Gjallarhorn, Thorn and other exotics are getting nerfed in the next Destiny weapon update

Cha-cha-changes! We mentioned earlier this week that Destiny would be implementing another rare round of weapon fine-tuning ahead of the release of The Taken King in September.

Well saddle up partners, because this ain’t no mere hotfix. Destiny will be massively overhauling its arsenal, with a particular focus on Exotics such as the mighty Gjallahorn. Hoo boy, Gally-only groups are going to be pissed off.

Gjallahorn will be getting a damage reduction to its target-seeking Wolfpack rounds, in an attempt to open the game up to other players.

“We definitely intended to have a high damage Heavy Weapon that was ideal for PvE destruction,” sandbox designer Jon Weisnewski wrote in a new blog post.

What we did not intend, and what we unfortunately saw, was pick up Raid and Nightfall groups gating participation based on whether or not players had this weapon.

Gjallarhorn was so strong that for many people it had become the only answer to getting through tough encounters, and therefore they were less willing to spend time with other players that didn’t have it.

We strive for Destiny to be a place where a single weapon or strategy does not dictate how, or with whom, you spend your time. In the new world Gjallarhorn is still worthy of its legacy as an exotic Heavy Weapon, but we hope it promotes inclusive behavior rather than exclusivity.

For an idea of just how heavy Gjallahorn usage was in the game, check this graph:

 

 

Gjallarhorn’s nerf is just one of a huge pile of changes, and Weisnewski likened fixing outliers like Gjallarhorn and Thorn to “plucking a few meatballs out of this massive plate of spaghetti”.

“These changes are all very dependent upon each other to be successful, and after careful consideration we decided the best road ahead was to present them all together as a full update,” Weisnewski wrote of other Exotics that were getting re-adjusted.

Hand cannons such as Thorn, The Last Word and Hawkmoon will see various changes which will have a big impact on PvP. Thorn for example will have reduced damage of Mark of the Devourer DoT (Damage over Time), to roughly 1/3 of what it was in PVP and PVE.

These changes will be seen across most weapons in Destiny. Here’s the changelog:

Auto-Rifles

Goals:

• Auto Rifle is optimal at close to medium range
• Damage, Stability, and Range are tuned such that players desire Stability for reliable close quarters damage, or Range for better accuracy and increased damage at a distance
• Elevate Auto Rifles so they are a more competitive option in PVP, and simultaneously more satisfying to use in PVE

Changes:

• Increase base damage
• Start damage falloff closer to the player to emphasize its role as a close to medium range weapon
• Small reduction in base stability. Landing shots at optimal range is unaffected, but repeated precision hits require more weapon control to land consistently
• Boost damage by 10% against AI combatants

Pulse Rifles

Goals:

• Pulse Rifle is optimal at medium range, but can still effectively engage enemies at close or medium-long range
• Rate of Fire sets a pace for players to track moving targets, and then deliver precision damage in bursts
• Pulse Rifles should feel strong in PVP, but don’t become the only competitive option
• Additionally increase their efficiency as a PVE weapon

Changes:

• Reduce base damage of the mediumRoF by about 2.5%
  • PVP: Bursts-to-kill (all precision hits) is 2 or 3, depending on victim’s Armor stat
• Small reduction in base stability. A burst should still land all shots at optimal range, but three precision hits will require more weapon control to land consistently
• Increase magazine size on for all base inventory stats

Scout Rifles

Goals:

• Scout Rifles are the best Primary Weapon for long range engagements
• Scout Rifles perform best when landing paced precision shots
• Rate of Fire and Optics are tuned so that Scout Rifles are a little harder to use effectively close in

Changes:

• Increase base damage for medium to high Rate of Fire Scout Rifles
  • PVP: Does not affect TTK in PVP on a Guardian with full health
• Increase magazine size for all base inventory stats
• Reduce Final Accuracy when firing from hip
  • Fast firing outside of ADS will be less accurate
• Boost damage by 5% against AI combatants

Hand Cannons

Goals:

• Hand Cannons are optimal at close to medium range
• Hand Cannons are optimal when shots are paced, but become less effective when fired quickly
• Rewards agility under fire, precision targeting, and snap shots
• Hand Cannons cannot reliably compete with Scout Rifles at long range

Changes:

• Start damage falloff closer to the player to limit long range lethality
• Small reduction in ADS accuracy, targeted at making long range snap-shooting less reliable
• Reduce final accuracy when firing from hip
  • Fast firing from hip is less reliable
• Reduce magazine size for all base inventory stats
• Reduce base Optics (zoom) for all Hand Cannons
  • ADS now grants more width in favor of depth

Shotguns

Goals:

• Shotgun is most effective at very close range
• Complements melee attacks and other close-quarters class builds
• Offensively closing on an enemy with a Shotgun is a risk/reward timing game
• Curb Shotgun effectiveness in PVE slightly to reintroduce some risk when closing on a powerful enemy

Changes:

• Shotgun perks that enhance lethality at rangeshould be less effective when combined with a highinitial Range stat:
  • Reduce Shot Package Accuracy buff by 30%
  • Rangefinder adds a 5% base Range increase on ADS (was 20%)
• Reduce Precision Damage multiplier on Shotguns by 10%
• Reduce damage against AI combatants by 10%

Fusion Rifles

Goals:

• Fusion Rifles are optimal at mid-range, where targets are easier to track but they’re not close enough to attack while charging up
• Requires combat foresight and the ability to predict a target’s movement to use successfully
• It should not be easy to find and build a Fusion Rifle that can achieve maximum Range

Changes:

• Slow charging, high Impact Fusion Rifles have decreased Range values
  • Makes it more difficult to max out Range for these weapons
• Projectile Speed for Fusion Rifles is slightly reduced
  • Emphasizes the need to lead a targets outside medium range
• Improve Accuracy for short range Fusion Rifles
• Reduce Accuracy for long range Fusion Rifles

Rocket Launchers

Goals:

• Rocket Launchers deal massive AoE damage from a distance
• Rockets are optimal when placed in the middle of a group

Changes:

• Slight increase in base Blast Radius.
• Grenades and Horseshoes proximity detonation reduced.

Sniper Rifles

Goals:

• Sniper Rifles are optimal at long range, and difficult to use for medium to short range combat
• Sniper Rifles reward thumb skill with high damage against precision targets
• The Final Round perk on Sniper Rifles should still require precision shots

Changes:

• Final Round on Sniper Rifles buffs precision damage only, not base damage
  • This change only affects this perk when combined with Sniper Rifles

Like I’ve said, expect many a Destiny fan to bust the caps-lock on their keyboards when this news sinks in. It’s actually going to benefit me right now however, as I’m busy with the Bad Juju exotic, and don’t own the coveted Gjallahorn, opting instead for Dragon’s Breath.

Erm, hopefully Xur has a decent sale on today then, to take the sting out of this. Just like Bungie have done to Thorn. HEYO!

Last Updated: July 17, 2015