenges in Hitman 3. Therefore, instead of deleting any entries, five more were added to the list without taking any away. Players get the chance to flex their creativity on many maps and these are the best pieces to do that with.
15 ICA Titanium Crowbar
Every player has their favorite and least favorite maps. For those maps that need to be rushed through, the ICA Titanium Crowbar works faster than a lockpick or keycard and players don't lose it when they use it. Enemies will become suspicious if they see a broken door, but not in time for 47 to slip away.
But the ICA Crowbar deserves extra credit because it can also knock out opponents up close or at range. Or, toss it in a corner for a quick distraction. Given these four areas of the game it can cover, that is a tremendous value for a single gear slot.
14 Emetic Grenade
Stealthy players love to pick off their targets one at a time. It's undeniably satisfying to slowly clear out guards on the way to the target. But enemies aren't idiots; eventually, they get wise and realize that defenders need to show up in pairs or more to stop from falling into 47's traps.
The Emetic Grenade will force enemies in an area to find a place to vomit, clearing the way for players to get some much-needed solo action with a target. It sets up some of the game's most memorable kills.
13 The Big One
There's little doubt that this series has some of the best sniping moments in gaming. But sometimes the perfect shot gets derailed by an onlooker who is looking and listening in the area 47 needs to shoot from. Instead of missing out on the perfect shot, bring along "The Big One."
It distracts enemies and masks sound for a bit, allowing Agent 47 to go be relatively loud and obviously threatening for a short while. Another fun fact, The Big One will set flammable objects on fire, giving it some diversity not present for many other gear selections.
12 Sedative Poison Vial
Making enemies lose their lunch is a handy tactic, but there are limits. Without enough toilets around, opponents will only get briefly nauseous and then continue as if nothing is wrong. What's to be done when a whole room needs to be neutralized?
One of the undiscovered secrets in the franchise, the Sedative Poison Vial and an air conditioner are a match made in heaven. It doesn't matter how many guards enemies have if all of them get tired simultaneously.
11 ICA Explosive Phone
It's no secret that Agent 47 is part of a secret cloning project, but unless he wants to have a new clone take over for him, it's best that he stay alive. Trying to do that is hard enough, but trying to do that while placing an explosive in the light of sight of a target is nearly impossible.
Phones can stay out of sight and don't alert suspicion until they ring the ICA Explosive Phone; a moment that players get to control. This kind of precision is impossible to achieve without perfect placement and timing when using other explosives.
10 Emetic Pills
The Emetic Pills are crucial in situations where Agent 47 is not out to kill a certain person. On maps with frequent access to food and food preparation areas, this can be the perfect way to administer a non-lethal dose of poison that causes the mark to throw up. Players can then follow them (or be waiting) in a location in which they can throw up to either kill them or knock them out and hide their bodies. There are a few alternate options that do the same thing, including the Emetic Rat Poison which can be found lurking around most maps.
9 Modern Lethal Syringe
While the emetic rat poison is used for a subtle and sneaky way to either get rid of someone 47 doesn’t like the look of, or calmly take them out as they throw up into a toilet, the lethal syringe is a lot more brutal.
This syringe cannot be used to poison food and has to be administered to the neck of a victim. As long as no one sees it happen, it won’t make a noise, so the process won’t attract any attention. However, it does force players to be close enough to a target to grab them and administer the lethal poison.
8 Proximity Explosive Duck
While the content of the Hitman games can be pretty graphic in terms of violence at times, they never lose their sense of humor. Explosive ducks are a common theme in the franchise, and the Proximity Explosive Duck is arguably the best available. It isn’t as eye-catching as obvious explosives so one will shoot them down if they see it get placed, but most NPCs will take a look. Make sure the person 47 wants to see it is definitely going to be the first person who does.
7 Remote Breaching Charge
As subtlety is often the name of the game in Hitman, the Remote Breaching Charge is not an object many players would carry, favoring a lockpick in most situations. However, this breaching charge doesn’t make as much noise as players would think (though it isn’t silent so watch out) and it is much cooler than a simple lockpick.
6 ICA Micro Remote Explosive
Another type of explosive device available to agents in the World Of Assassination trilogy is the ICA Micro Remote Explosive. Obviously, this isn’t as well disguised as anything duck-related, so it’ll attract a lot of attention if seen- don’t place it minutes in advance of use in an open area. If used well, however, players can place it and trigger it when the mark is in the vicinity, giving them a loud, gory death.
5 Electronic Key Hacker/Disposable Scrambler
On most Hitman maps, the doors use a traditional key system which makes the lockpick an ideal piece of equipment. In rarer situations, the lockpick will do absolutely nothing because key cards are all the rage in more futuristic maps. For these occasions, gamers will want to bring the Electronic Key Hacker, which does the same thing as the lockpick, but for modern doors.
4 ICA Electrocution Phone
In Hitman 2, the ICA Electrocution Phone was introduced. On the surface, it is nothing more than a mobile phone, which shouldn’t arouse any suspicion at all these days. However, all players need to do is give this one a call, and they’ll be able to lethally electrocute the target. Throw it from a distance to attract the attention of an annoying guard, or simply drop it next to a target. Even though the phone shouldn’t be giving off a lethal electronic current and has clearly been tampered with, this item keeps the Silent Assassin achievement intact.
3 ICA Executive Briefcase
There has been a version of the briefcase in all installments, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. It isn’t some sort of special gadget that explodes upon impact, it’s just a heavy-duty carry case in which Agent 47 can store a weapon.
Want to make tracks up to a vantage point without carrying a massive sniper around and attracting the attention of every inhabitant of Sapienza? Throw it in a briefcase and go anywhere without suspicion.
2 Coins
Coins might be the most simple thing in the game, but in the right situation, they can be the most effective. Pretty much any NPC or guard will go looking for a coin if they hear it tinkle next to them, so it’s the perfect way to move someone from an area 47 needs to access or to group together a few guards for an interesting multi-kill. Best of all, coins stack up and are common on most maps, so gamers don’t even need to equip them pre-game to find and use some.
1 Lockpick
No matter how much incredible technology Agent 47 has access to in the World of Assassination, there is nothing more genuinely helpful than the lockpick. Found a door that is supposed to bar access to the VIP? Just distract whoever is standing guard, use the pick, get inside, close the door, and carry on. It's almost too easy.
Hitman 3 was released on January 20th, 2021, and is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.