This one small trick will get you farther in Destiny faster, especially if you are still starting out.
Bungie has designed the game so that when you are facing monsters at a higher level than you, you inflict less damage and receive more damage. For this reason, it is recommended that you do not go into the raids until you are at Level 28.
This system seems counterintuitive, especially for RPG players. In many RPGs, you can take on enemies at higher levels than you, and expect to get more rewards for defeating them. However, Bungie’s design deliberately discourages such risk taking.
Our source tested this theory out with his character, and he confirmed that damage scales down to your enemy if you are at a higher level. Inversely, if you are at a lower level, your damage is reduced. Our source also believes the same is true of armor and enemy levels.
How much does Bungie punish you for facing higher level enemies? You can only damage enemies no more than three levels above you. Furthermore, you will even do lower damage.
Here are our source's estimates on the damage scaling:
· 4 lvl or lower below mob: 100% damage penalty
· 3 lvl below mob: 52% damage penalty or below
· 2 lvl below mob: approximately 42% damage penalty or below
· 1 lvl below mob: 32% damage penalty or below
· 0 lvl below or higher than mob: 0% damage penalty
It seems that they want players to follow a set program for playing Destiny, and that means following this very linear progression path, with no skipping.
Why would Bungie set up a system like this on the first place? Tell us what you think Bungie’s motivations are for setting this up in the comments.