In Destiny, the release of the new DLC “The Dark Below” is looming on Tuesday, along with a new max level. But how does one progress to level 32? And will we all be level 31 starting tomorrow?
The Light level of a Guardian is its “level” after level 20. This Light level is calculated based on the light value of the four pieces of armor they wear. This value continues to increase as the armor pieces are upgraded. However, there is a maximum value for each armor type that can be achieved in Destiny. We have explained all of this here.
Warning: In this article, we are largely basing our values on findings from data miners in the game’s database, insights from YouTubers who received information from the new expansion over the weekend, and official statements about how the game is intended to be designed. As long as the expansion is not live (on Tuesday at 10:00 AM), we cannot guarantee anything.
Update 9.12.: It has turned out exactly as described in the following article.
Leveling Beyond Level 20 Will Change Significantly Starting Tomorrow
The path to the new level 32 differs significantly in some ways from what Guardians have known so far. Currently, it is the case that Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans reach various points where they can get “stuck.” Along the way to Light level 30, there are various tiers where Guardians simply cannot progress due to luck or misfortune.
This is how Guardians at levels 24, 25, or 26 complain about being stuck, cursing the terrible loot system, their damn luck, and the mother of the Cryptarch. The announced changes for “The Dark Below” are steering Destiny in a different direction here. Until now, it has been advisable to focus on materials, coins, and marks, which will become even more extreme.
Safely at Level 31 Thanks to the Vendors in the Tower
Leveling beyond level 20 with “The Dark Below” will change: There will be new legendary armor pieces that can be purchased from the Vanguard and Crucible vendors. These armor pieces can be upgraded to a light value of 33. This is a higher value than the previous raid armor.
A Guardian with four fully upgraded vendor legendaries will reach a light value of 132. This is enough for the new light level 31.
The new armor pieces from the vendors are available for marks and the “Crucible or Vanguard Recommendations.” You earn these when you achieve a reputation rank increase beyond rank 3. The legendary armor pieces from the vendor require the old “Ascendant Shards” and “Ascendant Energy” to be fully upgraded.
This isn’t too tragic, as exotic armors now need exotic shards, and the new “raid weapons” and “raid armors” also require new upgrade materials. Furthermore, all these armors will also consume planetary materials, Glimmer, and experience points.
The video shows pictures from the Destiny pre-event with new legendaries and vendor armor pieces – this is not the live version of the game, so there is no guarantee that it will look like this on Tuesday.
Perfection Needed for Level 32
Those who wish to reach level 32 will face significantly harder challenges. 144 light points are necessary. To achieve this, they need 4 armor pieces with a light value of 36. This value is only held by new exotic armor pieces (also “old” pieces that drop starting Tuesday) or “old” exotic armor, which has been upgraded by Xur. Or the new raid legendaries.
To upgrade the new raid legendaries, “Radiant Shards” and “Radiant Energy” will be needed, which can only be obtained by breaking down other raid items. It is still unclear whether the raid armor drops directly in the normal mode of Crota’s End or only in the “hard” mode, which is supposed to start in January.
What Questions Remain in Destiny?
The key questions at the moment concern the vendor armors: How expensive will they be? How easy is it to get them? How complex are the upgrades in Destiny?
If they are easy to obtain, practically every Guardian will be extremely quickly at level 31 – or at least could be. And the previous “grind” would be eliminated. Especially since Destiny has changed the planetary materials as well.
Then many Guardians would walk around with similar armor, and the question would only be: Which exotic armor piece are you wearing in your mix? It is also important here: Can all “vendor legendaries” reach a value of 33 light as it currently seems?
There is already some data about some of the new vendor legendaries, as they are said to start with a light value of 24 and reach a maximum value of 33. Allegedly, they cost between 75 and 120 marks, and 18 ascendant energies are needed for full upgrades, but whether this is really the case will only be known on Tuesday. Here are four of the “datamined” new vendor legendaries:
The next question concerns the raid armor. Initially, two sets were discussed. It may therefore be the case that a raid armor drops in the “normal” mode, which only ascends to a light value of 33, and one saves the light armor with a light value of 36 until January. This would mean that the first level 32 Guardians will only appear in January.
In any case, the leveling spectrum in which most Guardians operate seems to shrink significantly. This is supported by everything we know so far. From previously around 24-30, it could soon shrink to 31-32. Then weapons and perhaps the skills of the players would become even more important than before.
