The latest Destiny 2 season, Season of Arrivals, kicked off today and you might be wondering what ritual weapons there are to chase this time around. Last season was a departure in that the only thing to chase on that front was the Point of the Stag combat bow. The problem? It was exclusive to Iron Banner. All of the other ritual weapons from Crucible, Gambit, and Vanguard activities were removed. So what’s the case this time around?
Are There Season of Arrival Ritual Weapons?
There are not. Sadly we’re in for another season spent grinding for shaders and emblems.
Why Are There No Ritual Weapons?
We don’t know for certain, however, Bungie has said that their goal is to bring back a single, powerful ritual weapon starting next season. That means we won’t see a new ritual weapon until the launch of Beyond Light, the next expansion which launches on September 9.
Bungie has, however, made good on its promise to bring back older weapons. The Escalation Protocol guns, including the IKELOS shotgun, are available via the new Prophecy Dungeon which launches today at 5 PM PDT.
Why Were Pinnacle Weapons Retired?
Simply put, Pinnacle Weapons are too good and too hard to get. One of the big issues is the simple fact that a Pinnacle Weapon from Crucible is also going to be very good for PVE players. This forces people to fight there way through game modes they might not enjoy.
“Most of them far exceeded the efficacy they should have been at,” the developer said. “Another issue is that they cause problems in the player ecosystem, particularly in the case of the Crucible pinnacle weapons. Due to the nature of PvP and PvE, anything that works well in PvP is likely going be extremely effective in PvE as well. This forces players into the Crucible if they want the ‘best’ loadouts.”
In short, The Recluse really was too good. It has completely warped the weapon meta and is consistently used by at least half of all of the best Destiny players in the world. That’s an astonishing number which more than doubles any other weapon it he game.
How Are Ritual Weapons Different?
Ritual Weapons no longer have special perks and are curated rolls. Rather than being the best weapons in the entire game, Bungie describes them as something closer to an “interesting novelty” which is what the developers wanted pinnacle weapons to be in the first place.
If you’re still on the hunt for older pinnacle weapons, Bungie made a few of them easier to obtain. Season of Opulence’s Hush (Gambit), The Mountaintop (Crucible), and Wendigo GL3 (Vanguard), have had their requirements reduced. Each triumph now needs fewer kills, medals, and is a smaller time investment as a whole.
For now, head on over to the Season of Arrivals calendar guide for a look at what Bungie has in store for the rest of the season. Two fan favorite events are making a return in July and August that you won’t want to miss!
