As with every new Destiny 2 expansion, the Power level caps and the availability of some Exotics and their catalysts will also change for “The Witch Queen.” We will tell you what the new maximum Power is, when you can start entering the endgame, and why Xur will soon offer former quest Exotics.
Guardians in Destiny 2 define the strength of their character through the so-called Power level. Bungie publishes maximum limits that change upwards with each new season and expansion. The Power level determines when a player can enter the endgame or play more challenging content. With Witch Queen, these Power levels will change as follows:
- The new minimum Power level base value (Power Floor) is 1350
- The Soft Cap begins at Power level 1500
- The Power Cap is 1550
- The Hard Cap is 1560
What do these Power level limits mean?
If you are new to Destiny 2 or don’t remember the exact names of the individual Power level tiers:
The “Power Floor” is the base Power level: It is traditionally automatically raised to a general base level at the start of an expansion. (Also for items that you pull from the collection.) This ensures that every player can keep up, even if they haven’t played for a while. Each engram increases your Power, allowing you to quickly reach the next level phase, the Soft Cap.
The “Soft Cap” can be reached by anyone easily: From this Power level onwards, players can only increase their Power level further through “Powerful Gear.” This can be obtained in Destiny 2 from most activities and does not require entering the endgame.
Only “Peak Gear” provides further progress: The Power Cap is then the biggest challenge when leveling. From here, there are only pluses on the items when playing activities that drop so-called “Peak Gear.” These are available only in limited quantities each week and lead players to the maximum possible Power level that Guardians can achieve without artifact Power plus.
Before the launch of Witch Queen, players can also level up a little bit in advance by completing certain bounties now and then holding them in the inventory for the release. Bungie has clarified that, for example, Iron Banner bounties will not be removed at the end of the season as initially thought.
Good to know: Players who earn Peak Gear right away can level up faster. Players can play all activities at any time as long as they are not restricted to a specific Power level in access, as is the case with Grandmaster Nightfalls.
These Power level specifications in the game are comparable to a best before date. You should have at least this Power level but do not have to.
However, keep in mind: Before you join a Grandmaster Nightfall with the base Power level, note that all activities that promise you top loot are also more challenging. Your enemies will not take your lower Power level into account, and you will be underpowered against all one-shots. This is only something for Guardians who love a challenge.
The artifact grants even more Power plus: Essentially, the maximum achievable Power level in Destiny 2 with Witch Queen is 1560. However, that is not the end of what is possible. Through the seasonal artifact, players can further increase their Power level beyond that. However, that is no longer a “real” Power plus, but only applies to the respective season.
Exotic weapons with random rolls coming soon at Xur
Xur is also getting an upgrade with the new expansion. He will be allowed to expand his offer and provide you with Exotic weapons with random rolls because the two Exotic missions “Omen” and “Portents” are moving to the content vault.
In the past, Bungie has added such weapons to the stock of the “Monuments to Lost Lights,” but that will not be the case. Instead, they will come into Xur’s offer and will also be available weekly with random rolls.
What does such a weapon cost at Xur? Since you have already emptied Xur’s treasure room, he needs to restock. The weapons will cost you 1 Ascendant Shard, 1 Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, and 200 Legendary Shards.
But not only Xur will become more relevant. Banshee-44 will also receive his long-awaited rework with the launch of Witch Queen. The annoying mod components and weapon master materials will soon be a thing of the past.
Where can you get missing catalysts? As some things will be eliminated and the seasonal activity will soon be unavailable, catalysts that could only be obtained there will be moved. Bungie has also added three catalysts that were not previously available in Destiny 2.
These catalysts will soon be obtainable from completions of playlist activities (Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit):
- Fatebringer, the exotic hand cannon from the “Omen” mission
- Story of a Dead, the exotic scout rifle from the “Portents” mission
- Ager’s Scepter, the seasonal exotic from Season 15
- Perfected Outbreak, the exotic pulse rifle from the “Zero Hour” mission
- Whisper of the Worm, the exotic sniper from the “The Whisper” mission
- The Fourth Horseman, an exotic shotgun
Bungie has also adjusted the requirements for completing the catalysts of Perfected Outbreak and Whisper of the Worm. You can now complete them without access to their original activities.
When are these changes in the game? At the launch of Witch Queen, the latest Destiny 2 expansion on February 22, 2022, players will receive both the new caps and the leveling can begin. From then on, the exotic weapons will also be available at Xur.
Bungie seems to have rediscovered Xur and not only gives him his own game show, but also makes him progressively more interesting. Maybe he will soon offer missing shaders, who knows?
What do you think about the new maximum Power level? Are you looking forward to leveling up or do you think this cap is too high? How far have you leveled up so far, and do you dare to take on the challenges with Peak Gear? Let us know in the comments.
