You're flying over the Manhattan skyline as Iron Man, the sun is hitting the Avengers Tower just right, and suddenly you see that shimmering, rotating golden icon on your mini-map. It’s a gold brick. Again. There are 250 of these things scattered across LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, and honestly, they are the bane of every completionist's existence.
Why do we do it? Because you want that 100% trophy. You want to unlock the Mandarin's Boat or maybe you’re just obsessed with seeing that counter hit the max. But let’s be real: some of these bricks are buried under layers of puzzles that make absolutely no sense the first time you see them.
Collecting gold bricks in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes isn't just about smashing stuff. It’s a test of patience. It’s about knowing which character can melt gold, who can pull a magnetic handle, and which hero can actually fit into those tiny vents. If you're missing just five or six bricks at the end of the game, you know the pain of scouring the Helicarrier for that one vent you missed.
Where the Hell are All the Gold Bricks?
The math is pretty simple, even if the execution isn't. You get 250 total. You get one for finishing each of the 15 main story levels. That’s the easy part. Then you get another for hitting "True Believer" status in those levels by collecting enough studs. Another comes from finding the Minikit in each level.
Then things get messy.
There are 11 bonus missions. These are the "Hub" missions often narrated by Deadpool. Each of those gives you a brick for completion and another for True Believer. The rest? They’re just... out there. They’re sitting on top of the Empire State Building, hidden in the Raft, or tucked away in a back alley in Little Italy.
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The Manhattan Hub is massive. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s a giant puzzle box. You’ll find yourself switching between Galactus and Howard the Duck just to trigger specific pressure plates. If you haven't unlocked the "Gold Brick Detector" Red Brick yet, stop reading this and go do that first. It’s in the "Nuff Said" bonus level. Without that white arrow pointing you toward your goal, you're basically playing hide-and-seek in a city of millions with a blindfold on.
The Problem With the Helicarrier
Most people get stuck at 249 bricks. It’s a classic problem. Usually, that last brick is hiding on the SHIELD Helicarrier. It might be inside the hangars, or worse, it’s one of the air races that starts on the deck and sends you diving toward the water.
There's one specific brick inside the Helicarrier—down in the detention center area—where you have to use a telekinetic character like Jean Grey to move a trophy through a maze. It’s finicky. It’s annoying. If the physics engine glitches, you’re restarting the area. We’ve all been there.
The Secret Economy of Gold Bricks
Gold bricks are the currency of progress in this game. You need them to unlock the bonus levels. For example, you can't even step foot into the "Tabloid Tidy UP" mission at the Daily Bugle until you’ve got 10 bricks. Want to see the "Shocking Withdrawal" level? That’ll be 20 bricks, please.
By the time you’re trying to unlock the later levels like "The Thrill of the Chess," you need 175 bricks. This creates a loop. You need bricks to play levels, and you play levels to get more bricks. It’s a treadmill, but a fun one.
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The real reward, though, isn't just a number. It’s the characters. You need gold bricks in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes to build those gold statues scattered around the city. Those statues unlock iconic vehicles and characters. If you want to fly the Spider-Copter (which, let's be honest, is ridiculous but necessary), you have to find the specific brick-build spot in the city.
Stan Lee in Peril
Here’s a nuance people forget: Stan Lee is basically a gold brick factory. There are 50 "Stan Lee in Peril" locations. Every time you save the legendary creator from a shark, a fire, or a falling vending machine, you get a gold brick.
Saving all 50 Stans is also the only way to unlock Stan Lee as a playable character. And trust me, you want him. He has the powers of basically every Avenger. He can turn into Stan-Hulk. He can shoot webbing. He can use Spider-Sense. He’s the ultimate cheat code for finding the rest of the bricks you’re missing.
Character Switching: The Pro Way to Hunt
Don't try to hunt bricks with just anyone. You need a dedicated "Search Party."
- Iron Man (Mark 42): You need him for anything gold. His heat beam is the fastest way to melt those gold crates.
- Magneto: Essential for the metallic blue objects. Without him, half the puzzles in the financial district are impossible.
- Sandman or Mr. Fantastic: You’ll see these little grates on the ground. If you don't have a character who can turn into a liquid or squeeze through, you're stuck.
- Black Widow: Essential for the stealth puzzles. Those security cameras will shut gates on you if you try to fly through as Thor.
I used to spend way too much time trying to find creative ways to bypass puzzles using different characters. Don't do that. The game is rigid. If it wants a "Small" character like Ant-Man (well, the LEGO equivalent), use them. If it wants a "Big Fig" like Hulk to pull green handles, use Hulk.
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Why 249/250 is a Common Nightmare
I’ve seen dozens of forum posts from players losing their minds at 249. Honestly, it’s usually one of three things.
First, check the races. Some races only appear after you’ve completed other races. If you haven't done the ground race with a 4x4, the flying race above it might not trigger.
Second, look at the map icons. Sometimes icons stack on top of each other. A character token might be hiding the gold brick icon underneath it. Zoom all the way in.
Third, and this is the most common, check the interior of the SHIELD Helicarrier one more time. Walk through every room. Check the bunks. Check the lab. There is a brick in the medical bay that requires a character with "Mind Control" to influence an NPC behind glass. People miss that one constantly.
Practical Steps to Hit 100%
If you’re serious about cleaning up the map, you need a strategy. Flailing around Manhattan is fun for an hour, but it won't get you the win.
- Finish the Story: Don't even worry about the hub until the credits roll. You won't have the character roster to solve the puzzles anyway.
- Unlock the Red Bricks: Specifically the "Gold Brick Detector" and the "Attract Studs" bricks. These make life 10x easier.
- The Stan Lee Sweep: Go through the city and look for the "Stan in Peril" icons. It’s the most efficient way to stack bricks quickly.
- The "Flying" Sweep: Use a character like Silver Surfer or Iron Man to fly at a medium altitude. The gold brick detector will ping things that are on rooftops that you might miss from the street.
- Check the Bonus Rooms: Go to the Avengers Mansion and the Helicarrier. There are specific interactive elements there that grant bricks just for messing with the environment.
The grind is real, but hitting that 250 mark is one of the most satisfying feelings in any LEGO game. Just remember to take breaks. Manhattan is big, and those gold bricks aren't going anywhere. Once you've got them all, head to the bonus level in the middle of the city to see the true final reward—it's worth the effort just to say you did it.
Focus on the races last. They are the most frustrating part of the physics engine, especially the flying ones through the rings. Use a character with tight handling like Iron Man rather than a bulky one like Thor or a plane. Control is everything when you're chasing that final gold shimmer.