Season of the Wish in Destiny 2 was a mixed bag, bringing fans exciting features like The Coil, regular weekly quests, and Pantheon. However, the latest Episodes haven’t quite hit the mark for players. The scarcity of Revenant weapons and the troublesome Tonics have been points of contention, especially since these weapons aren’t craftable. With the upcoming expansion Frontiers, there’s a big focus on overhauling the armor system. Hopefully, this will introduce some fresh gear, like those enticing Brave weapons, which players crave.
This year has been a rollercoaster for Destiny 2. At first, Season of the Wish didn’t quite reach legendary status but did provide players with a solid activity lineup including The Coil and enticing weekly quests. Additionally, fans embraced the Pantheon, and when The Final Shape expansion rolled out, it was hailed as the franchise’s standout expansion, keeping players engaged for weeks. However, the buzz was overshadowed by unfortunate layoffs at Bungie, some divisive game decisions, and the rocky launch of Revenant. Now, with Frontiers on the horizon, Destiny 2 needs to hit a home run in delivering compelling loot.
Several factors have led to the current Episode’s shortfall in meeting expectations. Bugs that interfered with gameplay have tarnished the experience, but a major grievance is the non-craftability and rarity of Revenant weapons. Players have found the abundance of Tonics frustrating, especially since they’ve been bugged for some time. For Frontiers, it’s crucial to offer loot that makes the grind rewarding and exciting.
Destiny 2 often promotes a fear of missing out with its releases, and this has left players feeling like their time isn’t respected. The grind for Tonics is tedious, mainly due to a low drop rate for ingredients, which are mostly tied to Revenant activities. These lengthy activities, such as Onslaught, can last over an hour and yield only a few weapons with random perks. The issue isn’t just about the quality of weapons, but rather that the looter-shooter aspect sometimes becomes all about chasing infrequent, possibly irrelevant drops. To address this, Frontiers must rethink the loot system for more frequent and meaningful rewards.
The good news is that Frontiers plans to dramatically change the armor system, increasing the stat cap and ensuring every stat point counts. This encourages players to keep seeking better armor options and unique set bonuses. If Bungie sticks to its ambitious plans, the changes could prevent loot ennui by ensuring players don’t rest on their laurels with what they have. The entire game could benefit from such an overhaul, not just armor. The debate around craftable versus non-craftable weapons continues, with Bungie seemingly leaning towards the latter.
This could actually work in favor if executed well. Destiny 2 players fondly remember the splash Brave weapons made when Into The Light was released. They may not have been craftable, but their limited-time shiny ornaments made them worth the grind. In contrast, Revenant weapons drop at a frustratingly low rate and lack the visual flair to drive players. It remains to be seen what Frontiers will ultimately deliver, but embracing more Brave Arsenal-like elements could be a promising start.
