Look, if you're playing Marvel’s Midnight Suns, you quickly realize that fighting Hydra is actually the easy part. The real challenge? Figuring out what on earth to buy Blade for his birthday. You spend hours tactically repositioning Ghost Rider on the battlefield, but then you get back to the Abbey and realize your friendship levels are stalling because you keep handing out the wrong stuff. It’s frustrating. You want those Prestige levels. You want the passive abilities and the legendary Midnight Sun suits. But the game doesn’t exactly give you a cheat sheet for which hero wants a rare book versus a skull-shaped candle.
That’s why this Midnight Suns gift guide exists.
Getting the friendship system right is basically the secret sauce of the game. It isn't just fluff; it’s power. When you max out a friendship, you unlock a specific challenge mission that nets you a legendary card. Those cards break the game in the best way possible. If you’re just guessing, you’re throwing away precious Gloss and Credits. Honestly, some of these heroes are incredibly picky. You’d think a literal god like Magik would be easy to please, but she has very specific tastes that lean toward the macabre and the nostalgic.
Stop Guessing and Start Gifting
The mechanics are simple but the execution is where people trip up. You get gifts from the Gift Shop (once you unlock it through Abbey Upgrades) or by finding them scattered around the grounds. Gifts come in three tiers: Common (White), Rare (Blue), and Epic (Purple).
Don't just spam "Love" gifts. You need to match the item to the personality. For example, Peter Parker is a huge nerd—shocker, I know—so he’s going to gravitate toward photography gear or science-based items. Meanwhile, someone like Wolverine wants things that remind him of his long, often painful past or perhaps just a very good bottle of whiskey (or the in-game equivalent).
If you give an Epic gift to someone who only "Likes" it, you’ve wasted a high-tier resource. You want to save those Epics for the characters who "Love" them to get the maximum +10 Friendship XP boost. A "Like" only nets you +5 or +7 depending on rarity. It adds up.
The Core List: Who Wants What?
Let's break down the roster. This isn't just a list; it’s a vibe check.
Iron Man (Tony Stark)
Tony is a futurist with an ego, but he also has a weirdly sentimental side for tech history. If it’s a "Luxury Gift Basket," he's going to find it tacky. He wants "Iron Man #1" (obviously) or "Transistorized!" If you find the "Tales of Suspense #39" comic, give it to him. He loves the high-end stuff that acknowledges his genius.
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Steve is easy. He’s a man out of time. Give him anything that reminds him of the 1940s or classic Americana. "Classic Patriotic Movies" is a huge win here. He also appreciates a good "Sketchbook" because, as the lore reminds us, Steve was an artist before he was a super-soldier. Avoid modern tech or "dark" items; he won't get them.
Doctor Strange
Stephen is all about the occult and the academic. If you find "The Book of the Dead" or "Advanced Degrees in Everything," he’s your guy. He also has a soft spot for artifacts. "Amulet of Epiphany" is a solid choice. Strange is one of the easier ones to level up because his interests are so narrow.
Blade
He’s brooding. He’s stoic. He likes "The Unkillable" and anything related to vampire hunting lore. Surprisingly, he also likes "Candle (Scent: Blood)"—which is a bit on the nose, but hey, it works. Don't give him anything too cheery. He hates it.
Magik (Illyana Rasputin)
Illyana is arguably the hardest to please if you don't know her backstory. She loves "The Art of Posing" and anything related to Limbo. She also has a weird fondness for "Bad Luck Charms." Because of her childhood trauma, she appreciates things that feel protective or slightly "outsider" in nature.
Nico Minoru
Think goth-punk. Nico loves "Dark Beauty Magazine" and "Skull-Shaped Candle." She’s very much into the aesthetic of the occult rather than the dry, academic side that Strange prefers.
Why the "Love" vs "Like" Distinction Actually Matters
If you're playing on a higher difficulty like Ultimate 3, you cannot afford to have weak heroes. The friendship bonuses provide "Combo Cards" which are free attacks that don't cost a card play. They are literal lifesavers.
Wait.
Did you know that you can actually lose friendship points? Well, not exactly through gifts, but through dialogue. However, a well-timed "Love" gift can offset a bad conversation choice you made during a Hangout. If you accidentally insulted Carol Danvers' military background, handing her a "Kree Commemorative Medal" is basically your "get out of jail free" card.
Hidden Mechanics: The Gift Shop Strategy
The Gift Shop isn't available immediately. You have to research it at the Forge. Once you have it, the inventory rotates daily. This is where most players fail—they forget to check the shop every single morning.
Credits are tight in the early game. Spend them on Abbey upgrades first, but once your economy stabilizes, you should be buying out the Epic gifts whenever they appear. Even if you don't have the "right" hero for a gift yet, buy it. You will eventually recruit Ghost Rider, Scarlet Witch, and Hulk. Having a stockpile of "Premium Ingredients" or "Grave Soil" (for Ghost Rider) will save you weeks of grinding later on.
Specialized Gifts for Late-Game Heroes
Once you get further in, the personalities get even more distinct.
- Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes): He’s a gearhead. Give him "Classic Car Parts" or "Racing Memoirs." He’s a simple guy compared to the Avengers.
- Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff): She’s looking for peace. "Vials of Sacred Water" or "Wiccan Symbols." She’s trying to balance her chaos magic, so anything that feels "grounding" is a win.
- The Hulk (Bruce Banner): This one is tricky because you get him so late. Bruce wants intellectual stimulation. "Scientific Journals" or "Gamma Radiation Studies." Just don't give him anything that might trigger a transformation.
Hangouts and Common Mistakes
A gift is usually given at the end of a Hangout. If you pick a Hangout spot that the hero dislikes (like taking Blade to go "Birdwatching"), the gift won't have as much of an impact on their overall mood. You want to pair a "Loved" activity with a "Loved" gift.
Taking Spider-Man to play video games and then giving him a "Chemistry Set" is the ultimate friendship "wombo-combo." It’ll skyrocket his XP. On the flip side, taking Wolverine to a "Picnic" is a disaster. He hates it. He’d rather be at the "Fire Pit" or "Drinking."
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
To maximize your efficiency with this Midnight Suns gift guide knowledge, follow this specific workflow:
- Prioritize the Forge Research: Get the "Gift Shop" upgrade as soon as it becomes available. It’s a game-changer.
- Daily Rounds: Every morning after waking up, run to the Gift Shop. Buy every Epic (Purple) gift, regardless of what it is.
- Inventory Check: Before starting a mission, look at who is closest to a Friendship Level up. Bring them on the mission to get the "Hangout" trigger.
- Match the Vibe: Always save your "Epic" gifts for Hangouts where you know the hero "Loves" the item. Using an Epic gift during a standard "Give Gift" interaction outside of a Hangout is a waste of potential XP.
- Focus on the Core Four: Early on, focus your gifts on Ghost Rider, Magik, and Nico. Their legendary cards (like "Penance Stare" or "Darkchylde") are significantly more impactful for mid-game survival than the basic Avenger cards.
The Abbey is more than just a hub; it's where the real power is built. Stop treating the social sim like a chore. Treat it like the tactical resource management it actually is. Use those credits wisely, keep your heroes happy, and those legendary Midnight Sun suits will be yours much faster than if you just kept throwing random books at Captain Marvel.
Check your inventory now. If you've got a "Music Box" sitting there, go find Magik. She’s probably lurking near the library. It's time to get those friendship points.