Destiny 2 Community Calls for Removal of “Atrocious” Tonics Despite Significant Buffs

As Destiny 2’s Revenant Act 2 draws to a close, Bungie has responded to player feedback by significantly enhancing the functionality of Tonics. Despite these efforts, many players remain unconvinced about their value in the game.

On December 17, 2024, Bungie implemented a major buff for Tonics, extending their duration and guaranteeing players receive their corresponding rewards. Additionally, these Tonics have been adjusted to boost the likelihood of obtaining gear from seasonal activities, thereby streamlining the process of farming the new weapons featured in Episode Revenant.

Nonetheless, criticism persists among the player base. A sizeable faction views Tonics as a subpar alternative compared to crafting options. Although a minority prefer the randomness associated with Tonics, most players seem to agree that they may not serve the franchise effectively moving forward.

The Community’s Dissent on Tonic Features

Frustration with the Tonic mechanics has been vocalized by many Guardians. One user on Reddit expressed their disapproval, stating, “The Tonic sh*t is the most atrocious feature ever introduced in Destiny.”

This Guardian elaborated further, urging Bungie to either remove Tonics entirely or make them instantly available at the season’s end, calling the system confusing. “Why are there 999+ tonics to make? I am not new—I have 7,000 hours in the game. How is a new player supposed to navigate this?” they lamented.

The Tonic shit is the most atrocious feature ever introduced in Destiny. by u/kristijan1001 in DestinyTheGame

This particular frustration is widespread, as echoed by numerous responses within the discussion thread. Players have remarked that Tonics are “a huge waste of everyone’s time” and described the RNG system for unlocking them as “asinine,” with some stating they gave up entirely on the complex mechanics.

The progression system for Tonics requires crafting lower-rarity variants to unlock higher ones, a straightforward concept that becomes convoluted. The complicated user interface in Destiny 2 obscures the relationships between different potions, presenting a confusing array of options without clear explanations.

A breakdown of how unlocking tonics in Destiny 2 works. — Source: Dexerto

Even a breakdown of Tonic unlocks is insufficient to simplify the system’s complexity.

More extreme criticisms emerged as well, with one user alleging that the Tonic system drove them to quit the game, an experience shared by several others with long-standing ties to Destiny 2.

This outcry is not unfounded; Destiny 2 has seen a notable decline in player numbers since the launch of Episode Revenant. At one point, concurrent players on Steam fell below 10,000—an unprecedented low for the game.

While reworking or completely removing Tonics may not single-handedly revitalize player engagement, it represents a necessary consideration for Bungie as they strategize for the upcoming episodes and the 2025 Roadmap. Ensuring that the next installment, Frontiers, succeeds is crucial for the future of Destiny 2 and its community.

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