When it comes to loot, fun, and replay value, Destiny 2 has sometimes struggled to find the sweet spot. Some seasonal activities like Expunge missions and the Shattered Realm have benefits tying them into the greater grind of Destiny 2, but other activities like Override and Astral Alignments can be repetitive, amplified by rewards that also feel lackluster. The Bungie 30th Anniversary event, however, has done well at striking a balance that includes unique and attractive weapons alongside Dares of Eternity, which has variety but is still an easy activity to jump in-and-out of.
While the best features associated with the Dares of Eternity mode are directly connected to the 30th Anniversary Pack, it still lays the foundation for what other activities should look like in Destiny 2’s future. With the launch of The Witch Queen a lot will change, including vaulting of previous seasonal activities. With new activities should also come new design approaches that use Dares of Eternity as a blueprint.
Dares of Eternity's Replay Value
Having variety seems to be the biggest problem for a lot of Destiny 2’s activities. Past game modes have felt near-identical despite being a part of different seasons. While Destiny 2 should keep more seasonal activities with the addition of Battlegrounds to the Vanguard playlist, many are still a great example of what Dares of Eternity has been able to avoid.
The Dares of Eternity mode feels closer to Battlegrounds and strike activities. With three different areas, it’s a look that can be likened to the way the other two activities progress, but enemies and modifiers help Dares of Eternity stand out. They’re a relatively small tweak when compared to the challenges present in the weekly Nightfall and Grandmaster Nightfall strikes, but their benefits for the player help the activity feel more fun.
This is amplified by randomization that has been worked into the Dares of Eternity mode. While a similar mechanic might not be fluid enough to incorporate into future strikes and seasonal activities, it should set a precedent. Loading into other activities shouldn’t result in players immediately knowing what to expect in every area. A more diverse cast of enemies could appear, helping make each run feel different. There are already activities like the Devil’s Lair strike that incorporate multiple enemies, but these aren’t situations where one race of enemies might appear on one run and another later.
Adopting a method that takes more from Dares of Eternity could help future strikes and seasonal activities feel fresh. As Destiny 2 has grown and its overarching narrative progresses, it’s become apparent that not every enemy is working alone. Alliances between the Scorn and Hive have grown stronger in Season of the Lost, and as Xivu Arath hunts Savathun this is likely to transfer over to The Witch Queen expansion. Having seasonal activities and new strikes that incorporate this would be great to experience, and also show Destiny 2’s new activities are learning from how Dares of Eternity keeps things fun.
On top of this, introducing a mechanic similar to the lightning rounds in Dares of Eternity could help to mix things up. While it wouldn’t be the most significant step, it would still be in the right direction and offer a fun surprise for players that may think things are getting too short and easy. This could play into loot for future activities, highlighting another of Dares of Eternity’s best aspects.
Dares of Eternity Loot
While the world loot that drops isn’t entirely new, loot introduced through the Bungie 30th Anniversary event is some of the most unique that Destiny 2 has added. Design-wise the weapons are homages to previous Bungie titles like Halo. Loot isn’t incredibly unique in itself, as expansions and seasons each introduce new gear, but tying it to the activity can stir up memories of the first Destiny game and should be expanded once The Witch Queen is released.
Back in Destiny, strike-specific loot was a reality with many players coveting items like the Darkblade helm from Sunless Cell. These items made grinding strikes feel worthwhile, and it’s a concept that has made the Grandmaster Nightfall activities a challenging but rewarding task. While Adept weapons and their normal counterparts are present in Destiny 2 and touch on this idea some, the way new loot is executed through the Dares of Eternity mode shows how well revisiting the idea for future activities could go.
Instead of unceremoniously dumping umbral engrams into the decoder, focusing them, or unlocking chests with keys, more activities should have special loot drops. For many, the armor roles from umbral engrams are already less than ideal, meaning players are often focused on god-roll weapons if they’re focusing engrams at all. However, the unique items introduced as part of the Bungie 30th Anniversary content have created a reason for players to keep going back to Dares of Eternity in the hopes of getting the perfect Retraced Path.
These weapons create a draw to the activity. Raids and dungeons in Destiny 2 have their own loot tables, but otherwise there’s not a lot of unique loot that can only be gotten through specific activities. As a looter-shooter, this goes against Destiny 2’s grain, and it would be great to see the approach reprised. As cool as some seasonal armors can be, future activities should still learn from Dares of Eternity about how providing that bit extra can make an activity worth running time and again.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The Witch Queen launches on February 22.