If you didn’t hoard hundreds of Masterwork cores before the launch of Forsaken, you’ll look pretty old in Destiny 2 as infusing your favorite weapons and armor is way too expensive, says our author Robert. Here’s how to get the best out of the system.
If you want to use your favorite gear, you need to infuse: Do you want to raise your favorite weapon to a new power level? Then you’ll need a weapon with a higher power level in the same slot to infuse into your weapon and make it stronger.
I play as a Striker Titan with the rocket code. With the Exo helm “An unyielding skull fortress” (also called disco ball), I can cause chaos from the air every few seconds.
Because the melee skill revives the ability “Death from Above” from Destiny 1. With the Exo helm, I only need to score a kill to immediately execute the ability again (healing is a bonus).
The problem: The game doesn’t allow me to use the helm at my power level because I’m chronically under-stocked with Masterwork cores. Because the requirements for infusing gear have significantly increased with Forsaken.
Infusing becomes a luxury with Forsaken
Legendary shards are no longer enough: Before the launch of the Forsaken expansion, you only needed a few lousy legendary shards that were available in abundance (just dismantle duplicate legendary gear).
However, that is no longer sufficient. In addition to
- Glimmer,
- legendary shards, and
- planet-specific materials
you now also need to use Masterwork cores to infuse gear.
Granted, those who have played Destiny 2 extensively since launch probably have an abundance of Masterwork cores. However, this will not be true for the average player. In fact, I started Forsaken with only five of these coveted cores.
Of course, these ran out quickly. But why did Bungie increase the infusion costs so exorbitantly?
This is what Bungie says about the infusion costs: In a Q&A with press representatives shortly after the launch of Forsaken, Bungie addressed the question of whether the increase in costs was “fair”. From the perspective of two developers, the system was designed this way:
- They wanted to prevent players from simply upgrading old junk to a new power level and continuing to play. You should think carefully about which few gear items to infuse.
- On the other hand, Bungie wants you to try everything that Forsaken has to offer. You should play with everything that comes your way. If you simply infuse everything, you have no desire to try out all the new stuff.
My problem with the new system
As understandable as the reasoning is, it clearly reveals associated design weaknesses:
- At a certain point, you can no longer continue with the random submachine gun decoded from a Primary Engram. Some weapon rolls are better than others, and ideally, you need the right tool for every range.
- The drop rate for exotic armor and weapons has significantly decreased with Forsaken. To effectively play different playstyles and focuses, you rely on certain exotics.
- There’s no way to farm Masterwork cores. Those who are not drowning in legendary shards are dependent on luck.
Since Bungie, according to the developers, are convinced of their own infusion system, it can be ruled out that the costs will decrease in the short to medium term.
Up to a certain point, you can also enjoy playing with whatever Destiny 2 throws at you. However, as soon as you want to challenge the Crucible or the Dreaming City, you’ll need to optimize your gear, which, if you’re lacking loot luck, means: Infuse.
How to efficiently infuse your favorite toys
Don’t start infusing too early: If you want to take your Midnight without a Name and the Wardcliff Coil through the campaign right at the start of Forsaken, you’ll run out of your Masterwork cores faster than you can say “Cayde is dead”.
Until completing the main story and reaching power level 500, you don’t have to worry about infusing. Blue gear drops until the soft cap of 500. After that, you’ll receive legendary gear through certain paths up to the level cap of 600. Once you reach power level 530-540, you need to carefully consider which gear you want to infuse:
- Exotic armor tailored to your focus that significantly improves your gameplay. Ideally, you should have strong exotic armor for every focus to efficiently use the Scorch bonuses in strikes.
- Exotic weapons that you need in tricky boss fights. This includes particularly the Whisper of the Worm and the Sleeper Simulant.
This is how you get Masterwork cores and planet materials: Visit Spider in the Tangled Shore! He offers you Masterwork cores in exchange for legendary shards every day.
But beware: The costs double with each Masterwork core you buy in a single day. While the first costs ten shards, Spider will ask for 160 legendary shards for the fifth.
Buy one or a maximum of two Masterwork cores each day, depending on how many shards you have stashed away.
Otherwise, you can dismantle unnecessary Masterwork gear. However, these are exceedingly rare, so you’ll have to rely on your luck (or read our guide to Masterwork cores).
To obtain planet-specific materials, you can also drop by Spider. He offers a rotating selection of materials daily that you can use to infuse your gear.
But be careful here too: You can use the materials at the planet vendors to gain rep and level them up. So give them away wisely or not at all.
What do you think about infusing with Forsaken? Too expensive? Or just right?
