Can You Equip Full Exotic Armor in Destiny 2? The Definitive Guide
No, Guardians, you cannot equip a full set of Exotic armor in Destiny 2. The game is intentionally designed to limit you to equipping only one Exotic armor piece and one Exotic weapon at any given time. This restriction is a fundamental aspect of Destiny 2’s gameplay balance, ensuring that players make meaningful choices when building their characters and loadouts. This design philosophy encourages build diversity and prevents any single combination of Exotics from becoming overwhelmingly dominant.
Understanding the Exotic Limit: Why Only One Armor Piece?
The decision to limit Exotic armor to a single piece stems from a core tenet of Destiny 2’s game design: balance. Exotics, by their very nature, are powerful items with unique perks and abilities that significantly enhance your Guardian’s capabilities. Allowing players to equip multiple Exotic armor pieces would create a situation where certain builds become excessively powerful, potentially overshadowing other playstyles and diminishing the overall strategic depth of the game.
Think about it: Exotic armor pieces often grant substantial buffs to specific abilities, weapon types, or even entire playstyles. Imagine equipping armor that significantly boosts your grenade damage, another that dramatically improves your melee range and damage, and a third that enhances your Super regeneration rate. Such a combination would likely be game-breaking, leading to a homogenization of builds and a decline in player experimentation.
Bungie wants players to think strategically about their loadouts. The limitations force you to consider which Exotic armor piece best complements your chosen subclass, weapons, and preferred playstyle. This decision-making process adds a layer of depth and complexity to the game, encouraging players to theorycraft and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for them. It provides a constant feeling of progression as you continue the hunt for that perfectly rolled exotic.
The Role of Exotic Weapons
The “one Exotic limit” also extends to weapons. Just like armor, Exotic weapons possess unique perks and abilities that can dramatically alter your combat effectiveness. Equipping both an Exotic weapon and an Exotic armor piece allows for powerful synergistic combinations. For example, an armor piece that boosts your grenade damage can be paired with an Exotic weapon that excels at clearing groups of enemies with grenades, creating a potent and effective loadout.
The limitation, however, forces players to make a choice: do you prioritize a powerful Exotic weapon or an Exotic armor piece that enhances your abilities? This decision depends on your playstyle, the activity you’re undertaking, and your overall build strategy.
The Importance of Legendary Gear
While Exotics are powerful and unique, they are not the be-all and end-all of Destiny 2’s gear system. Legendary gear plays a crucial role in creating well-rounded and effective builds. Legendary armor pieces can be customized with mods to further enhance your stats and abilities, providing a level of flexibility that Exotics often lack. Legendary weapons, on the other hand, offer a wide range of perks and archetypes, allowing players to tailor their loadouts to specific combat situations.
A balanced loadout typically involves a combination of one Exotic (either weapon or armor) and several Legendary items that complement each other. For example, you might choose to equip an Exotic weapon that excels at boss damage, while using Legendary armor pieces with mods that enhance your resilience and recovery stats.
Beyond Armor and Weapons: Exotic Cosmetics
While you cannot equip multiple Exotic armor pieces, you can equip Exotic cosmetic items, such as Ghost Shells, Ships, and Sparrows. These items do not provide any gameplay advantages; they are purely cosmetic and allow you to customize your Guardian’s appearance. This allows some flair on top of min-maxing your character.
Is the Exotic Limit a Good Thing?
The consensus among most Destiny 2 players and developers is that the one Exotic limit is a necessary and beneficial aspect of the game. It promotes build diversity, prevents power creep, and encourages strategic decision-making when creating your Guardian’s loadout. While it might be tempting to imagine the possibilities of equipping a full set of Exotic armor, the reality is that such a scenario would likely be detrimental to the overall health and balance of the game.
Bungie are masters of in-game balance and have years of player data to confirm this design philosophy.
FAQs: All About Exotics in Destiny 2
Here are some frequently asked questions about Exotic items in Destiny 2, designed to provide further clarity and insight into this crucial aspect of the game.
1. Can you purchase Exotic armor in Destiny 2?
Yes, you can purchase Exotic armor from Xur, a special vendor who appears every weekend. Xur sells one Exotic weapon and three Exotic armor pieces (one for each class). You can also obtain Exotic armor from Exotic Engrams, which can be earned through gameplay or purchased from Xur.
2. Where can I farm Exotic armor in Destiny 2?
Several activities offer increased chances of obtaining Exotic armor, including Nightfall Strikes (especially on higher difficulties) and Legend/Master Lost Sectors (when completed solo). Nightfalls are also a fantastic way to farm Masterwork materials, especially during double loot weeks.
3. How much does Xur’s Exotic armor cost?
Xur’s Exotic armor pieces typically cost 23 Legendary Shards each. The Exotic weapon he sells usually costs 29 Legendary Shards. He sells the items between Friday and Tuesday each week.
4. What is the best Exotic armor in Destiny 2?
The “best” Exotic armor is subjective and depends on your class, subclass, playstyle, and the activity you’re undertaking. Some popular and highly effective Exotic armor pieces include Osmiomancy Gloves (Warlock), Star-Eater Scales (Hunter), and Heart of Inmost Light (Titan).
5. What happens if I dismantle an Exotic in Destiny 2?
When you dismantle an Exotic, you receive Legendary Shards and some Glimmer. It’s generally recommended to keep at least one copy of each Exotic, especially if you haven’t fully unlocked its potential.
6. Is Exotic gear better than Legendary gear in Destiny 2?
Exotic gear offers unique perks and abilities that Legendary gear typically lacks. However, Legendary gear can be customized with mods to enhance specific stats and abilities. A well-rounded build often combines one Exotic with several complementary Legendary items.
7. How many Exotics can you buy from Xur each week?
You can directly purchase three Exotic armor pieces (one per class) and one Exotic weapon from Xur each week. Additionally, you can purchase one Exotic Engram from him using an Exotic Cipher and another for Legendary shards.
8. What is the maximum stat total for Exotic armor?
Exotic armor pieces typically roll with a stat total between 48 and 68. However, some older Exotics (added before the Shadowkeep expansion) can achieve a stat total of 70.
9. What is the easiest way to get Exotics in Destiny 2?
Visiting Xur every weekend is the easiest and most reliable way to obtain Exotics. He sells a curated selection of Exotic items, and you can also purchase Exotic Engrams from him.
10. How much does it cost to Masterwork Exotic armor?
Masterworking Exotic armor requires a significant investment of resources, including Glimmer, Enhancement Cores, Enhancement Prisms, and Ascendant Shards. The exact cost can vary, but it’s generally more expensive than Masterworking Legendary armor. Exotic Armor steepens the overall cost, as it requires players to have 24,000 Glimmer, 5 Enhancement Cores and Prisms, and 3 Ascendant Shards
11. How do you get Exotic Ciphers in Destiny 2?
You can earn Exotic Ciphers by completing Xur’s weekly “Xenology” quest. This quest requires you to participate in ritual activities (Vanguard Ops, Crucible, and Gambit).
12. Can you get old Exotic armor in Destiny 2?
Yes, many old Exotics can be obtained through the Monument to Lost Lights, a terminal located in the Tower. This terminal allows you to purchase Exotics that were previously tied to specific quests or activities.
13. Is it worth keeping old Exotics in Destiny 2?
Yes, it’s generally worth keeping old Exotics, even if you don’t use them frequently. You can always infuse them with higher-level gear to increase their power level, and you never know when Bungie might introduce changes that make them more viable.
14. Can the same Exotic drop twice in a row?
Yes, it is possible for the same Exotic to drop multiple times, even in a row. This is due to the random nature of Exotic drops.
15. How does armor stat distribution work in Destiny 2?
Armor stat distribution is random, with each stat (Mobility, Resilience, Recovery, Discipline, Intellect, and Strength) receiving a varying amount of points. The community refers to this distribution as your armor’s stat allocation, and they aim to achieve their own allocation, depending on the particular build.
16. How do mods work in Destiny 2?
Armor Mods enable the customization of your Guardian’s loadout in Destiny 2. They provide passive benefits which are applied constantly when you equip the armor piece.
Conclusion: Embrace the Limitations, Master the Builds
While the inability to equip a full set of Exotic armor might seem limiting at first, it’s a crucial aspect of Destiny 2’s gameplay balance. By forcing players to make meaningful choices about their loadouts, Bungie encourages build diversity, prevents power creep, and fosters a more strategic and engaging gameplay experience. Embrace the limitations, experiment with different combinations of Exotic and Legendary gear, and master the art of build crafting in Destiny 2. This game is not just about shooting aliens; it’s about creating a unique and powerful Guardian that reflects your individual playstyle.
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