Collector Synth

Collector Synth
Attributes

Collector Synth was a consumable material in Destiny 2 used during Season of the Drifter to enhance the Collector role in Gambit Prime and create armor through The Reckoning. Like other role-specific synths, it was part of the Gambit Prime role system that was removed when the mode was vaulted.

Description

Collector Synths were specialized materials that allowed players to either temporarily boost their Collector armor set bonuses or create Collector Motes for use in The Reckoning. These synths were essential for players who preferred the mote-gathering role in Gambit Prime, enabling them to unlock powerful perks like carrying up to 20 motes and summoning Giant Blockers.

Usage

Collector Synths had two primary applications:

Direct Consumption

• Consuming a Collector Synth from inventory granted +3 to Collector armor set bonus
• Effect lasted 30 minutes
• Allowed access to higher-tier Collector perks without wearing full armor sets
• Useful for reaching Tier 2 or Tier 3 perks with fewer armor pieces

Mote Creation

• Combined with a Weak Synthesizer, Middling Synthesizer, or Powerful Synthesizer
• Created Collector Motes of corresponding tier:

 * Weak Collector Mote (Tier 1 armor)
 * Middling Collector Mote (Tier 2 armor)
 * Powerful Collector Mote (Tier 3 armor)

• Motes were used in The Reckoning to determine armor rewards

Acquisition

Players could obtain Collector Synths through multiple sources:

Primary Sources

• The Drifter Daily Bounties: Specific bounties rewarded Collector Synths
• Gambit Prime Matches: Random drops for performing Collector actions
• The Reckoning: Rewarded when joining activities started by others

Drop Conditions in Gambit Prime

• Banking multiple motes
• Successfully banking without losing motes
• Achieving Collector medals
• Contributing to team victories

The Collector Role

Collector Synths supported the Collector playstyle, which focused on:

• Gathering and banking motes efficiently
• Creating blockers to disrupt the enemy team
• Supporting team economy through safe mote collection

Collector Perks (When Using Synths)

• Tier 1: Drop motes on death for allies
• Tier 2: Increased overshield when banking
• Tier 3: Ability to carry 20 motes and summon Giant Blockers

Synthesizer Interaction

The type of Synthesizer used affected the armor tier:

• Weak Synthesizer: Created Tier 1 (Illicit) armor
• Middling Synthesizer: Created Tier 2 (Outlawed) armor
• Powerful Synthesizer: Created Tier 3 (Notorious) armor

Each tier provided increasingly powerful role perks when worn as a set.

Strategy

Optimal use of Collector Synths involved:

• Saving synths for Powerful Synthesizer unlocks
• Consuming synths before important Gambit Prime matches
• Coordinating with team for role distribution
• Focusing bounties that rewarded Collector Synths

Removal from Game

Collector Synths, along with the entire Gambit Prime and Reckoning system, were removed from Destiny 2 with the launch of Beyond Light on November 10, 2020. The removal was part of the Destiny Content Vault initiative, which sunset older content to make room for new expansions.

Legacy

While no longer obtainable or usable, Collector Synths represented an innovative approach to:

• Role specialization in competitive PvE
• Player agency in armor acquisition
• Synergy between multiple game modes

The concept of role-specific gameplay influenced later Destiny 2 systems, though none have replicated the specific synth/mote/armor loop of Season of the Drifter.

Trivia

• Collector Synths had a maximum stack size of 20, matching the mote capacity of max-tier Collectors
• The icon featured mote symbols, representing the Collector's primary function
• Some players hoarded synths hoping they would return, but they were removed from inventories
• Collector was considered one of the most accessible roles for new Gambit Prime players

See Also

• Reaper Synth
• Invader Synth
• Sentry Synth
• Gambit Prime
• The Reckoning
• The Drifter
• Season of the Drifter

References

• Shacknews - What is a Collector Synth
• Destiny Tracker - Collector Synth
• Newsweek - Synthesizer Guide