Destiny 2: Arc 3.0 Preview

Destiny 2 continues its momentum for 2022. Bungie (developers for Destiny) commenced the year with its new expansion, The Witch Queen. Subsequently, each following season brings a revamp to the light subclasses. Season of the Risen introduced guardians to Void 3.0. Afterward, Solar 3.0 landed with Season of the Haunted. Now, Bungie revealed the Arc 3.0 preview ahead of the Lightfall showcase.

Arc 3.0 Buffs and Debuffs

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Bungie created each light subclassed update with a theme in mind. Arc 3.0 empowers players with speed and offense. Similarly, this revamp introduces new ways for guardians to amplify their abilities and weaken opposing forces.

Amplified is a new buff unique to Arc subclasses. It speeds up every aspect of a guardian including movement, sliding, weapon handling, etc. Unlike devour or radiant, players can become amplified without equipping Fragments or Aspects.

Guardians become amplified by rapidly killing enemies with Arc damage while this subclass is equipped. Additionally, amplified guardians’ movement speed will increase after sprinting for a short time. This builds upon the previous speed buff granted from being amplified. Here, guardians will gain meaningful damage resistance inside PvE while sprinting. Even if the effects of amplified fade, the second buff will remain during the run.

Blind and jolt are new debuffs launching with Arc 3.0. Blinding effects will continue to work similarly to before. Furthermore, jolted enemies will chain lightning to other targets periodically.

Bringing the Thunder

The Arc 3.0 preview revealed changes coming to ionic traces and each guardian class. Ionic traces will no longer be exclusive to Warlocks but shared with Hunters and Titans. Ionic traces are energy-like wisps that restore ability energy when collected. Next are the class breakdowns.

Warlocks

Warlocks will be retaining their supers of Chaos Reach and Stormtrance. Stormtrance will be slightly revamped as a combination of its previous top and bottom tree version. Additionally, the class will be granted two melee abilities: Ball Lightning and Chain Lightning.

Ball Lightning releases an orb of Arc energy to electrocute enemies. Meanwhile, Chain Lightning will branch Arc lightning to additional targets upon contact. Both melee abilities receive additional effects when amplified.

Lastly, Warlocks will have three aspects with the launch of Arc 3.0. They are as follows:

• Arc Soul: Affectionally nicknamed “Arc Buddy” among players. This retains similar properties to its previous version. Casting a rift summons a floating Arc turret. Allies in your rift also gain an Arc Soul. The Arc Soul’s fire rate is increased when amplified
• Lightning Surge: Activating your melee midslide transforms the player into a lightning ball. The ball teleports forward and releases a field of lightning that jolts targets hit.
• Electrostatic Mind: Arc ability kills and killing arc-debuffed enemies spawns Ionic Traces. Collect an Ionic Trace grants amplified.

Titans

Titans will see an improved focus on mobility according to the Arc 3.0 preview. Their Thundercrash and Fists of Havoc (also newly improved from the top and bottom tree version) will be brought forward.

Additionally, Titans are gaining a new class ability: Thruster. Double tapping the class ability button will launch players into a first-person evade. This sounds eerily similar to the exotic “Twilight Garrison” from the previous game. However, Titans have to be on the ground when activated.

For melee abilities, Titans will retain Seismic Strike and Ballistic Slam. These abilities also gain additional effects when amplified. Additionally, Titans are receiving the brand new Thunderclap melee. This ability must be charged while stationary and becomes more powerful the longer it is held. This melee one-shots guardians in PvP when at 90% charge. Here are the Titan aspects:

• Touch of Thunder: Arc grenades gain additional effects
  • Flashbang: First bounce releases an additional blind impulse
  • Pulse: Grenade damage generates an Ionic Trace. Grenade damage increases over time
  • Lightning: Additional grenade charge and jolt effects to enemies on the initial blast
  • Storm: Generates a roaming thundercloud that tracks enemies
• Juggernaut: Gain a frontal shield to block damage while sprinting and holding full, class-ability energy. Depleting the shield also depletes class ability energy
• Knockout: Melee kills grant amplified and health regeneration. Breaking an enemy shield or critically wounding them will increase melee damage and range for a brief time. Lastly, base melee damage is Arc-empowered when Knockout is active.

Hunters

Hunters are also getting shiny, new toys with Arc 3.0. First, the Blink movement ability is returning to Hunters. This was taken away from the class with the launch of Destiny 2. Additionally, Blink is receiving a baseline buff across all iterations including ones held by Warlocks.

Next, a new super will accompany Arc Staff. Gathering Storm is a super where Hunters leap up to launch their arc staff into the ground/target. The impact will jolt nearby enemies and soon summons a lightning damage zone for a short period of time.

The Combination Blow and Disorienting Blow melee abilities also make their return. Combination kills refund dodge energy, restores minimal health, and increases melee damage. Meanwhile, Disorienting Blow blinds enemies and amplifies Hunters. Here are the Hunter aspects:

• Flow State: Become amplified when killing jolted opponents. Amplified now increases reload speed, recharge dodge speed, and grants damage resistance.
• Tempest Strike: Grants a sliding melee that launches a wave of Arc energy. It deals large amounts of damage and jolts enemies.
• Lethal Current: Dodging grants the next Hunter melee increases range jolt effects upon contact. During Arc Staff, dodging will grant the next staff light attack a double hit. Lastly, hitting jolted enemies now blinds them.

Fragments and Beyond

That is the breakdown of each guardian class. The Arc 3.0 preview also granted a tease of the Fragments to come. They are as follows (each name begins with Spark):

• Spark of Beacons: While amplified, Arc special weapon kills create blinding explosions.
• Resistance: Players gain damage resistance when surrounded by enemies.
• Spark of Momentum: You gain a small amount of melee energy and automatically reload your weapon when sliding over ammo. Sliding over heavy ammo increases energy gained.
• Spark of Shock: Arc grenades now jolt enemies.

The rest will be revealed at a later date. Some may even be tied to the day-one completion of season eighteen’s dungeon, like Solar 3.0 fragments. Overall Arc 3.0 is bringing a lot of exciting mechanics to the sandbox. On paper, this overhaul seemingly provides even more survivability than Solar 3.0’s class restoration meta. Time will tell how things progress once the season launches.

The actual gameplay of Arc 3.0 in action will be available at the Lightfall showcase next week. Stay tuned here for our breakdown. Find the full Bungie blog post here. What are your thoughts on Arc 3.0? Let us know in the comments down below. For all things Destiny 2, bend the knee in the realm of Lords of Gaming.