The Division 2 prototype gear is probably the best thing that happened to the game in a really long time. However, it’s also turning out to be the main thing holding back the overall gameplay.
If you’re new to the game, or you’re still confused about the entire Prototype bit, then here’s a quick rundown for you.
Prototype gear pieces are weapons or armor that sit just below, or even on par with, Exotics in The Division 2. What makes them so special is that they come with unique talents that you can swap out once you reach Expertise Level 30. This feature makes your build more flexible and makes endgame content a breeze to run through. So, why is that a problem?
The Division 2 Could Have Implemented Prototypes Better
Given how exclusive and valuable these Prototype gear pieces are in The Division 2, it’s only natural that they’re locked behind difficult activities. Currently, the only way to get your hands on these gear sets is either by grinding Escalation or running the Blackout Dark Zone.
The problem here is that neither of these two areas is very accessible to new players. There’s a considerable grind that you’d have to cover before you can start participating in these activities. Yes, you’ll always have the option to pair up with high-level players and get carried through the missions, but that defeats the purpose completely.
To top it off, these gear sets are extremely nuanced, so if you don’t know how a build works or you can’t build perfect synergy between your different pieces, you won’t be able to get the most out of these items.
The proper way to get to Prototypes would be to max out your gear expertise levels and then reach Prototype status. However, with these random Prototype drops, the game lets you bypass this entire grind and get the gear directly as mission drops.
The problem with this is twofold:
- Prototypes are shiny and powerful items, so no doubt everyone would want to get them.
- These items have locked rolls, so build variety goes out the window.
While this is problematic on the player front because it limits build variety, the problem on the gameplay front is that these items have their abilities significantly reduced in Incursions or Raids, which are among the most difficult activities in the game.
By doing this, the developers have restricted these powerful gear sets to open-world activities only. So, if you’re spending time grinding for Prototype gear, it’s better if you focus on gear sets along with appropriate weapon choices.
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The Division 2 Does Have a Lot to Offer Other Than Prototypes
While the Prototype gear segment does need some amount of rethinking, the game itself is probably in one of the healthiest states in a long while. There’s a lot of build variety, and there’s actually content that players can look forward to. Yes, the story has taken a backseat, so anyone who’s in for the storyline missions might be a little disappointed.
But over the past few seasons, The Division 2 has been focusing exclusively on gameplay, so it’s understandable why they aren’t paying much attention to the storyline for the time being. On the gameplay front, they’re actually doing well, especially with the seasonal modifier system, which has introduced an additional layer to build crafting.
Since gameplay is the primary focus at this point, it’s likely that the developers are building towards the upcoming expansion, “Echoes of Central Park,” which is expected to advance the Aaron Keener storyline. And maybe Ubisoft starts focusing on the storyline from that point onwards.
Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how things pan out once the new expansion is out. And as for the Prototypes, you can always avoid them because you’re better off with the other gear sets and Exotics available. Yes, the Prototypes are powerful, but if you lack positioning and mechanic knowledge about how the different encounters work, then having a Prototype set won’t be of any help to you at all.
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