Bungie will be charging extra for the three new dungeons inDestiny 2’s next major expansion,The Witch Queen, and players were annoyed that they won’t be available in regular expansions or seasonal content.Destiny 2has continued to release expansions since it launched in 2017, includingForsaken,Shadowkeep, andBeyond Light, which have offered new areas, weapons, and modes for players to enjoy.
WithThe Witch Queenexpansion in February 2022, fans were eagerly anticipating a new adventure focusing on thetitular Savathun and her Throne World. However, the news that new dungeons forThe Witch Queenwill need to be purchased separately has many peeved, and may have put a dampener on enthusiasm for the upcoming major expansion. For players unwilling to shell out the extra bucks for new dungeons, there is still plenty on offer throughoutDestiny 2.
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The Witch Queen Controversy
After a delay that pushedThe Witch Queenfrom 2021 into early 2022, Bungie looked to be setting up one of its largest expansions yet. But there was some blowback from players when it was revealed thatDestiny 2’s Year 5 dungeons wouldn’t be included inThe Witch Queenexpansion. SinceDestiny 2’s launch, additional dungeons have either been free-to-play or packaged in seasonal content and yearly expansions. This meant that although players had to pay for some via the purchase of expansions or season passes, there weren’t any additional costs.
Now, for players wanting to own all of the endgame content, they will need to purchase the expansion, the season passes, and either a Deluxe Edition or the separate DLC for the dungeons. The official statement from Bungie in October 2021 split the fanbase, with many feeling likeDestiny 2’s developers weren’t clear whenThe Witch Queenexpansion was announced, leading to player confusion.
While the standard edition ofThe Witch Queenwill still include a story campaign, Exotic Gear, a raid, and a new destination called the Throne World, there is content not included in the basic expansion pack. With new dungeons inThe Witch Queenbehind a paywall, not allDestiny 2players will see them. The good news is there are some challenging and diverse dungeons that players are able to explore before the release ofThe Witch Queen.
The Shattered Throne - Forsaken
AsDestiny 2’s first major expansion, and third expansion overall,Forsakenfeatured a large overhaul of gameplay and followed the events after Cayde-6 is killed while containing a prisoner break in the Prison of Elders. A new enemy species called the Scorn was introduced and a raid called The Last Wish was added. Along with these changes,The Shattered Throne Dungeon was included in theDestiny 2expansion, which was the first dungeon endgame activity.
With a focus on Taken enemies, the dungeon features waves of Taken Thrall that continue to spawn, making The Shattered Throne a perfect place for players to grind and farm catalyst kills. AsDestiny 2’s first major expansion,Forsakenhelped to establish more game lore and introduced elements that affected Taken, Scorn, and Hive factions.
WithThe Witch Queenrelease in February,some parts of theForsakenexpansion will be removed, including the Tangled Shore and all available activities within. However, the Dreaming City and its endgame content will remain inDestiny 2.
Pit of Heresy - Shadowkeep
Released toward the end of 2019, Bungie’sShadowkeepreturned to a location from the firstDestinygame – the Moon. Its story follows the discovery of an unknown pyramid-shaped ship deep within the Earth’s satellite, and eventually leads to a new raid entitled the Garden of Salvation. In addition to sandbox changes from the expansion, anew dungeon called Pit of Heresybecame available.
This dungeon focused on the exploration of the Scarlet Keep – a massive Hive fortress designed to harness the energy of the Pyramid in the chasm beneath. The Pit of Heresy also features in Savathun’s schemes, as the Witch Queen had hoped the Guardians' actions on the Moon would deal with the last of her brother’s bloodline.
Prophecy - Beyond Light
The Season of Arrivals had weekly story-based missions for players to enjoy, and gave them the chance to face up against the Taken in a new area called the Cradle on Io. Each week gave players new insight into the Darkness – the primary antagonist of theDestinyseries. Concurrent to this, Bungie releasedBeyond Light, another major expansion.The Prophecy Dungeon was a three-player dungeon introducedthat is set in the realm of the Nine.
Guardians could enter the realm of the Nine via a portal on the Drifter’s ship, the Derelict, and would need to pursue an echo of a Fallen Kell. The Taken that players face within the strange realm are simulated entities, and gamers must defeat them while dealing with the puzzles they will encounter.
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Grasp of Avarice - Season of the Lost / 30th Anniversary
AsThe Witch Queenexpansion was delayed into 2022, the Season of the Lost was extended to six months rather than the usual three forDestiny 2’s seasonal content. Aspart of Bungie’s 30th Anniversary Eventfrom December 7, a ton of new content was added in addition to the Season of the Lost’s updates and events. New gear and cosmetics based on Bungie’s previous titles were released, including from the firstDestiny,Myth, andHalo.
The Grasp of Avarice dungeon was one of the main new features toward the end of 2021, and is the newest ofDestiny 2’s dungeons. With more of a focus on the activities contained within the dungeon and less on helping to establish the wider lore ofDestiny 2, Grasp of Avarice feels the most distinct. With secrets to uncover and plenty of Easter eggs, players evenbelieve Grasp of Avarice’s aesthetics was inspired byThe Goonies.
Grasp of Avarice was also the first ofDestiny 2’s dungeons to not be free or part of an expansion. This appears to have paved the way forThe Witch Queen’s controversial release, and hasalready created rifts inDestiny 2’s playerbase.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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