Following the release of the Root of Nightmares forDestiny 2, fans are requesting what is practically unheard of throughout the game’s history; that something is done about its surprising lack of challenge. Across Bungie’s nearly decade-spanning tenure in the world ofDestinyandDestiny 2, this might be the first time its fan base has clamored for the brutal endgame raid encounters to be tuned up in difficulty.
Though initialimpressions ofDestiny 2’s Lightfall expansionwere somewhat underwhelming, as the dust settled and players delved further into the new systems and gameplay introduced to the game, public opinion warmed considerably. Beyond the surface of a vague campaign that raised more questions than it answered were some oft-requested changes to the game’s sandbox and a healthy dose of fresh and inspired content that has kept many guardians coming back for more. The new Strand subclass has been heralded as a success, and the Power Level treadmill has never been less arduous to climb. With the end in sight for Bungie’s original 10-year plan forDestiny, the pieces have fallen into place to close out the last act of one of gaming’s most enviable live-service success stories.
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Root of Nightmares is Destiny 2’s Easiest Raid
Thephilosophy behind difficulty inDestiny 2’s encounters shifted with the release ofLightfall. The nerf to Legendary Primary weapons paired with the brutal buffs to the Legendary campaign and Lost Sectors have made previously trivial content imposing for even the most seasonedDestinyplayers. However, the new philosophy appears to lack consistency at best and is a complete paradigm shift at worse. Players are finding the new Raid, which typically represents some of the most challenging content the game has to offer, a breeze in comparison. This dissonance was never more apparent as the race to world-first clear of Root of Nightmares began and abruptly ended roughly two and a half hours after its launch.
The first 48 hours of a raid’s launch inDestiny 2are balanced in Contest Mode, where Power Level advantages are flattened, and players are put on a relatively even keel. It is supposed to present the most challenging version of the normal Raid, with Bungie rewarding Guardians able to clear it in that 48-hour window with a unique Emblem. Raid clears during Contest Mode are one of the crowningtriumphs a player inDestiny 2can achieve.
In the case of Root of Nightmares, 45,544 fireteams earned the coveted accolade, which is not only the highest number of completions inDestiny’s history, but more than all the other Raids combined. Between the lightning-quick World-First clear and the record number of Guardians who completed the Raid in Contest Mode, it seems evident that Root of Nightmares ranks amongDestiny 2’s easiest Raids, and that is an issue at odds with the rest of a game that is now leaning toward tougher content.
Opinions online are split regardingRoot of Nightmares' lack of difficulty inDestiny 2, but the most vocal are expressing their disappointment with Bungie’s lack of foresight in balancing the encounters. Perhaps chief among the aspects of the Raid that are too much of a pushover is the final boss, Nezarac, who some feel is actually the Raid’s easiest fight. Cheesing bosses inDestinyhas been around since Vault of Glass, and Nezarac is no exception. The alarming difference is that cheesing Nezarac is unnecessary, with a relatively tiny health pool and mechanics survivable to anyone who conquered the Tormentors on Legendary Mode in the campaign.
How To Fix the Difficulty in Destiny 2, or Lack Thereof
The simple solution would be to tweak the numbers, either in terms of boss health totals or the number of adds that spawn during encounters, but it is an inelegant solution. PreviousRaids inDestiny 2have had hard modes for players looking for an additional challenge, and perhaps this is the route Bungie should choose for Root of Nightmares. It is also possible this newest Raid represents Bungie’s response to a long-standing debate regarding the unapproachable nature ofDestiny 2’s endgame. The Last Wish, for example, was released during the Forsaken expansion and was only completed by seven percent of the active player base.
For as much of the game’s resources spent on designing and implementing the Raids, it would make sense for Bungie to find ways of onboarding more players into them. Whether Root of Nightmares' ease of completion was intentional or not, the fact remains thatDestiny 2’s current balance in difficulty is off-kilter. If the Raids are going to be simpler and more accessible, the other content should match it. Most players would agree that Raids are the tail-end ofDestiny 2’s grind, and should be thus tuned as the most challenging content in the game.
Lowering the Power Level of 20 over the pinnacle cap for Master difficulty playlists would be a good start, followed by raising the hit points for the Raid’s encounters, and it would begin toshiftDestiny 2closer to its natural ramping difficulty. A buff to the Raid coupled with a reversion of the nerf to Legendary Primary weapons could be the subtle touch that would ameliorate both sides of the debate forDestiny’sdifficulty.
No matter what Bungie decides to do with Root of Nightmares, it remains evident that the studio needs to pick a lane and stick with it. The incongruence of some nearly impossible solo content and the paltry challenge of the Raid adds up to a game that some feel is bordering on an identity crisis. Bothhardcore and casual players ofDestiny 2are feeling slighted by Bungie’s current design philosophy, and it may be that the best solution is to pick a side instead of trying to tackle the monumental task of pleasing everybody.
Destiny 2is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
