Latest Destiny Update Brings Promised Exotic Weapon Changes

Bungie just pushed through another big Destiny patch paving the way for next week’s release of the first expansion. To prepare for The Dark Below, your favorite exotic weapons have likely received a tweak.

First and foremost, upgrading exotic weapons and armor no longer requires ascendant materials. A new material, exotic shards, will be required to access the final node. These are acquired by breaking down exotics or via Xur for seven strange coins. Exotics will now have a higher starting attack level, but the gap between new and fully-leveled is narrower.

Here’s the full rundown of changes to the best of Destiny’s gear:

Thorn

• Projectiles now briefly highlight targets on impact
• Mark of the Devourer DoT (damage-over-time) upgrade increased against PvE enemy targets
• Reload Speed increased
• Magazine Size increased
• Ammo inventory size increased
• Stability and Weapon Handling increased

Bad Juju

• Magazine Size increased to 8 bursts (was 5)
• Ammo inventory size increased
• String of Curses now also decreases the cooldown of your Super on kill
• Adjusted effects to not block first person reticle

Hard Light

• Stability increased
• Perfect Balance upgrade replaced by Fitted Stock (increases maximum possible weapon Stability)

Suros Regime

• Lowered total damage at the end of the mag on SUROS Regime upgrade to be more in line with the Glass Half Full perk on Legendary Auto Rifles

Monte Carlo

• Stability increased
• Range slightly decreased
• Monte Carlo Method upgrade now also has a chance to fully charge melee ability on kill

MIDA Multi-Tool

• MIDA rounds now have increased knockback against targets in both PvE and PvP

Hawkmoon

• Send It upgrade (which was redundant) replaced by Speed Reload

Red Death

• Rate of Fire increased slightly, but Burst Damage reduced to compensate

Plan C

• Weapon Handling speed increased
• Player Speed increased while Plan C is in hand

Pocket Infinity

• Speed Reload upgrade replaced by Extended Clip which allows the option to increase magazine size (5 bursts)

Vex Mythoclast

• Attack Power increased to 323 (from 300)
• Base Damage increased, fixing bug we introduced in previous patch
• Enhanced Battery upgrade by Extended Mag (this change still allows for a significant upgrade to Magazine Size, but less than before)

Invective

• Reload Speed increased significantly, auto fires slightly slower

Ice Breaker

• Send It upgrade replaced by Lightweight (which was redundant as Icebreaker already had maximum range) 
• New effects for enemies killed by Ice Breaker upgrade

Patience and Time

• Snapshot upgrade replaced by Custom Optics (provides a lower zoom option)

Super Good Advice

• Stability increased

Truth

• Magazine Size increased to 3 (was 1)

There have also been changes to the Vault of Glass raid, including a fix for a bug introduced in the last update. Atheon will now correctly teleport three players through the time gates.

The promised currency system for basic materials has been introduced, too. Crucible and vanguard marks can now be traded for spinmetal, relic iron, spirit bloom, and helium filaments.

You can read the full patch notes on Bungie’s website. You can also check out some information on The Dark Below.

[Source: Bungie]

Our Take
Bungie is laying the groundwork for its first major expansion. The developer needs to keep players engaged through the holiday season with this content, and being responsive to players is a big part of that. Bungie has been doing a solid job of keeping pace with the community, giving me hope that the title has the long legs it needs.