Destiny 2utilized The Witch Queenexpansion, specifically the first three Seasons, to retool the Light subclasses to resemble the Aspects and Fragments system from Stasis that was introduced in Beyond Light. Season of Plunder saw an overhaul to the Arc subclasses, bringing them to their 3.0 state by introducing Aspects and Fragments that allow for more diversity for players and their builds. However, changes inDestiny 2’s Season of the Seraph have seen Arc Soul’s damage significantly increase to perhaps overpowered levels.
During its weekly blog for November 3, Bungie detailed its plans to adjust the different classes and their abilities in Season 19. While the developer admitted that the data surrounding Arc is still being evaluated due to its recent launch, several outliers were already noticed, prompting tweaking in the new Season. The largest of these outliers was the Titan build focusing onTouch of Thunder Storm Grenade, which granted enormous damage numbers on all enemies. However, the entire suite, especially the Warlock’s Arc Souls, was examined.
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Arc Soul Before Season of the Seraph
Prior to Arc 3.0 updates during Season of Plunder, Arc Soul fell under Attunement of Elements and was generated when Warlocks used their Rift. Before 3.0 subclasses hit,Destiny 2playerswere accustomed to Arc Soul as a passive ability, and with the Season of Plunder, Arc Soul moved under the new Aspect and Fragments system as an Aspect, granting two Fragment slots. While remaining a passive buff, its damage per hit in PvE was 35.
As a whole, Arc Soul is considered a passive buff and carries heft to it for Warlocks. Not only canWarlocks cast a Healing Riftto heal themselves and allies, but they now have another form of damage that everyone on the field can utilize when tackling ads or bosses. Once cast and obtained, the Arc Soul makes a floating turret that fires its shots for 14 seconds and does so in short bursts, which fire faster when Amplified.
Arc Soul Buffs in Season of the Seraph
In its weekly blog, Bungie claimed that it anticipated supercharged Arc Souls (through Amplification) to be more prevalent, which didn’t really happen as of Season of Plunder. To further this analysis, Bungie felt its conservativeness with Arc Soul didn’t allowDestiny 2’s Stormcallerto have a unique role, prompting an increase in Arc Soul damage per shot from 35 to 60, almost doubling it. Bungie further confirmed that it will monitor the Arc Soul damage and use, but the developer wants to let it have its time to shine.
With almost double damage per hit, Arc Soul has moved away from being merely a passive buff. This isn’t even considering the player being Amplified, which, as stated, increases the rate of fire as it’s supercharged. This can allow Stormcallers to become overpowered in PvE if they use their Healing Rift and Arc Souls wisely, which could then make for one of thebestDestiny 2builds for Warlocks. Now, Warlocks can easily hide, cast their Rift, and clear out swaths of adds or assist more on bosses.
Furthermore, Warlocks have an Exotic Gauntlet called Getaway Artist, which carries with it the ability for Warlocks to convert their Arc grenade into an Arc Soul and become Amplified. If done correctly in PvE, Warlocks can stack these Arc Souls through Healing Rifts, become Amplified on their own, then use the bonus of Getaway Artist to turn their grenades into another wave of Arc Souls. How overpowered Warlocks can become remains to be seen, barring potentialnewDestiny 2Exotic armor from Season of the Seraph, but the damage is critical and high for now.
Destiny 2is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
