Midgame to Late game transition

[Non-Political Proton]

Hello NI community,

I'm not really sure if this is  a problem, but I've been experiencing a bit of a blockade transitioning from Midgame to end game.

I think in reality my gear = Noob tier, most of my stuff is Marketplace, but what I'm finding is that I'm really incapable of getting into anything higher right now.

For example, I have been playing a pikeman for awhile now, rocking Jarids, and I was like, well I got like 200k and it'll be awhile til I'm 52 and can hero. Maybe I'll buy better throwing weapons. I thought 200k was a lot. But it seems like the next best thing cost around 1 million.

Is there any midgame gear that I'm missing, I can't find anything on the AH and it'll be decades before I can afford to craft anything through blacksmithing.

Feels like I missed a step somewhere!

Is there any gear in between, like I want to get Short heavy cades but they apparently cost 400- 500k as well.

Try join hard and rag runs, even if you dont loot mats, you can get money from the assist XP