Destiny 2’s Revenant is Ultimate Proof That Champion Mods Need to Do or Die

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Destiny 2's Revenant is Ultimate Proof That Champion Mods Need to Do or Die

Key Takeaways

  • Destiny 2’s Revenant focuses on Stasis but maintains seasonal staples like Champion mods, revealing flaws that limit build diversity.
  • The restrictive nature of Champion mods in Revenant highlights the need for changes to promote build variety due to the poor reception of anti-Barrier scout rifles.
  • Future Destiny 2 content should offer Champion mods for multiple weapon families to enhance player choice and avoid restrictions.

As a seasoned Guardian who’s been traversing the cosmos of Destiny 2 for what feels like eons, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and frustration with each new Episode that rolls around. The Revenant was no exception; it brought some much-needed Stasis action, but also reminded us of the age-old conundrum – Champion mods.

In Destiny 2, the addition of the Revenant brought a fresh feel to the game, primarily due to its focus on Stasis and the introduction of new Exotic gear as well as changes to the subclass. Additionally, Onslaught was also emphasized, making the entire Act 1 storyline accessible from day one, for better or worse. Each episode aims to alter or enhance the gameplay experience, but it’s evident that these updates primarily revolve around new seasons under a different guise. For instance, Destiny 2’s Artifact in Revenant follows the traditional grid-like system found in other seasonal artifacts, complete with Champion mods. However, unlike previous artifacts, Revenant’s demonstrates a compelling case for either adjusting or eliminating Champion mods altogether.

Champion mods have long been a sore spot within the Destiny 2 community for various reasons, and they’re not too different from the concept of seasons and seasonal artifacts in general. In fact, with each release, Bungie tends to promote a given meta with Champion mods, artifact mods, and new gear that are all supposed to work in tandem. This can sometimes be effective and go even above and beyond Bungie’s expectations, but other times, it can feel like a restriction imposed on players’ freedom with builds. In particular, many Guardians dislike Revenant’s anti-Barrier Champion mods.

Destiny 2’s Champion Mods Are a Double-Edged Sword

Why Destiny 2 Revenant Proves That Champion Mods Need Changes

In Destiny 2, the primary issue with Champion mods lies in their controlling influence over which weapon types or builds that include Champion-disrupting abilities players should utilize during a specific season. Unfortunately, if only one weapon category has a particular Champion mod, players either have to rely on that weapon or adapt their playstyle by incorporating inherent effects like Jolt for Overload, Shatter for Unstoppable, and Radiant for Barrier to stun Champions. However, these strategies can sometimes feel unreliable, and they may still restrict the range of loadouts players are able to employ.

Step into the Revenant Episode of Destiny 2, where you’ll encounter two types of anti-Barrier mods – scout rifles and shotguns. The challenge lies in that while shotguns excel at eroding Barrier shields, they typically need a shorter range to function effectively, making them less appealing for high-tier content. Conversely, scout rifles struggle to eliminate Barrier shields swiftly, which is not ideal either. Interestingly, scout rifles have shown inconsistent performance against Champions, with their most effective mod type being Unstoppable Scout Rifles. However, when facing Barrier Champions, they often fall short in effectiveness.

How Destiny 2 Should Change Champion Mods

In essence, the strategy for Destiny 2’s Heresy Episode and future Codename: Frontiers content should consider two possibilities. The first being to replicate past instances where multiple weapon families were granted a single Champion mod. Alternatively, they could adjust the system so that Champion mods function on all weapons. However, the second option might diminish the value of Champion mods, as it would turn into a necessary choice in the artifact with no added strategic depth. The first approach has its advantages, as it offers players more versatility without constraining them by the selection specific to that season or episode.

It’s unclear at the moment if Codename: Frontiers will still have seasonal artifacts.

In Destiny 2, it’s possible to develop specialized mods for multiple types of weapons or within a particular weapon category. For instance, anti-Barrier mods might work across sniper rifles, scout rifles, and pulse rifles, giving players flexibility in their choice. However, this system also limits choices somewhat, ensuring that each player has at least one or two weapons they enjoy using against a Champion. While Champion mods can add intrigue to Destiny 2 builds, the truth is that there will always be a mod tied to a specific weapon family that is less favored, which makes the system slightly flawed.

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2024-10-26 20:36