Destiny 2 Transmog, Tying it All Together, and Synthweave Explained

Destiny 2 has finally implemented one of the community’s most requested features. Transmogrification, or transmog, gives players the ability to create Universal Ornaments out of any legendary armor. This gives players a way of tying it all together in terms of their armor, combining the stats and perks from one armor set with the dashing good looks of another. 

But transmog is not as easy as copying and pasting an armor’s appearance. You’ll need mats to do that, specifically Synthstrand, Synthcord, and Synthweave. This Destiny 2 transmog and Tying it All Together guide tells you what you need to know about the new system and how to get started living your best armor life. 

Destiny 2 Tying It All Together Quest

To create Universal Ornaments, you need to understand Synthstrand, Synthcord, and Synthwaeave.

Those may sound like niche EDM genres, but they are actually a related series of resources used in the ornament creation process. Fortunately, Destiny 2 has the handy Tying It All Together quest to teach you how to get started.

First, visit Ada-1, who has returned to the Tower after a long absence. She will give you the Tying it All Together quest, and gift you the following: 

• 5x Synthweave Plate 
• 5x Synthweave Bolt 
• 5x Synthweave Strap 

Synthweave is the component that allows you to create Universal Ornaments. Synthweave Plate is Titan Specific, Bolt only works for Warlocks, and Strap is just for Hunters.

The Eververse Store also offers Synthweave Templates, which are universal, in exchange for silver, which is purchased with real-world money.

Next, Ada-1 wants you to create your first Universal Ornament. Open your inventory screen and navigate down to the appearance sub-screen. Here you will find the new Appearance Customizations menu. It is the upper right option.

Open it, and you will see an icon for each piece of armor you are wearing. Select one, and you will be given a list of all the legendary pieces of that armor type you have acquired. Choose any piece that you like to turn it into a permanently unlocked Universal Ornament.

Once that is complete, speak to Ada-1 again. This time, she will gift you with 150 Synthstrand. This is a currency you spend with Ada-1 to purchase special bounties that reward Synthweave, which, in turn, allows you to create another Universal Ornament.

Ada-1 will give you your choice of bounty, based around a specific game type. Your choices are: 

• Vanguard (i.e. Strikes) 
• Crucible 
• Gambit 
• Destination 
• Raids and Dungeons 

The specific terms of the bounties are somewhat randomized. Our vanguard bounty tasked us with completing four strikes and killing 200 enemies with solar damage. Once you complete the bounty and cash it in via your quest screen, you are awarded 100 Synthcord. 

Now head back to Ada-1 in the tower. Behind her is the Loom, the big machine where all the strings converge. Put the 100 Synthcord in the Loom, and you will be given your Synthweave. Return to Ada-1 again to complete this step, and she will give you your next task.

Looming Time Commitment

The final steps of the quest reflect how you will go about acquiring Universal
Ornaments going forward.

First, you collect Synthstrand. This falls randomly when you defeat enemies, and the drop rate is low. User research indicates that drop rates are limited to roughly one strand every two minutes, but that is unconfirmed.

Once you collect 150 Synthsrand, visit Ada-1 in the Tower and purchase the special Synthcord bounty. Complete the bounty, and return to Ada-1 to finish the Tying it All Together quest.

She will present you with a spool of Synthstand as a headstart on your next Univeral Ornament. Take the Synthcord from the bounty to the Loom, and receive your Synthweave to create the next ornament.

Tying Up Loose Ends

The progression from Synthstrand to Synthcord to Synthweave is how you will acquire Universal Ornaments. There is a limit of 10 armor synthesis bounties per Season, per class.

Combined with the Syntweave you are gifted at the beginning of the Tying it All Together quest, that means you will be able to create a maximum of 15 Destiny 2 Universal Ornaments for each class this season.

Destiny 2 transmog is designed to build your inventory of Universal Ornaments over time and is not unlimited. However, if you put in the time, you will no longer need to compromise between looks and stats in terms of your armor.

Transmog and Universal Ornaments give you the freedom to look how you want, and the system is just one of many new elements introduced in Destiny 2 Season of the Splicer. To see what you can focus on while you slowly gather resources for your next ornament, check out our ever-expanding Destiny 2 guides page, which includes tips on the Aspect of Interference, decrypted data, and more.