Destiny just got a big pre-Rise of Iron update
Thorn nerfed, sidearms buffed, new exotic Trespasser released.
Bungie has paved the way for Destiny's upcoming Rise of Iron expansion via a big new patch for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
(PS3 and Xbox 360 players - you're not getting ROI. No patch for you.)
The update adds in much of the ROI content and refreshes Destiny's weapon balance and user interface. It also allows engrams to decrypt at higher than 335 Light, which was The Taken King's level cap.
Before all of that, though, Bungie has unlocked one of the ROI exotic weapons now for anyone to obtain in the game. It's named Trespasser and is a fresh sidearm. Early adoptees report it being the most powerful sidearm to date, although that may be due to the game's new weapon changes, detailed below.
A large retooling of the game's gun sandbox, explained in granular detail over on Bungie's site, has sought to level out some of the game's most popular weapons and weapon families.
Popular legendary guns like the Trials auto rifle Doctrine of Passing (very useful in PVP) and sniper rifles such as 1000-Yard Stare have been made a little less capable.
The unpopular sidearm weapon type has been buffed significantly, especially in PVE activities where it will now be 20-30 per cent more powerful.
Specific exotic weapons have also been targeted - Thorn has had its base range cut by 25 per cent as it is reintroduced in ROI, while Touch of Malice will no longer let you endlessly fire while in a Titan's Blessing of Light bubble - so its perks are now confined somewhat to the King's Fall raid.
Away from weapons, public event rewards have now become a little more generous, and the game's quest screen has been remodeled. The page is now titled 'Progress' and is the new home for the game's Record Books.
Destiny: Rise of Iron launches 20th September, while its raid Wrath of the Machine unlocks on the 23rd. Look for our review shortly after.