Destiny 2’s evolution over the years has been remarkable, and one of the standout changes has been the emphasis on buildcrafting. Initially, when the game launched in 2017, this aspect was minimal, but it now holds significant sway over the game’s core identity, influencing both gameplay mechanics and the rewards structure. A great example of this is when Destiny 2 enhanced its Arc subclasses through Heresy buffs, adding substantial depth beyond what was once considered rather flat. Currently, Arc’s offerings are at their peak, providing players with unique advantages like damage reduction from being Amplified and the chance to dish out considerable damage using Bolt Charge. As part of these changes, a new damage perk was introduced, yet its strength might not be as formidable as it appears.
Weapon perks in Destiny 2 have a tendency to spark excitement, particularly when they’re introduced with fresh or reprised seasonal weapons. However, they often come attached to a select few, making them highly sought-after. This is certainly the case with some of the perks that came alongside Heresy. The Elemental Honing perk, much like the renowned Bait and Switch, introduces a rotation-based damage boost, but it might be a bit too ambitious given the current meta in Destiny 2.
The way Bait and Switch operates is fairly straightforward: it offers a 30% damage increase to the weapon carrying the perk, provided players have fired all their equipped weapons at least once. Though this may seem overly intricate, it has carved a niche for itself in Destiny 2’s endgame due to its dependability and the substantial impact it has on total damage and damage per second (DPS). While Heresy’s Elemental Honing shares a similar premise by requiring weapon rotation to build up a damage multiplier, the execution and its demands differ.
In contrast to Bait and Switch, Elemental Honing builds in tiers, with each unique element hit on an enemy contributing to stacking these boosts. Take the new weapon, Adamantite, as an example—this Strand auto rifle, designed to support through ally healing and enemy debuffs, showcases Elemental Honing’s potential. Players using Adamantite can accumulate these damage stacks with each new element, maxing out at a 35% buff, particularly potent with Kinetic weapons.
However, Bait and Switch still holds the upper hand. Elemental Honing’s requirement for activating various elemental damages—especially with Prismatic subclasses, which allow access to all elements introduced in The Final Shape—demands greater effort without a proportionate gain. Although Elemental Honing at full capacity might slightly outstrip Bait and Switch in total damage, the incremental boost comes at the cost of potential DPS reduction and a more complex build. Optimizing for such a loadout could necessitate sacrificing timing in ability use just to achieve the five-element stack needed for Elemental Honing.
Moreover, even with its 20-second maximum duration refreshed with each new element used since its effect began—oriented around the five elements—Bait and Switch continues to be preferred. Its 10-second window, while shorter, aligns easily with weapon rotations without the demanding prerequisites of its peers. While Elemental Honing might shine in specific scenarios, like team-based challenges in Dungeons or Raids, Bait and Switch still rules the roost as the go-to for weapon rotations in terms of reliability and damage output. Especially for Heavy-ammo weapons, which naturally have fewer shots to leverage, Bait and Switch’s consistency makes it the go-to choice.
