In Destiny 2, Warmind Cells and Charged with Light now have competition. How do the new mods from Season 13 work, and should you rethink your loadouts?
What’s new: Destiny 2 introduced a new mechanic with the launch of Season 13: Elemental Sources. This system allows you to craft new builds that make your Guardian a better killing machine. Elemental Sources work via mods, similar to the two known mechanics:
- Warmind Cells: Mini nuclear bombs that you can detonate or collect for bonuses
- Charged with Light: Overloads you and lets you spend energy for powerful buffs
MeinMMO looks at what mods are currently available and whether the new system can keep up with the two powerful mechanics.
What are Elemental Sources: You know Orbs of Power (formerly Orbs of Light)? Very good, because you should imagine Elemental Sources similarly.
- They appear on the ground after certain actions
- Waiting to be picked up and available to the whole fireteam
- Picking them up gives you energy or activates bonuses
Elemental Sources can either possess Void, Solar, Arc, or the Stasis element. Accordingly, they also glow in the appropriate colors:
Elemental Source Mods and how it works in Destiny 2
This is how the mechanic works: To generate an Elemental Source, you must have one of 6 suitable mods installed in your armor. The modifications go into the 4th slot (combat style slot).
Then, depending on the mods, there are several ways to produce them, such as kills with abilities or elemental weapons. After that, you walk over the source and the bonuses activate – which can also vary depending on the mod.
Importantly, these Elemental Source mods can only be used on armor from Beyond Light, Season 12, and the current Season 13. An older armor set won’t even show you the mods.
These 6 mods are available in Season 13:
- Elemental Charge: Defeating enemies with grenades generates an Elemental Source with your focus element (costs 3 energy)
- Elemental Light: Kills with your Super generate an Elemental Source with your focus element (costs 1 energy)
- Elemental Armament: Kills with weapons matching your focus element have an increasing chance of generating Elemental Sources (costs 2 energy)
- Source of Power: Picking up Elemental Sources with the matching focus increases weapon damage when the weapon has the same element (costs 4 energy)
- Source of Wisdom: Picking up Elemental Sources with the matching focus briefly increases intellect and makes the Super charge faster (costs 4 energy)
- Elemental Charge: Picking up an Elemental Charge charges you with Light. If the source matches your focus element, you receive 2 Light Charges (costs 2 energy)
Additionally, each of the 6 mods has the property that when you pick up an Elemental Source
- It charges the ability with the least energy
- If the Elemental Source matches the focus, all abilities charge
- Abilities include the Warlock Rift, Titan Barricade, Hunter Jump, grenade, and melee
How to get Elemental Source mods: So far, you can only buy the mods at the War Table in the H.E.L.M. headquarters. With each weekly reset, the offerings rotate, so make sure to check back regularly. All mods cost you 3 mod components to purchase.
How strong are Elemental Sources in Season 13?
How good are the bonuses: First, let’s look at the effect all mods provide, the energy charge. The ability charge doesn’t really increase significantly – you only reduce your cooldowns by a few seconds (about one tier level). Additionally, the effect of “Source of Wisdom” doesn’t seem to go beyond Tier 10 intellect and lasts for about 30 seconds.
The increased damage from “Source of Power” is 10% and lasts for about 5 seconds. You cannot continuously generate Elemental Sources; the game only allows you to generate a source every 3 to 4 seconds.
Is it worth it right now?
Elemental Sources are currently clearly overshadowed by Warmind Cells and Charged with Light. Builds utilizing the two mechanics can wipe entire rooms in one go or provide significantly higher damage buffs (such as 35% extra damage for swords through the “Radiant Blade” mod).
Don’t forget: all 3 mechanics compete for the same mod slot.
It currently seems that Elemental Sources were intended as a replacement, especially since Warmind Cell weapons should soon be retired. The new system was expected to function similarly but might not be as strong. However, sunsetting has now been removed, so the more powerful options remain.
Nonetheless, Elemental Sources have their justification:
- If you play with an Elemental primary weapon and use your abilities constantly – Warlocks with the Crown of Storms should feel addressed, this significantly supports your playstyle.
- It’s practical that the whole team can create Elemental Sources for each other. If everyone plays the same focus element, you can spam abilities fairly often and unleash effects.
It remains to be seen whether Bungie will introduce more mods of this type season after season. So far, the selection with 4 charge mods and 2 effect mods is still quite sparse. However, if you enjoy crafting builds, you will certainly appreciate the variety, and who knows, perhaps Elemental Source mods will feature in the next OP setup.
Have you tried Elemental Sources so far, or didn’t you know that a 3rd mechanic of this kind exists in Destiny 2? Do you enjoy dealing with such builds and feel that this gives the MMO shooter much more RPG character? Let us know in the comments.
If you’re looking for the currently most popular weapon combinations, you can find them here: 3 loadouts from the pro that will sweep you through Season 13 of Destiny 2
