Hellgate: London will heavily use a randomized item system of at least a hundred base weapon types and many armour types, with a pool of random special properties and bonuses (magical affixes) applied to them to achieve replayability and promote item collection. Like Diablo II, each item can be regular, rare, legendary or unique.

Additionally, weapons can be upgraded with "mods", which can be added or removed using a machine in a safe zone. Mods range from rocket packs that add splash damage to bullet weapons to power cells that stun the target. Only weapons can be upgraded in this fashion, though socketed armour will be made available after launch to Elite subscribers.

As in Diablo II, item hunting is expected to be the most popular endgame activity, though the game should be less focussed on endless boss runs as the sole means to acquire good items.

Item requirements are handled differently than in Diablo II. Instead of having to meet a certain amount of strength or dexterity to use an item, you can equip most items without limit but each equipped item will count towards a maximum allowed "weight". Putting points into strength or accuracy increases the maximum, allowing you to wear more heavy items.

For example, if you have 80 strength, all your items together may not require more than 80 strength. You could equip an armour that requires 80 strength and no other items; or an armour, belt, boots and gloves that require 20 strength each.