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Do I Need Lightfall to Play Trials of Osiris in Destiny 2? The Definitive Answer

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The question of whether you need the Lightfall expansion to participate in Trials of Osiris in Destiny 2 is a common one, and the answer, while seemingly straightforward, requires some context. As of the current state of Destiny 2, yes, you do need the Lightfall expansion to access Trials of Osiris. This is part of Bungie’s strategy to ensure a level playing field and to incentivize investment in the latest content. Let’s dive into the specifics.

The Ever-Evolving Landscape of Destiny 2 Access

Destiny 2’s content model has shifted over time. Earlier iterations of the game allowed access to certain core activities regardless of expansion ownership. However, Trials of Osiris, being a pinnacle PvP experience, has become tied to the most recent annual expansion.

This decision isn’t arbitrary. By requiring players to own the latest expansion, Bungie aims to achieve several key goals:

Maintain a Fair Competitive Environment: Ensuring all participants have access to the same weapons, subclasses, and gameplay mechanics reduces the potential for imbalances and exploits.
Combat Cheating: Tying Trials to a paid expansion provides a barrier to entry for cheaters, as they would need to purchase the expansion to access the mode, making it more costly and less appealing for them to disrupt the game.
Incentivize Content Ownership: Bungie invests heavily in creating new content, and linking Trials of Osiris to expansions incentivizes players to support the game’s development by purchasing them.

Historical Context: How Trials Access Has Changed

It’s important to note that the requirement for the latest expansion hasn’t always been in place. There were periods where Trials was accessible with older expansions or even without any expansions at all. However, Bungie has consistently iterated on the access model to address community concerns and to align with their overall content strategy. For example, there was a revamp to Trials in August 2021 that made owning the annual expansion a requirement to play. This was Beyond Light at the time, but it changes to the latest expansion when a new one is released.

What Happens If You Don’t Own Lightfall?

If you attempt to access Trials of Osiris without owning the Lightfall expansion, you will likely be met with a message indicating that the content is locked. You won’t be able to queue for matches or earn Trials-specific rewards.

Understanding the Trials of Osiris Ecosystem

Trials of Osiris is more than just a PvP mode; it’s a carefully curated ecosystem with unique rewards, challenges, and progression systems.

Passages and Bounties

To participate in Trials, you’ll need to acquire a Trials Passage from Saint-14 in the Tower Hangar. These passages track your wins and losses. Certain passages offer benefits, such as forgiving a loss. Saint-14 also offers bounties that provide additional rewards for completing specific objectives in Trials.

Rewards and the Lighthouse

The ultimate goal in Trials is to achieve a “Flawless” run – winning seven matches in a row without a single loss. This grants access to the Lighthouse, a special location on Mercury where you can claim exclusive rewards, including Adept weapons (modified versions of weapons with superior stats and the ability to equip unique Adept mods). Even without going Flawless, you can earn Trials gear through reputation rank-ups with Saint-14.

FAQs: Your Trials of Osiris Questions Answered

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide even more clarity on Trials of Osiris and its requirements:

What is the Power Level requirement to play Trials of Osiris? You typically need to be at or above the effective Power Level cap for the current season. Always check the in-game description for Trials to confirm the exact requirement, but historically, this has been around 1260+.
Do I need a specific Valor Rank to play Trials? Historically, you have needed to reach a Valor rank of Legend. However, it is best to confirm the current requirements for this season in-game.
If I own Lightfall, do I need to complete the campaign to play Trials? No, you do not need to complete the Lightfall campaign to access Trials of Osiris. As long as you own the expansion, you’re eligible.
What happens if Trials of Osiris is disabled? Occasionally, Bungie may disable Trials of Osiris due to technical issues or to implement changes. During these periods, the playlist will be unavailable. Keep an eye on Bungie’s official channels (Twitter, forums, in-game notifications) for updates.
Can I earn Trials rewards even if I don’t go Flawless? Yes! You can earn Trials gear by increasing your reputation rank with Saint-14 through completing matches and bounties.
What are Adept weapons, and how do I get them? Adept weapons are enhanced versions of Trials weapons that have slightly better stats and can equip unique Adept mods. You can earn an Adept weapon by going Flawless and reaching the Lighthouse.
Do Trials Passages carry over from week to week? No, Trials Passages reset weekly when the Trials playlist is reset.
Are there matchmaking changes coming to Trials of Osiris? Bungie often tweaks the matchmaking system in Trials to improve the competitive experience. These changes can include factors like skill-based matchmaking or connection-based matchmaking. Stay informed via Bungie’s patch notes and community updates.
Can I play Trials on multiple characters? Yes, if you own Lightfall, you can participate in Trials on all of your characters.
What’s the difference between the different Trials Passages? Trials Passages offer different benefits, such as forgiving a loss (Mercy), granting a bonus win (Favor), or awarding bonus tokens for wins (Wealth).
Are there any free-to-play activities I can do in Destiny 2? Yes, Destiny 2 offers a variety of free-to-play activities, including core playlist activities (Vanguard Strikes, Crucible, Gambit), the Dares of Eternity activity, and certain rotating dungeons and raids.
Will there be a Destiny 3? While rumors circulate from time to time, Bungie has not officially announced a Destiny 3. Their focus remains on expanding and evolving Destiny 2.
Does Mercy forgive 2 losses? The behavior of Mercy has been tweaked over time. It may forgive one or two losses, or revert back to its old behavior of forgiving a single loss once you go Flawless. Check the in-game tooltip to confirm what Mercy is offering this season.
Do engrams carry over seasons? In short, vendor engrams would not carry over, but seasonal engrams and Iron Banner engrams would.
How do I get better at Trials of Osiris? Improve your skills in the Elimination playlist, practice with different weapons and loadouts, communicate effectively with your teammates, and learn the map layouts. Watch streamers and YouTubers for tips and strategies. A great resource to enhance skills and knowledge of games is the Games Learning Society. Check out their website at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, while the requirement of owning the Lightfall expansion to play Trials of Osiris might be a barrier for some, it’s a necessary measure to maintain the integrity and competitiveness of the mode. By investing in the game, you not only gain access to Trials but also support Bungie’s ongoing efforts to improve and expand Destiny 2. So, gear up, Guardians, and may your passage be Flawless!