Bungie has announced plans for aDestiny 2mid-season weapon balance sweep that will see the PvE damage for multiple primary weapon classes receive a massive buff. The launch of theLightfallexpansion forDestiny 2came with what Bungie portrayed as a significant increase in difficulty. However, some players argue that the changes went too far, or led to tedious grind instead of challenge. Bungie appears to agree, as it’s planning massive balance changes with weapon buffs at the heart of an upcoming update.Prior to the launch ofLightfall, Bungie said explicitly that it would be “bringing challenge back” toDestiny 2. An accompanying blog post went into more specific detail regarding those changes, which included Power level adjustment changes to Hero, Legend, Master, and Grandmaster difficulties, as well as the removal of Adept. However, while few would disagree that difficulty has been increased in some ways, overall balance has been messy.RELATED:Bungie Outlines Changes to Destiny 2’s Difficulty and CommendationsWeapons are one area where Bungie didn’t appear to do its due diligence for balance with itsLightfalldifficulty changes. Frustrations were immediate about certainunderwhelmingDestiny 2: Lightfallweapon types, with a focus on primary weapons, feeling significantly weaker post-Lightfallcompared to prior. Bungie agrees, and says in its latest This Week at Bungie blog that it will be making a PvE primary weapon balance sweep as part ofLightfall’s first mid-season update.
Against red and orange-bar enemies, Bungie is making massive buffs to several weapon types. Auto Rifles are having their damage increased by 25%. Pulse Rifles, Hand Cannons, and Sidearms will be buffed 20%. Scout Rifles will also be buffed, having their damage increased 10%. Bungie says these changes should bring damage for these weapons up to the level of SMGs and Bows, based on averages in Heroic and Legendary content.
While primary weapons are a focus for sweeping improvements, Bungie has more specific changes in the works, too. Thepowerful IKELOS SMGhas been adjusted to have its intended recoil level, with the Aggressive Frame SMG sub-group to be nerfed overall later. PvP damage for Rapid-Fire Fusion Rifles is being improved. Trace Rifles are having their base damage increased, as well as other small buffs. Lastly, Rapid-Fire Frame Sniper Rifles are having their recoil reduced and ammunition increased.
There are also some changes being made toExotic weapons including Final Warning, Tarrabah, and Revision Zero, as Bungie focused in on excessively imbalanced weapons. As a mid-season update, Bungie isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. None of these changes should dramatically changeLightfall’s current weapon meta too much. But they should make gameplay feel better, even before Bungie makes its changes to overallLightfalldifficulty.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:How Destiny 2’s Community Found a Way to Redeem Lightfall’s Most Controversial Feature
