Bungie 'leaks' Taken King Exotics

Today Bungie took to their Instagram to showcase some of the new Exotic gear that will become available in The Taken King DLC.

With a September 15th launch right around the corner and a community divided, the developer is doing what they can to fuel the Hype Train.  All of this coming in the wake of Bungie’s announcement that guardians beloved year one legendaries would not be moving forward into year two, making prized pieces of raid gear like the Fatebringer, Vision of Confluence and Black Hammer near obsolete.

An even more shocking decision was that even House of Wolves gear, and yes that includes Trials of Osiris, wouldn’t be moving forward either.  So say goodbye to the Messenger (Adept).

All of this news, as crippling as it was, came with an up side.  A claim that “even some blue weapons” in The Taken King will out power year one legendaries, and “better gear is coming”.

So the question I have been asking is, is it true?  Or, will this DLC be just another copy, paste and re-skin fest? Lets take a look at the gear we saw today.

 

GEAR

Empyrean Bellicose, Exotic Titan Helmet.

Empyrean-Bellicose

The Perks:

  • Aiming your weapons while in the air will hold you in place for a short time.
  • Orbs collected when your super is full will recharge your melee ability .

The Review:

I will admit.  This helm is visually stunning however we basically have the Warlock ability ‘Angel of Light’, that has been pasted into a titan helm.  Not really much to see here folks.  Lets move along.

 

Alchemist’s Raiment, Exotic Warlock Chest piece.

Alchemists-Raiment-exotic-chest

The Perks:

  • Collecting primary ammo will give you a chance to gain glimmer.
  • Orbs collected when your super is full recharge your grenades and melee.

The Review:

Again, visually stunning but I could barley read the first perk without spitting my coffee all over myself.  Is this a joke?  Are you trolling Bungie?  A “chance to gain more glimmer” ……..from primary ammo packs?  Unless we are talking stacks, and I mean FAT Rick Ross stacks of glimmer, 1,000 per pop, this Exotic is completely worthless.  This is why we have Ether Seeds, Black Wax Idols, Blue Polyphage and Resupply Codes.  Or are you rendering them obsolete as well?  Do you even Destiny, Bros?  Lets move on and hope this gets better.

 

Sealed Ahamkara Grasps, Exotic Hunter Gauntlets.

Sealed-Ahamkara-Grasps

The Perks:

  • They will provide you with an additional melee charge.
  • Your melee damage will have a chance to reload your Primary Weapon.

The Review:

… … …Really?  Again we have a perk previously seen on the Warlock.  Though this could prove somewhat useful in certain situations.  An additional blink strike.  An additional smokey teleport thingy maybe?  An additional… oh wait.  The Gunslinger already has an additional throwing knife.  Does this mean I can have 3?  Doubtful.  Especially since the warlock perks that should provide you a 3rd grenade, do not.

 

WEAPONS

The Chaperone, Exotic Shotgun.

the-chaperone-exotic-shotgun

The Perks:

  • Fires a single slug shot and grants an agility boost when equipped.
  • Your precision kills will grant a brief increase to handling, range, rate of fire and stability.

The Review:

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.  Gather around as I show you the future of Destiny…  Just kidding.  It’s basically a shotgun with Lightweight.  That being said this weapon still does have a bit of promise.  Let us assume that it has an incredible range.  Oh wait… It does you say?  So, whats the catch?  Test footage shows that it can’t, or at least has a hard time killing in one body shot.  What? Really?  It’s a single slug shotgun!  Yeah, well.  You know.  Balancing and all.  *Facepalm*

 

Sleeper Simulant, Exotic Fusion Rifle

sleeper-simulant-exotic-review

The Perks:

  • Fusion rifle equipped in your Heavy Weapon slot.
  • This weapon’s laser tears through enemies and ricochets on hard surfaces.

The Review:

What can one say about the gun that has been marketed to us as the “New Gjallarhorn”.  I can tell you that the gameplay footage didn’t show a lot of promise.  It appears to take 5 shots to bring down a level 31 yellow bar Ogre.  Significantly more shots than its predecessor.  I guess in a spherical, metal room… that has an Ogre trapped inside this weapon would probably wreck.  However, I don’t think well see that environment in The Taken King.  So, I’ll leave it at this.  You’ve got a lot of proving to do.

 

Telesto, Exotic Fusion Rifle

telesto-exotic-fusion-rifle

The Perks:

  • This Fusion Rifle will attach projectiles to your foes and detonate with a delayed void blast.
  • Multi-kills with this weapon will drop orbs for your allies.

The Review:

I saved the best for last.  The weapon design is clean.  The perks feel “exotic” and speak for themselves.  Now lets see this baby in action and hope it earns its stripes.

 

Summary

All in all I call this showing lackluster at best.  Once again we have seen Bungie recycle old perks, paint them a shiny new red and present them to us as the future.  Once again we have seen them create perks that sound ridiculous to anyone who actually plays this game.  An exotic “glimmer from primary ammo” perk sounds as ridiculous as rocket launchers with moderate shank burn and guns like No Land Beyond.  Add it all up and it looks like Bungie is the same old Bungie, at his time I am not sold.

This time an apology and a promise of a better future won’t cut it.  So, get it together Bungie.  You’ve got a lot to change and change it quick.  Your Guardians deserve better.