In Destiny 2, the Vex Offensive: Last Stand is now the final content for Season 8. However, this hyped content disappoints many players (at least so far) and seems almost lazy in the eyes of our author Sven.
What is the Last Stand in the Vex Offensive about? With the Weekly Reset on November 19, the Last Stand of the Vex Offensive went live in Destiny 2. This is the last communicated content for the ending Season 8.
In this endgame activity for 6 players (with matchmaking), players face several waves of Vex in the Black Garden before they confront a final boss. The Last Stand now replaces the previously “regular” Vex Offensive.
That’s why I was looking forward to it: A sort of hype arose around the Vex Offensive: Last Stand. Ikora has been building a Vex Portal in the Tower with the help of Guardians for weeks, with which we were supposed to confront the Immortal Spirit, a Vex boss, as part of the Last Stand. Many were curious about what it would ultimately entail. So was I.
Already before Season 8, Bungie announced that during each future season, something should happen that would then be resolved at the end of the respective season. Additionally, Bungie promised a developing world, and the portal was a visible part of that. Now, all of this culminated.
Accordingly, many Guardians speculated about what would happen once the portal was finally completed and we went hunting for the new Vex boss. Many were looking forward to a sort of potential season finale or at least a lead-in to the end.
This is what the Guardians expected: Some hoped for a new mission, others for an updated mode for the Vex Offensive with new mechanics, some for a new Strike, and others for a community challenge like just before Shadowkeep on Mars.
Ultimately, it was said that we would use the portal to hunt the Immortal Spirit across all timelines where it has nested. And there should be a considerable number of these.
This is why Vex Offensive: Last Stand disappoints
This is how the Last Stand is received: When the content finally went live, however, many – probably most, including myself – were disappointed. Even many players who approached the endeavor with very subdued expectations shook their heads. But why?
This is how the Last Stand runs: The Last Stand has now replaced the regular Vex Offensive. But otherwise, in principle, nothing has changed:
- The recommended power level and the modifiers remain the same.
- The first two encounters are exactly identical to the regular version.
- The final boss was simply replaced by the Immortal Spirit. But even there, the fight mechanics remain the same – except for the typical rotating shield of the huge Hydra.
- Vex skulls are used to shoot down the shield, after which damage can be done to the boss. This process may need to be repeated multiple times.
- There are no special rewards (except for an emblem), and there is no pinnacle gear.
Even story-wise, nothing has changed (so far?). There are some new dialogue lines where we are told to eliminate the hundreds or thousands of copies of the Immortal Spirit that are now wreaking havoc in the Black Garden. But otherwise, everything is still the same.
Guardians can’t actually use the portal in the Tower. Instead of starting the Last Stand via the Vex Gate in the Tower, it’s “teleported” using a probe into the Black Garden, summoning the Immortal Spirit there instead of the regular boss.
By the way, this boss, in my opinion (and according to reports from other Guardians) is even simpler than the previous final boss of the Vex Offensive, meaning there isn’t even a new or tougher challenge.
In summary: The potential season finale or a slow transition to the next season hoped for by some is still absent.
Is there more to come? Some Guardians still speculate about this, as otherwise, the Last Stand of the Vex Offensive would be a complete disappointment.
Ultimately, Bungie announced that actions during a season would be resolved at the end and/or lead into the next season – and this has definitely not happened so far. There was only a new boss – nothing more. It is certainly conceivable that something will happen with this yet.
Some fans hope that the hunt for the Immortal Spirit could trigger events that lead into the next season. Some Guardians assume that the community must defeat the Immortal Spirit often enough for the story to progress. So far, however, it’s all pure speculation.
This is why the Last Stand is the biggest disappointment of Season 8 for me: What disappoints me particularly: The Last Stand, in my opinion, almost evidences laziness on Bungie’s part.
Not only has the boss of the activity simply been replaced and nothing else has changed – there are also clearly evident traces of pure copy-paste with the Immortal Spirit.
The Spirit occasionally sends out explosive drones that track players and detonate upon approach. Many Guardians might recognize the drones from the Menagerie. But if anyone still has doubts:
If you are sent to the virtual afterlife by these, it states that you were eliminated by Pagouri. Pagouri is the Vex Hydra boss from the Menagerie and not the Immortal Spirit. So they simply copied the data here and didn’t even bother to adjust it for the “new” boss.
Though other new activities from Season 8 like the Nightmare Hunts also offer little – especially compared to the Menagerie from Season 7 – the Vex Offensive disappoints particularly.
If you received a good roll of the now overall 6 weapons from the loot pool, there is hardly any reason to engage with this activity further. Unfortunately, the Last Stand changes little in this regard – at least so far. After defeating the new boss once (or 3 times for the achievement), there still is no reason to endure this activity, which is very monotonous in the long run.
For me, the Vex Offensive, at least with the Last Stand, is the biggest disappointment of the entire Season 8. And looking at the comments on Reddit, I probably am not alone in this.
Consequently, I hope that something happens with the Vex Offensive in the coming weeks and that Bungie can achieve a good transition to the next season. But after the comments from Community Manager Cozmo, I currently find it hard to believe.
He stated in response to a fan: “Sorry that you found it disappointing. We will forward everyone’s feedback to the team. Let us know what you liked, what you didn’t, and what could be improved for future seasons.” So it doesn’t seem like something significant is coming our way.
Guiding for future seasons? Generally, I am somewhat concerned about the future of Destiny 2 and the new season model if content like the Vex Offensive or the Nightmare Hunts represents what awaits us in the future.
This season, such weak activities and content were still mitigated for many by Shadowkeep. But in the next season, this will be different. There won’t be any larger expansion to cushion the season.
At the latest then, Destiny 2 could face a content problem that the new model was supposed to avoid. Because I doubt that activities of such quality can motivate and entertain players in the long run.
What do you think of the Last Stand of the Vex Offensive? A disappointment or did you not expect more? How do you think Season 8 will end?
