Unleash Your Fashion Fantasy: A Deep Dive into Destiny 2’s Synthweave Straps
So, you’ve stumbled upon a Synthweave Strap in Destiny 2 and are wondering what to do with it? Excellent! Let’s break it down. Synthweave Straps are specifically used to create Hunter-specific Universal Ornaments through the Armor Synthesis system, allowing you to transform the look of your Hunter’s armor while retaining its stats and perks. This means you can take the appearance of any Legendary (or lower rarity) armor piece you’ve unlocked in your Collections and turn it into a permanent, interchangeable ornament. Now, let’s dive into the details.
The Armor Synthesis Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
The journey to transmogrification, as it’s often called, involves a few key steps, all centered around Ada-1 in the Tower Annex.
Earning Synthstrand: The Foundation
First, you need Synthstrand. This is the basic currency of the Armor Synthesis system, earned passively by defeating enemies. You’ll know you’re making progress when you see the Synthstrand counter increase. You need 150 Synthstrand to proceed.
Threader Bounties: Turning Strand into Cord
Once you have 150 Synthstrand, it’s time to visit Ada-1 in the Tower Annex. She offers class-specific bounties called Threader Bounties. These bounties vary in objective, usually tasking you with defeating enemies using specific abilities or within certain activities. These bounties are class-specific, so you will need to select the Hunter bounty to obtain the Synthweave Strap. Purchasing the bounty costs all 150 Synthstrand.
Synthcord: The Reward
Completing a Threader Bounty rewards you with 100 Synthcord. This is a crucial component.
The Loom: Crafting Synthweave
With Synthcord in hand, head to the Loom located behind Ada-1. Interacting with the Loom allows you to convert your 100 Synthcord into 1 Synthweave. At this stage, it’s important to remember that the Synthweave you create here is specific to the class whose Threader Bounty you completed. Therefore, a Hunter’s bounty will net you a Synthweave Strap.
Applying Your Synthweave: Becoming a Fashion Icon
Now for the fun part! Open your character screen, navigate to the Appearance customization tab, and select the Armor Synthesis option. Here, you’ll be presented with all the Legendary (and lower) armor pieces you’ve unlocked in your Collections. Choose the armor piece you want to turn into a Universal Ornament. The game will then consume one Synthweave Strap, and that armor piece’s appearance will be added to your Universal Ornament library. You can then apply this ornament to any of your Hunter’s armor pieces, regardless of their stats or perks.
Why Use Synthweave Straps?
The primary reason to use Synthweave Straps is purely cosmetic. It allows you to create the Hunter of your dreams without sacrificing performance. Love the look of a particular piece of armor but hate its stats? No problem! Transmogrify it and apply it to your best gear. It’s all about expressing your personal style within the Destiny universe.
This can be especially useful for matching your armor to specific Exotic armor pieces, allowing you to create cohesive looks that complement your builds. Furthermore, Armor Synthesis allows you to make the most out of older, sunset armor pieces whose perks are no longer useful.
Armor Synthesis: A Tool for Learning
The Armor Synthesis system, and Destiny 2 as a whole, highlights the importance of player agency and customization in gaming. As discussed by the Games Learning Society and on GamesLearningSociety.org, systems like these allow players to express themselves and build unique identities within the game world, fostering a deeper engagement and sense of ownership. Games that offer robust customization options often see increased player retention and community involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Synthweave and Armor Synthesis
Here are some commonly asked questions about the Armor Synthesis system in Destiny 2.
What are Synthweave Templates?
Synthweave Templates are a premium item purchased from the Eververse store. Unlike Synthweave Straps, Bolts, and Plates, these can be used to create ornaments for any class.
How many Synthweave can I earn per season?
The number of Synthweave you can earn per season through Ada-1’s bounties is usually limited. Be sure to check in-game to see the current seasonal limit, as it can vary.
Can I transmog Exotic armor?
No, Exotic armor pieces cannot be transmogrified. You can only use Legendary or lower rarity armor for creating ornaments.
What happens if I dismantle the armor piece I used for transmog?
Dismantling the original armor piece does not remove the Universal Ornament you created. Once you’ve used Synthweave to convert an armor piece’s appearance, it’s permanently unlocked as an ornament.
Can I apply ornaments to all armor slots?
Yes, you can apply ornaments to all armor slots on your character, including your helmet, gauntlets, chest armor, leg armor, and class item.
Can I change the color of my ornaments?
Yes, you can change the color of your ornaments using shaders. Shaders are consumables that alter the color scheme of your armor and weapons.
Where can I get more shaders?
Shaders can be obtained from a variety of sources, including Eververse, activities, and by dismantling armor and weapons.
Do Synthweave expire?
No, Synthweave does not expire. Once you’ve earned it, you can save it for whenever you want to create a new ornament.
Can I refund Synthweave if I don’t like the ornament I created?
No, Synthweave cannot be refunded once you’ve used it to create an ornament. So, make sure you’re happy with your choice before committing.
Are there any restrictions on what armor appearances I can use for transmog?
Generally, you can transmog any Legendary or lower armor piece that you’ve unlocked in your Collections. However, there may be certain seasonal or event-specific armor pieces that are restricted from being used for transmog.
What is the best way to farm Synthstrand?
The best way to farm Synthstrand is to engage in activities that involve defeating a large number of enemies quickly. This can include playlist activities like Strikes, Gambit, and Crucible, as well as running Lost Sectors or participating in public events.
Can I purchase Synthweave directly?
Yes, you can purchase Synthweave Templates from the Eververse store for Silver, Destiny 2’s premium currency. These templates can be used on any class.
Do I need to own previous expansions to use the Armor Synthesis system?
No, the Armor Synthesis system is available to all Destiny 2 players, regardless of whether they own any expansions.
Can I preview what an armor piece will look like as an ornament before using Synthweave?
Yes, before confirming the transmogrification process, you can preview what the armor piece will look like as an ornament on your character. This allows you to make sure you’re happy with the result before spending your Synthweave.
Can I use Synthweave to recreate armor appearances from Destiny 1?
If you have armor pieces from Destiny 1 that have equivalents in Destiny 2’s Collections (even if you haven’t obtained them in Destiny 2), you can potentially use those appearances for transmog.