Equipment

All Guardians are masterful combatants, equally adept with firearms or wielding the Light in battle.

Each of the Guardian orders garbs their chosen warriors in nanocircuitry-infused armor, protecting their bodies and enhancing their already formidable abilities. How you choose to equip your Guardian has a direct and meaningful impact on gameplay, influencing the use of your abilities and your firearms. You can equip three different weapons and wear four different pieces of armor. Higher-quality types of weapons and armor provide both increased statistical bonuses and unique mods that change the behavior of your firearms and abilities. For a more detailed breakdown on the ins and outs of weapons and armor, see the Armory chapter.

Weapon and Armor Mods

Found in the Tower’s armories and lost in the wilderness, a host of weapons and armor awaits your discovery. These weapons and armor have certain inherent attributes (how strong they are, how well they protect you), but they also have a variety of randomized upgrades known as mods (modifications). Initially, you can only see the mods on the weapon or armor; they aren’t activated until they are unlocked. Unlocking these mods requires two things: gaining experience with the weapon or armor equipped, and spending Glimmer and Materials to activate the mod. Once activated, that mod is permanently active and available for use.

Some weapons and armor have mod categories that unlock all at once, such as a range of sights or barrels that modify the weapon’s behavior. You typically get a choice between one of three different options in such a category, and you can freely switch between them to suit a particular combat role. You can refer to the Armory chapter for a more detailed breakdown of the various mods. However, the basics are simple: find a weapon or armor with appealing upgrades, equip it and gain experience until the mods are available, and then unlock them with Glimmer and Materials.