Summary
- Destiny 2’s Episode 3 Heresy is adding new gameplay elements, weapons, and Arc Aspects.
- Bolt Charge buff for Arc subclasses and new Aspects aim to elevate Arc element to the power players crave.
- Changes like Bolt Charge and new Aspects are expected to enhance gameplay at all levels in Destiny 2.
One could argue that Episode Revenant was one of the lowest points in the history of Destiny 2, with community morale being very low after a plethora of glitches broke the game. Episode 3 is called Heresy, and it will tackle Hive themes and take players back to The Dreadnaught, Oryx’s ship, which will become Heresy’s new zone for missions and exploration. Destiny 2‘s Heresy needs to nail every aspect of its launch, be it in terms of new gameplay additions, weapons, crafting, or other parts of the game. Luckily, today’s TWID post sheds some light on the changes planned for Heresy, and Bungie is finally buffing the game’s weakest subclasses.
It’s not uncommon for Bungie to add some new gameplay elements to the game over time, with new releases being the perfect time to do it and generate more hype. After the launch of Destiny 2‘s Prismatic subclasses in The Final Shape, the game’s meta across both PvE and PvP changed dramatically for better or for worse. Prismatic subclasses are likely the strongest in the game due to what they offer, or at least among the very best. Solar, Void, and Strand are all powerful, with Stasis being sub-par, and Arc being arguably in the worst spot. Heresy is about to change that, though.
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Destiny 2 is Buffing Arc Subclasses, Adding New Aspects in Heresy
With Destiny 2‘s Episode 3, Bungie is adding a new verb for Arc subclasses called Bolt Charge. This is a buff that grows over time with stacks, unleashing a powerful lightning bolt on targets upon reaching maximum stacks, and it’s supposed to fill the power fantasy of a devastating damage-dealing tool on Arc subclasses. There are various ways to gain Bolt Charge, including Aspects, Fragments, and weapon perks, and then dealing damage with weapons will build stacks up to 10. Ability damage will then trigger the lightning bolt from Bolt Charge, dealing massive damage to enemies.
On top of Bolt Charge, Bungie is also adding three new Aspects to Destiny 2 subclasses – namely, the On The Prowl Aspect for Void Hunters, the Storm’s Keep Aspect for Arc Titans, and the Ionic Sentry Aspect for Arc Warlocks. While On The Prowl is not an Arc Aspect, Hunters need not fret, as they will be able to get Bolt Charge from the following sources:
- Tempest Strike – Killing any jolted target grants a stack of Bolt Charge
- Disorienting Blow – Now grants a moderate amount of Bolt Charge stacks when dealing damage
- Arc Staff – Reflecting an attack will grant a stack of Bolt Charge
It’s also worth mentioning that Hunters received a new Arc Aspect with The Final Shape, called Ascension, whereas Titan got Unbreakable (Void) and Warlocks got Hellion (Solar).
Destiny 2’s New Arc Aspects Explained
As for the new Arc Aspects, they are meant to be used alongside Bolt Charge to take Destiny 2‘s Arc subclasses to the next level. Storm’s Keep allows Titans to obtain Bolt Charge stacks as well as grant them to nearby allies upon casting their Barricade ability, further gaining more stacks while standing behind the Barricade and discharging them when they reach 10 with any weapon damage. This is a big boost to the Titan’s offense on Arc, and it allows them to stay away from close quarters if they so wish.
Warlocks got the Ionic Sentry Aspect, which needs to be charged up by defeating enemies with Arc abilities or weapons before it can be used. Then, it allows players to send out an Arc turret that blinds enemies on impact and then chains lightning to enemies in an area, granting Bolt Charge stacks when it defeats enemies. With Blind, players can easily stay safe even in Destiny 2‘s endgame content, then building up Bolt Charge stacks to deal big damage on bosses or Champions, if needed.
Overall, these additions and changes are likely to make Destiny 2‘s Arc element much more powerful in all levels of play, and it’s something that Arc subclasses desperately need. It remains to be seen if and how impactful Bolt Charge will be, but it’s a good start for Heresy.
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