Summary
The new Prismatic Subclass buildcrafting tools introduced in the Final Shape DLC are turning out to be a game-changer, and their impact onDestiny 2’s meta will continue to evolve as players experiment with the different combinations of Prismatic abilities, Aspects, and Fragments. However, while Prismatic has shaken up the game in fresh ways, one new feature related toDestiny 2’s Prismatic Subclass has put unnecessary restrictions on players’ builds in the new content in this DLC.
Alongsidethe new Dread enemy faction, the Final Shape DLC has also introduced a new Prismatic shield mechanic for certain special enemy variants, which are only vulnerable to damage while players are using their Transcendent ability. While this new mechanic can be a fun way to introduce players to the new exclusive abilities available in the Prismatic Subclasses, it is fairly reminiscent of what was arguably one ofDestiny 2’s worst activity modifiers - Match Game.
Destiny 2’s Transcendent Prismatic-Shields Are a Double-Edged Sword
Throughout the Pale Heart patrol destination and theFinal Shape campaign inDestiny 2, players can encounter enemies with new Prismatic shields, who will be immune to damage until players break their shield by dealing any weapon or ability damage while Transcendent. Normally, Transcendence is exclusive to the new Prismatic Subclass, so the most consistent way to deal with these shielded enemies is to have one member of the fireteam equipped with the Prismatic Subclass. However, players can occasionally find pools of Transcendent energy that will temporarily provide access to Transcendence, regardless of whether players have the Prismatic Subclass equipped.
Generally, it’s recommended that players equip the new Prismatic Subclass while adventuring intothe Pale Heart patrol destination, be it during the campaign, Lost Sectors, Overthrow, or casually exploring this activity, to be prepared to deal with any enemies that have Prismatic shields. Yet, while many players are already likely testing out new Prismatic builds, some players still prefer their existing Light and Darkness Subclass builds, and for these players, Prismatic-shielded enemies can be a frustrating encounter.
Not to mention, this mechanic can still be problematic for players, even if they are already using thenew Prismatic Subclasses. Considering how difficult it can be to manually recharge the Transcendence ability, players typically want to save it for specific moments to take full advantage of it. Consequently, forcing players to expend their Transcendence every time these particular enemies show up can be frustrating.
How Destiny 2’s Final Shape DLC Reintroduces an Old Controversy
These new Prismatic shields are fairly reminiscent of the old Match Game modifier that has long since been removed fromDestiny 2, and for good reason. This modifier that used to be present in high-difficulty Strikes and Lost Sectors made it so that players essentially needed to use matching Elemental damage to break enemy shields. Technically, it was still possible to break enemy shields without using the corresponding Elemental damage type while this modifier was active, but doing this would cost a lot of ammo and time, so it wasn’t a very sound strategy. After many players voiced their opinions on thiscontroversialDestiny 2feature, Match Game was eventually removed from the game, and additionally, element shields’ resistance to non-matching Elemental damage was significantly rebalanced.
Match Game was removed fromDestiny 2when the Lightfall DLC was released in February 2023. At the same time, Elemental damage to non-matching Elemental shields was increased universally by 50%.
Ultimately, the removal of the Match Game modifier was a great improvement to the game that gave players much more freedom in the kind of builds that are now viable in endgame content. So, with the new Prismatic shields placing similar restrictions on players’ builds, it might be best forDestiny 2to tread lightly with Prismatic-shielded enemies, or otherwise, give players more options for dealing with these unique enemies.
