A bunch of my friends are confused.

Here's how it works:

Exotic armor has a max light of 30.
Legendary Raid gear has a max light of 30.
Regular Legendary Gear maxes out at less. I think it's 25.

To hit level 30, you need 120 light. To hit level 29, you need 109 light. To hit 28 you need 98 light.

This means you can hit 28 at most without any exotics or raid legendaries. 25 x 4 = 100.

To reach level 30, you need either 4 raid legendaries, or 3 raid legendaries and an exotic. 30 x 4 = 120.

Defense upgrades cost more on exotics and raid legendary gear. Either 7 or 8 shards as opposed to 6 for the regular legendaries.

Level 28 is more than enough to do everything except the raid on hard mode. If you don't plan to do that, don't sweat.

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

You never had to grind Cody! You just wanted to max out/get to raid so fast you had to play for optimal income, not optimal fun.

Although, if you feel all the non-raid activities are pointless and not fun regardless I guess you have no choice.

I hate the patrol missions required to get the relic iron/helium. That stuff IS stupid and needs another way to get (Or some kind of option for leveled patrol missions) but everything else comes with Tiger Strikes and Crucible, which is the meat and potato's of the mid 20's.

Good explanation of the light leveling system though, thanks for helping people out!

A bunch of my friends are confused.

Here's how it works:

Exotic armor has a max light of 30.
Legendary Raid gear has a max light of 30.
Regular Legendary Gear maxes out at less. I think it's 25.

To hit level 30, you need 120 light. To hit level 29, you need 109 light. To hit 28 you need 98 light.

This means you can hit 28 at most without any exotics or raid legendaries. 25 x 4 = 100.

To reach level 30, you need either 4 raid legendaries, or 3 raid legendaries and an exotic. 30 x 4 = 120.

Defense upgrades cost more on exotics and raid legendary gear. Either 7 or 8 shards as opposed to 6 for the regular legendaries.

Level 28 is more than enough to do everything except the raid on hard mode. If you don't plan to do that, don't sweat.

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

I thought so

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

I'm wondering what they are going to do with the sequels as far as levels are concerned, and how that's going to affect everybody coming over from game one that are probably at or close to the current max level. Will they raise the level cap, or will it stay like it is? And what will that do to the Patrol areas that might be lower levels? And other stuff like that.

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

I'm wondering what they are going to do with the sequels as far as levels are concerned, and how that's going to affect everybody coming over from game one that are probably at or close to the current max level. Will they raise the level cap, or will it stay like it is? And what will that do to the Patrol areas that might be lower levels? And other stuff like that.

Well, they really backed themselves into a corner.

If they raise the level cap, instantly that means you are going to have to find four new armor pieces and upgrade them all over again. Not cool.

Either that, or change the light mechanic, which is bad, as RC points out.

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

I'm wondering what they are going to do with the sequels as far as levels are concerned, and how that's going to affect everybody coming over from game one that are probably at or close to the current max level. Will they raise the level cap, or will it stay like it is? And what will that do to the Patrol areas that might be lower levels? And other stuff like that.

Well, they really backed themselves into a corner.

If they raise the level cap, instantly that means you are going to have to find four new armor pieces and upgrade them all over again. Not cool.

Either that, or change the light mechanic, which is bad, as RC points out.

Getting new armor with cool new looks and new abilities does not have to be a bad thing.

I am hoping Bungie never ever raises the level cap, so I never have to grind ever again.

I'm wondering what they are going to do with the sequels as far as levels are concerned, and how that's going to affect everybody coming over from game one that are probably at or close to the current max level. Will they raise the level cap, or will it stay like it is? And what will that do to the Patrol areas that might be lower levels? And other stuff like that.

Well, they really backed themselves into a corner.

If they raise the level cap, instantly that means you are going to have to find four new armor pieces and upgrade them all over again. Not cool.

Either that, or change the light mechanic, which is bad, as RC points out.

Getting new armor with cool new looks and new abilities does not have to be a bad thing.

You find a sweet helmet, chest piece, boots, and gloves you want. Congrats. Equip them all and you drop down to level 24. Want to get back to where you were? You'll need a hundred Ascendant Shards give or take. Don't have that? Good luck grinding them out.

If you could just equip the armor or weapons you wanted, the game would be better. Leveling up guns and armor with resources is a bad design decision.

Because all the new stuff automatically will have lesser light levels than the old stuff? Uh huh...

Because all the new stuff automatically will have lesser light levels than the old stuff? Uh huh...

1. They will be unupgraded, so you'll STILL need to find those shards.
2. That then makes everything else completely obsolete, leaving you with less variety. All your legendary and exotics you have now will suffer the same fate as rares with light suffer now.

I do not want ten years of a grind hamster wheel, running just to stay in the same place.

Because all the new stuff automatically will have lesser light levels than the old stuff? Uh huh...

1. They will be unupgraded, so you'll STILL need to find those shards.
2. That then makes everything else completely obsolete, leaving you with less variety. All your legendary and exotics you have now will suffer the same fate as rares with light suffer now.

I do not want ten years of a grind hamster wheel, running just to stay in the same place.

So, 1. I could still be right and 2. You can't not see playing the game as a grind. Works for me. :)