4 Things to Expect from Destiny 2’s Arc 3.0 Reveal

1 year 8 months ago

The last of the light subclasses, the Arc subclass, is due to finally get its rework in the upcoming Season 18 of Destiny 2. Unlike the previous revamps for the Solar and Void subclasses, the changes to the Arc subclass will be much more beneficial as it has always been the weakest of the three. Arc 3.0 is due to arrive when Season 18 launches on Aug. 23.

Bungie has yet to reveal any details on the changes for what the re-work will look like, but until then, we can go over what we can expect the changes to be, and how Arc 3.0 will age over time. So today, we are going over five things to expect from Destiny 2’s Arc 3.0 changes.

Fragments and Aspects

Destiny 2 Stasis Menu
Image Source: Bungie.net

The most significant change with the upcoming rework is the addition of Fragments and Aspects and removing specific abilities for the Arc subclass. Fragments and Aspects were introduced with the Stasis subclass back in Beyond Light. Fragments are passive buffs that enhance your performance simply by doing a specific task. For example, there’s a Void subclass Fragment called Echo of Leeching, where Void ability kills cause enemies to explode, giving an additional ten-point boost to your intellect stat.

On the other hand, Aspects are active buffs you can choose to direct how you want to play. Each class has three unique Aspects that no other class can mimic, unlike Fragments from which they all share. Before the eventual Solar 3.0 changes, Warlocks had one of four intrinsic abilities, Icarus Dash, that allowed them to perform a dodge in midair. When Solar 3.0 went live, Icarus Dash was converted into an Aspect instead, and they lost one of their other intrinsic abilities in the process, for example.

So can we expect the same to occur with Arc 3.0? Absolutely. Each class will have its unique Aspects designated to them and will all share Fragments with one another. For example, an intrinsic ability that can be converted into an Aspect could be Knockout, a Titan-specific ability where critically wounding an enemy or breaking their shields increases your melee range and damage. Fragments can lead towards doing particular tasks and then giving you a passive buff of an additional 10-point stat boost to strength. We’ll finally learn the upcoming Fragments and Aspects for the Arc subclass within the coming weeks leading up to the launch of Season 18.

Play Style

Destiny 2 Arc Strider

Bungie stated in a previous TWAB that when making the 3.0 changes for the light subclasses, they wanted to make each subclass distinctive in its own right. For example, Void focuses on applying over-shields, debuffing enemies, turning invisible, and more. Solar, on the other hand, leans towards burning your targets, healing you and your allies, and more. But what exactly does Arc do best compared to the other two? The Arc subclass has always focused more on chaining abilities with one another and chaining Arc damage at multiple enemies at once. You could say it’s the most “offense” concentrated out of the three subclasses.

With that said, is it possible we could see it receive healing or defensive Fragments or Aspects? It’s hard to say, as a few Arc intrinsic abilities in each class heal you, such as Reversal for Titans, where melee kills immediately trigger health regeneration. If Bungie wishes to continue making Arc, Solar, and Void feel distinct from one another, there is a good chance we will see them remove certain healing factors from it.

Exotics that will Synergize with Arc 3.0

Destiny 2 Crown of Tempest
Image Source: Light.gg

We already have a list of weapons you’ll want to get your hands on before Arc 3.0 launches, but for now, let’s talk about Exotic armor pieces that will stand out with the upcoming revamp. As mentioned before, Arc has always been the weakest of the three light subclasses. However, that isn’t to say it doesn’t perform well, but it isn’t as effective as the others at performing specific tasks. Certain Exotic armor pieces, however, help lessen this burden. A few noteworthy ones that pair very well with the Arc subclass are the Crown of Tempest and Stormdancer’s Brace for Warlocks, Insurmountable Skullfort and Severance Enclosure for Titans, and Raiden Flux and Shinobu’s Vow for the Hunters. These mentioned Exotics will continue to thrive with the upcoming changes in Season 18.

However, one important thing to note is that some Exotics could also be reworked with the Arc 3.0 changes. For example, before Solar 3.0, the Exotic chest piece Starfire Protocol was one of the least used Warlock Exotic. Post-Solar 3.0, with the proper setup, Starfire Protocol has risen to be the most used Exotic in PVE for Warlocks. The Exotic wasn’t “reworked” like the subclass but instead given more value and usage because of the changes in Solar 3.0. When Arc 3.0 launches, we could likely see the same thing happen again with another Exotic.

Author
Joe Thomaselli

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