Recently, Bungie provided a glimpse into the changes to Guardian abilities in the upcoming Season 15 of Destiny 2. One of them is now being controversially and heatedly discussed within the community. What do you think about the slide nerf?
What is the debate about? Season 15 of Destiny 2 is just around the corner, and as tradition has it, Bungie has revealed some details about the upcoming changes shortly before. Among other things, they addressed how the abilities of Guardians will change in the new season.
One of these changes is currently being actively discussed – especially by the PvP faction. Because along with numerous buffs, a fundamental movement (also a popular element in PvP) is being nerfed – the slide. And not everyone seems to be happy about that.
Slide nerf in Season 15 – Threatened meta shift or not worth mentioning?
This is the slide nerf in detail: During sliding, the following will apply to weapons starting Season 15:
- - 20 stability
- + 15 % shotgun spread (Pellet Spread)
- 1.5x flinch (flinching from enemy hits)
Bungie emphasizes: These changes may appear more concerning on paper than they will feel in reality. They will closely monitor the impact.
Why the nerf at all? Even though sliding itself embodies a fundamental movement in Destiny 2 and is not a real ability, sliding has established itself as an effective tactic in PvP, yet it is criticized and hated by many players.
Especially fast sliding with a shotgun (or fusion rifle) – whether charging directly at someone or unexpectedly around the corner – is seen by many as one of the most annoying phenomena in the Crucible and often drives some Guardians to frustration. Moreover, this playstyle is very low-risk and cannot be countered by everyone. The shotgun changes from the last update have not really changed this.
However, Bungie now seems to share the opinion that perhaps not every PvP encounter should start with a slide as the optimal tactic, and thus are introducing some penalties for handling weapons while sliding. This is what is causing the discussions now.
This is what the opponents of the nerf say: There was a loud outcry in parts of the community. Memes circulated showing Guardians sliding across maps in slow motion with captions like “This is how Bungie wants you to play.” Accusations arose that Bungie is once again trying to artificially narrow the skill gap between skilled and less skilled players, thereby leveling the playing field for poorer players.
This is what the supporters of the nerf say: Others are glad, celebrating the change and hoping it will make life harder for “the sliding shotgun and fusion monkeys.” Many are tired of this one-sided, yet very prevalent and dominant playstyle and hope that it will bring some more variety into Guardian duels.
Some are reacting more reserved: However, there are also many players trying to smooth out the waves between the two sides and calling for restraint. After all, we still do not know how this will actually play out in the end.
It is pointed out that Bungie has already stated: the changes may look worse on paper than they actually are. Additionally, reference is made to the recoil changes from the Season of the Chosen on PC, which were also heavily criticized at the time of their announcement, with many angrily asking what it was all about. Yet, when the change was implemented, it was completely fine, and most didn’t even notice anything had happened – such were the careful adjustments.
Furthermore, it is also pointed out that the negative effects are only active during the slide – a time window of less than a second (except for Stasis Titans). Once you stand or crouch again, there are no more negative effects. The slide itself is not fundamentally changed – neither the duration, speed, nor the range of the actual movement. The slide penalties do not appear to be leading to any of the feared meta changes in PvP. Many assume that sliding will remain effective – just not universally for every fight.
Many recommend: Wait and see for now. Let’s see how the changes perform in practice. Afterward, we can still complain if necessary. But reacting immediately is not necessary. What some players across the board agree on is the necessity of PTR, i.e., test servers, where players could test such adjustments and provide feedback before they go live.
What do you think of the slide nerf?
Participate in our survey: In light of the discussions within the community, we also want to hear from you, the readers of MeinMMO, about your thoughts on this issue. To that end, we have prepared a survey for you and invite you to participate actively. Keep in mind, you only have one choice.
Thank you for your participation and time.
By the way, regarding your opinion on the upcoming slide nerf in Season 15, you are not just limited to the survey here. Feel free to share your views with us and other readers of MeinMMO in the comments.
By the way, have you checked off everything important in the outgoing Season 14? 7 things you should complete before the start of the new Season 15 in Destiny 2
