Destiny 2Season of Arrivalsintroduced Umbral Engrams, the season’s exclusive loot pursuit system. From its simplicity to how much ground the system covers, it is evident that the game benefits greatly from such a loot structure.
Every other season duringDestiny 2: Shadowkeepalso had its own way to pursue loot. However, most loot sources put the focus on weapon bounties. With how much the community has started to resent bounties as a whole, the elegance of the Umbral Engram system has been a breath of fresh air.
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The main draw of the Umbral Engrams is that they can drop anywhere. Even though weapon bounties also allowed for the chase of specific pieces of loot, they still felt like micro-tasks players were burdened with. InSeason of Arrivals,Umbral Engrams can drop at any point in any mode, making players focus on the game’s activities rather than an assignment they picked up from an NPC.
The focusing of the Umbral Engrams makes it easier to get god rollsof seasonal weapons. And by engaging with the new content and acquiring upgrades for the Prismatic Recaster, players can increase their odds of getting useful perk combinations on particular guns. The Umbral Engram system also makes the collection aspect of the game more efficient, as fans can ‘check off’ certain guns from their loot pool and aim for the next item on their wish list.
Having the option to narrow down the loot pool gives players clearer objectives and offers a moredirect way to build certain loadouts. Umbral Engrams have also instilled the excitement of earning and opening engrams once again.
The benefits of the system affect each type of player too. While the dedicated fans can more efficiently complete their well-rolled arsenals, the more casual players who jump in every now and again can also go for the one or two guns that interest them. The ability to focus an Umbral Engram at no cost also helps too.
This isn’t the first time inDestinywhere loot focusing was available. Back inSeason of Opulence,the Chalice allowed players to earn very specific items from Menagerie. Similarly, in the first game, faction rank-up packages were grouped into armor and weapon selections.
Loot focusing is ultimately about lessening the time of grinding activities to get something valuable to a player. It allows the fans to start enjoying their favorite weapons sooner. The hope is that the response to Umbral Engrams will encourage Bungie to pursue similar systems inDestiny 2: Beyond Light.
Destiny 2is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
