Destiny 2 Armor Revamp in Frontiers: New Stats, Set Bonuses, and More from Bungie

Admitting that armor has been an “unexciting reward” for years, Bungie is poised to significantly revamp the armor system in Destiny 2 with the upcoming expansion, currently codenamed Frontiers.

With the conclusion of The Final Shape, marking the end of the Light and Darkness saga, Bungie wraps up its first major storyline in the Destiny universe. The next chapter remains somewhat enigmatic, but we know that Frontiers is set to be the focal point of this new arc next year.

Details about this fresh direction are still under wraps, but developers have begun to share some exciting updates with Guardians. Notably, the complete overhaul of armor is confirmed for this new era.

According to an in-depth blog post from October 1, 2024, the developers are implementing substantial changes to armor functionality. The aim is not only to enhance the reward system but also to encourage diverse build strategies. Here’s a detailed summary of the impending changes.

What Are the Changes to Destiny 2 Armor?

First and foremost, it is important to recognize that these changes will be gradual over “the year ahead,” as outlined by Bungie. Instead of a single massive update, these modifications will unfold progressively as we approach the release of Frontiers.

At the top of the list is a comprehensive rework of armor stats aimed at making them “more impactful, less confusing, and less constraining.” Specifically, stat effects will no longer be tiered at every 10-point interval; rather, each point allocated to a stat will provide a significant benefit.

Bungie elaborated on this by indicating a shift in how stats are weighted, with certain armor pieces giving ‘spikes’ to specific stats. This approach contrasts with many gear pieces delivering average stats, which fail to create noticeable gameplay differences.

“The result will be a reduced number of unique stats on each piece of armor, larger contributions to these stats, and every stat point granting a benefit. These adjustments should ultimately render each piece of armor more intriguing and straightforward to evaluate.”

New Armor changes in Destiny 2 Frontiers — Bungie

Moving forward, Bungie aims for each piece of Destiny 2 armor to feature a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary stat.

Additionally, changes to the stats themselves are on the horizon, including revisions to Discipline, Strength, and Special Ammo, among others. Bungie plans to assess how these specific bonuses function to enhance their impact.

Moreover, the introduction of proper set bonuses is finally underway. Although veteran Guardians have experienced some set bonuses in the past—particularly with various raid sets—this feature is being vastly expanded.

Guardians will gain access to exclusive perks by equipping two or four pieces from the same armor set. This feature enables players to fully commit to a single playstyle or to mix and match armor sets for dual bonuses.

The goal is for each set to “represent the theme of the armor,” meaning PVP armor will likely provide bonuses that benefit gameplay in the Crucible, for example.

While not yet finalized, Bungie has provided early teasers of some armor set bonuses.

As these changes are rolled out, we understand that existing Legendary armor will “be altered as little as possible,” and the same is true for most Exotics during the initial overhaul. However, Bungie has promised a method for players to update their treasured armor to align with the new systems.

As of now, there is no specific release window for Frontiers, leaving players eagerly waiting to see how these armor modifications will materialize, along with any additional content that lies ahead. We will keep you informed with all the latest updates as we approach the launch.

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