In The Division 2, tests are currently underway for the upcoming Title Update 10. Among other things, Exotics are set to be massively strengthened. The Patch Notes for the PTS Phase 3 partially show what that might look like in the live game.
TU 10 is coming soon: The next major update for The Division 2, Title Update 10, is scheduled for release in June. It is likely that the patch will not take long to arrive – the tests on the PTS are slowly coming to an end, and shortly thereafter the update should be available to all players.
And many agents are already eagerly awaiting TU10. After all, the update is set to bring numerous balance changes to Exotics, weapons, and equipment, as well as difficulty levels, and fix many annoying bugs.
Patch Notes for Phase 3 released: The Patch Notes for the likely final 3rd phase of testing have now been released. These provide a good insight into the direction Massive wants to take with TU10. It is considered likely that the changes will be included in the final Title Update 10.
Particularly interesting is the look at the changes to some Exotics that have not performed particularly well so far. Here it becomes clear that many of these Exos could finally become more than just pure collector’s items – especially in conjunction with the changes from PTS 2.
The Division 2 – The most important buffs and nerfs from TU10 (PTS3)
Keep in mind: These Patch Notes apply to the testing environment on the PTS and may differ from the change log for the upcoming live version of Title Update 10. Additionally, there have already been changes to Exotics in previous PTS phases that are not addressed here.
However, possible differences to the live version should not be too significant. If you own some of these Exotics, it might soon be time to dust them off.
What exactly has changed with Exotics? On one hand, the weapon handling stat and several other aspects of weapons have been revised, making the firearms play significantly better overall. The value “weapon handling” should no longer be divided into the attributes of precision, stability, reload speed, and weapon swap, but rather flow 1 to 1 into the 4 values.
Additionally, there were some targeted buffs and nerfs for specific Exotics.
By the way, you can find the Exotics with their previous attributes here:
- The Division 2: All 13 Exotics from Year 1 – What they can do, how to get them
- The Division 2: All 10 new Exotics from Warlords – Locations and Talents
Bighorn – Assault Rifle:
- Big Game Hunter: Headshots now grant +2% headshot damage, up from +1%
- Increased optimal range – from 27 meters to 40 meters
- Scope mod bonus increased from +0% to +30% headshot damage
- Magazine mod bonus changed from +7% headshot damage to +10% reload speed
Mantis – Sniper (New with TU10):
- Scope mod bonus increased from +35% to +40% headshot damage
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +7% headshot damage to +5% critical hit chance
- Highlights weak points when looking through the scope
Nemesis – Sniper:
- Scope mod bonus increased from +35% to +45% headshot damage
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus reduced from +15% to +5% weapon handling
Chameleon – Assault Rifle:
- Adaptive Instincts: The number of hits for the body shot buff has been increased from 60 to 75 and the damage increased from +80% to +90%
- Scope mod bonus changed from +15% precision to +15% critical hit chance
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +5% critical hit chance to +10% precision
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus changed from +10% critical hit chance to +10% stability
Merciless/Reckless – Rifle:
- Binary Trigger: Increased weapon damage at 7 stacks reduced from 900% to 500%, explosion damage reduced from 1200% to 500%
- Muzzle mod bonus reduced from +20% to +10% stability
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus reduced from +20% to +10% weapon handling
- Magazine mod bonus reduced from +15% to +10% reload speed
This essentially represents one of the very few nerfs. Apparently, the weapon was too good considering the overall improved handling, one of its biggest weaknesses, with its previous values.
Eagle Bearer – Assault Rifle:
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus changed from +10% stability to +10% weapon handling
Lady Death – Submachine Gun:
- Breathe Free: The maximum stack count reduced from 40 to 32, damage amplification per stack increased from 60% to 75%
- Scope mod bonus increased from +5% to +10% critical hit chance
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +5% critical hit chance to +5% critical hit damage
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus changed from +5% critical hit damage to +500% melee damage
Pestilence – LMG:
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +10% stability to +10% precision
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus changed from +10% weapon handling to +10% stability
The Quack Duck – Submachine Gun:
- Scope mod bonus increased from +5% to +15% critical hit chance
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +10% critical hit chance to +5% critical hit damage
- Under-barrel rail mod bonus reduced from +15% to +10% weapon handling
- Magazine mod bonus changed from +10% reload speed to +10 rounds
- The base magazine capacity reduced from 60 to 50
Freedom – Pistol:
- Scope mod bonus changed from +5% critical hit chance to +5% headshot damage
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +15% stability to +5% critical hit chance
- Magazine mod bonus changed from +15% reload speed to +15% weapon handling
- No longer highlights weak points when aiming
Regulus – Pistol:
- Muzzle mod bonus changed from +5% critical hit damage to +20% precision
Exotic Changes from PTS Phase 2
By the way, these changes to Exotics occurred with Phase 2. In conjunction with the changes from Phase 3, some Exos are significantly improved.
The Bighorn – Assault Rifle:
- Damage increased by +11.2%
Eagle Bearer – Assault Rifle:
- Damage increased by +7.8%
Chameleon – Assault Rifle:
- Damage increased by +32.8%
- Mechanic added, allowing your current buffs to be preserved until the next fight
Bullet King – LMG:
- Damage increased by +2.6%
Nemesis – Sniper:
- Damage increased by +11.1%
Freedom – Pistol:
- New function added, allowing you to deal extra damage when increasing the stacks. The full talent is now:
- (New) Hits grant +2% weapon damage. Can stack up to 30x.
- Headshots consume all stacks and repair the shield by 3% per stack.
Regulus – Pistol:
- Initial bullet stability increased
- The third attribute bonus changed from damage against armor to headshot damage
Merciless/Reckless – Rifle:
- Damage increased by +12.5%
- New mechanic added to deal more non-explosive damage:
- When you hit an enemy with 7 stacks, you deal 900% increased damage and trigger an explosion with a 7-meter radius that deals 1,200% weapon damage and consumes all stacks
Diamondback – Rifle:
- Damage increased by +7.7%
Sweet Dreams, Lullaby – Shotguns:
- Damage increased by +11.0%
Lady Death – Submachine Gun:
- Damage increased by +18.9%
The Quack Duck:
- Damage increased by +16.7%
NinjaBike Messenger Knee Pads:
- A mechanic was added allowing you to receive bonus armor. The full talent is now:
- When you move from cover to cover or jump/slid over, your drawn weapon loads and grants +25% bonus armor for 5 seconds
Dodge City Gunslinger Holster:
- A new mechanic was added allowing your hit to deal headshot damage:
- While your pistol is holstered, you receive a stacking buff every 0.3 seconds – up to 100 stacks. When you draw the pistol, your first shot uses the buff and deals +10% damage per stack
- (New) The damage is registered as headshot damage – no matter where you hit the enemy
BT Data Gloves:
- The function was changed so that you no longer grant the entire group/raid team an overcharge effect unless you are at skill tier 6.
- A mechanic was added allowing you to receive skill haste for the drone stock. The full talent is now:
- (New) Grants +15% drone stock skill haste per skill tier.
- (Changed) If you detonate the drone stock, it resets your skill cooldowns and grants an overcharge effect for 15 seconds. If you are at skill tier 6, this effect also applies to all allies
- Allies receiving this buff cannot benefit from it again for 120 seconds
Sawyer’s Knee Pads:
- A mechanic was added causing you to lose all stacks – 10 seconds after moving.
Mantis – Sniper (New with TU10):
- The third attribute bonus changed from critical hit chance to damage against targets outside of cover
The Ravenous – Rifle:
- If an enemy is killed with a defensive primer, you receive the benefits of these stacks without having to detonate them first.
What do you think of these changes? Does this make some Exotics more exciting for you? By the way, The Division 2 is also working on another exciting feature – unfortunately, not as part of TU10: Wow, The Division 2 is really working on a new PvE mode and more story
