Destiny 2’s Most Used Weapon Has Created a Huge Problem for Bungie

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Following disappointing reactions to previous expansions, Destiny 2 really needed its latest offering to succeed. The game had been struggling for a while, and a failure here would have been a serious problem. Player enthusiasm had been declining, changes made in earlier updates weren’t well-received and had to be undone, and a lack of clear communication from the developers worried the community.

Considering everything, it’s no surprise Bungie invested heavily in Destiny 2: Renegades. This Star Warsthemed expansion went all-out with its production and activities, but the real highlight was the introduction of Heat weapons. And nothing stood out more than the Praxic Blade – essentially, Destiny 2’s* take on a lightsaber.

The Praxic Blade Might Be Destiny 2’s Strongest Weapon Ever

I first got a preview of the Renegades expansion for Destiny 2 at Bungie, and I immediately thought the Praxic Blade would be a standout weapon. However, it wasn’t until the expansion launched and players started experimenting with builds that its true strength became clear. The Praxic Blade is easily one of the most powerful and enjoyable weapons in Destiny 2.

Via Bungie

It’s clear Bungie invested significant effort into making the Praxic Blade powerful and effective. This season’s artifact includes several mods – like Argent Blade and Sword Storm Combo – that further enhance its abilities. Plus, the new Equilibrium Dungeon features boss fights specifically designed to let players unleash the Blade’s full potential.

Bungie deliberately made the Praxic Blade powerful. They understood that for the Renegades expansion to succeed, the new weapon – essentially a lightsaber – needed to be a dominant force in players’ arsenals. A Star Wars-inspired addition like this had to feel impactful and become a go-to weapon.

The Praxic Blade is incredibly popular in Destiny 2 – it’s by far the most commonly used weapon. You see it everywhere, in all activities from the new Lawless Frontier to Arena Ops. As a Titan player, I actually have to resist using it myself because it’s so powerful, and many of the harder challenges practically require a strong build to complete.

Destiny 2’s Lightsaber Creates a Problem that Bungie Might Need to Fix

This is where things get tricky. As I said before, the Praxic Blade is incredibly powerful, making other weapons seem less appealing. Bungie created a fantastic item, but now they’re facing a major problem: how does Destiny 2 evolve when something like the Praxic Blade is in the game?

Image via Bungie

It seems likely Bungie will reduce the power of the Praxic Blade in the upcoming Destiny 2 update, Shadow and Order. While weapon adjustments are common, this situation feels different than usual for a couple of key reasons.

  1. Plenty of players returned to Destiny 2 with Renegades, and they would be disappointed to see their favorite weapon – the coolest weapon – made irrelevant.
  2. The community is on shakier ground than in previous years, so it’s not as easy for Bungie to make a nerf and not lose its audience.
  3. You can’t make one of the most powerful weapons in sci-fi suddenly inert.

A key difficulty with ongoing live service games is keeping players engaged without making content too easy. If the current powerful weapon, the Praxic Blade, remains as strong as it is, future updates will likely have to be designed assuming players can easily overcome challenges with it. This could mean making bosses much harder, keeping them far away, or simply giving them a lot more health. It also means other weapons will need to be just as powerful, which can quickly lead to a cycle of constantly increasing power levels and making older weapons obsolete.

Bungie is working on fixes for current problems, but those solutions sometimes cause new ones. Right now, players find primary weapons aren’t very effective in challenging activities, and Bungie needs to address that too. They’re in a tricky situation and don’t have as much flexibility as they used to.

Adjusting how much ammo the Praxic Blade uses seems like a smart way for Bungie to balance the weapon. It will remain powerful even without special upgrades, but won’t be quite as dominant, and players won’t be able to use it constantly throughout an entire activity. Ultimately, any reduction in a weapon’s effectiveness is unwelcome, and that’s why ‘nerf’ has a negative connotation.

I used to be all about waiting for powerful items to get toned down, but honestly, I’m not so sure anymore. Even though the Renegades are doing well in the game, Destiny 2 feels a bit strange right now, and Bungie is really being watched closely by the community. It’s almost like this super-powerful Praxic Blade might actually stay strong for a while! For now, I’m just going to enjoy using it and let Bungie work out how to balance things.

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2026-01-10 15:05