Destiny 2 is on the verge of revealing what will be it’s next 3.0 element when season 17 hits and…it’s solar. Look just…it’s solar, I’m 99.9% sure. Under that assumption, there are a few different ways I think you can start preparing for the new season, even if we don’t know the exact Aspect/Fragment system that will arrive with solar 3.0.

This is what I’m doing as I start to pull my characters together for next season in the final week here:

Remember What’s Being Buffed

Destiny 2 is coming with a lot of sandbox changes, including a few notable archetype and exotic shifts. Machine Guns are getting a big buff to boss damage, and I have my eye on solar ones like Xenophage and Heir Apparent in particular, as those will synergize with other parts of the build, no doubt.

Elsewhere, some weapons are getting functionality that will pair well with new solar 3.0 triggers. Prometheus Lens will be getting an actual burn, in addition to a huge trace rifle buff that’s coming against majors and bosses and are getting more ammo. I also believe they will be getting anti-champion mods this season. Skyburner’s Oath is getting its second full redesign and it too will apply a burn now. And remember to keep in mind other explosion/burn exotics that already exist like Polaris Lance, Ticuu’s Divination and Sunshot.

Pick Your Favorite Solar Exotic Armor

While yes, I’m sure there will probably be at least one or two new solar exotics among the three classes this season, even if that is true, you cannot get them right away and will need a starting build. As such, it stands to reason that you should pick your favorite solar-based exotic and build around that to some extent. Here’s what I’m doing:

Warlock: Dawn Chorus – Daybreak gets more damage, burn effects last longer, burning targets recharge melee

Hunter: Young Ahamkara’s Spine – Buffed Tripmine damage, radius and recharge

Titan: (a lot of options here but) The Path of Burning Steps – Solar kills grant weapon damage bonus

Start A Solar Elemental Well Build

At this point, it’s pretty clear that most PvE builds are going to be based around elemental wells as Bungie keeps expanding those, and nerfing Charged with Light and Warmind Cells. Barring some crazy new mods this season, I think it’s not bad to start off with the basics of a solar elemental well build, which includes mods where wells heal you and buff grenade energy recharge. Obviously once we know the full extent of solar 3.0, we can move some bits and pieces around, but again, no harm in getting started, especially when combined with the other two categories here, you’ll have a killer build on your hands no matter what solar 3.0 is like, as soon as the season starts.

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