Games are great. Playing fair can’t be beat. But there’s nothing more exhilarating than finding an exploit. You know, a little special something that gives you an edge. Even if it doesn’t last, since companies always patch these out, for one moment you feel so smart and prepared. It’s a wonderful thing. 2016 was full of assorted exploits, and we’re going to go through some of the most memorable.
Overwatch’s Genji and Hanzo Exploit
We’re going to start out with a totally mean exploit. The worst of the best, if you will. People in Overwatch discovered this year that it was possible to cause the server to crash and game to end using Genji or Hanzo. By doing specific things in certain maps, you could make everything grind to a halt. What a way to rage quit!
Pokemon Go Egg Exploit
There isn’t much to do in Pokemon Go . You catch Pokemon, and you hopefully place them in gyms so you can collect coins for defending them. Holding a gym for long periods means more rewards. Which is why some people seized the opportunity to install eggs in gyms earlier this year, as you couldn’t fight an egg! For a short time, it was possible to peacefully dominate the game.
No Man’s Sky Unlimited Items Exploit
No Man’s Sky could be a tedious game where you’d have to explore the galaxy to keep getting essential cargo you’d need to proceed. So, instead of enjoying, you’d be working. Fortunately, there was an exploit that made it easier to accrue items. If you died, you could claim your old inventory from your grave. Reloading a save let you keep your items and visit your own grave! That’s the best kind of grave robbing!
Overwatch’s Lucio Ball Exploit
Blizzard puts together special modes in Overwatch events. As part of the Olympics celebrations, Lucio Ball was added, a mode that let you only play as Lucio Ball. Except, an exploit would let you spawn as other characters. Which meant a friendly game of soccer suddenly involved death. While this certainly messed things up for the other players, it could be hilarious for the person who managed to bring in someone like D.Va or Reinhardt.
Destiny’s Unlimited Ammo Exploit
For a brief, shining moment, Destiny players stumbled onto the dream. They had infinite rocket launcher, sniper rifle, and special weapon ammo. By cycling between weapons with the Cocoon and Clown Cartridge perks, they were able to enjoy a 25% chance of unlimited ammunition. If you were lucky and quick, you could have all the firepower you’d need.
The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine Money Exploit
How did you get as much money as you could ever want in The Witcher 3 ’s Blood & Wine expansion? Bees. Bees are the answer. All you had to do was Aard a beehive over to Willis, a merchant, and let them kill him repeatedly. Well, after you’d already bought out his inventory, so he’d have money on him. You could then loot the corpses, which would pile up as long as you’d meditate every hour.
Final Fantasy XV’s Aranea Exploit
One of 2016’s best exploits is also one of its most recent. In Final Fantasy XV , your only permanent party members are Noctis, Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto. Others only come and go. But, if you get past chapter nine and instigate fights with giants, you can make Aranea Highwind a permanent part of your team. The cost? No more fishing. But trust me, it’s worth it.
Destiny’s Omnigul Exploit
The original Destiny Omnigul exploit is actually from 2015, but it was revived when Rise of Iron was released. To quickly raise light levels, people were repeatedly tethering the Omnigul in the The Will of Crota strike, defeating her, and party-wiping to acquire those sweet blue emblems. It worked as a way to level up! Well, at least for a time!
The Division’s Bullet King Exploit
The Division ‘s Bullet King exploit was one of this year’s easiest paths to glory. All people had to do was head to the Autumn’s Hope safe house, defeat the Bullet King, grab the purple loot and Phoenix Credits he’d drop, but leave his allies alive. As long as his buddies weren’t killed, he’d keep respawning. Which was great for anyone who wanted to quickly build themselves up!
Fallout 4’s Automatron XP Exploit
Acquiring levels in Fallout 4 is an arduous affair. But, people who had the Automatron DLC were able to make it a little easier. Early this year, we had the opportunity to enjoy an exploit that let you bring a companion to a robot workbench at a settlement to earn experience as quickly as you could click. Some people were even able to earn 100,000 XP in five minutes!