Destiny 1 & 2 have managed to accumulate a huge collection of Exotics over the years, yet only a few of them have made a name for themselves. One of these legends is the Icebreaker, which is set to appear in Destiny 2 soon.
Which Exotic weapon is being referred to? This is the Icebreaker, an Exotic sniper with Solar elements. The weapon had two special effects:
- It cannot be reloaded but regenerates ammo over time (up to 6 rounds)
- It causes targets to explode on kill, dealing area damage
For many, the rifle was a highlight in Destiny 1, as it could prove itself in both PvE and PvP. The rifle was teased in the key art for the 10th anniversary of Destiny. It is set to make its way into the game with Episode 2. But how powerful could the rifle become in Destiny 2? Let’s take a closer look at its effects.
Infinite Ammo and a Nightmare in PvP
How is the weapon supposed to return? The Icebreaker is supposed to be the new Exotic rifle from the upcoming dungeon of Episode: Revenant. Bungie cryptically announced this in their blog post for the 10-year anniversary (via bungie.net).
How good was the weapon? Very good indeed, at least for Destiny 1. The ammo economy in Destiny 1 was modest, and Guardians had to replenish their ammo with ammo syntheses – with the Icebreaker, that could be ignored. The rifle could not be reloaded, as 6 rounds were generated gradually from thin air.
This was beneficial in both PvE and PvP. Thus, Guardians could even solo raid bosses like Atheon and not have to worry about ammo. In PvP, players with good aim could dominate the match, as ammo was constantly generated here as well. If opponents stood next to each other, they would also receive area damage from the explosions.
Can the weapon keep up today? If the rifle were to return to Destiny 2 without any rework, it could be difficult. The ammo economy in Destiny 2 is much better than in Destiny 1, and one can also compensate for its deficiencies in ammo gain with Exotic armor or mods.
Generating ammo from thin air is not the best anymore, and the effect of explosions is nothing special anymore. Bungie would therefore really need to adjust the rifle to ensure it does not get lost in the meta and the current abundance of Exotics.
It remains to be seen what the developers will come up with. But until then: what do you think of the Icebreaker? Could it make a comeback, or do you believe it is just a nice piece meant to remind us of past times? Let us know in the comments. You can find more about Destiny here: Destiny 2: How to get the armor for the 10th anniversary
