The upcoming Renegades expansion for Destiny 2 is poised to introduce substantial changes, aiming to streamline the power level grind and make loot acquisition more rewarding and less monotonous. Developer Bungie has been attentive to player feedback received since the Edge of Fate expansion, and these adjustments are designed to address some of the most persistent concerns.
Rethinking the Power Grind
A primary goal of these modifications is to ensure that a wider array of activities contribute meaningfully to increasing a player`s Power level. Currently, progression often funnels players predominantly through the “Portal” – a centralized menu with a specific scoring system – which inadvertently diminishes the appeal of other game modes. With the launch of Renegades, both legacy raids and dungeons, alongside fresh expansion content, will offer more substantial Power gains, making them viable paths to progression once again.
Previously, activities in locations like Kepler from Edge of Fate, and even high-level raids, were often overlooked for optimal Power gains due to the Portal`s efficiency. Now, whether you prefer classic challenges or the newest Renegades content, your efforts will more directly contribute to boosting your character`s strength.
Portal System and Gear Enhancements
Bungie is also implementing key adjustments to the “Portal” itself. The “featured” gear requirement will be removed for many activities, a change that will empower players to use a much broader spectrum of builds and loadouts. Under the current system, utilizing “featured” gear (typically new items from Edge of Fate) provided a significant score bonus, often compelling players to abandon their preferred or meticulously crafted older gear in pursuit of maximum rewards.
While some activities will still feature a “recommended” gear component, this category will now broadly include all Exotic weapons and armor. This inclusive approach ensures that players can deploy their favorite Exotics without feeling strategically disadvantaged, promoting greater build diversity and personal preference.
Gear Tiers and Customization Flexibility
The Edge of Fate expansion introduced a gear “tier” system (Tier 1-5), where higher-tier items generally boasted superior perks and stats. However, this often made some endgame rewards feel less impactful. With Renegades, all gear acquired from raids and dungeons will now start at a minimum of Tier 3. Higher tiers will remain accessible from more demanding versions of these activities, such as the “epic” version of the Desert Perpetual raid from Edge of Fate.
Perhaps the most exciting new feature is the introduction of a mechanic allowing players to increase the tier of Legendary weapons using a new currency. If you discover a Legendary weapon with a perfect roll of perks but it`s a lower-tier item, you won`t be forced to discard it in hopes of finding a higher-tier duplicate. Instead, you`ll have the option to progressively upgrade its tier. While this process is expected to be challenging to prevent instant Tier 5 upgrades for all weapons, it offers significant freedom in crafting and retaining cherished gear.
To support players in holding onto more weapons for potential tier upgrades, Bungie has also confirmed an increase in Vault space with the release of Renegades, though the precise amount of additional space has yet to be disclosed.
Balance Adjustments and Future Outlook
Bungie has also outlined several impending balance changes. Some recent adjustments to Exotic weapons, like Queensbreaker, are slated to be reverted. Furthermore, developers are instituting a temporary pause on “non-critical” nerfs to weapons and armor as they re-evaluate their overall design philosophy for such changes. Critical adjustments, such as temporary gear bans during the “world`s first” race for Renegades` new dungeon, will still be on the table, but the general approach will favor more thoughtful and justified modifications.
In a positive development, plans are underway to buff the original Super abilities introduced with the launch of Destiny 2 and their associated subclasses. These enhancements will be rolled out in phases, with some arriving in October and others concurrently with the Renegades expansion. Bungie has committed to publishing a detailed roadmap for these balance changes in the near future.
Beyond these updates, the Renegades expansion will also unveil new content details and bring changes to Destiny 2`s annual Halloween event, the Festival of the Lost, including a preview of this year`s thematic armor sets.
Renegades Image Gallery
