Injustice 2 is a fighting game in which players compete in one-on-one combat using characters from the DC Universe and other third-party franchises. Using different combinations of directional inputs and button presses, players must perform basic attacks, special moves, and combos to try to damage and knock out the opposing fighter.[3][4] Injustice 2 retains numerous gameplay mechanics from Injustice: Gods Among Us, including environment interaction, stage transitions, clashes, and character traits.[5][6][7] The trait system, like before, provides a temporary buff or ability that complements each character's playstyle.[5] The super meter, which allows players to execute enhanced special moves and unlock powerful "super moves" when fully charged, also returns.[8] Players can expend meter to perform new techniques, such as an evasive forward roll, which provides a way to overcome enemy keep-away tactics, or an air recovery, which lets characters escape an opponent's combo early.[5][9] Most environmental attacks, which were completely unavoidable in the first Injustice game, can now be blocked or dodged; however, certain environmental attacks with large amounts of startup, such as throwing a car, remain unblockable.[3][9]
Injustice 2 introduces a loot-dropping system, known as the "Gear System", which offers character-specific costume pieces and equipment with status-altering effects.[10] The Gear System uses RPG-like mechanics to reward players with experience and loot after every match.[11][12] Every playable fighter is given four base stats: strength, defense, health, and ability, the latter of which impacts special attacks.[12] As players collect experience points and subsequently level up, their characters' base stats will increase.[12] Players can enhance their base stats even further by equipping gear obtained through loot drops, which also lets players customize the look of their characters.[12][13] Rarer gear can include one or more bonus augmentations, which range from new visual effects for special moves to higher yields of in-game currency or experience points.[12] Players can receive additional bonuses by equipping their characters with all five pieces of a single gear set.[12] Gear comes in three varieties: equipment, shaders, and abilities.[14] Besides the random loot earned at the end of a fight, all three types of gear are available to purchase in loot crates, known as "Mother Boxes", using in-game currency.[14] Each character has five equipment slots for donning new costume pieces, which include their head, torso, arms, legs, and an accessory; two ability slots for equipping new or modified special attacks; and one shader slot for altering their color scheme.[14][15] The game will also include five separate gear loadouts for each character, allowing players to switch between their setups at the beginning of each match.[15]