In Destiny 2, the ‘Witch Queen’ fever has broken out. The Witch Queen has completely enchanted the Guardians, and this is despite not being the most presentable for years. But she has competition. Caiatl, the Cabal princess, is just as imposing. She is the center of Season 16 and brings not only stylish Cabal weapons but also the new psionic artifact.
Currently, players in Destiny 2 can take two paths. They can either choose the mega-story about Savathun, which is truly captivating, or they can fully dive into the contents of Season 16. However, you can also change your decision midway and do the season activities first. It’s up to each player how they prefer to proceed.
In the season of the Resurrected, the psionic artifact is primarily in focus. The Vanguard has discovered an ancient relic, and the Empress of the Cabal possesses the light-suppressing technology to make it fully usable. So, Zavala has no choice in the season of the Resurrected.
- The H.E.L.M. has been specially modified and equipped with tactical resources.
- Guardians plan psionic special operations from there via the PsiOps Battlegrounds playlist.
- The new battlegrounds are a horde mode with Hive lieutenants and champions.
How to get the artifact of Season 16
Like every new season, the season of the Resurrected has its own unique artifact that players can unlock and even modify. In Season 16, this is the ‘Synaptic Spear’.
In this Season 16, however, it is not static, as it was in Shadowkeep or Beyond Light. This artifact can penetrate the minds of the Hive Guardians and the Witch Queen, and it can be made ‘usable’.
Since Savathun’s plans are so difficult to see through, there might be a glimmer of hope to uncover her plan and make the story even more exciting.
Everything starts with the introductory mission “The Arrival”: You can only get the artifact if you have played this. But don’t worry: The first mission is completely free for all ‘Destiny 2’ players. Whether you have the new DLC ‘Witch Queen’ or not.
Your journey starts by talking to Ikora Rey, the Warlock Vanguard, in the enclave on Mars. There you will receive a mission with a giant cannon, after completing which you will get the new Season 16 artifact.
The mission is entertaining but also challenging, and while you fight, you should collect various “additional artifacts”, like the artifact of the Black Fleet. Once you have completed and collected everything, you can return to Ikora in the enclave. There the new artifact will already be waiting for you.
The artifact then offers you several advantages:
- The artifact brings important champion and additionally special seasonal mods.
- The more XP you collect, the more mods you can unlock in the artifact.
- At the start of Witch Queen, Guardians can unlock all 25 mods simultaneously for the first time.
- It is still uncertain whether players will also use the artifact as a weapon.
You can increase your power level over the season through the artifact, even above the maximum value of 1560. However, keep in mind that this is just a seasonal power push for your Guardian to reach certain levels faster, for example.
All seasonal artifact mods of Season 16 at a glance
This is the order in which you will unlock the mods. In the last column, you will also find the most expensive mod of Season 16 “Suppressing Darkness”.
First, the Guardians unlock the first champion mods:
- Anti-Barrier Scout Rifle (1 energy cost)
- Overload Rounds for Auto Rifle and Submachine Gun (1 energy cost)
- Unstoppable Hand Cannon (1 energy cost)
- “Piercing Bowstring” (1 energy cost)
- Shield-breaking arrows for anti-barrier champions
- Unstoppable Pulse Rifle (1 energy cost)
2nd row:
- “Glaive Skill” (1 energy cost)
- Glaives are readied faster and are holstered faster
- “Rocket Launcher Scavenger” (1 energy cost)
- Bonus reserves when picking up ammo
- “Psionic Forge 1” (1 energy cost)
- Increases the origin attribute “Psychohack” and the effect of “Suros Energy”
- “Melee Source Creator” (1 energy cost)
- Charged melee kills generate elemental sources
- “Hand Cannon Targeting” (1 energy cost)
- Improves aim assist, accuracy, and aim-down sights speed
3rd row:
- “Glaive Scavenger” (1 energy cost)
- Bonus reserves when picking up ammo
- “Thermal Shock Armor” (2 energy cost)
- Reduces incoming solar and arc damage from combatants
- “Auto Rifle Loader” (1 energy cost)
- Increases reload speed of auto rifles
- “Source of Power” (1 energy cost)
- Picking up an elemental source that matches the focus energy type grants a temporary damage bonus to weapons of the same elemental type
- “Psionic Forge 2” (1 energy cost)
- Increases the origin attribute “Land Tank” and the effect of “Häkke Breakthrough”
4th row:
- “Unstoppable Glaive” (5 energy cost)
- “Radiant Finisher” (6 energy cost)
- When you defeat a Lightbearer or Champion of the Radiant Hive with a finisher, you generate heavy ammo for yourself and your allies.
- “Suppressing Glaive” (4 energy cost)
- When you deal damage to combatants with the glaive, they are suppressed and cannot use abilities for a short time.
- “Overload Grenades” (1 energy cost)
- Void grenades disrupt combatants, stun them, delay their ability energy regeneration, and reduce their damage dealt. Strong against Overload champions.
- “Inferno Whip” (1 energy cost)
- Solar melee abilities stun unshielded combatants. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.
5th row:
- “Masterful Suppression” (3 energy cost)
- Suppression effects created by you last longer
- “Devouring Strong” (3 energy cost)
- Using your Void super while critically wounded or profiting from devouring increases damage with that super.
- “Fleeting Flow” (2 energy cost)
- By picking up a Void elemental source, you gain fleeting projectiles for your Void weapon.
- “Energy Vampire” (3 energy cost)
- Gain energy for your least charged ability when you suppress a target.
- “Suppressing Darkness” (7 energy cost)
- Whenever you suppress combatants, you also weaken them, causing them to take additional damage for a short time.
How far along are you with unlocking your artifact? Already at max level or still in campaign fever? Or did the new DLC not convince you at all? We look forward to your feedback, of any kind. So feel free to leave us a comment.
