Destiny 2is one of the most complex games on the market in terms of lore, with its original space-magic mix being a great source of inspiration for stories both in the present and future. There are many iconic gear pieces, characters, and locations inDestiny 2’s legacy thus far, andThe Witch Queenexpansion added even more of these elements. Because the game is a looter-shooter at its core, it’s not uncommon for players to focus on getting the best gear available, be itloot from the new Vow of the Disciple Raidor Legendary weapons from the world loot pool.
With the 30th Anniversary Pack andThe Witch Queenpatches, it became clear that Bungie wantsDestiny 2players to craft their own builds - and now their weapons, all to give them more agency over what their characters can do. As such,Destiny 2’s Exotic weaponsand armor pieces became all the more important, as their unique perks and traits change the way the game is played. In terms of worldbuilding, Exotics are also a fantastic tool to build on existing lore, telling new stories or providing more depth to some characters. In a roundtable interview session with Game Rant,Destiny 2concept artist Dima Goryainov spoke about it means to give new life to certain characters, and why Exotic designs matter.
RELATED:Destiny 2: How to Get First Vow of the Disciple Chest Solo
Why Destiny 2’s Exotic Items are Often Tied to Storytelling
Exotics inDestiny 2are often tied to specific locations, characters, or events, and they can tell a story of their own through lore tabs, unique quest steps, or dialogue. An example is Dead Man’s Tale from the Presage mission, which launched in Season of the Chosen and explored the events onboard the Glykon; a Cabal ship adrift near the Tangled Shore where Emperor Calus carried out Scorn experiments. In this case, the lore tab associated with Dead Man’s Tale explores the relationship between the gun’s previous owner, Katabasis, and their Ghost, providing more context to the events on the Glykon in the process.
There are many other examples inDestiny 2regarding how Exotics are used to tell stories, and how stories are used to introduce Exotics. This logic is further emphasized by Raid-exclusive Exotics and loot, according to Goryainov, as they often give voice to characters that players will never meet. They may also be tied into the events of the game in terms of design, both for gameplay and aesthetics.
“Oftentimes, when it comes to visuals, we use Exotics to expand our universe and to tell stories that maybe are not directly related to the content you’re playing. There might be things going on in distant world you don’t know about, there are wars being fought that you’re not a part of, there are characters that we want to explore deeper. Exotics can be our way of communicating that.”
Because there are many layers toDestiny 2’s storiesand how they are told, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the purpose of Exotics goes above and beyond providing unique items. Sometimes, Goryainov said Exotics can be a good way to learn more about characters from the franchise’s past, or legendary Guardians in the stories of old.
“An example would be the design for Felwinter’s Helm. I really wanted to tie it to the lore in some way and to Felwinter. I tried to visualize what the character would look like, even though you won’t see him. I think for us Exotics are a way to expand the universe, communicate lore that you might not see otherwise.”
This has branching effects on the game and its community as well, as the imagery of Felwinter that Goryainov focused on is now associated with the iconic in-game Exotic just as much as lore tabs on the character. Even in fan art, Felwinter is always depicted with his helmet on because that’s a distinctive trait players know about, showing how impactful even the design for Exotic items can be onDestiny 2’s narrative.
Destiny 2is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Destiny 2: Vow of the Disciple Raid Symbol and Callouts Visual Guide
