Xursday Considerations

The first post-DLC Xursday is in about 5 hours.  We expect that Xur will have Exotic guns and Exotic upgrades to pre-DLC Exotics.  We also expect Xur to have some Exotic armor.  Here are all the new Exotic armor pieces that come with the DLC:

Name	Rarity	Class	Type	Offense
The Glasshouse	Exotic 36	Titan	Helmet	Def: BoL/WoL last longer
The Stag	Exotic 36	Warlock	Helmet	Def: Self-res disorients enemies
ATS/8 Arachnid	Exotic 36	Hunter	Helmet	Off: GG zooms ADS
Starfire Protocol	Exotic 36	Warlock	Chest	Off: Extra Fusion grenade
Ruin Wings	Exotic 36	Titan	Gauntlets	Off: More hvy ammo drops
Claws of Ahamkara	Exotic 36	Warlock	Gauntlets	Off: Extra Scorch/Energy Drain
Don't Touch Me	Exotic 36	Hunter	Gauntlets	Taking melee dmg makes you invisible
Mk. 44 Stand Asides	Exotic 36	Titan	Boots	Off: More Shoulder Charge
Radiant Dance Machines	Exotic 36	Hunter	Boots	Off: Move faster while ADS

I've marked "Off:" or "Def:" for if the armor is more offensive or defensively inclined based on it's perks.  I'm also making a guess that Exotic DLC armor will have max light of 36 - i.e., 3 higher than the DLC legendaries (like pre-DLC armor).

IF Crota's End raid works like Vault of Glass, one type of armor will be withheld for Hard Mode.  On VoG, you could only get the Raid Helmet by playing Hard Mode, so the easiest way to 30 was to have an Exotic Helmet instead and get the Normal Mode raid armor drops.  If that same mechanic continues, and if we look at the DLC Exotic offerings, we know that the HM armor can not be a Chest or Boots, because there aren't Exotics offered for all 3 classes.

What does this mean?  My *GUESS* is that a HM-only Crota's End drop is probably a Helmet or Gauntlets.  However, reddit data from players has shown Gauntlets dropping as loot in Normal Mode.  Nobody has reported receiving a Helmet yet.  That means if Xur is offering a helmet for your class, you should buy it.  It would appear that the CE HM-only drop will be a helmet again.