All the biggest changes coming in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

As a gaming enthusiast, diving into Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate expansion feels like stepping into an entirely reimagined universe. It seems they’re planning a ground-up renovation, revising, updating, or overhauling key game systems. The list keeps growing as we inch closer to launch, and here are the major changes on the horizon so far.

The biggest changes coming with Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

As a gamer, I’m diving into the world of “The Edge of Fate,” set on the planetoid Kepler. Today, we’re not delving deep into the fresh navigation and exploration mechanics; instead, we’re shining the spotlight on the substantial enhancements brewing for armor, Exotics, character advancement, and all the elements that shape the game’s real-time dynamics, regardless of where you find yourself.

Edge of Fate armor changes

1. Armor now provides both physical and magical protection, unlike before when it only offered physical defense.
2. The durability system has been removed, meaning armor will no longer degrade over time or break.
3. Armor sets now offer unique bonuses that provide strategic advantages in combat.
4. The weight system has also been revised, making heavy armors less of a burden to carry.
5. The visual appearance of armor has been updated for a more modern and streamlined look.
6. The crafting process for armor has been simplified, allowing players to focus on customization rather than complex recipes.
7. Armor now levels with the player, ensuring it remains effective as you progress through the game.

  • Armor stats are now more clearly named: Health, Melee, Grenade, Super, Class, Weapons, only affect what their name describes, and their score can exceed 100 for additional bonuses.
  • Armor set bonuses are here, granting buffs for wearing multiple pieces of the same armor set—two pieces for one buff, four pieces for a second.
  • Newly dropped armor already has its energy maxed, removing the need to spend materials to upgrade it

Specifically, the new stats change the following:

HealthMeleeGrenadeSuperClassWeapons
Health regained when picking up an Orb of Power up

Flinch resistance up

If the stat is higher than 100: shield recharge speed up, health in PvE up

Charged melee cooldown down

Melee energy from all sources up

If the stat is higher than 100: melee damage up

Grenade cooldown down

Grenade energy from all sources up

If the stat is higher than 100: grenade damage up 

Super energy gained from all sources up

If the stat is higher than 100: Super damage up

Class Ability cooldown down

Class ability energy from all sources up

If the stat is higher than 100: class ability grants scaling overshield 

Reload speed and handling up

Damage to minor and major enemies up (not bosses)

If the stat is higher than 100: chance of ammo bricks with more ammo and a marginal increase to damage to bosses and other Guardians

Due to modifications in armor statistics and terminology, it became necessary to revise several subclass Fragment attributes as well. In some cases, this involved just changing the names, while other Fragments saw alterations to their effects to align with the functioning of the updated statistics.

In Destiny 2’s latest expansion, The Edge of Fate, gear tiers are being introduced. Now, both weapons and armor can drop from levels 1 to 5. For armor, this means a few key changes. Primarily, Tier 5 armor can accommodate up to 11 mod slots, and the overall stats provided by this armor will be increased compared to lower tiers. Each tier has its unique values.

Tier 1Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4Tier 5
52-57 total stat points58-63 total stat points64-69 total stat points70-75 total stat points75+ total stat points

As a passionate enthusiast, I’ve noticed that armor types often have distinct archetypes, favoring certain attributes over a generalized distribution.

Weapon changes

In contrast to armor, weapons aren’t undergoing revolutionary changes, but they are getting an upgrade to a tier system similar to armor. This means that a Tier 1 weapon performs significantly worse than a Tier 3, which in turn is less effective than a Tier 5. Notably, Tier 5 weapons come with extra shader and on-kill effects. These features allow your teammates to instantly identify that you possess the rarest and most potent version of your weapon. The distinctive effects include:

Weapon Tier 1Weapon Tier 2Weapon Tier 3Weapon Tier 4Weapon Tier 5
Base stats, no additional benefitsTwo enhanced Traits, but no additional perks or other benefitsTwo enhanced Traits

Two additional Perks

Two enhanced Traits

Two additional Perks

Enhancement of Mods, Magazine, and Barrel Traits

Two enhanced Traits

Three additional Perks, targeted enhancement of Mods, Magazine, Barrel, and Origin Trait

Enhanced Traits and Mods also have additional effects based on their base effect, making them even more desirable. 

For a fair comparison, a Rite of the Nine weapon with two boosted characteristics resembles a Tier 3 weapon from Edge of Fate. Even though the weapons you’ve been gathering for several years are still functional today, it’s clear why the latest gear is so popular.

A new weapon archetype

In addition to introducing the Crossbow, Bungie has designed it as a Legendary, heavy version of the traditional bow. While it maintains its functionality for completing Bounties and tasks needing bow kills, its primary role is as a hefty weapon that delivers significantly more damage. Unlike a Linear Fusion Rifle, you can recover the arrow after firing it with the Crossbow, providing it with an almost endless ammo supply in theory.

During intense battle phases in endgame content, it’s usually not feasible for you to leave the fight to gather fallen arrows. However, the concept of doing so when arrows land within the arena is intriguing.

As a passionate player, I can’t help but emphasize the significant shift in weapon progression that lies in the transformation of Special and Heavy ammo. They are no longer handed out randomly anymore! Instead, there are two new HUD elements beneath your ammo, Super, and Abilities bar. Filling these bars is achieved by scoring kills or assists on any target. Once a bar is completely filled, the next kill you make will guarantee an ammo drop of the corresponding color. Additionally, we now have the ability to build into ammo generation, which promises an exciting gameplay dynamic!

New weapon frames

There are three new frame types for existing weapons:

  • Spread Hand Cannons, which fire a short-range blast of shotgun pellets. It has a lower optimal range than even a Sidearm.
  • Longbows, which have a longer draw and higher damage than other bows, but can overpenetrate targets, going through multiple enemies at once.
  • Rocket-assisted Pulse Rifle, which fires three mini-rockets per burst and fits somewhere between a Fusion and Sniper Rifle.

By the way, Bungie has decreased overall damage values, meaning it’s improbable we’ll witness massive damages such as 999,999 for some time. Naturally, Destiny 2’s build-crafting enthusiasts will be eager to explore this change.

Lastly, let me add some information about equipment and protection: the new gear system is linked to the artifact that corresponds to the current content. This “new gear” refers to the items you receive from the latest updates or as listed in the Featured Gear section of Collections. By wearing multiple pieces of new armor, you can gain a cumulative damage resistance increase of up to 15% from all sources. On the other hand, weapons classified as new gear will grant a maximum bonus of 10% damage against any target.

Melee changes

The modifications made to your melee skill (as well as the melee of Glaive) are quite comprehensive, akin to the upgrades in armor and weapons. However, the specific alteration can be more simply described.

In the game “Edge of Fate,” melee damage enhancements no longer multiply but instead add up. For example, if you had two bonuses that previously increased your melee damage by 50%, they now double your damage output rather than increasing it by 125% or 1.25 times.

In order to make up for this significant reduction in damage, the power of most melee abilities is being significantly boosted, especially in player-versus-environment (PvE) scenarios. This enhancement includes a 50% increase in outgoing melee damage from the Facet of Courage Prismatic Fragment, a doubling of Roaring Flames’ damage, and a Knockout Punch that deals an additional 160% damage, regardless of charge level.

With these updates, the maximum potential damage a player can deal has been reduced, making it simpler, in theory, to precisely determine the impact of different boosts on one’s melee power.

As a passionate player, I’m thrilled about the update that transforms Glaive melees into uncharged abilities, granting them the full advantage of melee enhancements. Now, they not only benefit from buffs but also activate melee effects. Moreover, the PvE damage for these melees has been readjusted to align with changes across the game.

The Firing Range

Among the numerous enhancements to quality of life in The Edge of Fate, there’s the inclusion of a Shooting Range, accessible through the Tower area.

Similar to the old Tribute Hall, the updated Firing Range now offers a controlled setting for testing weapons and skills. Unlike before, it allows you to summon any character from any faction (excluding their respective bosses) and even Champions.

In addition to its functionality, The Range also provides information on your Damage Per Second (DPS) and the total damage dealt, and it features a rally flag for swift recharging of abilities and ammunition.

As a diehard gamer eagerly anticipating Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, I can’t wait for the upcoming revelations that are bound to surface as we draw closer to its launch. Keep a close eye on our dedicated Destiny 2 hub for all the latest updates!

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2025-06-26 21:28