Destiny 2 Exotic Disables Due to Exploit

Bungie disables Destiny 2's Hawkmoon hand cannon in PvP due to a game-breaking exploit. The popular exotic weapon, frequently sold by Xur, was causing significant issues in Crucible matches.

Destiny 2, a live-service game with a six-year history, is no stranger to bugs and exploits. Past incidents, like the Prometheus Lens overpowered period, highlight this ongoing challenge. Despite positive reception for the recent "The Final Shape" expansion, new problems have emerged, including one affecting the No Hesitation auto rifle's effectiveness against barrier champions.

The Hawkmoon exploit allowed players to perpetually maintain the weapon's Paracausal Shot perk via the Kinetic Holster leg mod, resulting in overpowered, one-shot capabilities in the Crucible. This prompted Bungie to swiftly disable Hawkmoon from all PvP activities. The decision follows the recent discovery and subsequent fix of another exploit allowing for easy AFK reward farming in private matches.

Why the Hawkmoon Disable?

The exploit leveraged a combination of the Kinetic Holster mod and Hawkmoon's unique perk, preventing the perk's intended reset mechanism. This resulted in players having unlimited access to damage-boosted shots, creating an unfair advantage. While Bungie acted before the Trials of Osiris weekend, the rapid succession of exploits highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining balance in a live service game.