The MMO shooter Destiny 2 brings back the 6-player PvP from Destiny 1 with the Iron Banner. Additionally, there are numerous other changes in store. However, PvP fans are wondering: Is that enough?
At the end of March, with Update 1.1.4, the PvP in Destiny 2 will be fundamentally revised. Bungie is listening to the community and is moving away from the monotonous 4vs4 mode. The creators of Destiny 2 are bringing fresh air to the Crucible with the familiar 6vs6 Iron Banner. This change has been welcomed by fans – as it fulfills a major desire for many.
Does the introduction of the 6vs6 mode herald the desired turnaround in the Crucible?
The current state of PvP in Destiny 2
The PvP in Destiny 2 is currently not very popular and is facing harsh criticism. While PvP kept its predecessor alive during every content drought, the mode in Bungie’s latest installment is now struggling for its own survival.
Due to some questionable design decisions, Destiny’s PvP has lost appeal and nearly all of its uniqueness – the Space Magic. Most Guardians agree: the PvP in Destiny 2 is boring and unattractive.
Currently, even PvP enthusiasts are increasingly advised from within their own ranks to look for other alternatives if they want to enjoy a decent PvP experience – hardly imaginable during the times of Destiny 1.
For some time now, Destiny 2 has been struggling with an extreme player decline in the PvP area. The participation numbers in the Trials of the Nine, which are often used as an indicator for the overall state of the Crucible, have set one negative record after another in recent weeks – and there is no end to the negative trend in sight. The number of Trials participants in Destiny 2 is now less than half of what it was in the most difficult phases of the predecessor.
In short – PvP is currently going through a very tough time in Destiny 2 and is not particularly well regarded by the Guardians.
Why PvP in Destiny 2 is so unpopular
Even during the beta of Destiny 2, many Destiny veterans and PvP fans experienced disillusionment. The game looked great in the Crucible as well. However, it played noticeably different compared to the popular predecessor. A large part of the fundamental changes in the Crucible met with little favor and understanding from most fans.
Bungie tried to reassure players, arguing that it was an older build and the release version would noticeably differ in gameplay. However, almost all core issues from the beta persisted in the final game – and still do today.
This is what makes the Crucible so unpopular for Guardians and is regularly pointed out to Bungie:
- The movement of Guardians is slow and sluggish.
- The jumps no longer feel as dynamic and precise.
- The “Time-to-Kill,” meaning the time needed with a weapon under optimal conditions to take down another Guardian, has been increased too much. Teams operating closely now have clear advantages.
- Crucible matches are therefore boring and monotonous. Teams stand together at specific points and wait for opponents. In Destiny 1, it was possible to take down multiple enemies or even entire teams with excellent individual skills; this is practically impossible in Destiny 2. Lone hero moments are now almost nonexistent. Against team shooting, one is powerless.
- The abilities of Guardians have been universally weakened. Besides the weapon gameplay, these class-specific abilities such as grenades, melee, or supers define the character of the game – especially in PvP mode.
- Additionally, the significantly increased cooldown time of all skills further diminishes Destiny 2’s uniqueness. Without a well-timed use of skills, the game now resembles very little to other entries in the shooter genre. The feeling of being a powerful Guardian, who has already toppled entire alien royal houses and can therefore bring fiery heat to his Guardian opponents in the Crucible, fails to manifest.
- The customization options for individual Guardian classes have been drastically cut. The only rudimentary remaining choices of focuses, along with disappointing or negligible exotics, bitterly frustrate fans. Compared to the predecessor, Destiny 2 has significantly lost in character and build diversity.
- The current meta is, contrary to Bungie’s plans, too monotonous due to the new design of the weapon slots. Entire weapon types like sniper rifles or shotguns have almost completely lost their justification for existence and play hardly any role in the Crucible. Other weapon types, such as pulse rifles, are generally too weak and non-competitive.
- There is widespread dissatisfaction with the token system and the almost trivial loot – even in the Crucible. The pursuit of god rolls or Crucible-specific weapons like an Eyasluna has lost one of the primary motivational pillars compared to the predecessor.
- The wide selection of PvP modes from the predecessor has been reduced to just a few playlists. The popular private matches from Destiny 1 surprisingly did not make it into the game at all.
- The entire Crucible has been designed for the 4vs4 mode in Destiny 2. Other permanent modes like Rumble, 2vs2, 3vs3, or 6vs6 are nonexistent. Only during the Crimson Week was a 2vs2 PvP mode playable for one week. Over time, this Crucible focus proves to be very monotonous.
How Bungie is currently trying to save PvP
With the introduction of masterwork weapons and masterwork armor, Bungie has already addressed some of these issues – albeit in a limited capacity. Guardians can already generate more orbs and thus recharge their super and those of their allies faster – even in the Crucible. The damage reduction during active supers granted by wearing masterwork armor can also prove useful in PvP. This way, players feel a little more powerful again.
Furthermore, Bungie has already introduced cosmetic rewards in the form of new Crucible emblems and armor ornaments to placate the hearts of the Guardians.
However, on March 27, Update 1.1.4 will fundamentally revise the PvP:
- Bungie is moving away from the omnipresent 4vs4 mode and bringing back the familiar 6vs6 for the Iron Banner. This fulfills the greatest wishes for improvement for the Crucible for most PvP fans.
- Also, the much-missed Rumble mode is expected to make a triumphant return with this update. Moreover, Rumble will be larger compared to Destiny 1: Instead of six Guardians, there will be eight Guardians hunting each other in the free-for-all mode in Destiny 2.
- Rumble, Control, and Iron Banner will be placed in a weekly playlist where the modes will rotate. They will not be constantly active.
- A double PvP mode is currently also in development. The Crimson Doubles has already been well received, but the mode aims to be polished, improved, and made more flexible. Once it’s finished, it will also be added to the weekly PvP playlist. There is currently no release date for it.
- Extensive sandbox changes to weapons and abilities will be made. Guardians are expected to become faster and more agile, and some weapon types will receive buffs and fine-tuning.
- The ammunition distribution and gameplay in the Crucible will be adjusted.
- Penalties for quitters in the Crucible will be introduced.
- A protection mechanism will be introduced to prevent the maps in PvP from repeating too often.
Bungie has also indicated further changes and adjustments to the Crucible in upcoming updates:
- Private matches should make their way back into the game.
- A seasonal Crucible ranking system is to be introduced.
- Group combat should be improved.
- With the overhaul of exotics, build diversity should be encouraged – even in PvP.
Further adjustments and sandbox changes will depend on fan feedback.
Will Bungie succeed with changes like the 6vs6 in turning around PvP?
The list of upcoming changes for PvP is extensive; Bungie has a lot planned for Destiny 2 in March. But are the developers even adjusting the right aspects to bring players back to the Crucible in the long run and restore it to its former glory?
Great hopes rest on the highlight of Update 1.1.4 – the upcoming 6vs6 PvP mode of the Iron Banner. With this, the creators of Destiny 2 are addressing one of the most urgent desires of PvP fans. Many Guardians are painfully missing the 6vs6 clashes from the predecessor. For most, alongside the 3vs3 mode known from the Trials of Osiris, these 6vs6 battles are closely tied to the special Destiny feeling in PvP.
For many, this experience continues to be the appeal of the Crucible. Destiny 2 has so far not been able to offer this. But will the introduction of 6vs6 alone bring the hoped-for turnaround for PvP in Destiny 2? This remains to be seen.
6vs6 in Destiny 2 – definitely not a cure-all
The 6vs6 mode will definitely bring fresh air to the Crucible of Destiny 2 and can keep PvP fans glued to their screens for a while. The question is – for how long?
Initially, the mode must prove itself in Destiny 2. It should not be overlooked that most PvP maps in Destiny 2 were designed for 4vs4 battles. How the increased player count will affect gameplay and whether correspondingly larger maps will follow has yet to be seen.
Furthermore, much more than just a new PvP mode will be needed to keep the Crucible attractive in the long run. The 6vs6 will most likely keep the Guardians occupied for a while – the short, fun 2vs2 matches during Crimson Week also managed to bring many players back to their screens. However, if fundamental issues with the PvP and the game in general do not change in the foreseeable future, then the enjoyment of the 6vs6 battles will quickly fade.
While several other important community requests have also been acknowledged: new modes and thus more variety are coming, the abilities and movement speed of Guardians are being adjusted. The weapons will also be revamped.
Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that some fundamental core issues will unfortunately remain untouched by the upcoming updates. New modes like the 6vs6 are certainly a welcome change; the sandbox adjustments and movement tuning will benefit the game in the long run. However, that alone will not contribute to ensuring that the Crucible will keep Guardians engaged in the long run.
Bungie is definitely on the right track to make the game a better overall experience. But as long as important aspects like the excessively high time-to-kill and the resulting team shooting, the lack of customization options, and the associated lack of gameplay depth and trivial loot system are not addressed by the developers, it will not lead to the outcome that everyone ultimately hopes for – namely a consistent development of Destiny.
What do you think about the upcoming changes? Is Bungie on the right track with 6vs6? Feel free to share your opinion in the comment section.
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