Despite the success of Bungie's space magic looter-shooter, Destiny 2 wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for all the work that went into its predecessor. Destiny and Destiny 2 are very different games considering everything that has changed since the first game released in 2014. Regardless of the differences between them, both have iconic features or specific elements that make them what they are, and one of the most emblematic things in Destiny has to be the Exotic rocket launcher Gjallarhorn.
Gjallarhorn was one of the best weapons in the game; a DPS monster that could also be used to clear out a room of ads. It was an incredibly rare weapon that many players were excited to get, and it could make the difference in their performances against bosses and tougher enemies more than arguably any other weapon in the game. Bungie is now adding Gjallarhorn into Destiny 2, and while the weapon has a lot of potential when taking into account how strong it was in the first game, it has to be balanced in a way that makes it more appropriate for the sequel.
Gjallarhorn in Destiny 2's Meta
One of the first things to consider when it comes to Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 is that either they are so strong they will be used regardless of the current meta, or they are not as powerful unless the meta allows. Before talking about Gjallarhorn's potential in Destiny 2, it's important to reflect on what makes the game's meta and what breaks it in order to understand which category the Exotic rocket launcher falls into.
For starters, Destiny 2's meta is often defined by its seasonal mods and the type of content that players have to face in PvE or PvP. Destiny 2's seasonal mods play a huge role in what's popular because they often promote a certain playstyle or the use of a specific weapon, such as Breach and Clear before this Season's Particle Deconstruction. Seasonal mods that make a given weapon archetype much stronger than all others for a few months will often outshine the remaining options for an entire Season.
While Gjallarhorn is coming in the middle of Season of the Lost, if Season 16 does include a powerful weapon-specific mod like the past two that's not focused on rocket launchers, it's likely Gjallarhorn will not see as much use. Vice versa, if the game does include one that empowers rocket launchers, Gjallarhorn will likely be meta-defining no matter if it's already overpowered on its own.
What is the Appropriate Power Level for Destiny 2's Gjallarhorn
There are both pros and cons to Gjallarhorn being shipped as an overpowered weapon when Destiny 2's 30th Anniversary Pack drops. One of the pros is that it would fulfill the same power fantasy it did in the past, retaining nostalgia for veterans of the first game while also becoming as legendary for new players. Another pro is that Gjallarhorn could redefine the rocket launcher meta as a whole, especially considering other options like Truth and Eyes of Tomorrow exist but are not popular at all levels of play.
Adding Gjallarhorn as a potent reward for new activities in the 30th Anniversary Pack would also be great for those who play them, as it would be an incentive to play and find the Exotic. However, the counterargument to this is that Destiny 2 players who do not own and will not play the content of the 30th Anniversary Pack could be upset at the decision to lock a mighty weapon behind a paywall, especially considering the reaction to The Witch Queen editions' prices. Thus, shipping Gjallarhorn in such a state could be a double-edged sword when it comes to the community's reception of the DLC.
Furthermore, the 30th Anniversary Pack comes with a big sandbox patch that will make some Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 really good, be it for the first time or once again after a long time - like Whisper of the Worm. Introducing an overpowered Exotic weapon in the Heavy slot would probably overshadow newly revamped options due to Gjallarhorn's novelty and the hype surrounding its release, ultimately hampering Bungie's work on older items. Lastly, if Gjallarhorn is incredibly powerful on release, it could cause another Vex Mythoclast syndrome where players will try and obtain it at every turn, but it could be tied to RNG mechanics and become super rare.
When such an iconic weapon like Gjallarhorn set to come back, it's impossible to please everyone due to the high expectations, for better and for worse. As such, the answer is that Bungie should make Gjallarhorn a strong weapon out of respect of the players' investment and the rocket launcher's own legacy, but it shouldn't be so powerful that it becomes the sole meta weapon for Destiny 2 - even if it's for a little while. Players shouldn't expect to go into the new Dungeon or six-player activity on day one and grab their Gjallarhorn to disintegrate all content, even if that's what the weapon would have done in the first game.
Destiny 2 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.