Xur, Agent of the Nine, that mysterious merchant in Destiny 2, is causing a stir. His Favor of the Nine buff, while tempting, has Guardians fired up. Is it really worth 47 Strange Coins if it only applies to one character? Let’s break down the Favor of the Nine debate, explore player frustrations, and look at some potential solutions.
What’s the Deal with Favor of the Nine?
- Players frustrated by limited application of Xur’s buff
- Disappointment over one character exclusivity
- Suggestions for account-wide benefits
Key Takeaways
- The Favor of the Nine buff offers increased Strange Coin drops but is tied to a single character. This limits its usefulness for players who enjoy using multiple Guardians.
- Acquiring the buff requires spending a substantial amount of Strange Coins. The 47 Strange Coin cost represents a significant portion of the total 99-coin limit, making it a risky investment for some.
- Players suggest an account-wide buff would improve the system. This change would allow players to freely switch between characters and benefit from the increased Strange Coin drops regardless of which Guardian they use.
Who is Xur, Agent of the Nine?
Xur, Agent of the Nine, is a mysterious merchant in Destiny 2 who appears each weekend with exotic goods. He arrives every Friday at 9 AM PST and departs on the following Tuesday at 9 AM PST. He’s a weekend treat for dedicated Guardians, offering a chance to acquire powerful weapons and armor not typically available. You can find more details about his weekly inventory on sites like IGN.
What are Strange Coins and How Do You Get Them?
Strange Coins are the currency you’ll need to purchase Xur’s exotic items. Earning them requires participating in various Destiny 2 activities, including Vanguard Ops, Crucible, and Gambit, as well as Trials of Osiris, Iron Banner, and Onslaught. The more you play, the more opportunities you have to collect these coins.
Where to Find Xur
Xur consistently sets up shop in the Tower Bazaar, near Ikora Rey. Use the Annex landing zone for the quickest route. No more wandering around—head straight to the Bazaar and check out his exotic treasures.
Activities that Reward Strange Coins
Playing regular activities rewards Strange Coins, but you can increase your earnings with weekly activity boosts. These boosts significantly increase Strange Coin drops. Spending 47 Strange Coins with Xur grants the “Favor of the Nine” buff, further increasing Strange Coin drops for 11 days. This buff stacks up to three times, as explained in this IGN article.
Strange Coin Limit
You can only hold 99 Strange Coins at a time. The “Favor of the Nine” buff costs 47 Strange Coins—half your carrying capacity. This limitation, discussed on Z League, can frustrate players, especially those saving up for specific items.
Who (or What) Are the Nine?
The Nine are shrouded in mystery. They’re powerful entities with a vested interest in the Guardians and the Traveler. Xur acts as their emissary, offering glimpses into their influence through the exotic items he sells and the “Favor of the Nine” buff, their loyalty program. Engaging with Xur might reveal more about these enigmatic beings.
Why Are Players Frustrated with the Favor of the Nine Buff?
Destiny 2 players expressed frustration over the account-wide limitations of Xur’s “Favor of the Nine” buff system. The community feels that this restricts gameplay flexibility and creates unnecessary barriers.
How to Acquire Favor of the Nine (The *Real* Process)
Spending Your Strange Coins
There’s a common misconception about acquiring Xur’s Favor of the Nine buff. Many players think it’s a direct purchase. However, you actually unlock the buff by spending 47 Strange Coins on other items Xur offers. Think of it as a spending requirement. Once you’ve met this threshold, the Favor of the Nine becomes available—free of charge. This somewhat hidden mechanic is likely contributing to the confusion.
Unlocking the Favor
To be clear, you don’t buy the Favor of the Nine directly. You unlock it by purchasing other wares from Xur, such as engrams, armor, or weapons. After spending the required 47 Strange Coins, the Favor of the Nine buff will appear. This forum post clarifies the process for those still unsure how to obtain the buff.
The Actual Benefits of Favor of the Nine
Boosted Strange Coin Drops
The Favor of the Nine buff significantly increases your Strange Coin drop rate. This guide from IGN explains that the buff lasts for 11 days and stacks up to three times. A full stack could potentially quadruple your Strange Coin earnings, making it easier to acquire those desirable exotics from Xur.
How Long the Buff Lasts
The Favor of the Nine buff provides a considerable advantage for almost two weeks. The Destiny 2 database, light.gg, notes that each stack increases your chances of receiving bonus Strange Coins, and these stacks are cumulative. Consistently maintaining the buff can significantly increase your Strange Coin income over time.
Specific Examples of Player Frustration
Activating on the Wrong Character
A primary source of player frustration is the character-specific nature of the buff. Players sometimes activate it on one character, then realize it doesn’t apply to their others. This limitation feels unnecessarily restrictive, especially for players who regularly switch between characters. This Reddit thread illustrates this frustration, showing players who assumed the buff would be account-wide.
High Cost Relative to Earnings
The cost of the buff is another point of contention. 47 Strange Coins is a substantial investment, especially given the 99 Strange Coin cap. Players feel that spending nearly half their potential Strange Coin holdings on a character-specific buff is a major disadvantage. This cost, combined with the buff’s limited duration, makes it feel risky, particularly for newer players or those without a large reserve of Strange Coins.
How Do Players Feel About Xur’s Favor of the Nine Buff?
One player lamented, “Yeah this should honestly be an account wide type thing”, highlighting the consensus among many that this design choice feels restrictive.
What Changes Do Players Want for Favor of the Nine in Destiny 2?
Players are calling for Bungie to address this oversight, with one user stating, “This is a ridiculous oversight. Strange coins have a 99 limit per account and you need to spend half of that to get the buff on one character.” The frustration is palpable among the community, signaling a need for adjustment in the game’s mechanics.
Potential Improvements and Community Suggestions
The Destiny 2 community has been vocal about desired changes to Xur’s Favor of the Nine buff. Many players feel an account-wide buff, rather than character-specific, would significantly improve the gameplay experience. This sentiment resonates across platforms, with players expressing frustration at the current limitations. As one player noted on Z League, “Yeah this should honestly be an account wide type thing,” which highlights the widespread desire for this change. This simple adjustment would give players more flexibility to switch between characters without repurchasing the buff.
The buff’s cost is another key concern. Players currently spend 47 Strange Coins to acquire the Favor of the Nine. With the account-wide cap of 99 Strange Coins, this is a substantial investment, especially since the buff only applies to one character. One Reddit user highlighted this issue, stating, “This is a ridiculous oversight. Strange coins have a 99 limit per account and you need to spend half of that to get the buff on one character.” This feedback suggests that either the cost should be reduced, or the account-wide benefit should justify the current price.
My Thoughts on the Destiny 2 Favor of the Nine Situation
The frustrations surrounding Xur’s buff system in Destiny 2 exemplify the delicate balance game developers face in implementing in-game mechanics. It’s a reminder that even small details can have a significant impact on player experience, underscoring the importance of community feedback in shaping the gaming landscape.
History and Updates to Favor of the Nine
Xur’s Favor of the Nine buff has a somewhat complicated history, which contributes to the current player frustration. Initially, Bungie introduced the buff to encourage players to spend Strange Coins. It was designed to increase the drop rate of Strange Coins, giving players more chances to buy exotic items from Xur. However, the way it works has been a point of contention since it began.
The main problem is the buff’s limitations. Players buy the Favor of the Nine from Xur for 47 Strange Coins—almost half of the 99 Strange Coin account limit. The catch? The buff only applies to the one character that bought it, not the entire account. This means if you have three Guardians and want the buff on all of them, you have to spend a significant chunk of your Strange Coins. For more on player reactions to this, check out our article, Destiny 2: Xur’s Favor of the Nine Buff Frustrations Explained.
To make things even more complicated, the buff lasts for 11 days and stacks up to three times. Each purchase resets that 11-day timer, so dedicated players could keep the buff active indefinitely. This stacking feature, while helpful, doesn’t solve the main problem of the buff being character-specific. You can find information on the buff’s duration and stacking on light.gg, a great resource for Destiny 2 item details.
Even with consistent community feedback, Bungie hasn’t made any major changes to how Favor of the Nine works. Players continue to share their concerns on platforms like Reddit, pointing out how restrictive the buff is and how expensive it is compared to the account-wide Strange Coin limit. This Reddit thread shows how frustrated the community remains with this system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Xur’s Favor of the Nine buff? It’s a buff in Destiny 2 that increases your Strange Coin drop rate, making it easier to buy Xur’s exotic items. It lasts for 11 days and can stack up to three times, potentially quadrupling your Strange Coin earnings. However, it’s important to understand that you don’t buy the buff directly. You unlock it by spending at least 47 Strange Coins at Xur.
Why are Destiny 2 players upset about this buff? The main issue is that the buff is character-specific, not account-wide. This means if you have multiple characters, you need to spend 47 Strange Coins on each one to get the buff. Given the 99 Strange Coin limit, this can be a significant investment, especially for players who switch between characters frequently.
How do I actually get the Favor of the Nine? It’s not a direct purchase. You obtain the buff by spending 47 Strange Coins on any items Xur sells, whether it’s engrams, armor, or weapons. Once you hit that spending threshold, the Favor of the Nine buff activates automatically and for free.
If the buff increases Strange Coin drops, why is the cost a problem? 47 Strange Coins is almost half the maximum you can hold. Players feel this is too high a price for a buff that only applies to a single character. Many believe the cost should be lower or the buff should apply account-wide to justify the expense.
What are players suggesting Bungie do about this? The most common request is to make the Favor of the Nine account-wide. This would allow players to switch between characters without needing to repurchase the buff on each one, providing much more flexibility. Some players also suggest lowering the cost, especially if it remains character-specific.
