Bungie is making every last locked Strand fragment in Destiny 2 available for purchase, which is an unprecedented but welcome move.
The Lightfall expansion for Destiny 2’s new Strand subclass has already established itself as one of its strongest features, so Bungie has decided to improve the experience even further by unlocking all of the remaining gameplay customization options earlier than planned. The newest Destiny 2 expansion, Lightfall, pits the forces of Light and Darkness against one another in an epic conflict. Players who purchase Lightfall can access Strand’s never-before-seen abilities, enabling them to grapple across Destiny 2’s new explorable zone Neomuna and cut through foes.
The elemental subclasses that players can select from are one of Destiny 2’s key elements and its gameplay loop. The game currently offers three Light subclasses and two Darkness subclasses, each of which has advantages and disadvantages and follows a particular archetype. Subclasses in Destiny 2 are highly customizable thanks to the “Subclass 2.0” system, which allows players to pick and choose grenades, movement skills, and even class-related abilities. The same system allows players to dip into Aspects and Fragments, often enabling the usage of beneficial effects or debuffs that can be inflicted on enemies and even changing player skills altogether.
Strand was given the “Subclass 2.0” treatment from the beginning of Lightfall’s development as a new subclass. Players could only access a limited version of Strand during the new Destiny 2 campaign, and it served only as a plot device. Players could finally use Strand without restriction after finishing the storyline and unlocking the initial pieces and components required to construct a usable build. The majority of the fragments, however, were locked behind two distinct time gates, with some even requiring success in the upcoming Raid, as the players quickly discovered. Players quickly expressed their displeasure, which prompted Bungie to remove the time gates and make all of the Strand fragments accessible as a result of player pressure.
The removal of time gating on Strand fragments by Bungie is a welcome change of pace and evidence that the game’s creators have taken note of Stasis’ shortcomings. Players in the Beyond Light era had to put up with hours of gameplay using weaker abilities in order to unlock all the bells and whistles needed to make Stasis feel competitive. On the other hand, players can either farm for Strand meditations or wait for the money to accrue gradually before buying the Strand fragments. The ability to personalize and create distinctive builds is Destiny 2’s greatest strength, and Bungie’s updates to Strand demonstrate their commitment to upholding that fundamental principle.
Critics are slamming the bizarre narrative choices in Destiny 2, and there are rumors that Lightfall will be a filler expansion for the game. Even then, Bungie’s studio prowess is demonstrated by Strand’s ability to influence player creativity. Players can start playing Strand right away to unlock the final fragments and play however they please.
Destiny 2 is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source:Arnab Chakrabarti
