Destiny 2 offers a tough challenge for PvE in Season 13 that even Gladd can’t tackle. His Guardian is currently too weak because he is engrossed in the Steam hit Valheim.
This is a call to players from Destiny: Since March 16, Guardians can attempt the Grandmaster Nightfall difficulty. This is the hardest PvE challenge of Season 13. This is partly due to
- numerous Champions – the powerful opponents can only be faced with specific strategies
- over 10 negative modifiers, locked loadouts, and limited respawns
- an absurdly high mission level and an artificial cap that prevents players from being stronger than the mission’s enemies
As a reward, rare resources, exclusive weapons, and mods await.
This sounds like a job for the Destiny elite. Streamers can prove their endurance and be cheered on by their viewers while fighting, who can then copy the professionals’ tactics. But the biggest and most well-known Destiny streamer on Twitch has to sit this one out and apologizes for it.
It’s about him: Sean “Gladd” Gallager is an exceptional player known for continuing to play even when it seems impossible. No challenge seems too hard for him. Bungie had to send him to bed during an excessive gaming session.
Gladd is the king of Destiny on Twitch, but he apologizes that he won’t be venturing into the Grandmaster Nightfall.
Gladd is too weak as a Guardian because he’s causing trouble as a Viking
Looking at Gladd’s streams and videos from recent times, one finds that the showcase Guardian with 422,500 followers now prefers to spend his time in Valheim (via sullygnome). The survival MMO takes up a lot of his time. But not only Gladd enjoys playing Valheim – the game is a real Steam hit and has fought its way from an underdog to the top.
Why no Destiny endgame now? The reason is simple, Gladd is too weak. One may only attempt the activity if they have at least a Power Level of 1,325. However, the regular maximum for gear in Season 13 is 1,310. The remaining 15 levels must be leveled through the so-called seasonal artifact. This happens passively, but requires a lot of time. And since Gladd prefers building Nordic villages or attempting animal husbandry, he lacks the necessary artifact level.
- Interestingly, Gladd already declined the Nightfall at its debut in 2020. Back then, it was due to the loot not seeming worthwhile enough to him. Here, MeinMMO reported on it.
Is Gladd turning his back on the shooter? Probably not. Just on March 23, Destiny 2 received a new Strike that Gladd immediately tried out, announcing that he put Valheim aside (via Twitter).
During the mission, where one boards a massive moving fortress and must defeat the champion of an alien turtle race in a ritual duel, he couldn’t resist making sarcastic comments towards his predecessor. He jabs at a slightly “heavier” opponent, suggesting it would be KingGothalion – who was the number 1 Destiny player on Twitch before Gladd.
Do players in Destiny 2 have to level up too much?
That players like Gladd currently cannot even play the PvE endgame, even if they wanted to, is frustrating. This also highlights a problem with Destiny 2’s seasonal model: with each season, the level increases again and players have to grind through old, familiar activities to face new challenges.
Only those who stay active can keep up. Such FOMO aspects (the fear of missing out) have been criticized by Guardians for a long time. Other content creators of Destiny 2, like Rick Kackis, also see the excessively high level requirement to play as a major problem with endgame activity (via YouTube). It should be noted here that for large parts of the game, one is actually always “too strong”. In very few activities is such a high level required.
The good news from Bungie: The criticism has been heard by Bungie. Fortunately, the level grind will change next season. Starting in May, players will only need to climb up 10 “Grandmaster loot levels.” The maximum level for Season 13, starting in May 2021, will therefore be 1,320 – previously the level increased by 50 points.
Have you leveled up enough to tackle the Grandmaster Nightfall? Do you think one should only enter the endgame when they are fully committed and not take a Destiny break? Or do you welcome the upcoming changes and see the eternal level grind as a nuisance – let us know in the comments.
