The Dreadnaught is making a comeback. This legendary Hive ship, known as Oryx’s Throne World, poses a renewed threat to humanity. With its looming presence, Guardians are set to embark on a new journey as Destiny 2: Heresy, the game’s third episode and the concluding chapter of the Light and Darkness Saga, debuts on February 4. The team behind Destiny offered fans a closer look at what to anticipate from Heresy today through a live stream, which included developer interviews and live gameplay demonstrations.
In this article, we’re diving into the standout features of Heresy highlighted during the presentation. For a more detailed look, you might want to catch the live stream recap as well.
The Dreadnaught never truly departed from Destiny lore. Circling the rings of Saturn, it has served as a constant reminder of past battles with Oryx in The Taken King expansion and as a strategic base for Xivu Arath’s forces. Heresy brings this formidable Hive ship back into the spotlight.
Destiny 2’s Narrative Architect, Nikko Stevens, shared, “What makes the Dreadnaught’s return significant in Heresy is the new challenges it brings, altering the ways we’ve previously navigated its depths. It has been nearly a decade since it last awakened, now catching the attention of the Vanguard and Guardians across the system. After years of abandonment, post-Oryx, we finally get to uncover its fate.”
Heresy introduces players to a new activity called The Nether, where the battle shifts into the Dreadnaught. This venture offers a thrilling mix of exploration, combat, and unique gameplay features that increase in intensity, with some rewarding prizes as a bonus, keeping players fully engaged every time they set foot on the ship.
Stevens explained, “In Heresy, the Dreadnaught spews out a relentless surge of Taken forces and corruptive energy. This outflow of corruption serves as a powerful barrier against the Guardians hoping to board, setting the stage for The Nether.”
Set within the spooky and transformed hallways of the Dreadnaught, The Nether activity presents a blend of area patrols, intense enemy encounters—with heroic boss battles—and aims to dismantle the ship’s armaments to stop the spread of corruption. Drawing from experiments like The Coil from Season of the Wish and Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, this activity offers a fresh challenge. For example, after conquering a bubble of challenges, enemies’ power levels rise. Additionally, new game mechanics in the form of boons add an interesting twist to combat.
Players can gather three boon types: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons stack and enhance stats, major boons—earned by completing challenges—change gameplay dynamics, like increasing power through static charge. Corrupted boons, while impactful, come with some drawbacks, such as higher damage dealt balanced by an increased vulnerability.
Ryan Harris, Destiny 2’s Senior Designer, points out, “We’ve put significant effort into player modifiers, adjusting health regeneration and ammo drops while incorporating revive tokens to keep things challenging. Building the right loadout focused on survival is key, given the increased health requirements and the absence of health regeneration.”
In addition to fresh narrative developments and gear, the live stream also revealed an exciting collaboration between Bungie and Lucasfilm Games to incorporate Star Wars-themed elements in Destiny 2. Launching alongside Heresy are three new armor ornaments (one per Guardian class) inspired by the Galactic Empire, complemented by various Star Wars-themed items.
With three Acts lined up, Heresy promises plenty of excitement in the upcoming months with novel activities, impressive gear, and much more. Heresy kicks off a remarkable 2025 for Destiny 2, so stay tuned for what’s on the horizon!
Destiny 2: Heresy makes its debut on February 4.
