Summary
Destiny 2had a strange year filled with hype-driven highs and abysmal lows. Though Season of the Wish was hardly the best in the game’s history, it gave players many things they wanted, such as a great seasonal activity in the form of The Coil, then semi-free chase rewards with weekly quests, and finallyDestiny 2’s Pantheon. The Final Shape capitalized on the hype and delivered the single best expansion the franchise had ever seen, retaining players for weeks and weeks. This was unfortunately followed by layoffs at Bungie, controversial decisions regarding the game, and the disastrous launch of Revenant. Now, Frontiers is the next big thing for the game, and it needs to deliver on all fronts - especially loot.
There are several reasons whyDestiny 2’s current Episode failed to meet players' expectations, starting with the game’s quality being arguably lower due to many bugs that affected (and some still do) the gameplay loop. Yet, one of the biggest issues was and still is howRevenant weapons inDestiny 2are not craftable and made unnecessarily rare to get in order to promote the use of Tonics, which have been bugged for weeks. This exacerbates the need forDestiny 2to go above and beyond with its Frontiers loot and make it worthwhile.
Destiny 2 Needs to Put Its Looter Identity First
The current system makes it so thatDestiny 2releases promote FOMO (the fear of missing out), but also don’t truly respect players' time in a few ways. Tonics are a big example of this, as they are hard to craft in large batches because the rate at which players get ingredients is pretty low, and they mainly come fromRevenant activities. However, Revenant activities can inherently be a bit long, with full Onslaught runs taking typically over one hour and awarding just a handful of randomly rolled weapons.
The problem is not necessarily that the weapons added with each release are subpar, as there are typically at least one or two that are worth chasing. Instead, the problem is that the game’s identity as a looter-shooter sometimes boils down to a few drops every once in a while, and they may not even be relevant for players. Looter games often give players rewards for defeating monsters and clearing encounters, with loot explosions on killing powerful enemies or bosses. This is whyDestiny 2’s Frontiersneeds to revamp the current loot system to give players more frequent rewards that are also more meaningful.
How Destiny 2: Frontiers is Changing The Armor System
There are good signs, asDestiny 2’s Frontiers is overhauling the armor systemin big ways, such as giving players a higher stat cap and essentially no wasted stat points, as every single point counts toward benefits. This is to encourage players to keep farming armor at all levels of play, as they can acquire new rolls that can be better than what they have at the moment and also be part of a set that provides unique bonuses.
If Bungie stays true to its vision and its word, it will make impactful changes to the armor system that will most likely avoid stagnating loot as players feel that they already have the best armor they can get. While these plans sound good, they should expand to the entire game, rather than just armor. For example, the big debate regardingDestiny 2’s craftable vs. non-craftable weaponshas pros and cons for each side, and Bungie seems willing to bet more on the latter.
Why Destiny 2 Needs More Brave Arsenal-Like Shiny Weapons
This is not necessarily a bad thing in theory, asDestiny 2’s Brave Arsenal shiny gunsmade a big splash when Into The Light came out, and revitalized the chase for unique loot. That’s more of what the game needs in Frontiers since even though the Brave weapons were not craftable, players were generally happy with grinding for them given the incentive of the time-limited shiny ornament. Revenant weapons, on the other hand, drop in extremely lower quantity within what is essentially the same activity, and they not only can’t be crafted, but they also don’t come in a shiny version. It’s unclear what Frontiers will bring, but this would be a great start.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
