Bungie updated Destiny with patch 1.1 today, and with it brought the long-awaited Exotic weapon buffs. In preparation for The Dark Below expansion, Exotics received many change, including a different way in which to upgrade them.
The biggest change is that you won't have to farm materials anymore to upgrade weapons. Materials like Spinmetal, Helium Filaments, Spirit Blooms and Relic Iron are now purchasable with Vanguard and Crucible marks. In addition, Exotic armor and weapons no long require Ascendant Materials to upgrade. Instead, the final upgrade node of Exotic armor and weapons will require a new material type — an Exotic Shard.
You can obtain Exotic Shards by either dismantling unwanted Exotics, or by purchasing one from Xur for seven Strange Coins when he appears on Friday.
Exotics also received buffs, especially to the Thorn and Bad Juju, which everyone has been waiting for. Thorn has had Reload Speed, Magazine Size, Ammo inventory size, and Stability and Weapon Handling all increased. Bad Juju has had its Magazine Size increased to 8 bursts from 5, and has had the effects adjusted to not block the first-person reticle, among other things.
To read the full list of changes, visit Bungie.