Quick Links
In the latest episode of Destiny 2, a beloved location has returned, prompting Guardians to delve into the abandoned Dreadnaught. Players will need to uncover hidden secrets and tackle challenging quests.
This season’s rewards are primarily discovered in The Nether—a truly roguelike experience where traditional health recovery is replaced by random enhancements. If you’re able to navigate the unusual building constraints in this mode, there’s a chance to earn exceptional new weapons and upgrades for Heresy’s Tomb of Want. This guide outlines the essential aspects of The Nether, including its distinct modifiers and an overview of common encounters.
The Nether Modifiers
The Nether represents Destiny 2’s inaugural effort at a thorough roguelike mode. Unlike previous activities that included some roguelite mechanics, The Nether is entirely centered around roguelike principles, such as limited health recovery and random buffs. Here are the core features found in all Nether playlists:
-
No Health Regeneration: Players do not regain health naturally. Healing Orbs drop from enemies, restoring only a small fraction of health.
- Many traditional healing methods are either much less effective or completely ineffective.
-
Encounters Provide Buffs: Completing encounters grants various buffs that significantly enhance your build, some of which may come with drawbacks.
-
Famine: Ammo drops are drastically reduced, necessitating reliance on modifications and destructible objects for ammunition.
- Extinguish: Limited revive tokens are available. If you die without any tokens left, your run will end.
Restoring Health in The Nether
The most impactful modifier is the inability to regenerate health. Traditional healing sources are much less effective, making abilities that restore health in chunks—like Devour and Recuperation—more beneficial.
To regain health, look for Healing Orbs dropped by defeated enemies and breakable pots. While they aren’t rare, these orbs heal only a small amount. It’s advisable to gear towards damage resistance to counteract the limited healing options and, most importantly, try to avoid taking damage.
Healing Sources
There are certain healing sources that remain effective in The Nether, such as the Unrelenting perk, Crimson, Rat King with its Catalyst, and the Knockout Aspect for Titans.
Pressure Encounters
While exploring the Dreadnaught, you will receive notifications indicating that pressure levels are rising. After about two minutes, a wipe mechanic will activate. To prevent your team from being wiped, you must destroy three Taken Blights in the area. These Blights are relatively easy to eliminate and are not protected, but the time is limited.
Nether Difficulty Variants
The Nether offers two difficulty levels: Advanced and Expert. Advanced is designed for standard play and includes matchmaking options. In contrast, Expert provides a more challenging experience with features like Champions and no matchmaking.
Advanced vs. Expert Modifiers
The Nether Modifiers | Advanced | Expert |
---|---|---|
Power Level | Starts at 0; -5 penalty per room | Starts at 0; -5 penalty per room |
Nether Rules | No health recovery; Healing Orbs occasionally spawn | No health recovery; Healing Orbs occasionally spawn |
High Pressure | Limited revives; Pressure events occur periodically | Limited revives; Pressure events occur periodically |
Famine | Reduced ammo drops | Reduced ammo drops |
Champions | Not included | Barrier, Overload, Unstoppable |
Overcharge | Not applicable | Enabled |
Banes | Not applicable | Enabled |
Additionally, an exploration playlist is available for solo players, where pressure mechanics are disabled, but all other mechanics remain active. You cannot matchmake in this mode and will need to either find teammates or participate in the main Nether playlist.
Nether Activity Walkthrough
At its core, The Nether is a three-phase roguelike experience that requires players to complete objectives aboard the Dreadnaught and uncover secrets. Unlike previous structures, the objectives in this activity are not linear.
Each segment of the Dreadnaught features three objectives that can be tackled in any order. While they aren’t shown on your HUD initially, you can reveal the closest objective by pulling out your Ghost.
Several common encounters exist throughout the Dreadnaught, including:
- Defend the objective: Capture marked locations while fighting off waves of enemies.
- Deposit relics: Collect floating relics and deposit them at nearby statues.
- Subjugator duo: Defeat two Subjugators, only one of which can be attacked at a time.
- Spore destruction: Destroy orange spores located on the walls.
- Tormentor boss: Gather Darkness shards to weaken the boss before defeating them.
While exploring, don’t overlook the numerous hidden chests and seasonal weapon materials scattered throughout the Dreadnaught. Collecting chests will yield Sigil Shards, a currency used to upgrade your Tome of Want, enhancing your Nether runs.
Moreover, you’ll find resource nodes yielding Metasized Essentia, a resource exchangeable for seasonal items at Eris’s location in the Last City. Remember, to collect these materials, you must successfully complete the Nether run.
Each run comprises three rooms, culminating in a boss fight. Although the final boss does not impose a time limit or wipe mechanics, you will face a swarm of enemies and projectile attacks. Use cover strategically to avoid damage rather than taking unnecessary risks, and defeat the boss for your final reward chest before returning to orbit.
The Nether Rewards
Completing runs in The Nether grants reputation with Essence of Desire in Eris’s apartment, this season’s vendor. Chests opened during your run will reward you with Sigil Shards, which can be used for permanent Nether run upgrades. As with all seasonal content, successful completions of this activity yield Heresy seasonal weapons, armor, and upgrade materials.