The Rite of the Nine isDestiny 2’s new event that puts a fresh spin on three older Dungeons, with new lore and loot for players to unlock. Although as sweet as the rewards from this event are, sadly, this event will only be around untilThe Edge of Fateexpansion forDestiny 2releases on July 15.
This event offers an extra challenge for players to take on, though it also offers a new, more simplified Explorer difficulty. Despite being far less rewarding than the Eternity and Ultimate higher-tier difficulties, Explorer difficulty is arguably well worth the tradeoff for providing a low-stakes, chill way for casual players and newcomers to get a firsthand taste ofDestiny 2’s endgame content. So, while an argument can be made for the entire Rite of the Nine event to become a permanent addition, at the very least, Explorer mode deserves to become a staple ofDestiny 2’s endgame content going forward.
Destiny 2’s New Explorer Difficulty Should Become a Staple for Endgame Content
Arguably, since the game first released back in 2017, the solo player experience inDestiny 2has never been its strength. However, there have been several improvements made to this area over the years, one of the most notable of which isDestiny 2’s new Explorer difficultyin the Rite of the Nine event.
Explorer Mode is a Game Changer for the Solo Player Experience in Destiny 2
Throughout each of thethree Dungeons featured in the Rite of the Nine event, Explorer difficulty offers a much lower-stakes environment for players to learn the mechanics of these activities and experience them firsthand from start to finish. Typically, the enemies in this difficulty are weaker, the encounters don’t reset when all players die, there are infinite revives, and the puzzle mechanics have guided instructions and waypoints.
While fully accessible for solo players, Explorer mode in the Rite of the Nine event can also be experienced with a fireteam of two or three players.
The tradeoff for this lower difficulty, though, is that Explorer mode offers much fewer rewards compared to the higher Eternity or Ultimatum difficulties. More specifically, players can’t earn the Dungeon’s exclusive Exotic weapon and its Catalyst, nor can players complete legacy Triumphs specific to the Dungeons. There are also fewer loot chests throughout the Dungeon, and thenew Rite of the Nine weaponsfrom these chests will have fewer perk rolls available, and a smaller chance of having the rare Holofoil cosmetic skin. Ultimately, though, this is arguably worth the tradeoff for players being able to get firsthand experience with some ofDestiny 2’s endgame content, which is why Explorer mode should become a staple going forward.
Destiny 2’s Explorer Mode Could Bridge the Gap For Endgame Content
Not only should Explorer mode arguably be available for every Dungeon inDestiny 2, but it also deserves to be added to every endgame activity throughout the game, especially Raids, Exotic Missions, Nightfall Strikes, and Seasonal activities. This could finally give players a way to experience these highly rewarding activities firsthand without taking away from the blind challenge and increased difficulty for hardcore gamers who prefer this kind of experience.
Especially with the newSolo Ops playlist coming toDestiny 2inThe Edge of Fateexpansion, Explorer mode becoming a staple could be a massive step toward making the game more accessible for not only solo players, but also for newcomers and more casual players in general. Ultimately, this new difficulty could prove to bridge the gap for many players and give them the confidence to participate inDestiny 2’s endgame activities, considering how, in general, Raids and other endgame activities are currently only experienced by a small portion of the overall player base.
