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Can You Leave a Destiny 2 Mission? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can leave a Destiny 2 mission, but the consequences and methods vary depending on the type of activity you’re undertaking. Understanding these nuances is crucial to avoid penalties, wasted time, and frustration, especially when playing with others. Let’s delve into the details.

Understanding Mission Types and Leaving Protocols

Destiny 2 features a wide array of activities, each with its own rules regarding leaving mid-mission. These range from simple Patrols to high-stakes Raids, and the appropriate course of action depends on the situation.

Patrols and Free Roam Activities

Leaving is unrestricted. You can freely leave Patrols and other free-roam activities on any planet at any time. Simply open your Director, select a different destination, and travel. There are no penalties for leaving these activities.
Lost progress. Be aware that any Patrol missions you may have picked up will be abandoned if you leave the area.

Strikes and Nightfalls

Leaving mid-Strike (Playlist): If you’re in a Strike playlist and leave, you will likely face a temporary strike playlist cooldown. This prevents you from re-queueing into the Strike playlist for a short period (typically around 5-10 minutes). This penalty is designed to discourage repeated abandonment of activities. The penalty timer will appear on your main screen when trying to access any strike activity node.
Leaving Nightfalls: Leaving a Nightfall Strike will remove you from the fireteam, and may potentially abandon your run, depending on fireteam configuration. If you are playing with friends, communicate before leaving so you can reform the fireteam or have a replacement join. If you are the fireteam leader and leave, the activity will likely end for the remaining members.
Leaving Nightfalls (Grandmaster): Abandoning a Grandmaster Nightfall carries the same consequences as a regular Nightfall but also wastes significant time and effort due to the higher difficulty. Coordinate carefully before attempting this activity.

Raids and Dungeons

Leaving mid-Raid or Dungeon: Leaving a Raid or Dungeon, particularly during an encounter, can have significant consequences for your fireteam. If you’re playing with a pre-made group, communication is key. Leaving will obviously remove you from the team and halt progress until a replacement is found.
Checkpoints: Raids and Dungeons have checkpoints. If you leave after reaching a checkpoint, you can return to that checkpoint later with the same fireteam (or a modified one, as long as the fireteam leader is the same person who originally reached the checkpoint). Be aware that checkpoints may expire after weekly reset.
Leaving as Fireteam Leader: If you are the fireteam leader and leave, the raid or dungeon activity will likely end for the remaining members and the checkpoint may be lost. Be sure to designate another fireteam member as the new leader before leaving.

Crucible (PvP)

Leaving a Crucible match: Leaving a Crucible match incurs a severe leaver penalty. This includes a longer matchmaking cooldown and a loss of Glory points (in Glory-enabled playlists). Repeatedly leaving Crucible matches can lead to even harsher penalties, like temporary account restrictions. Completing the match is always recommended, even if your team is losing. The matchmaking penalties vary based on the playlist, but it is not recommended to quit matches regardless.

Gambit

Leaving a Gambit match: Similar to Crucible, leaving a Gambit match results in a leaver penalty, including a matchmaking cooldown. This discourages players from abandoning matches, especially when their team is behind.

Seasonal Activities and Missions

Leaving Seasonal Activities: Leaving seasonal activities depends on the specific activity’s design. Some may allow seamless re-entry, while others might require restarting the activity from the beginning. Check the in-game description or consult online resources to determine the leaving penalties for each activity.
Leaving Story Missions: Story missions allow you to leave with minimal repercussions. Progress is often saved at checkpoints within the mission, allowing you to resume later.

Special Circumstances: Disconnections

Network issues: If you are disconnected due to network issues, Destiny 2 will usually attempt to reconnect you to your fireteam and activity. However, this is not always guaranteed, and you may lose progress depending on the activity.

Best Practices for Leaving Missions

Communicate: Always communicate with your fireteam before leaving an activity, especially in Raids, Dungeons, or Nightfalls.
Avoid Leaving Mid-Encounter: Never leave mid-encounter in a Raid or Dungeon unless absolutely necessary.
Consider the Consequences: Understand the potential penalties for leaving a specific activity before doing so.
Find a Replacement: If possible, help your fireteam find a replacement player before leaving.
Wait for Completion: If you can, wait until the activity is completed before leaving.

Destiny 2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Leaving Missions

1. What happens if I leave a Strike playlist activity?

You will receive a temporary cooldown timer preventing you from re-queueing for a short period. This timer typically lasts around 5-10 minutes. This is to prevent people from leaving strikes repeatedly if they don’t like the activity.

2. Can I rejoin my fireteam if I get disconnected from a Raid?

Destiny 2 will attempt to reconnect you, but it’s not always guaranteed. The success depends on the severity and duration of the disconnection. Have a fireteam member hold your spot until you can reconnect.

3. Does leaving a Nightfall count as abandoning the run?

Yes, leaving removes you from the fireteam and can cause issues if you are trying to complete the activity and your team is left without you. Coordinate with your teammates if you need to leave.

4. Will I lose my Raid checkpoint if I leave?

No, you will not lose the checkpoint, but it may expire after the weekly reset. The fireteam leader needs to be the same as the one when the checkpoint was initially acquired.

5. What is the penalty for leaving a Crucible match?

Leaving a Crucible match incurs a severe leaver penalty, including a matchmaking cooldown and a loss of Glory points (in Glory-enabled playlists).

6. Can I leave a Patrol activity without any consequences?

Yes, you can freely leave Patrols and other free-roam activities without penalties, but you will lose any Patrol missions you’ve picked up.

7. If my fireteam leader leaves a Raid, what happens?

The Raid activity will likely end for the remaining members, and the checkpoint may be lost. The fireteam leader should designate another person as the leader before leaving to avoid this.

8. How long is the matchmaking cooldown for leaving a Gambit match?

The matchmaking cooldown varies, but it is designed to discourage repeated abandonment. The length is not explicitly stated but is typically longer than the Strike playlist cooldown.

9. Is it okay to leave a Dungeon mid-encounter?

It’s highly discouraged unless absolutely necessary. It disrupts the fireteam’s progress and can make the encounter more difficult.

10. Do I lose progress if I leave a Story mission?

No, progress is often saved at checkpoints within the mission, allowing you to resume later.

11. What happens if I accidentally disconnect from a Grandmaster Nightfall?

Destiny 2 will attempt to reconnect you, but there is no guarantee you will be able to get back into the activity. Coordinate with your teammates if you are able to reconnect quickly.

12. Does leaving a match early affect my Season Pass progress?

It depends on the activity and challenges you are trying to complete. Some progress may be lost if you abandon the activity before completing it.

13. Can I avoid the leaver penalty in Crucible by disconnecting my internet?

No, attempting to circumvent the leaver penalty by disconnecting your internet will still result in a penalty. The game detects the intentional disruption.

14. If I leave a Raid but rejoin later, will I still get rewards?

Yes, if you rejoin the Raid with the same fireteam and they complete encounters, you will still be eligible for rewards for those encounters.

15. Are there any exceptions to the leaver penalties?

Generally, no. Bungie’s system is designed to detect and penalize leaving activities. Exceptions may be made in extreme cases with documented evidence, but are rare.

Understanding the rules for leaving missions in Destiny 2 is crucial for a positive gaming experience. By following these guidelines and communicating with your fireteam, you can avoid penalties and ensure that everyone enjoys their time playing.

Can you leave a Destiny 2 mission?