July 15 Will Be the End of an Era for Destiny 2

Over the years, Destiny 2 has seen its fair share of seasonal content come and go, many of which have left lasting impressions on the community, for better or worse. However, every so often, one is added that just hits a little differently. Episode: Heresy’s Rite of the Nine is one of those, as it has become one of the most popular activities in Destiny 2 history, despite not arriving on a massive hype train. Between its free access to three legacy dungeons (Spire of the Watcher, Ghosts of the Deep, and Prophecy) and the Holofoil weapons, Adept weapons, new triumphs, and cosmetic items that can be acquired from it, Rite of the Nine has been taking great strides to set a new bar for seasonal and episodic content, and it feels like it has only just begun.

Unfortunately, with the impending arrival of Destiny 2‘s anticipated Edge of Fate expansion on July 15 comes the simultaneous exit of the Rite of the Nine activity. For the time being, that exit appears to be permanent, although it could return in the future. Still, all signs seem to be pointing to a hard stop for the activity, which means Destiny 2 is likely about to lose one of the most special and successful activities it has had in years, during a time when it needs such success stories nonetheless.

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Table of Contents

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Rite of the Nine’s Sudden Exit Could Leave a Surprising Void in Destiny 2

Rite of the Nine Brought Back Legacy Dungeons With a Twist

Destiny 2‘s Spire of the Watcher, Ghosts of the Deep, and Prophecy dungeons have been in the game for quite some time now (especially Prophecy), but not only did Rite of the Nine give all players free access to them, it also slapped a fresh coat of paint on to make them feel like new again. All three dungeons were reimagined for Rite of the Nine with new modifiers and three new difficulty tiers — Explorer, Eternity, and Ultimatum.

Unfortunately, with the impending arrival of Destiny 2‘s anticipated Edge of Fate expansion on July 15 comes the simultaneous exit of the Rite of the Nine activity.

Rite of the Nine’s Explorer difficulty made each dungeon a solo-friendly experience that offered optional matchmaking, frequent tips and objective markers, and unlimited revives with no Darkness Zones. Eternity was the standard dungeon difficulty, meaning it came without matchmaking and guidance. Finally, Ultimatum was the hardest difficulty, designed for experienced Destiny 2 players, with reduced Power Level and limited revive tokens, although it did offer the best rewards, including Adept weapons.

While there were perks to playing each difficulty, the main draw of Rite of the Nine was its rewards, especially after the “Lootapalooza” event kicked off on July 8, increasing drop rates tremendously. Even without that event, though, players could still target weapon drops via the Emissary’s chest. All in all, Destiny 2‘s Rite of the Nine activity has not only been one of its most accessible, but also one of its most rewarding, making it perfect for veterans and newcomers alike.

Rite of the Nine’s Reception Will Outlast Its Availability

Initially arriving as a temporary mid-season offering hasn’t stopped Rite of the Nine from becoming one of the most praised activities in the game’s history. Its accessibility alone has been a high point of its praise, as more and more Destiny 2 players who are either casual or simply don’t have the luxury of a committed clan or group of friends who are actively playing have likely been hoping for something like Rite of the Nine to give them a shot at the game’s more demanding and rewarding activities. Unfortunately, for now, that appears to be coming to an end with the arrival of the Edge of Fate expansion on July 15. Perhaps there is still room in Destiny 2‘s future for another Rite of the Nine, or an activity similar to it anyway.