Since the major update of Destiny 2 not only new content has been added to the game, but existing things have also been modified. We are talking about Gambit, the notorious PvEvP mode of the Drifter. MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos tried the refreshed mode and has a personal opinion on it.
Gambit was an unprecedented mode in Destiny 2. The fight against adds combined with a touch of PvP appealed to many at the launch of the Season of the Drifter. So it was a shame when many aspects of the new mode were later rotated out of the game.
Bungie removed the ‘Gambit Prime’ mode, rendered the associated weapons and armor mostly useless, and devoted almost as little love to it as to the Crucible.
For a long time, one had to be satisfied with the normal Gambit mode. Even I, as a long-time player who has embraced Gambit, could no longer see the Primeval at some point. It was always the same mode each season without innovations or adjustments. But with Witch Queen, Bungie brought the Drifter on board and made new plans for the future.
The days when the Primeval was melted in one round are over, and that’s a good thing. I missed strategy in the Gambit mode. Every player who could understand a bit about DPS would take the Primeval down mindlessly. That was no longer fun and drove me away from the Drifter.
However, with Witch Queen, I wanted to give the newly revamped mode another chance. The result that Bungie ultimately delivered pleasantly surprised me.
Finally, there are meaningful optimizations
Like the ammo crates that spawn after each encounter. The heavy ammo drop before Witch Queen was a joke. At the end of a round, one would suddenly face the boss, without ammunition, only to then try to deal damage with the auto rifle at a snail’s pace. But now, every player is presented with a crate that restores part of your ammo. This boosts add-clear and keeps the invaders happy.
The Primeval boss fight has also been revised. Now, rampaging Titans have no chance of sending the boss to the beyond with four Thundercrashes. In each damage phase, Guardians are forced to eliminate the Envoys first.
They grant their master an immortal shield after each damage phase. No matter how many bullets you want to press into the boss, he will enter the immunity phase. As if that weren’t enough, an invader comes along in every damage phase trying to eliminate you. Don’t think you can get him out of his spawn, as his position is now always random.
This mix of tension and strategy was missing in Gambit. It’s no longer about quickly mowing down the boss, but about efficiently and strategically winning the fight.
Defeats are now really bitter
Despite the cool and new mode, defeats are also more devastating. If a clean game is not achieved, the stress level rises tremendously. It is advisable to continue playing with a harmonizing team in the new Gambit, assigning the typical Gambit roles in advance.
The old designations of the Drifter are well-suited for this, such as the Collector, the Reaper, the Invader, and the Lawless, who guards the bank and kills blockers.
You can, however, slip out of your role if needed. For example, if two blockers are sitting on your bank, quick action is required. It definitely saves you time if you have a reliable invader who has equipped the right loadout. A Guardian with enough firepower to quickly eliminate blockers or a duo that quickly clears adds and collects the particles.
It’s exactly these setups that matter in the new Gambit. That’s why defeats feel even more bitter after a long fight than the familiar matches in the old Gambit. If that weren’t enough, the persistent invader with his Gjallarhorn is also a thorn in the side.
In almost every damage round of the Primeval, the portal to invade opens. If you can’t eliminate the invader quickly enough, he can ruin your entire plan.
Nevertheless, the “new” Gambit mode is a cool refreshment. But Bungie is not stopping there. They also plan to bring labs into the PvEvP mode. This means that Guardians may experience even more variety over time.
What do you think of the new Gambit? Have you set foot in the mode or are you fed up with it? Let us know in the comments.
