Destiny 2's Newest Exotics Are Weird

The new Exotics in Destiny 2 Episode Heresy are kinda weird 😅
Not necessarily in a bad way, but they're definitely unique! A circle shaped SMG and the first ever primary ammo trace rifle in Destiny 2 (Barrow-Dyad and Lodestar). Let's take a look at them, and give some review/analysis on both, as well as some Exotic Armor pairing recommendations for when Episode Heresy launches
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[DigiThorn]

Honestly? I like weird, I wish we got more weird exotics that aren’t trying to be meta and are just fun (or at least interesting) to use

[peteryang]

-Snail shell-shaped whorled design.
-Mentioned in connection with some extinct race.
-Part of a season focusing on the Hive and their history.
-NOT a Weapon of Sorrow.

Methinks we're about to get our first weapon created by the Ammonite.

[majesticbbqsauce]

Actually looks like the SMG activates the exotic trait on normal reload. I could be wrong, but it 100% looks like the reload activating it is the auto-default reload.
Edit: considering the status bar is called panic response, thid makes more sense to me.

[epicgamerzfail]

The new....smg? Looks really cool and definitely exotic feeling. The trace rifle I'm a little less excited; it just seems like another "subclass verb all over the place" weapon, but the burst fire is neat at least (hopefully that opens up a new archetype in the future)

[ccpowerhour]

So it's a weird distinction but they said in the stream that for the SMG it's a regular manual reload, not the special reload you would do by holding down the reload button.
I was actually really stoked about this change because special reloads feel super clunky to me so I was hoping we'd be moving away from that design but then they immediately followed it up with the trace rifle lmao

[stevenjackson]

'It resonates with your choices' maybe means the new SMG gets something from the new rogue like modifiers you pick.

[CrimsonXenoProduct]

fun thing about the new Dance machines, they count as normal dodge charges, which mean 5 threaded specters, hey btw threaded specter and ascent work together now which is just neat

[AmyTRose]

I'm honestly super excited for the trace. Free jolting? Sign me up

[jameswhale]

I think the increase in damage on the blight rounds was from that enemy having an overshield backpack. Iirc, we deal more damage to the overshield of said enemies

[Flecco]

I like imminence. I like final warning. I like Strand Beyblade hunter... I think I'm going to end up using that smg a lot.

[benbutz]

im old enough to remember when all trace rifles were primary ammo

[SnyperMKJclL]

Ok i wasnt jazzed about the Trace Rifle when reading about it... but from seeing it in action and having you break it down, ... without the hold R special reload of Vex Mythoclast, its kind of still like V.M. in the fact that depending on its charge and firing method it behaves loke 2 totally different weapon archetypes... an Auto and Linear Fusion, a Pulse and Trace...
We honestly need MORE weapons like this, maybe more uber powerful meta level stuff that everyone will hate, but something fun and enjoyable that can still hang with the big boys but not be mind numbingly meta.

[MaliciousK]

I think they nailed the issue right on the head with the flamethrower comment.

These exotics are cool, and weird, but it feels like we get weird, funky lolspacehiveguncannonsmg every season, and we can't just get a flamethrower, a crossbow, throwing knives, or some kind of different type that will actually shake up the gameplay in a meaningful way. It always has to fit in the box of tools we already have. I don't need a hammer with 4 heads, and a spike at the top if I'm just hitting nails.

I don't think that it matters if it is hard, or takes a long time (and I empathize with that, truly), but it signifies a greater issue that needs to be solved. Maybe they just can't operate at this tempo, and this scale while also delivering on their quality goals.

[ironladyerimuth]

Can't wait for the comments to tell me exactly why I should be bitter and negative about everything from the stream.

[ayushanand]

Warlocks should try Vesper of Radius. having the rift blinding effect while on pure arc with the new warlock aspect would work very well with lodestar. As a bonus, since healing will be reduced in the dreadnaught, having a rift that acts as a pseudo-safe-haven would be super cool too. Since bungie likes challenging us by throwing many enemies in an enclosed space, it works out super nice for Vesper's whole "the more enemies nearby, the faster your rift charges". combine vesper of radius with the new arc aspect and the existing arc-soul-on-rift-cast aspect, and you have a recipe for a solid arc battlestation build :)

[SpyroThunder]

At some point the devs mention intrinsics when talking about the smg so it’s highly likely to be the exotic mission’s reward. It could be the dungeon weapon but considering that’s not a part of the season I think it’s odd to show that off.

[GRYtheSnail]

Watching that dev use the smg was unbelievably painful. Bro couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn

[TheZarfman]

Lodestar's catalyst will most likely be the new Bolt Charge Perk they showed on the denial GL

I'm thinking Barro-Dyad will get the new strand prk they mentioned called "Tear"

[gonnsolo]

About blight rounds doing more damage when more connect. The Destiny engine seems to do weird things when a round deals a final blow, sometimes showing a substantially higher damage number, it seems like the last blight round killed the enemy and that might've caused the damage increase but I hope I'm wrong.

[alexbarnard]

if you look CAREFULLY at 7:01 I believe the kill on the boss does show the blinding explosion. The big pulse that comes from the boss.