Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate introduces a revamped armor upgrade system, fundamentally changing how Guardians increase their power level. This guide details how to surpass the 200 soft cap and efficiently utilize the new materials acquired during the expansion`s content.
How the new seasonal leveling system works
With The Edge of Fate, the soft level cap is reset to 200. Bungie implemented this change to simplify power progression by reducing the overall number scale. Up to Power Level 200, the leveling process remains familiar: engaging in activities rewards gear with slightly higher power. To retain preferred gear, players can infuse it with higher-power drops of the same type using Enhancement Cores. Old Upgrade Modules can be safely dismantled. Enhancement Cores are obtainable by dismantling unwanted loot, as activity rewards, or from vendors.
Upon reaching Power Level 200, a new, temporary system for exceeding the soft cap activates. This bonus power resets at the end of each season. Consequently, all players will revert to Power Level 200 with the launch of subsequent expansions. Bungie introduced this to combat the perpetual power level inflation that has long been a feature of Destiny.
Beyond 200, gear will begin dropping with a base power level of 200 alongside an additional `bonus power,` indicated by blue shading (as shown in the images). While these bonus points contribute to your overall character power, they, like the gear`s level, will also reset seasonally.
Progressing further past Power Level 200 becomes more challenging, as higher-level loot is scarcer. To optimize your progression, focus on Legendary, Mythic, and Fabled activities and events, which are designed to award seasonal power bonuses.
How to upgrade your current gear past 200
Similar to the established infusion system, you can raise your current gear`s power beyond 200 by infusing it with higher-level drops. This process now requires a new material, Unstable Cores, which players will likely acquire even before reaching the soft cap. While upgrading gear to Power Level 200 uses standard Enhancement Cores, surpassing this threshold demands Unstable Cores.
Unstable Cores can be obtained from activities on Kepler, by dismantling gear that possesses bonus power, and through certain Seasonal Hub challenges. Initial observations suggest Unstable Cores are rarer than Enhancement Cores, advising a more conservative approach to infusions beyond Power Level 200.