Guardians in Activision and Bungie's Destiny 2 have access to classes, skills, and weapons that diversify their combat options. The Traveler's Light also provides enough flexibility for Guardians to defend their allies, strike from afar, or use a wide array of magical abilities. However, Guardians shouldn't forget about their armor, which they can improve with relevant Armor Mods.
In Destiny 2, Armor Mods serve as the best way to upgrade armor pieces and attach special qualities to them. The right combination of Armor Mods can make any Guardian a formidable ally and devastating foe. Thankfully, players can go pro by maximizing their Armor Mod opportunities.
10 Take Mod Count Into Account
Like Weapon Mods, Armor Mods also fit into specific numbers of slots in armors. Thankfully, Guardians wear more armor than weapons, so they can use a wide variety of Armor Mods for their needs. However, just because players have more armor doesn't mean they should scatter their Armor Mods too much.
In this case, Armor Mods shouldn't be too "varied" just because there are multiple Armor Slots available. They should focus on improving on certain elements of a playstyle, particular build, or even weapon performance. A key rule of thumb here is that the more Armor Mods revolve on the same effect, the more powerful it will be.
9 Resist Mods Soak A Lot Of Damage
Just like how Spec-based Mods improve performance based on enemy types, Resist-based Armor Mods soak damage better depending on this classification. For instance, Resist-based Mods contains Minor Resist for red-bars (minors), Major Resist for orange-bars (majors), and Boss Resist for yellow-bars (bosses).
Additionally, Guardians should focus on building armor sets with Resist-based Mods in mind. Tanks who want to focus on the endgame should focus on Boss Resist. Meanwhile, those who want to pulverise red-bars up close (such as Hunters) should invest in Minor Resist.
8 Think About Aesthetics
Players should also consider how Shaders fit in with the rest of their armor. Remember, Shaders also fit in Armor Mod slots. While some Guardians might not pay attention to their overall aesthetic, it does help to have a bit of a "theme" going. People who want to put Shaders in their armor should consider the overall "feel" they want their Guardians to have.
Likewise, players can also stick to a "theme" (e.g., strong reds and yellows for Solar-based builds and strong purples for Void-based). Moreover, if players want to be more practical, they can invest in certain Shaders that help them camouflage themselves in darker environments for PVP.
7 Armor Parts Work Differently
Interestingly, aside from different Mod counts per piece of armor, Guardians can only place certain types of mods in certain armor types. For instance, Guardians who want to enjoy the benefits of target-based Mods should use these on their helmet.
Likewise, other armor parts work with different armor mods. Arm parts work with reload-based or melee-based Mods, while chest pieces work on reserves-based and unflinching-based Mods. Lastly, leg armors work with scavenger-focused and dexterity-focused Mods. As such, Guardians need to take into account how each of these Armor Mods work with their particular playstyle before equipping them.
6 Elemental Affinity Affects Armor Mods
Thanks to the new armor system, Guardians also have to take into consideration their armor's elemental affinity in order to equip certain kinds of Armor Mods as weapon enhancements are also tied to elemental affinity. Players who love Auto Rifles can only use Auto-focused Armor Mods in Solar armor.
These affinities extend to all elements. Void armor can equip Armor Mods that enhance the Sidearm, Scout Rifle, Grenade Launcher, Sniper Rifle, and Hand Cannon. Meanwhile, Arc armor can equip Armor Mods that improve the Bow, Sword, Shotgun, Machine Gun, and Pulse Rifles. Lastly, aside from Auto Rifles, Solar armor can equip Armor Mods for Rocket Launchers, SMGs, Fusion Rifles, and Linear Rifles.
5 Take Note Of Energy Cost
Aside from taking note of Armor Mod slots, Guardians should take note of energy cost when placing Armor Mods in certain armor pieces. Remember, pieces of armor usually have a pool of five energy, all of which can be spent on installing Mods in that armor piece. As such, more powerful Mods cost more energy, while others cost less.
Aside from combining Armor Mods depending on Perks and playstyles, Guardians should take energy costs into account as well. If they're aiming for a specific build, they should consider whether normal Mods of lower energy cost work better than bigger Mods of higher cost.
4 Specialized Mods Work In Certain Areas
Aside from regular Armor Mods, Destiny 2 also offers Specialized Mods that work only in certain situations. These Mods only get activated during certain raids or activities. As such, they a Guardian clear these raids faster and much more efficiently.
If players want to make Guardian builds for certain raids, it's recommended they do these raids on higher levels to increase the chances of getting these special Mods. However, players should pay extra attention if they plan on pursuing other PVE activities with these Specialized Mods, as they might want to switch to their raid-specific gear.
3 Certain Mods Work With Certain Enemies
In regards to Specialized Mods, certain Mods work best against certain enemies. Hive-based Mods and Taken-based Mods work best against Hive and Taken enemies, respectively. Aside from Specialized Mods, Guardians may also assess certain builds & areas to identify which enemy types exist and which Mods work against them.
This advice also ties into Elemental Affinity. Aside from equipping Armor Mods for certain enemies, Guardians should also take note which element types work on them. This process makes preparing for certain raids much easier.
2 Take Note Of Seasonal Mods
Destiny 2 separates "eras" of gameplay into Seasons, which last for around 10 weeks. Each of these Seasons has Season-specific Mods, often indicated by a special color. These go into the last Armor Mod slot in any armor piece. Guardians earn these Mods when they complete seasonal events.
Thankfully, Seasonal Mods don't immediately disappear once a Season is over. It's very likely for Guardians to get these Mods from sellers such as Banshee-44 once they rotate with Regular Mods. If Guardians have their eyes on a specific Seasonal Mod, it's recommended they try securing it immediately.
1 Invest In Pieces For Builds
Despite the popularity of some Armor Mods, they still work best only with the right build and the right set of Perks. As such, Guardians should not only pay attention to which Mods they want to activate, but if these Mods work with their Perks and armor pieces.
It's important to only keep armor pieces that boost the particular stat the Guardian's build and Mods capitalize on. That way, the Guardian's overall build will maximize the Mod.