Destiny 2 Prestige Leviathan Raid – Here’s What’s Different

Destiny 2 players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 now have the chance to test their skills even further as the Prestige Mode in the Leviathan Raid is in full effect. Greater the risk, greater the reward, and Guardians are setting their marks on that sweet, sweet loot. In an effort to make the Prestige Mode way more challenging than the Vanilla Leviathan Raid, a few changes have been made – If you’re looking forward to an epic adventure, here’s what you need to know before heading back in to face Emperor Calus.

One thing that players will notice is different than previous raids of this caliber is that Guardians will once again have the ability to cash in revive tokens, just like in the vanilla raid. Previously, there was a no revive limitation but that has been stripped – making the incredibly challenging Prestige a little more bearable. There is a catch though: should a Guardian fall, they will lose out on their Revive Token making it impossible to revive another member in their fireteam – this is where strategy comes into play.

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It wouldn’t be a tougher fight in the enemies weren’t harder to kill. Instead of the standard 270 power level, the minimum is now set at 300. Not a drastic difference, but it does make them a little more challenging to take out while the damage dealt by enemies also increases. Still doable, but what’s a little challenge between friends? 

Another interesting change that players will notice focus on the Royal Pools. Bathers now get their inner-Pharah on as purple fire rains from above – this is something players desperately need to avoid because it strips Guardians of their Psionic Protection efficiently. To combat this, it’s wise to take Bathers out as soon as you see them – take them out before they have a chance to drain the fireteam members of that vital Psionic Protection. 

Timing is also another issue for those taking on the Royal Pools. In the Prestige Raid, Bathers should not be killed next to the platform in the middle because if that does happen, it will cost the entire fireteam valuable time which will trigger another chain-lowering phase and drastically hurt the overall time spent. This is especially important for those looking to take the crown in a speedrun. 

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Following the Royal pools, the Pleasure Gardens also host their fair share of changes, including 8 war beasts that players will need to take out during the instance. For those that have spent adequate time playing the vanilla raid, don’t think you knowing their routes will help you in Prestige. The war beasts now follow a new route, making a new patterns that players will need to learn to more strategically take out the beasts. 

Other than the new routes and the two additional war beasts, the Pleasure Gardens is mostly the same. Buffs to the enemies, naturally, and a few more to pick off. 

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Next up, Guardians will take to The Gauntlet. Each member of the fireteam must complete this portion in order to be ‘Proven Worthy’ once cleared and the Psionic Orb is used. There aren’t huge changes to The Gauntlet, though the Psionic Projection will spawn differently than the original Leviathan Raid. The PP will spawn near the symbol’s plate that has been activated, though sometimes it can spawn directly on top of it. 

There are three Psionic Orbs per wall which will task three members to acquire the orbs, while the remaining three will need to skip it. Alternate to have the three that grabbed the orbs to skip the wall and continue until this portion is cleared. Not a drastic change, but it does emphasize the importance of a team’s communication skills. 

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“It’s the final countdown …,” Now it’s time to take on Emperor Calus himself; the raid’s final boss. This part requires a little more strategy and definitely highlights the importance of teamwork. When a Guardian melees a Psion Councilor, they will find themselves suddenly in the Shadow Realm while another player is transported out of it. That player will then be tasked, alongside their team, to call out each symbol on Emperor Calus’ head while the rest work to clear out the Throne Room. Not completely different, just a little shifting within the event itself. 

Though the singular player changeout is challenging, that’s really the only huge change to the final fight, thankfully. Another important thing to note is that Calus himself doesn’t receive too much of a buff, so for those players that go in prepared with a 300+ power level, the final fight should be matched to the vanilla version.

For those that complete the Prestige Raid, a new emblem, set of armor, and an aura specific to this event will be made available. For those looking to get in on the action, the raid is going on now for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players. Destiny 2 is slated for a PC release on October 24th.