Story arcs are somewhere in between regular missions and task forces. Like a task force, there is a series of connected missions which tell a story. Story arcs come from your regular contacts, though, and you can do them at your own pace, with a group or solo, or even with different groups on different days. Each mission will give you a clue, and the clues will pile up in your clue window until the arc is done. You know that you are doing a story arc when you see a clue which says, "It all started when..." When you finish a story arc, you receive an enhancement and a souvenir. The souvenir includes text summarizing the missions in the arc.
You can only have two story arcs running at a time. If you outlevel a story arc, don't worry. You can still do the missions and get the rewards, without having to exemplar down. The bad guys have a maximum level, though, and if you are beyond it then the fights aren't going to be very interesting. If you have missed any story arcs, go back to your very first contact and talk to them in person, and work your way up. Eventually, someone will give you either a mission or a new contact.
Names in boldface are nominees for the Best Story Arc award, from the contest held on CoH's first anniversary.
| Level range | Story name | Souvenir |
|---|---|---|
| 10-14 | The Clockwork Captive | An etched Clockwork piece |
| 10-14 | The Bonefire Plot | Skulls bandana |
| 10-14 | The Vahzilok Pollutant Plot | Water department ID badge |
| 15-19 | The Mind of a King | Damaged power source |
| 15-19 | The Tsoo Shenanigans | Rage ampoule |
| 15-19 | The Vahzilok Plague | Hypodermic needle * First Archvillain |
| 20-24 | The Tsoo Coup | Tsoo dagger |
| 20-24 | A Hand of Iron | Iron Hand's Badge |
| 20-24 | The Sky Raider Secret | Captain Indomitable's Uni-Bands |
| 20-24 | The Wheel of Destruction | Hub of the Wheel of Destruction * Great temp powers! |
| 25-29 | The Scroll of Tielekku | Translation of the Scroll of Tielekku |
| 25-29 | The Mysterious General Z | Small cog from a Lockhart Aerotech jet pack |
| 25-29 | Ubelmann the Unknown | Letter from Requiem |
| 25-29 | An Unnatural Order | Will of the Earth sample |
| 25-29 | The Freaklympics | Freaklympics Gold Medal |
| 30-34 | The Library of Souls | Note from Akarist |
| 30-34 | The Freakshow War | Page from Schwarzwald's notebook |
| 30-34 | The Rise of the Vampyri | Dosier on Victor Sieger |
| 30-34 | Corporate Culture | Crey data disc |
| 30-34 | The Unity Plague | Sample of the Unity cure |
| 35-39 | A Path Into Darkness | The Book 'The Rites of the Dark' |
| 35-39 | The Envoy of Shadow | The Envoy's True Name |
| 35-39 | Revenant Hero Project | Invisible Falcon's Mask |
| 35-39 | The Terra Conspiracy | Hamidon's letter |
| 35-39 | Mass Duplicity | Nemesis battle suit blueprints |
| 35-39 | The Organ Grinders | Omega level clearance badge |
| 40-44 | To Save a Soul | Madeline Casey's pendant |
| 40-44 | The Evil Countess Crey | Julianne's diary |
| 40-44 | Melvin and the Mysterious Malta Group | A painting called Gentlemen of Malta |
| 40-44 | The Eternal Nemesis | The Face of Nemesis |
| 40-44 | The Praetorian War | Blue Clockwork piece |
| 40-44 | Division: Line | C'Kelkah's cermonial blade |
| 45-49 | Upon the Psychic Plane | Vanessa DeVore's mask |
| 45-49 | Project: World Wide Red | The thanks of the world |
| 45-49 | To Save A Thousand Worlds | Pure flame |
| 45-49 | A Hero's Hero | Statesman's face plate |