Destiny 2's Transmog System: A Slow Grind to Unlock Armor Sets
Destiny 2's transmog system is too convoluted, leading to a grinding process that doesn't match the rewards Recent games have avoided this problem, and Destiny 2 should take note
The Destiny 2 transmog system presents a problem as it requires a tedious grind that spans multiple Seasons of the game. Every season in Destiny 2 adds at least one 5-piece armor set to the game, and out of the 10 individual armor pieces players can unlock in any given season, the current capacity for unlocking cosmetic armor pieces is slow and not worth the time and effort required.
Players often opt for monetized cosmetics as they are more accessible compared to the natural method of collecting cosmetic armor ornaments in Destiny 2. While the unique armor sets from the Eververse store are in good standing, the natural method leaves much to be desired. Though the roots of Destiny 2’s transmog system may be too deep to uproot at this point, there are plenty of recent games that could inspire better cosmetic systems for Destiny 2.
Transmogrifying armor in Diablo 4 and the previous Diablo games is a straightforward and cost-effective process. Players need to acquire the desired gear through any means necessary and then scrap the equipment to unlock its appearance. However, what sets Diablo 4 apart is how its Legendary items are treated. These items are equivalent to Destiny 2’s Exotic gear, but Diablo 4 offers players more flexibility when it comes to cosmetics for top-tier gear. This is an aspect that Destiny 2 could learn from and incorporate into its own transmog system.
Most Exotic armor and weapons in Destiny 2 offer a limited selection of ornaments for players to apply, which serve as cosmetic enhancements specific to the corresponding gear. However, Diablo 4 takes a different approach by allowing players to swap the appearance of any Legendary item universally with the appearance of other Legendaries of the same item type. While Destiny 2's Exotic gear system only permits players to equip one Exotic armor and weapon at a time, introducing an option to interchange the appearance of Exotic gear could potentially add an exciting new dimension to the game.
In contrast, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor offers a well-paced system for unlocking cosmetics as rewards.
The customization options in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are relatively simple compared to other games such as Destiny 2 or Diablo 4. Players can change their character's outfits, hairstyles, droid parts, and weapon parts by collecting various items throughout the game. These collectibles can be found in hidden caches and as rewards for completing puzzles on different planets. Additionally, in-game vendors accept planetary treasures as currency to purchase other cosmetic items.
When it comes to armor cosmetics in Destiny 2, the process of obtaining these items can be too demanding for casual players. The main complaint from the community is the time gate that stretches out the process into a long commitment. Unlike other games, Destiny 2's collection process for cosmetic items offers no inherent advantages and is trapped in an outdated system. To improve the player experience, Destiny 2 could take a page from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Diablo 4 by making the challenge of unlocking each cosmetic its own reward, without the added steps of paywalls and time gates. While players can currently buy a select few cosmetic sets from Destiny 2's Eververse microtransaction store, the transmog bounties in Destiny 2 have a limit in place of 10 bounties per character per season. Many players find this process convoluted and not worth the effort, and a more worthwhile challenge would benefit the game.
Destiny 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
