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How transmog works - Destiny 2

Transmog in Destiny 2 allows players to transform gear into Ornaments. Here's how transmog works and how to earn the currency to do it.

Sam Chandler

May 4, 2021 12:00 PM

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Players have long wanted a way to transmog their armor in Destiny 2. We all have a favorite set or style, but with the constant need to gain Power, players are left no option but to wear some ugly-ass gear. In a recent stream, Luke Smith has shed a bit of light on how Destiny 2’s upcoming transmog system will work. Not only that, but we now have some concrete information on the transmog currency and how much of it you can earn.

What is “transmog”?

For those that need a glossary, “transmog” is short for transmogrification, a term popularized in World of Warcraft. It allows players to use the appearance of one item over the top of another. For Destiny 2 players, consider for a moment the Ornament system. This is a kind of transmog. The transmog system in Destiny 2 will allow you to turn any armor piece in your Collections into an Ornament to by applied to any piece of armor.

How transmog works

Some more specifics on how transmog works in Destiny 2 have been revealed. Originally, Bungie stated in a TWAB from May 7, 2020 that transmog will be available for players to do “with in-game effort or Silver”. On April 22, 2021, a TWAB went into further detail about how transmog works.

Firstly, transmog utilizes three different currencies: Synthstrand, Synthcord, and Synthweave. This is a progression currency, where you need Synthstrand to make Synthcord, and Synthcord to make Synthweave. The TWAB outlined the process like this:

1. Defeat enemies to earn Synthstrand.
2. Spend Synthstrand on bounties to earn Synthcord.
3. Convert Synthcord at the Loom in the Tower into Synthweave.
4. Use Synthweave to convert an unlocked armor appearance (Legendary quality or lower) from Collections into a Universal Armor Ornament.

Each Season, players can earn ten Synthweave per class. This is enough to transmog two full sets of armor or 10 individual pieces. During Season 14, players will be able to earn 20 Synthweave per class as a kind of celebration.

For those players that want to transmog more than 10 pieces of armor a Season, Eververse will offer Synthweave Templates – one or five tokens – for 300 and 1000 Silver, respectively.

Saving gear for transmog

In a recent stream, Smith revealed that the game will look at your account data, specifically anything you've collected across your journey, and from this all eligible items will be available for transmog. You do not have to have the item physically on your Guardian or in your Vault. So go ahead and start freeing up that Vault space – another great way of getting more Legendary Shards ahead of Beyond Light's release.

For those that need a glossary, “transmog” is short for transmogrification, a term popularized in World of Warcraft. It allows players to use the appearance of one item over the top of another. For Destiny 2 players, consider for a moment the Universal Ornament system. This is a kind of transmog.

Expect this Destiny 2 transmog guide to grow and evolve as we learn more about it. For now, though, it’s at least good news that we don’t have to keep our vaults stuffed to the gills with armor we think is pretty snazzy. Swing by the Shacknews Destiny 2 guide for even more explanations on various mechanics and systems!

Sam Chandler

Guides Editor

Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can message him on X: @SamuelChandler