Destiny's Gjallarhorn to be nerfed in huge balance-changing update

Bungie will overhaul all of Destiny's weapons in a game-changing update set to affect every gun type.

Numerous exotic weapons - such as Gjallarhorn, arguably Destiny's most powerful gun - will see specific changes. Most - again, like Gjallarhorn - are being nerfed.

The tweaks will come into force as part of Destiny's 2.0.0 update, which will ready the game for September's major expansion The Taken King.

Addressing the need to nerf Gjallarhorn, Bungie's sandbox designer Jon Weisnewski explained it had become seen as a requirement for play in the game's high-level group activities.

"If Destiny had a nuke it would be the 'Ballerhorn'," Weisnewski wrote.

"We definitely intended to have a high damage Heavy Weapon that was ideal for PvE destruction. What we did not intend, and what we unfortunately saw, was pick up Raid and Nightfall groups gating participation based on whether or not players had this weapon.

"Gjallarhorn was so strong that for many people it had become the only answer to getting through tough encounters, and therefore they were less willing to spend time with other players that didn't have it."

The gun's secondary Wolfpack Rounds detonation will now have its damaged reduced as a result.

Other popular weapons getting a nerf include PVP favourite Thorn (which will have its poisoning status effect reduced) and Ice Breaker (which will have its ammo-recharge effect slowed).

All gun types are being tweaked, but hand cannons are probably hit the hardest - their long-range damage, accuracy and magazine size will all be decreased.

Meanwhile, shotguns are being nerfed for PVE and will have their long-range buffs significantly reduced.

But it's not all bad news - auto rifles are getting buffed, after being nerfed too heavily in Destiny's earlier gun balance changes. Their base damage is being increased, although will now falloff faster for enemies that are further away.