Destiny 2 has been a staple in the gaming world, evolving constantly over the years. Traditionally, this evolution has been marked by significant yearly expansions, but recently, Bungie, the game’s developer, has been steering the game in a new direction. With the launch of The Final Shape, Destiny 2 has seen some noteworthy transformations, largely due to the teething problems experienced during Episode 1. Bungie is now planning to introduce a brand-new mode with Destiny 2’s upcoming Frontiers, indicating a move away from both episodic content and annual expansions. One of the major shifts in focus is on loot and how players acquire it, which includes changes to both seasonal weapons and crafting systems.
Seasonal weapons have always played a vital role in Destiny 2, serving as a fantastic method for engaging players with the latest content and providing them with unique and enticing rewards. Take, for instance, the Psychopomp grenade launcher in Heresy; it’s a must-have for players due to its powerful Area-Denial frame and impressive perk combinations. With the release of The Witch Queen, Bungie initiated a trend of introducing several craftable weapons, which was well-received. However, as Episode Echoes wrapped up, the focus began shifting away from crafting. Consequently, certain Season Pass rewards, once relevant, are now somewhat obsolete.
At one time, Deepsight Harmonizers were a highlight of the Season Pass. These limited items, solely accessible through the Season Pass, allowed players to transform weapons into red-border guns instantaneously, significantly easing the process of obtaining certain crafting patterns. However, as crafting has de-emphasized within Destiny 2, the relevancy of Deepsight Harmonizers in the Season Pass has remarkably dwindled, not to mention their stacking limitation to just five units.
Since no recent major activities outside of Raids offer craftable weapons, Deepsight Harmonizers find themselves in an awkward position. Although they cater to players aiming to catch up, their place in the Season Pass is increasingly unwarranted. An alternative could be allowing players to trade them for resources with figures like Banshee-44 or Master Rahool, potentially offering more appealing rewards in the Season Pass. Even within Raids, using a Deepsight Harmonizer requires an extra 15 Spoils of Conquest, making them less self-sufficient.
The logical progression for the game would be to replace Deepsight Harmonizers with a more valuable resource—Spoils of Conquest. While this could spark controversy due to their exclusivity to Raids, the advantages would overshadow any drawbacks. It could encourage participation in Raids, motivating players to unlock more weapons, given the possibility of acquiring red-border drops at a Raid’s conclusion.
Regardless, having an abundant supply of Spoils of Conquest benefits all players. Those who occasionally participate in Raids can stockpile Spoils, while regular Raid players can expedite their collections. Players not participating in Raids can still utilize Spoils at Destiny 2’s Monument of Lost Lights to secure past Raid Exotics and other sought-after items. This potential change could be a win-win for Bungie and its player base ahead of Frontiers, though whether this transition occurs remains to be seen.