Destiny 2’s second Episode ofThe Final Shapehas launched and with it comes significant changes. The hit sci-fi looter shooter is again in a troubled spot, but this time it is more of a surprise.Final Shapewas arguably the best expansion Bungie has put out, but the sales were lower than any other, likely due to concerns over Bungie’s development process. This has likely contributed to even more Bungie cutbacks and a wholenewDestiny 2roadmap schedule.
The first episode, Echoes, also did not help things. While the Vex andMaya Sundaresh-themed seasondid bring an interesting story, the content was mixed at best. Much of the feedback from Echoes was put into the next two, Revenant and Heresy, but it is still yet to be seen how these changes affect the outcome.
10The Power Grind Has Returned
Rise To 2010
A controversial but significant change is the return of a seasonal/episodic power grind. This was a mechanic for everyDestiny 2season up until Season of Deep, the second in theLightfallyear. The change was originally made due to player complaints over the tedious seasonal grind of the next ten pinnacle power levels.
This return comes to mixed reviews but is not as serious as some may think. An endgame grind like this needed to return during the downtime of the game, which would feel more impactful due to the new episode model.It is also not as crucial as before for all players to reach the new cap due to the Fireteam shared light setting, which brings all players up to whoever has the highest light setting. The only downside is the few game modes that have this setting disabled.
9Trials Of Osiris Is Getting Refreshed
A New Way To Battle
The pinnacle PvP endgame mode is also seeing some QOL changes during Revenant.These include a limited and finalized map pool based on player preferencesand more reward options. This is done by other Trials weapons, besides the weekly, having a 50% chance of dropping after every match.
Trials will also be taking some time to experiment with a new lab mode during this episode. This experiment will limit Fireteams to one of each class, an experiment that is trying to avoid the often annoying matches where teams stack up as the same class and utilize broken/powerful combos.
8New Weapon Mods Alter Gun Customization
Fine-Tuning The Arsenal
For the first time in years,Destiny 2is adding new weapon mods to the pool. None are overly powerful, but they are nice additions after years of the same thing.These include five combo modes that give +6 to two statsrather than a dedicated boost to a single one. As well as an Anti Flinch, enhanced Ammo Finders, and customizable scope mods.
Changes like this are the bare minimum but can be impactful in their own right.Destiny 2has long needed new mods since the removal of some last year.Additions like this hopefully mean that Bungie is not afraid to continue adding new weapon modsor fine-tuning ones that already exist.
7Revenant Makes Titans Into Tanks
Embracing The Crucial MMO Role
Titans are often described as the tank class of this MMO but usually feel only slightly more resilient than the other classes. This has changed with one key tweak to the class.Titan barricades will now actively taunt enemiesthat are in front of them. To compensate for this extra attention, barricades now receive less damage from standard enemies.
Though changes like this may feel small on paper, they have a large impact in-game.Titans have often felt out of place in the PvE landscapedue to rarely having the ease of use, high damage supers of Hunters, and not having the support capability of Warlocks. This change gives Titans a bit more impact as a frontline unit that can soak up damage.
6Garden Of Salvation Joins The Crafting Fun
Conquer Vex Technology
Like other raids that have been reprised since crafting was introduced, Garden of Salvation joins the fun. Nothing major has changed in the raid, but the weapons can now be crafted after receiving the pattern.All the weapons have also gotten new perks to help them fit with the powerful new ecosystemthey find themselves in.
Overall, GoS has always been a conflicted raid.It is one of the more enjoyable ones, until the tanky final boss, but has never had the immensely powerful weapons to warrant doing it. The main reason to play it, before the nerfs, was for the borderline necessary support weapon Divinity. Hopefully, changes like this can spur more audiences to tackle this Vex-themed raid.
5Explore New Farming Methods And Buffs With Tonics
Become A Potion Master
ThisDestiny 2Episode is different from the past ones as the new weapons are not craftable. Thus, RNG now comes back into play when it comes to filling a Guardian’s arsenal. To compensate for this, Bungie has added craftable Tonics to help aid RNG.Tonics come in four rarities and can be upgraded to increase specific drop rates, similar to the target farming introduced in Onslaught, while still keeping the RNG chase alive.
Tonics are also used to provide buffs to certain playstyles. These can be considered as having an extra perk, but they only last a set amount of time. It is unknown whether this system will carry on past Revenant, but if it goes well, it could be something that is expanded upon going forward.
4Experience Destiny 2’s Story Like Never Before
A Condensed Package
After concerns over how time-gated Echoes felt,Bungie decided to release all story beats for each Act at the beginning of said Act. This means that players can complete the entire story in one sitting. Unfortunately, this has come with mixed results.
Though it is helpful to remove time gating, it has also shown how light Seasons/Episodes are. Act One can be completed in around two hours,which then leaves players with three weeks to entertain themselves with the rest of the content. There may be reasons why this feels lighter, like Episodes designed to be smaller or the fact Revenant is adding a Dungeon. Even though this is a decision many in the community asked for, it also may prove to be a poor choice.
3Face The Scorn In Onslaught Salvation
Refreshing A Popular Mode
Onslaught is getting a refresh after its promising release and is being tuned to this season’s story. Three Guardians brave three new maps and face off against the Scorn to free the captured Fallen/Eliksni.These maps also come with new defenses in air strikes and mounted HMG emplacements, along with buffs to the previously useless tripwires.
In addition to being genuinely fun, Onslaught Salvation will be crucial for this episode.It is the best place to farm new weapons, armor, and ingredients needed to craft tonics, and when compared to the battlegrounds or seasonal activities of the past, Onslaught seems like the best middle ground for giving players a fun experience that is easy for Bungie to manage.
2It Is Time To Farm Exotic Class Items
Take RNG Into Your Hands
Exotic class items were one of the strongest points ofThe Final Shape.They took the already powerful Prismatic subclasses and made them even strongerwith access to thebest Exotic perk combos. However, the downside to them was how hard it was to get the desired combo, especially with their inconsistent drop rates.
Bungie did not want to make the drop rates higher, which is understandable for something this powerful that was meant to be hard to get. Instead, the studio has added an attunement process to make it easier to get the desired perk combo. Upon visiting the Ghost in the Pale Heart, players can select one perk from the two columns, whichwill have around a 50% chance of being on all Class Items acquired while active. Though this method still requires a grind and some RNG luck, it is a massive improvement.
1Tackle Destiny 2’s Newest Dungeon, Vespers Host
Discover A New Mystery
Arguably the best new addition to Revenant is the new dungeon, Vespers Host. This dungeon takes players to a broken-down Braytech station to investigate a mysterious transmission, wherethey find it overrun with Fallen led by the reborn raid boss Atraks-1. Dungeons and Raids are often the most fun experiences inDestiny, so a new one always carries high expectations.
This dungeon is also the first to have a contest mode that will run for two days. However, the normal mode will be activated once the first team beats the contest mode.Vespers Host will also be the return of the popularDestinyexotic Ice Breaker, which can be a guaranteed drop by beating the dungeon in contest mode.
Overall, Revenant is a major shift in direction after thecritical success that wasThe Final Shape. Though it may seem light when all is said and done, the changes it brings are substantial. Among those changes and additions, these are the best new features inDestiny 2’s Revenant episode.
Source:Destiny 2/YouTube
Destiny 2
Destiny 2 is a multi-player, live-service, first-person shooter by the original creators of Halo, Bungie. Players will assume the role of a Guardian - an elite force of protectors of Earth that are bestowed with a power called Light to defend humanity from encroaching aliens and a threat known as the Darkness. The game has several expansions that flesh out the world and constantly change the core game’s world while introducing brand new challenging raid events for teams of players to take on.
