The Dreadnaught is making a dramatic comeback. This legendary Hive vessel, once Oryx’s mighty Throne World, looms again as a danger to humanity. It’s within this threatening atmosphere that Guardians will commence their new adventures when Destiny 2: Heresy—the game’s third Episode and the final chapter of the Light and Darkness Saga—debuts on February 4. Earlier today, the creators of Destiny unveiled an exciting livestream showcasing what players can expect from Heresy, featuring unique insights from developers and live gameplay from the Episode itself.
Let’s dig into some key highlights from Heresy discussed in today’s presentation. For those hungry for even more details, you can check out the full livestream recap here.
Orbiting Saturn amidst its magnificent rings, the Dreadnaught holds a venerable place in Destiny’s narrative. It served as both a grim reminder of past battles with Oryx—spotlighted in The Taken King expansion—and as a rally point for Xivu Arath’s forces. With Heresy, this ominous Hive ship takes center stage once more.
“The importance of the Dreadnaught’s re-emergence in Heresy lies in its evolution. Players will tackle it in ways we haven’t yet explored,” explains Destiny 2’s Narrative Architect, Nikko Stevens. “Revived for the first time in nearly ten years, the Dreadnaught captures the attention of the Vanguard and Guardians across the galaxy. Now, we get to observe what’s become of this colossal spacecraft after Oryx’s downfall left it adrift and untended.”
Heresy invites Guardians to embark on a new journey deep within the Dreadnaught in an activity known as The Nether. Blending exploration and combat, with challenging gameplay modifiers and increasing difficulty levels, not to mention some enticing rewards, The Nether ensures players stay engaged and ready for action.
“There’s a relentless surge of Taken forces and corrupt energy streaming from the Dreadnaught during Heresy,” Stevens mentions. “This tide of corruption acts like a fierce current, pushing back against Guardians attempting to board. It’s here that The Nether comes into play.”
Featuring area patrols, belligerent zones filled with formidable enemies, culminating in epic boss battles all set in the creepy passageways of a revamped Dreadnaught, The Nether sees Guardians striving to disable the ship’s armament and halt the spread of Taken corruption. Building upon prior rogue-lite challenges in Destiny 2 such as Season of the Wish’s The Coil and Season of the Deep’s Deep Dives, players can expect a continuously fresh experience. For example, after clearing a zone, enemy Power levels rise. Additionally, this activity shakes up the combat dynamics with new boons that directly influence gameplay.
Players can gather three types of boons: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons boost stats and can be accumulated. Major boons, earned by completing a zone, don’t stack but offer game-changing perks like gathering Static Charge through sprinting, resulting in unleashing a mighty thunderbolt when firing your weapon. On the other hand, corrupted boons provide significant playful benefits, but with a hitch. For instance, one boon amplifies damage dealt to foes while also heightening damage received.
“We’ve toyed with player modifiers, such as expanded health pools, zero health regeneration, scarce ammo drops, and modified revival conditions,” says Destiny 2 Senior Designer Ryan Harris. He added that strategic loadout design is crucial for success in the Nether. “Players should tailor their setups for resilience, as game mode modifiers increase health pools while halting health regeneration.”
In addition to the fresh story twists, new gear, and updates, today’s livestream introduced an exciting partnership between Bungie and Lucasfilm Games. This collaboration promises Star Wars-inspired gear and accessories in Destiny 2. Launching with Heresy are three new armor ornaments (one for each Guardian class), inspired by the Galactic Empire’s troopers, along with a suite of Star Wars-flavored accessories.
Heresy, with its three-part journey throughout this Episode, is set to entertain for months, offering thrilling activities, outstanding gear to collect, and more. And this just marks the beginning of a remarkable 2025 for Destiny 2, so stay tuned!
Get ready as Destiny 2: Heresy launches on February 4.
