Fans of Destiny 2 had wanted changes to the Trials of Osiris game mode for quite a while before it was reworked in September. With the addition of anti-cheat to Trials of Osiris and matchmaking, player participation jumped considerably, and the community began to rally around a PvP mode that was once considered exclusive or even unenjoyable by some. Since then, Destiny 2 players have been treated to different "Trials Labs," versions of the Trials of Osiris mode intended to test players' ability to adapt, as well as deliver a change of pace to the traditional 3v3 format that the Trials of Osiris uses.
The Trials Lab for the weekend of October 22, however, feels less like a refreshing twist on the Trials of Osiris and more like a feature that should be permanent. Since the reworks to the game mode, players in the Trials of Osiris have been asking for a solo-queue or Freelance option. The feature has already been present in Destiny 2 for some time, with options available in the Iron Banner game mode as well as the Glory, or competitive, Survival mode in the Crucible playlist.
Destiny 2 Trials of Osiris: Freelance
Implementing the Freelance node as a permanent feature in the Trials of Osiris would be a big deal to many fans, and could also provide a quality of life change for Destiny 2 players. It has been expressed that providing a balanced PvP experience for Trials of Osiris players is a focus, and uneven team matchmaking can hinder what feels balanced and fun to play, versus what feels like a hopeless fight against time. While the Freelance option in Trials of Osiris could increase overall queue times within the game mode, it could also prevent two-stacks and full solo-queue teams from getting matched against three-stacks.
Since communication is so important in this specific game mode, these matches where solo-queue players and incomplete teams go up against full ones can often mean the difference between a balanced game of skill and getting shutout five rounds to zero. This by default goes against what the ideal Trials of Osiris experience is. Some of Destiny 2 is already unwelcoming to newcomers, and having matches that feel incredibly one-sided like this in Trials of Osiris can make PvE-focused players wary of trying other game modes, even if they’re already doing Grandmaster Nightfall strikes.
While keeping the Freelance option in Trials of Osiris might not be a perfect fix for these situations, it is a step in the right direction. It would still be important to have balanced matchmaking that considers individual player skill, but this would also provide an avenue for more casual players to try their hand at Trials of Osiris without feeling discouraged. Trials has already taken steps in this direction with its rework and highly coveted armor being made more accessible. Leaning into this more through Freelance matchmaking feels like a natural next step for the evolution of Trials of Osiris.
Still, what happens with Trials of Osiris over the next few months will likely continue to be determined by the Trials Labs, as well as nerfs and buffs that are coming to Destiny 2. While many players have been complaining about the Hunter's Stasis subclass and its Shatterdive ability since it started dominating PvP, it has felt long overdue for significant changes. The announcement that a nerf is on its way has been well received by many, and could mean a lot for a gunplay-focused sandbox in Destiny 2.
At the same time, there are nerfs to high-tier exotic weapons like the Vex Mythoclast on the way as well. Since both, the Vex Mythoclast and Shatterdive are incredibly popular and effective in the Trials of Osiris their nerfs in December could significantly change the meta. If this were accompanied by a Freelance option in Trials of Osiris becoming permanent an increased number of new players could find the game mode is a lot less punishing and a bit more enjoyable.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.