The new This Week at Bungie post was full of information about changes and new content coming toDestiny 2. With a big preview for weapon crafting, it also featured plans for howDestiny 2’s new glaives and Osteo Striga exotic submachine gun will be implemented. Tucked into all of this was also a discussion of current plans relating to foundry weapons inDestiny 2through Year 5. While this might seem like a major commitment to just foundries inDestiny 2,they can be important.
As weapon and armor makers, foundries inDestiny 2are not only responsible for the run-of-the-mill common, rare, and legendary pieces of gear, but also many exotic weapons. With over 100 exotic weapons available inDestiny 2, many of the most iconic such asHard Light, SUROS Regime, and Gjallarhorn can be traced back to an individual foundry. Gjallarhorn specifically comes from the Crux/Lomar foundry, which has made quite a few rocket launchers for Guardians to wield in bothDestinyandDestiny 2.
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Destiny’s Exotic Rocket Launchers
While Gjallarhorn might be the Crux/Lomar foundry’s most famous weapon, it’s not the only exotic rocket launcher it has created. The big three rocket launchers from the firstDestinygame; Gjallarhorn, Truth, and Dragon’s Breath; are all products of the foundry. Each of these weapons has brought its own special traits to the battlefield, making them effective weapons in PvP and PvE activities. While both Gjallarhorn and Truth continue to do so inDestiny 2, Dragon’s Breath still hasn’t made a reappearance inDestiny 2prior tothe launch ofThe Witch Queen.
One of the rewards for the weeklyNightfall and Grandmaster Nightfall strikes, Hothead, shares its aesthetic style with Dragon’s Breath, but the rocket launcher’s key features are still absent. In the firstDestiny,Dragon’s Breath launched a rocket that left a solar grenade upon detonation. This contributed to some of the cheese that Guardians discovered for Atheon in the Vault of Glass raid. Subsequently, over time Dragon’s Breath had its exotic perk changed to drop a napalm canister instead.
This change might not seem like much, but it meant Dragon’s Breath quickly became one of the premier options for crowd control and area denial in PvE. Damage over time thanks to the napalm’s burn, coupled with the burst damage provided by rocket launchers, led to Dragon’s Breath becoming a beast. Still, with how useful this weapon was, it continues to be absent fromDestiny 2- though Truth was added back in Season of Opulence anda reprisal of Gjallarhorncame with the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack.
Even though its exotic perk makes Dragon’s Breath a powerful rocket launcher, it does not seem like it would break the current meta if reintroduced. While the sandbox and weapon balancing thatDestiny 2currently has can be delicate, especially withhow often Telesto breaks the game, Dragon’s Breath doesn’t seem like a weapon that would pose as much of a problem. It would still need some balancing changes to be introduced inDestiny 2,but using a catalyst similar to Gjallarhorn seems like a reasonable path.
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Dragon’s Breath with The Solar 3.0 Rework
The path forward mentioned in the most recent This Week at Bungie highlightslegendary weapon buffs inThe Witch Queenalongside surprises related to weapon foundries in Year 5. Given the Suros, Omolon, and Hakke foundries are focused on within the TWAB, new or returning exotic weapons relating to these foundries could appear. It would make sense, but because these foundries should see new weapon additions throughout the upcoming seasons of Year 5, it could also mean other weapon foundries are highlighted inDestiny 2.
If the latter is the case, there’s a great opportunity to highlight classic exotics from the firstDestiny. There’s already been speculation that weapons likeIce Breaker and Invective could return, but given the ammo economy they might not be realistic additions. Dragon’s Breath doesn’t pose as much of a problem, and is the last of the trinity of rocket launchers from the firstDestinygame to be reprised. Its addition could also lead to some new builds and tactics being adopted.
Withthe upcoming Void 3.0 rework inDestiny 2, the first Light subclass will see some major changes that stress character builds. Afterward, both the Solar and Arc subclasses should see changes, leading to all the Light subclasses having similar build profiles as the Stasis subclasses introduced withBeyond Light. This means players will see more builds inDestiny 2,and will hopefully see more synergy with the weapons and armor they choose.
With the subclass 3.0 reworks focusing on build choice and diversity, reintroducing Dragon’s Breath would be a great way to boost Solar subclasses following its 3.0 rework. Dragon’s Breath’s solar damage could be vital to future skills in the Solar subclass rework, and its capabilities could offer sustainability when paired with the powers that Guardians have access to. This could reinforce its traits as a utility rocket launcher, helping to differentiate it more from the likes of Gjallarhorn and Truth. Even though this hypothetical future isn’t secure, seeing the focus on weapon foundries does keep a spark of hope alive for season passes followingThe Witch Queenexpansion.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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