Bungie addresses player feedback on the removal of weapon crafting in Destiny 2, standing firm on its decision for Episode Heresy while teasing a new “Heretical Arsenal.”
We’re two months into the launch of Episode Revenant in Destiny 2. Similar to previous releases, this episode brought new challenges, activities, and loot to keep players engaged, but not all changes have been met with positive feedback.
Among the most controversial shifts was Bungie’s decision to remove weapon crafting for seasonal weapons. Instead, players now rely on traditional RNG farming to chase the perfect “god” rolls.
While these RNG weapons are enhanceable, the lack of crafting has left many fans frustrated, citing a lack of control over their rewards.
Adding to the frustration, Revenant launched with bugs that soured the experience further, such as issues with Revenant Tonics, which were supposed to provide better loot chances but often fell short.
Bungie’s Response to Seasonal Weapon Crafting in Destiny 2 Episode Heresy
Today, Bungie released a new developer update article, talking about the current state of the game, and what to expect in 2025 with Episode Heresy, launching February 4, 2025, and Codename Apollo expansion.
Despite acknowledging the “rocky start” to certain changes, Bungie appears determined to move forward without weapon crafting for seasonal weapons.
Here’s what the developer had to say: “Weapon crafting removed the joy of earning a random weapon, that feeling that any drop could matter, so we introduced enhanceable weapons. The Revenant Tonics were meant to provide loot agency in-lieu of crafting and give you a fresh way to chase gear. But we know we missed the mark with the Tonic timers and not guaranteeing a weapon from the active Tonic.”
To address this, Bungie is tweaking Tonics to last longer and offer better rewards. Additionally, the developer teased the “Heretical Arsenal,” a new tier of seasonal weapons debuting in Heresy.
“In response to the desirability of seasonal weapons, in the short term for Heresy we’ve developed a new tier of seasonal weapon dubbed the Heretical Arsenal, Robbie Stevens, Assistant Game Director said.
“More details on these weapons as we approach Heresy but rest assured that it will be clear when they hit your inventory that they’re worth inspecting. These changes are stepping stones that help us evaluate our long-term plans to create a deeper weapon chase in Codename Frontiers.”
Bungie’s response suggests that weapon crafting for seasonal weapons isn’t returning in Episode Heresy. The new “Heretical Arsenal” sounds like it will be similar to the Brave Arsenal from the Into the Light update, which featured enhanced, visually distinct “shiny” weapon variants.
Since the launch of Episode Revenant in Destiny 2, players have expressed their frustration over the absence of weapon crafting, with many stating it has drained their motivation to play the game.
What do you think about Bungie’s response? Is this the right path for Destiny 2, or should crafting make a comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Destiny 2 Episode Heresy launches on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.