
It's not just Light you upgrade on Armour... (Destiny)
FWC Astrolord Grips. Fully Upgraded on the left, fresh from the store on the right. Ends up with 5 more Intellect and 4 more Discipline after the upgades, in addition to the obvious Defense and Light level increases.
Hadn't seen anyone point this out yet so I thought I would. This makes it more difficult to compare your existing armour with new pieces you acquire: is a new piece worse in absolute terms, or just because you haven't upgraded it yet?
It doesn't make as much of a difference as Light, but it will help you get your Grenade/Super/Power Melee back slightly quicker. Up to several seconds quicker for the Super if you upgrade all your armour pieces.

It's not just Light you upgrade on Armour...
I wish there was a way to compare gear either from base stats or as if they were fully upgraded.
It's not just Light you upgrade on Armour...
It should just show the max for every stat like it does for armor.

Did you get yours from a decrypt/drop or buy it?
If you got yours from a drop, then it's likely that the stats were randomized (with what's in the store having already rolled its dice). Exotics on the other hand I believe have fixed stats (at least weapons do).
However, when it comes to armor I've never really paid much attention to see if the stat buffs are increased or not after upgrading the defense.

I bought it
If you got yours from a drop, then it's likely that the stats were randomized (with what's in the store having already rolled its dice). Exotics on the other hand I believe have fixed stats (at least weapons do).
However, when it comes to armor I've never really paid much attention to see if the stat buffs are increased or not after upgrading the defense.
From the store, that exact armour piece I'm comparing it to. It's literally the same armour piece. The stats on the right are exactly what the one on the left used to have before I upgraded it.
I didn't expect this point to be so difficult to articulate. :/

It's not just Light you upgrade on Armour...
FWC Astrolord Grips. Fully Upgraded on the left, fresh from the store on the right. Ends up with 5 more Intellect and 4 more Discipline after the upgades, in addition to the obvious Defense and Light level increases.
[picture]
Hadn't seen anyone point this out yet so I thought I would. This makes it more difficult to compare your existing armour with new pieces you acquire: is a new piece worse in absolute terms, or just because you haven't upgraded it yet?
It doesn't make as much of a difference as Light, but it will help you get your Grenade/Super/Power Melee back slightly quicker. Up to several seconds quicker for the Super if you upgrade all your armour pieces.
At least they're in numbers and not bars. Does it show you anywhere how they'll change as you upgrade a piece of armor?