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

Destiny 2 players have grown accustomed to certain traditions over the game’s lifespan, like each new season or Episode bringing along a new Raid, Dungeon, and typically, an Exotic weapon tied to the season pass. These have often been consistent features, providing a familiar rhythm to each update. But while the game evolves with every release, these constants remain a reassuring presence. In an intriguing twist, however, the game is breaking from its established pattern with the introduction of The Taken Path Exotic mission in Heresy.

With Destiny 2’s latest weekly refresh, Bungie has unveiled new secrets on the Dreadnaught, which has now been integrated into Heresy as a patrol zone. This location features an activity known as The Nether, where players can tackle various objectives and perhaps discover hidden secrets. During this update, players encountered Taken Blights scattered across the Dreadnaught. Interacting with these leads to a new area where an Exotic mission can be accessed. This mission, named The Taken Path, is a delightful surprise, yet it raises compelling questions about Heresy’s trajectory.

Heresy faced quite the challenge from the start; it needed to resolve issues leftover from Episode 2 while delivering an exemplary experience. Despite minor hiccups, it seems to have largely succeeded. Notably, Heresy represents the third and final Episode before Destiny 2 shifts gears with the introduction of Frontiers. The addition of The Taken Path Exotic mission is a promising contribution to the looter-shooter experience. However, since Exotic missions for Episodes 1 and 2 launched during Act 3, this early release prompts curiosity about what else Heresy holds for players in the coming months.

The division of Episodes into three Acts sparked some debate, as it introduced more FOMO, despite offering more time per Episode for completion. To date, Exotic missions have emerged during Act 3, leading to speculation that Bungie might have chosen to release The Taken Path in week two of Act 1 to enhance accessibility before the transition to Frontiers. Given Heresy’s transitional nature, a lack of an Exotic mission in Act 3 (though unconfirmed, it’s plausible) indicates Bungie may have other tricks up its sleeve.

Dropping the Exotic mission for Heresy early is advantageous, allowing players ample time to obtain the Exotic Strand SMG called Barrow-Dyad. On the flip side, if this was meant for Act 3, the final stretch of Episode Heresy may need to fill a substantial gap before Frontiers arrives. Alternatively, if this was always the plan, Bungie likely has some exciting content lined up for a potentially quieter period.

The early unveiling of The Taken Path could benefit the overall health of the game, mitigating longstanding FOMO issues. However, it might leave Bungie with a challenge for Act 3. Considering the success of Destiny 2’s Into The Light update—a bridge between the previous season and The Final Shape—a similar approach in Act 3 could be wise. Perhaps it could bring back fan-favorite shiny weapons, reigniting players’ enthusiasm as they anticipate Frontiers. Yet, if no such update occurs, Act 3 might lack the excitement and content that Destiny 2 needs most at that time.