Last week, Destiny 2 made a small but significant note in the current TWaB. It was mainly about the changes that Bungie plans to bring online in the upcoming update. And about a quiet whisper that players immediately noticed…
Bungie spoke last week in the “This Week at Bungie” blog a bit more specifically about general adjustments as well as buffs and nerfs to various exotics. These are set to be released with the big sandbox balance patch on December 7th.
Currently, the following is known about the planned changes:
- The Vex Mythoclast will definitely receive a nerf.
- The exotic Titan leg armor, Duneswalker, will be toned down.
- The already nerfed Exotic grenade launcher “Lion’s Roar” is set to be polished a bit.
- The reign of the Shatterdive Stasis Hunter is also coming to an end.
- And then there was a quiet “whisper”. Is that an upcoming Whisper buff?
This is what Bungie quietly “whispered” to the players
This is the little hint in question: In the German TWaB “This Week at Bungie” it might not have been noticed, but in the original English version it certainly was. Bungie had italicized a word in the middle of the text. “I’ve heard whispers […]”
The hint is also found exactly in the section where community manager dmg04 suggests that he has been whispered more changes regarding exotic weapons.
Bungie loves hidden allusions: It’s quite possible that this is just a coincidence. But anyone who knows Bungie doesn’t really believe in coincidences. Players suspect that the developer is alluding to the exotic sniper rifle “Whisper of the Worm” with this subtle hint.
Here’s why Whisper of the Worm is so sought after: The exotic sniper rifle in the heavy slot was a feared boss killer in Year 1 of Destiny 2. The exotic perk “White Nail” grants it increased precision damage. Three quick precision hits refill the magazine. If a shot misses, the perk “Mulligan” ensures that this ammunition is immediately returned to the magazine.
Anyone who also “hopped” the catalyst in the Whisper mission received an additional perk “Breath Control”. This granted bonus range and additional precision damage when staying zoomed in.
Is the proven boss killer about to make a comeback?
If the return of the weapon is confirmed, it would be welcome news for the community. Destiny player drummer1059 writes on reddit:
Fair enough, because it’s a great weapon and I agree that a comeback is possible. I miss the Midnight Putch / Ikelos shotgun / Whisper meta from the Forsaken endgame.
Also, the very specific look of this exotic, which was forged from the remains of the worm god Xol, has always been well received by players. When Bungie released a nerf for the weapon, it made it completely useless.
The Whisper of the Worm had fallen silent and disappeared into insignificance, just as many other weapons in Destiny 2 have done.
Here’s how to get Whisper of the Worm: The power sniper rifle was previously obtainable through a hidden and really cool mission on IO. This has, however, since been moved to the Content Vault. The weapon Whisper of the Worm is now available from the Tower kiosk.
Does this also mean the Whisper catalyst is coming back? If the buff for the Whisper is indeed confirmed, it could also be the case that the catalyst for the Whisper returns. Because although the weapon can currently be purchased at the Tower kiosk, the matching masterpiece catalyst is no longer in the game.
These changes are also planned
Vex nerf only relevant in PvP: Many players had hoped that the planned nerf for the Vex would only affect PvP. Currently, the weapon is strong, but only due to the seasonal buff. Without this and with a harsh nerf, it would just be “the next exotic dusting in the vault”. Bungie seems to be focusing on PvP with the upcoming changes.
Here’s how hard the nerf for the Vex Mythoclast will be: Bungie explicitly mentioned in the TWaB that it is the aim assist of the Vex Mythoclast that will be reduced. Such an adjustment would actually weaken the weapon in PvP and keep it as a viable option in PvE. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if the currently strongest exotic can survive without the seasonal mod “Particle Disintegration”.
However, it was already clear to many players that a nerf would and must come. The Vex Mythoclast was simply too present, especially in PvP.
This is changing with the Duneswalker leg armor: The second revision that Bungie wants to make affects Duneswalker. The leg armor is one of the few Titan exotics that is popular in both PvE and PvP.
Players are tired of the “Lightning Titans”: The upcoming nerf is meant to appease PvP players stressed by the exotic. The Chain Lightning from Duneswalker is too powerful and dominant in PvP. The developer wants to shift focus away from ability kills back more toward gunplay.
Players have long been wanting a nerf for this exotic:
This is the buff coming for Lion’s Roar: There will be a confirmed buff for the grenade launcher Lion’s Roar among the weapon exotics. The general nerf for grenade launchers hit it a bit too hard. Therefore, Bungie will correct the following:
- No more multiple hit requirement for the reload speed buff.
- Increased reload speed
- If you miss, it will still reload slowly, but much faster than before the nerf.
You can read in another MeinMMO article how the nerf of the Shatterdive Stasis Hunter and how Destiny 2 players learned about it:
Did you notice the hidden hint in the TWaB? What do you think about the possible return of “Whisper of the Worm”? And what do you think about the current announcements regarding the planned nerfs and buffs? Are you satisfied with them?
