Destiny 2’s Heresy Exotic Mission: A Double-Edged Sword

Destiny 2’s latest addition, The Taken Path Exotic mission in Heresy, is shaking things up in an unexpected but refreshing way. Traditionally, with each new release, whether it’s a season or an Episode, Bungie brings in something special, like a new Raid, Dungeon, or an Exotic weapon tied to the season pass. These are staple traditions, almost like clockwork. However, while Episodes 1 and 2 followed suit by adding a new Exotic mission each, Heresy is throwing us a curveball.

With this week’s update, Bungie has thrown some new twists into the mix on the Dreadnaught, which now serves as a patrol zone thanks to Heresy. Players are encouraged to dive into the Nether, a new activity in this location where they might stumble upon some intriguing secrets. Today, for instance, players found Taken Blights scattered around the Dreadnaught. Interacting with these Blights whisks players off to another area, leading eventually to the start of an Exotic mission after a few steps. This mission, named The Taken Path, delivers quite the surprise as it’s a departure from when these missions typically drop, spotlighting questions about Heresy’s trajectory.

Heresy has had its work cut out from the start. The task at hand was to smooth over any lingering Episode 2 issues, while still providing a top-notch experience. For the most part, it’s pulling this off. The challenge is amplified given that Heresy is the last of the Episodes as Destiny 2 gears up for Frontiers, which will overhauled the game’s model. The sudden appearance of The Taken Path does spark curiosity about what’s in store for Heresy, especially since past Exotic missions appeared significantly later.

Breaking the Episodes into three Acts had sparked debates, mainly due to the increase in FOMO, even though players were given more time per Episode. Until now, Act 3 was when Bungie dropped these Exotic missions, so shifting The Taken Path to Act 1’s second week might be a strategy to make it accessible before the game transitions to Frontiers. If this is a deliberate move, it could imply that Bungie has surprises lined up for later.

Dropping the Exotic mission early allows players to spend ample time unlocking the Barrow-Dyad, an Exotic Strand SMG, as they wind down towards Frontiers. However, it raises the question: if The Taken Path was intended for Act 3, what’s the plan for Heresy’s endgame content? If Bungie always intended this timeline, then perhaps they are setting the stage for something unexpected as Act 3 approaches.

On the plus side, releasing content early could be beneficial in managing the game’s battle with FOMO. On the flip side, it could leave a void in Act 3. Consider how effective the Into The Light update was as a bridge between the previous season and The Final Shape; Act 3 might need something like it. Reviving popular content or introducing new shiny weapons could fuel anticipation for Frontiers. Otherwise, without news of an update, Destiny 2 might face a content lull just when it needs engagement the most.