Destiny 2: Lightfallis set to release this February, with the update promising to introduce guardians to how their “end begins”. While this is certain to be a major factor in the expansion’s campaign, the same is true for some ofDestiny 2’s past elements. An article released this week by developer Bungie details majorchanges coming with theDestiny 2: Lightfallexpansion. One such change is the total removal of Warmind Cell mods.
Since its release in 2017,Destiny 2has transformed from an FPS title into a full-blown MMO. With each major expansion and update, Bungie introduced features that increase players' options for building and customizing their Guardians, while slowly balancing previously introduced mechanics. WithDestiny 2: Lightfallset to overhaul the game’s buildcrafting, Bungie has announced that Warmind Cells and Warmind Cell mods are approaching a sad, but unsurprising end.
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Destiny 2’s History With Warmind Cell Mods and Their Power
Bungie introduced Warmind Cells inDestiny 2’sSeason of the Worthy, allowing Guardians to drop explosive orbs by defeating enemies with Seraph or IKELOS weapons. Guardians could then destroy these orbs for massive area-of-effect damage. By equipping Warmind Cell mods, Guardians could create a build that uses Warmind Cells to devastating effect, with some builds capable of clearing entire dungeons alone. One such mod, Wrath of Rasputin, allowed Guardians to drop Warmind Cells by killing enemies with Solar Splash damage. Combined with a variety of other mods, it could turn an amateur Guardian into a Nightfall-clearing powerhouse.
Bungie soon found itself needing to re-balance the mechanic, as further additions to the game made Warmind Cell mods easier to exploit. With the launch ofSeason of the Lostin August 2021,Bungie nerfedDestiny 2’s Warmind Cellsby decreasing their area-of-effect and damage output. Bungie was candid with the community about the mechanic being too powerful for the game’s current build, and further alterations arrived with the release ofDestiny 2: The Witch Queen, which effectively banished Warmind Cell mods to obscurity.
On July 07, 2025, Bungie released an article titled “Buildcrafting Evolved” to address changes arriving with February’sDestiny 2: Lightfallexpansion. Addressing balance, Bungie stated that Warmind Cells would not be making the transition, citing the mechanic as a relic of the past. This very direct statement came as a disappointment to parts of theDestiny 2community, as some were frustrated whenSeason of the Seraphintroduced Warmind-based weaponsthat didn’t generate Warmind Cells. With such an obvious application of the mechanic completely omitted, the writing was on the wall for its rapidly approaching removal.
The removal of Warmind Cells fromDestiny 2comes as no surprise, as Bungie has been directing Guardians away from Warmind Cell builds for quite some time. However, it is a sad end for a mechanic that was once so beloved. Introduced to the title in its buildcrafting infancy,Warmind Cell mods were amongDestiny 2’s best, providing huge benefits for little investment. This made them an approachable option for Guardians of all skill levels, especially those struggling to complete weekly objectives or Nightfalls. That quality, however, is exactly why there is no room for them inDestiny 2’s future.
WithDestiny 2: Lightfall, Bungie leads Guardians toward the end of an era. The expansion looks to set the final events of the Light and Darkness Saga in motion, while possibly revealing details ofDestiny’s dreaded Dark Future. As the road to the final conflict forms, Bungie continues to expandDestiny 2’s buildcrafting system. Warmind Cells and Warmind Cell mods have no place in that system, as they were created for an incarnation of the title that has since been left behind.Lightfallpromises an exhilarating narrative and a long list of improvements forDestiny 2,leading fans to look ever forward to the future.
Destiny 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. TheLightfallexpansion is set to launch on all platforms on February 28.
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