Destiny 2’s Cursed PvP Mode, Trials, Is Probably As Good As It Will Get Right Now

Games Destiny 2’s Cursed PvP Mode, Trials, Is Probably As Good As It Will Get Right Now Paul Tassi Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet. New! Follow this author to improve your content experience.

Got it! Jun 19, 2022, 08:55am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Destiny 2 Bungie I am not sure I have ever seen more tweaks to a single thing in Destiny than what’s been done to Trials of Osiris from its arrival in Destiny 1 to now. The mode has gone through multiple dramatic overhauls and dozens of minor tweaks, but always rooted to its core of needing 7 wins with no losses to go the Lighthouse for special rewards. I’d argue this is the fundamental curse of the mode, that it’s forever married to this model which is admittedly not very good at its core, given that for one person to go Flawless requires 21 other people to lose a game, and the result is a constantly frustrating system involving cards, matchmaking pools, loot and more.

And yet, for all its faults, I think I’m coming to accept that right now, Trials is probably close to as good as it’s going to get within the 7 win framework for players of all skill levels. Here’s what I mean: There have never been more overall rewards for going Flawless than what we’re seeing right now. Trips to the Lighthouse will earn you Adept weapons, Adept mods, high stat armor, endgame upgrade materials, exclusive cosmetics, new mementos and a title you can guild.

There has never been more stuff jammed into Flawless runs. However, it should be noted that after the most recent large overhaul, Bungie has indeed created a system where “normal” players are able to farm in a way that can indeed feel satisfying, even if it’s a struggle to grind in a way that multi-flawless players don’t face. My Trials record is something like 10-30+, where I’m lucky if I win a third of my games and even though I’m mildly okay at normal PvP, my Trials KDA is trash and deeply underwater.

Destiny 2 Bungie MORE FOR YOU ‘Demon Slayer’ Season 2 Finally Has An Actual 2021 Release Date Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Not A Sure Thing, Says Director ‘Genshin Impact’ Still Refuses To Increase Anniversary Rewards, Despite Fan Outcry But I don’t feel left out either. Over the past two weeks, especially with double rep this week, I have managed to earn all five pieces of the new armor sets for transmog on all three classes through engrams. I have gotten pinnacles on all three classes.

I have gotten at least a dozen weapons including what I would consider god rolls on a few, including my brand new beloved Adrenaline Junkie Demolitionist sidearm. It was hell, but I emerged on the other side…with stuff. This is a far cry from the way it used to be, where you needed 3 wins no losses to even get a single drop of one thing.

And there’s nothing for the Flawless players to complain about. I ain’t getting to the Lighthouse without some serious luck or help. Those rewards have stayed exclusive, yet us PvP bottom feeders can still feel like there’s something in it for us.

As for the pool splits, again, I think Bungie is trying to balance here. Hate the idea of the Flawless pool? You have two full days to play as much Trials as you want against normal schlubs to go Flawless. If you want to challenge yourself against other, better teams, then keep playing on Sunday.

And then this creates an opportunity for other players to maybe go Flawless once with most of the stacked teams out of the pool. Again, it’s a balancing act. Sure, I still have some issues.

I wish freelance was active more often, or would activate on Sunday like the Flawless pool at least. I get annoyed I can be on a 6-20 card and be put against 6-0 Lighthouse stormers because of “win-based matchmaking. ” But in general, I have to give Bungie credit.

Working within what I would argue is a flawed framework at its core, they’ve done about as good as they can with Trials at this point, even if it took seven years to get here. Follow me on Twitter , YouTube , Facebook and Instagram . Subscribe to my free weekly content round-up newsletter, God Rolls .

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