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The Destiny 2 update 7.3.0.5 patch notes cover some rather interesting new additions to the game, as well as alterations, and more importantly, some extremely odd Exotic nerfs. We all know it’s pretty rare that Bungie quietly nerfs things, but to have two exotics nerfed that nobody saw coming is a pretty big event. Along with some interesting changes to PvP game modes, like Checkmate, and Countdown Rush, we also get to see the end of Togetherness within The Coil, which is a big win for Destiny 2 players everywhere.
Destiny 2: Update 7.3.0.5 Patch Notes
CRUCIBLE
- Playlists
- As of this week, Checkmate has been moved back to the Labs node for continued iteration with the updated tuning detailed below. Next week will feature 3v3 Clash, which has been modified to reflect a fan favorite from the original Destiny, Skirmish, so revives are enabled. We will run one more Checkmate Trials Lab later this season (on February 9) with the new tuning, but Checkmate is not currently planned to be in the Control node again.
- Next Iron Banner, there will be an unmodified mode (e.g., Clash, Zone Control, or Supremacy as opposed to Scorched, Momentum, or Mayhem) in the 6v6 Quickplay node, so that those who do not wish to participate in Iron Banner can still find the standard Destiny 6v6 PvP to play.
- Miscellaneous
- The double rewards icon is now correctly appearing on playlists in Crucible Labs.
- Fixed an issue where players were able to summon Sparrows during Showdown matches in 3v3 Quickplay.
- Countdown Rush
- PvP Strike Team Note: At the end of January, we’ll have a larger update aimed at addressing the community feedback on Countdown Rush as a Competitive game mode, including reducing Heavy ammo frequency, updating Sudden Death rules, spawn tuning, and reducing the advantage the attacking team has in the mode.
- Fixed an issue where a player could be forcibly respawned while a teammate was reviving them.
- Fixed an issue where a player’s Ghost would spawn too close to the charge, preventing interaction.
- Citadel and Multiplex maps should no longer be appearing in the Competitive playlist for the Countdown Rush game mode.
- Sparrow Control
- Brought back a special medal that can only be earned in this game mode.
- Some larger maps have an increased frequency of appearing in the upcoming Sparrow Control playlist to provide more room for vroom.
- Checkmate
- PvP Strike Team Note: We have been listening to your feedback on Checkmate and have made a substantial overhaul to the mode to address these pain points.
- Abilities
- PvP Strike Team Note: Threaded Specter uptime and Threadling strength versus players will be tuned individually in a future global patch later this season.
- Reduced melee, grenade, and class ability penalties from 30% to 15%, Super penalties remain at 20%.
- Increased melee damage by 16%.
- Special Ammo Acquisition
- Set up modes like Control and Clash to start the game with 2 kills worth of Special ammo.
- Respawning after death does not grant additional ammo, which must be earned.
- For now, round-based modes will still start with no Special ammo.
- All Ammo Transmats will now grant 2 kills worth of Special ammo.
- Being revived no longer removes earned special ammo.
- Base Checkmate ammo point reward changes:
- Assist rewards increased from 7 to 10 points.
- Death rewards increased from 5 to 10 points.
- Zone capture rewards decreased from 20 to 14 points.
- Heavy pull rewards decreased from 10 to 8 points.
- Set up modes like Control and Clash to start the game with 2 kills worth of Special ammo.
- Weapon Balance
- PvP Strike Team Note: With these changes, all Primary weapons will join Hand Cannons in having the same optimal Time-to-Kill (TTK) as they do in the base sandbox. For background info, player health is increased by 30 HP in Checkmate, so players have 100 health and between 116 and 130 shield, depending on Resilience values.
- Hand Cannons
- Note: It is a known issue that Adaptive Hand Cannons with Explosive Payload are resiliency gated for killing in 3 Critical Hits. This is not an intended change and will be corrected in the future.
- Body shot damage scalar increased from -10% to -5%.
- Critical hit damage scalar will remain at +10%.
- Submachine Guns
- Body shot damage scalar decreased from 0% to -3%.
- Critical hit damage scalar increased from 0% to 12.5%.
- Sidearms
- Body shot damage scalar increased from -5% to 0%.
- Critical hit damage scalar increased from -5% to 14%.
- Auto Rifles
- Body shot damage scalar decreased from 2% to 0%.
- Critical hit damage scalar increased from 2% to 14%.
- Pulse Rifles
- Body shot damage scalar decreased from 4% to 0%.
- Critical hit damage scalar increased from 4% to 14%.
- Scout Rifles
- Body shot damage scalar increased from -9% to 0%.
- Critical hit damage scalar increased from -9% to 14%.
- Trace Rifles
- Increased base damage by 20%.
- Glaives
- Increased projectile damage by 20%.
- Increased melee damage by 16%.
- Machine Guns
- Increased base damage by 20%.
- Game Mode Rules
- Checkmate 3v3 Dominion
- Ammo point reward changes:
- Kill rewards decreased from 34 to 22 points.
- Assist rewards increased from 10 to 16 points.
- Death rewards increased from 10 to 16 points.
- Ammo point reward changes:
- Checkmate 3v3 Countdown Rush
- Score to win decreased from 5 to 4.
- Round time decreased from 90 seconds to 75 seconds.
- Ammo point reward changes:
- Kill rewards decreased from 20 to 14.
- Assist rewards increased from 10 to 12.
- Death rewards increased from 5 to 11.
- Checkmate 3v3 Clash
- Score to win: 40.
- Time 8 minutes.
- Ammo point rewards:
- 14 for kills.
- 12 for assists.
- 11 for deaths.
- Checkmate 3v3 Dominion
ROOT OF NIGHTMARES RAID
- Adept weapons now drop using Knockout logic.
- Once every drop is unlocked, the drop becomes random.
WARLORD’S RUIN DUNGEON
- Fixed an issue during the second encounter where the right-side Warlord would sometimes not summon a totem after doing the animation.
- Fixed an issue where players would spawn far behind their fireteam during the summit climb.
- Fixed an issue during the final encounter where players could get out of the last stand arena.
- Fixed an issue where the Withstand the Siege, O Vengeance Mine (Master difficulty completion), She Stood Alone, and O Vengeance Mine (solo completion) Triumphs gave the wrong rewards.
- The correct rewards will be awarded retroactively to players who unlocked these Triumphs.
GHOSTS OF THE DEEP DUNGEON
- Fixed an issue where players were not awarded the weekly pinnacle reward upon Master difficulty dungeon completion.
SEASONAL ACTIVITIES
- Togetherness will no longer appear as an activity modifier in The Coil.
- Fixed an issue in The Coil where a very loud sound would play when exiting the Riven vendor menu.
- Fixed an issue where the same dialog would play twice at the beginning of Riven’s Lair.
- Fixed an issue where some dialogs would not play until the end and overlap during Riven’s Lair.
- Fixed an issue where players were being removed for inactivity while waiting for a revive for more than 3 minutes.
- Fixed an issue where the Scorching Wish perk paired with Well of Radiance could result in a game crash.
- Fixed an issue where the Seasonal Exotic catalyst quest was not progressing in Seasonal activities.
- Fixed an issue where the Veiled Threats mission was missing its description.
PSIOPS BATTLEGROUNDS
- Fixed an issue where no Glimmer or Loot rewards were given when completing the PsiOps Battlegrounds in the Vanguard Ops playlist.
- Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be blocked from completing PsiOps Battlegrounds: Cosmodrome after wiping in the first Darkness Zone.
UI/UX
- Reverted a fix that prevented fireteam leaders from unintentionally accessing their Vault in activities.
- Access to the Vault outside of orbit was unintended but will be made available for all who want to use it until a fully polished version is made available in the future.
- Fixed an issue where the Ascendancy Rocket Launcher didn’t appear in the preview screen of the Legacy Gear menu.
GAMEPLAY AND INVESTMENT
ARMOR
- Peacekeepers
- Reduced Handling, Mobility, and ADS Movement Speed buffs by 50%.
- Fixed an issue where Hexer Robes were not properly animating on female Warlock characters.
WEAPONS
- Thorn
- Thorn Catalyst
- Changed stats from +20 Range and +10 Stability to +15 Range, +5 Stability, and +5 Airborne Effectiveness.
- Thorn Catalyst
- Stay Frosty
- Stay Frosty’s muzzle flash is no longer too large and is a more appropriate size.
- Fixed an issue where Legendary Shotguns were retaining radar while aiming down sights.
- Fixed an issue where Trace Rifles would have a too large of a muzzle flash.
BOUNTIES AND PURSUITS
- Fixed an issue where An Old Flame quest for the Dragon’s Breath Catalyst would not progress during the Seasonal activity.
- Reduced the drop rate of Gunsmith engrams from Awoken faction chests on the Dreaming City.
- Fixed an issue where the Season 20 Exotic Ship Brazen Spark could not be acquired, blocking the Seasonal quest line.
- It can now be obtained by interacting with the Amanda Holliday statue.
TRIUMPHS
- Fixed an issue where the objectives for the Ahamkara Tales and Bonus Action Triumphs were missing in the Japanese game client.
LOCALIZATION
- Fixed an issue where the title of the reward for the Warlord’s Ruin dungeon completion was too long and is overlapped by another reward (an emblem) for one of the Triumphs.
- Fixed an issue where some placeholder strings in Collections were replaced with proper names.
FIRETEAM FINDER
- Fixed an issue where the Nightfall activity selection was unavailable on weeks when Battlegrounds were the featured Nightfall.
- Fixed an issue where checkpoints were not respected for activities, once summoned via Fireteam Finder.
It’s pretty rare that we see something happen in Destiny 2 that’s as surprising as the nerfing of the Thorn CAtalyst and the Peacekeepers Exotic Titan leg armor. Though, I’m sure loads of Guardians will be happy to see that Titans can no longer use their favorite crutch in Crucible.
Destiny 2 is now available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles.
