With the start of Season 8, Destiny 2 introduced a new feature – the seasonal artifact. It was meant to bring fresh air and variety to the seasons. After the first season with the artifact, our author Sven looks back on this feature. And what do you think about it?
What is the artifact all about? Artifacts already existed in Destiny 1. In Destiny 2, this feature returned with the start of Season 8 and the launch of Shadowkeep – but differently than the Guardians knew from the predecessor.
The artifact is now a seasonal item and thematically designed accordingly. Season 8 revolves around the Vex, and the artifact is the eye of a Vex Tor Lord. Through special seasonal mods, it equips the Guardians with various bonuses. All Guardians can utilize this feature – regardless of which additional content they own for Destiny 2.
Each season features one artifact. At the beginning of a new season, the old artifact along with the corresponding mods is set aside (old mods can no longer be used) to make way for a new one – with fresh modifications and bonuses. This should provide more variety. Players are encouraged to try out new builds with different focuses from season to season.
How does the artifact work? The artifact can be unlocked as part of the season pass rewards and can then be leveled up – using experience points. This allows various seasonal mods with increasingly powerful bonuses for weapons and armor to be unlocked gradually. This allows you to tailor your character to your playstyle in conjunction with the Armor 2.0 system.
Moreover, you can level up with the artifact beyond the actual maximum power level – and that basically infinitely. The only limit is the end of the corresponding season.
Because at the end of the season, these additional power levels will be reset, and you will either end up at the actual level cap or at the level you achieved normally – that is, without the artifact – with your gear.
Further details about the artifact itself and the individual mods can be found here: How strong does the 1st artifact in Destiny 2 make you – we know all bonuses
This is how I see the 1st seasonal artifact at the end of Season 8
Where does the 1st artifact stand at the end of its duration? Season 8 is slowly coming to an end, on December 10 it will conclude. Right after that, the new season of Dawn will begin – with a new artifact. The eye of the Tor Lord will then be set aside, all earned mods will disappear, and the additional levels will be reset.
Now that we have been able to have fun with the first artifact in Destiny 2 for a full season, I took this opportunity to look back on this feature and see how it has fared.
By the way, have you completed all the important things in Season 8? 6 things you should quickly complete in Destiny 2 before the end of Season 8
What I find cool about the artifact
The artifact was meant to bring fresh wind to the seasons and in my opinion, it managed to do so – at least in parts or at the beginning.
Fun in PvE: It was fun leveling up the artifact and gradually unlocking the mods and discovering their effects. Especially experimenting with the new modifications kept me busy for a while – especially since I play all three Guardian classes.
There was something for each of them. Whether for my Nightstalker Hunter, my Void Warlock, or my Striker Titan – thanks to the more powerful mods like Arc Battery, Thundercoil, Overload Grenades, or Disruptor Spike, I could create some cool builds and had a lot of fun with them.
Fun in PvP: I was also able to benefit from the artifact mods as a hand cannon and SMG lover in PvP – because besides auto rifles, these were the only two weapon types boosted by the artifact this season. However, compared to their regular counterparts, they consumed significantly less energy, allowing you to strengthen your builds with more useful mods.
So there are definitely aspects of the artifact that could convince me. But I also see a lot critically.
What bothers me about the artifact
No Solar Focuses: What initially struck me during my Bungie visit was that Solar Focuses were completely left out of the artifact. While I understand that Bungie wants to encourage certain playstyles within a limited time (season), I found it unfortunate that Solar was completely neglected.
Especially since some Solar Focuses would have needed a push far more than the already strong Void and Arc alignments. No wonder many Solar classes will be strengthened by Bungie at the beginning of Season 9. A modification for the Solar alignment would certainly not have hurt.
Only a few weapon types encouraged: This issue continues with weapons for me. Yes, I understand that the developers also want to push certain types here. But why specifically hand cannons and SMGs (and I’m saying this as an absolute hand cannon and SMG enthusiast)?
These weapon types were already doing well at the start of the season. However, there has been a call for a buff to scout rifles since the launch of Destiny 2. If the artifact is already restricting weapon choice, then in my opinion, they should at least promote the weapons that really need it at that moment. That was definitely not the case.
More restrictions than additional freedom: And speaking of restrictions: I unfortunately find this disappointing about the artifact as well. Bungie already prescribes Guardians quite clearly what weapons, focuses, or gear should be played – even if they speak of great freedoms. And with artifact mods that specifically boost only a few weapon types, this issue is, in my opinion, further exacerbated.
If someone absolutely cannot get along with hand cannons, SMGs, or auto rifles, they will hardly be able to force themselves to use them this season. But if they do not use these weapon types, they basically do not play effectively and miss out on valuable advantages. As has been the case several times, I again get the feeling that Bungie would dictate a certain gameplay to players instead of allowing the Guardians to truly play as they wish.
Max-Power level and top gear unnecessary? What bothers me a lot: The artifact makes top gear and the top cap of 960 – in itself an important part of the endgame – totally unnecessary. Although the max power level has already played a subordinate role during the second year – there were neither enemies nor activities that really required a fully leveled Guardian.
But this season, due to the leveling mechanics of the artifact, the aspect of the endgame and especially reaching the level cap has completely faded into the background for me. Earlier, I still somehow strived season after season to reach the maximum power level, but in Season 8, I had neither the desire nor any compelling drive to do so.
Specifically hunting for top gear in the hardest activities? Reaching the top cap of 960? Why? The artifact levels up just by playing, and easily lifted me above this “hurdle” by the end of the season. Whether I reach it through the artifact or not – who cares?
Even if the seasonal extra levels of the artifact will soon be reset and I might then be below 960 – I will either start a catch-up quest at the beginning of the upcoming season or just play 2 more hours and will be over this limit anyway. And now I see no activity that really requires top gear or a visit to the 980 content. Not even the new raid.
My personal conclusion
This sticks with me: Did I have fun with the artifact and its mods? Certainly – but essentially only at the beginning. From the last third of the season, after all mods had been unlocked and tested, I completely forgot about the artifact. I no longer registered or noticed the additional power levels.
Even if the leveling issue itself is not really new – through the artifact it has been taken to the extreme for me this season. Never have I felt so little desire and drive to fight for the level cap and the most powerful gear in the game, as I do now with the artifact – not a good sign in my opinion.
Bungie could have done better: Here I would have liked either activities with exclusive rewards for hardcore gamers, which might require a power level of 980 or 990 just to start, or a completely different system instead of the additional levels.
For example, an increasing chance of Exotics, increasing attribute values on drops from Armor 2.0 gear (beyond 60), or every 10 levels an exclusive reward that you can’t find anywhere else – like a choice option for a seasonal mod that you could permanently keep beyond the season.
And speaking of keeping: I am personally a fan of permanent things. So I would have liked the artifact mods to be retained after a season. This would benefit the build variety and feel more rewarding than just a temporary bonus. The more options you have, the better in my opinion.
Then I would have more incentive to earn it and would be willing to do more or spend longer to achieve it.
What about next season? So I had some fun with it for a while because it was new – the whole system. But already now, I do not feel any real excitement for the new artifact. Because I already know that the mod bonuses and thus also the builds and weapon setups will fade away a few months later.
In my opinion, Bungie could have gotten much more out of this, and I really hope we will see some improvements with the artifact in the upcoming season. But how do you see the whole thing?
What do you think about it? Participate in our survey
In this context, we have prepared a survey for you. We want to know what you think about the first seasonal artifact in Destiny 2 at the end of Season 8.
Keep in mind, you only have one vote. Thank you for participating and for your time.
By the way, you can also share your opinion about the 1st seasonal artifact in Destiny 2 with us and other MeinMMO readers in the comments – feel free to elaborate.
