The Dreadnaught is back, making its intimidating presence felt once more. This storied Hive ship, the very Throne World of Oryx, is a looming threat to humankind again. Under this shadowy return, Guardians are set to embark on their new adventures as Destiny 2: Heresy rolls out on February 4. This marks the third episode and the concluding chapter of the Light and Darkness Saga. In today’s livestream, the Destiny team provided an extensive preview of what players can look forward to in Heresy, which included engaging developer interviews and live gameplay demonstrations.
Today, let’s delve into some of the exciting features from Heresy that were highlighted in the show. Should you want more details, you can catch the complete livestream recap here.
The Dreadnaught orbits Saturn, nestled among its magnificent rings. It’s never really fallen out of Destiny’s rich lore. Previously a battleground where Guardians clashed with Oryx during The Taken King expansion, this ship later served as an operational base for Xivu Arath’s forces. Heresy brings the Hive ship back to center stage.
“What’s pivotal about the Dreadnaught’s return in Heresy is its transformation, and we’ll be engaging with it in fresh ways,” shared Nikko Stevens, Destiny 2’s Narrative Architect. “The Dreadnaught has reawakened for the first time in almost ten years, making the Vanguard and Guardians across the system sit up and take notice. We finally get a chance to see the Dreadnaught again, years after Oryx’s defeat and as its corridors, devoid of a Navigator, begin to decay.”
In Heresy, players will plunge into the heart of the Dreadnaught with a new activity called The Nether. This promises a thrilling mix of exploration, high-octane combat, and gameplay modifiers, with increasing challenges topped off with some awesome rewards, ensuring Guardians remain engaged every time they set foot aboard.
“There’s a relentless flow of Taken forces and corrupt energy pouring from the Dreadnaught in Heresy,” added Stevens. “It’s like an aggressive tide that pushes against any Guardian forces trying to board. That’s where The Nether comes in.”
Guardians will engage in area patrols and tackle challenging enemies within multiple zones, each culminating in epic boss battles, all set in the eerie corridors of a changed Dreadnaught. It’s about disabling the ship’s weapons to stop the spread of Taken corruption. Drawing lessons from earlier rogue-lite elements in Destiny 2, like The Coil from Season of the Wish or Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, players can expect a varied experience. With every completion of a zone, the Power level of enemies rises. There’s also a new twist in the form of boons, adding a fresh layer to the combat experience.
Players can collect three types of boons: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons enhance stats and stack when collected. Major boons, earned after completing a zone, offer significant gameplay benefits like generating Static Charge stacks, which allow players to unleash a thunderbolt by firing a weapon. Meanwhile, corrupted boons also offer major boosts, but come with a catch. For example, one boon might enhance your damage output while also increasing incoming damage.
“We’ve been testing with player modifiers, such as higher health pools, no health regeneration, limited ammo drops, and revive tokens along with healing tweaks in the game’s sandbox,” explained Ryan Harris, a senior designer at Destiny 2. “Building the right loadouts for survival is crucial, as game mode modifiers significantly boost player health pools while preventing health regeneration.”
Today’s livestream also showcased new narrative developments, gear updates, and an exciting Bungie and Lucasfilm Games collaboration, featuring Star Wars-inspired gear and accessories in Destiny 2. Upon Heresy’s launch, players can get three new armor ornaments, one for each Guardian class, influenced by the Galactic Empire’s troops, along with other Star Wars-themed items.
With three Acts to come in this Episode, Heresy promises more thrills in the coming months, jam-packed with fresh activities, amazing gear to gather, and much more. Heresy is just the beginning of an exciting 2025 for Destiny 2—stay tuned for more!
Mark your calendars for February 4, when Destiny 2: Heresy officially launches.
