Destiny 2 to Implement Balance Changes, Nerfing Popular Exotic Weapon

Bungie has announced an upcoming balance adjustment to the popular Destiny 2 exotic sniper rifle, Still Hunt, which will see a 25% reduction in its damage output when used in conjunction with the Celestial Nighthawk Hunter exotic, a move intended to bring more parity between the three classes and encourage the use of alternative high-damage options like the Whisper of the Worm sniper, as the developer seeks to refine the game's overall sandbox and provide a more balanced experience for players across the board.

Destiny 2 Roadmap: Episodic Story Revamp and Exotic Weapon Adjustments

Destiny 2 players can look forward to a slew of updates and changes in the near future. After a brief hiatus, Episode: Echoes Act 2 is set to begin on July 16, continuing the Nessus storyline and introducing new activities, including the annual Solstice event. One of the biggest announcements, however, is that Bungie will be releasing all Destiny 2 episodic story content at once when Revenant arrives later this year, addressing player feedback about the perceived time-gating of the current Echoes narrative.

This change in content delivery, likened to a "Netflix-style" approach, aims to provide players with a more cohesive and uninterrupted storytelling experience, addressing the downtime and lack of activities that many had experienced during the breaks between the current Echoes acts. Alongside these updates to the episodic structure, Bungie has also confirmed upcoming balance changes to the game's sandbox.

One of the affected items is the popular Still Hunt exotic sniper rifle. Bungie has announced that the weapon's Golden Gun shot damage will be reduced by 25% when used in conjunction with the Celestial Nighthawk Hunter exotic helmet. This adjustment is intended to bring Hunters more in line with Warlocks and Titans, while also promoting the use of alternative high-damage options, such as Whisper of the Worm, which is expected to become a more viable choice when paired with the upcoming Seasonal Perks.

More Destiny 2 Changes On The Way

Alongside the adjustments to the Still Hunt exotic sniper rifle, Bungie's Destiny 2 livestream revealed a host of other changes coming to the game. Titans will receive a boost in damage when using Twilight Arsenal and Hammer of Sol against elite enemies and bosses. Eriana's Vow will see a 67% increase in damage against Barrier Shields, and all Tex Scout Rifles will get a 30% damage boost in PvE activities. Additionally, Adept mods will have their stat penalties removed, allowing players to create even more interesting builds.

The Still Hunt nerf may also shed light on the upcoming enhanced Seasonal Artifact in Destiny 2. Bungie showcased five new perks for the Artifact, all of which appeared to provide significant boosts to solar and precision weapons, such as sniper rifles. This raised concerns about the potential imbalance between Solar Hunter builds, which could utilize the powerful Still Hunt and Celestial Nighthawk combination. However, the 25% damage reduction on Still Hunt when used with Celestial Nighthawk suggests that Bungie is proactively addressing this issue, ensuring that the three classes remain more closely aligned in terms of overall power and effectiveness.