Destiny 2: Modifications - list, how to obtain? Destiny 2 Guide
In this chapter you can learn about the modifications available for your weapons and armor: what parameters can be modified, how to get upgrades, what is item infusion.
Last update: 28 March 2021
In this section we provide information about the available modifications for your weapons and armor. We explain what parameters you can modify, as well as where to obtain new improvements.
Most items in the game have available slots and sockets for modifications / mods (most items of blue class and above - purple and gold). To view them, check out the item details after selecting it. You will see there the currently installed item mods. Some items will always have some mods installed.
Weapons modifications
Weapon modifications that are available in Destiny 2 can be divided into the following categories:
- Type of attack in energy weapons;
- Attack modifiers (kinetic and Exotic weapons);
- The colours of the weapon (skin), so-called Shaders;
- Golden weapons may also have weapon Ornaments. This is just a cosmetic feature.
You don't have much ability to modify anything other than the appearance of the weapon, but if you've already found one that you want to stay with for longer time, then it can make the gameplay more enjoyable or raise the prestige among other players. Most legendary weapons have modifications that increase damage, but you can't disassemble them - at best you can just replace them. If you have a free slot you can sometimes install a modification that slightly changes the weapon parameters (such as stability), but rarely damage.
Also, note that most weapons, starting from blue-class ones, usually have the ability to switch their unique features. Switching weapon's attributes is free of charge and you can do it without restrictions. The weapon's parameters are then changed slightly, which you can notice on the bars in the bottom right corner. In case of weapons equipped with scopes, you can switch between them and this is evident throughout the game - so sometimes it is worth to approach the change from the perspective of which aiming sights you are more comfortable with, rather than which provides better weapon parameters.
Armor modifications
Armor modifications go a step further. Here, besides the cosmetic elements of appearance (which are similarly reduced to colours and ornaments - and much more visible among other players), you are more likely to install certain modifications into free slots of equipment. Note that you can install some modification to virtually every part (as long as the item is of at least blue rarity). In most cases the modifications do not affect the quality of the defense guaranteed by the particular item of armor. They usually provide improved performance, such as HP regeneration rate and even cooldown rate of grenades or greater stability when using certain types of weapons.
How to obtain mods and upgrades
Modifications are quite rare and you can find them sometimes in crates and chests but usually they are rewards for completing certain tasks. However, the easiest way to obtain mods is by improving the reputation of the Gunsmith and opening the engrams received from him - they almost always contain at least one modification / improvement. To increase your reputation, you need to provide him with some of the weapon materials you'll get for dismantling the blue-class equipment.
By the end of the main story of the game, you'll have plenty of them. Upgrades vary in accordance to item rarity (regular-blue or legendary - purple). Remember that after modifying an item of equipment, the improvement module cannot be removed from it, and if you are replacing it with another one, then it gets destroyed. It's not worth dismantling blue upgrades as you can only get Glimmer for them. For dismantling the purple modifications you will receive additional "modification parts", for which you can purchase from the Gunsmith other modifications (with different parameters, or for other pieces of equipment).
