How Long Does It Take to Finish Destiny 2: Shadowkeep?
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The time it takes to finish Destiny 2: Shadowkeep varies greatly depending on your playstyle and goals. If you’re solely focused on the main campaign objectives, you can expect to spend around 6 hours clearing the core storyline. However, for a more comprehensive experience, aiming for 100% completion, including all quests, activities, and triumphs, you’re looking at a playtime of approximately 78 hours or more. This significant difference is due to the vast amount of additional content Shadowkeep offers beyond the central narrative.
Diving Deeper into Shadowkeep Completion Time
The initial 6-hour estimate focuses purely on blasting through the story missions. This speedrun approach means skipping side quests, ignoring collectibles, and foregoing any real exploration of the Moon. A more realistic playthrough, where you engage with the narrative and the environment, will likely take 10-15 hours just to complete the main campaign.
Achieving 100% completion involves a much deeper commitment. This includes:
- Completing all Nightmare Hunts and associated quests.
- Acquiring all Dreambane armor pieces and Moon weapons.
- Unlocking and finishing the Eris Memory quests.
- Participating in the Garden of Salvation raid.
- Achieving all relevant triumphs and collectibles.
Each of these activities adds significant playtime. Nightmare Hunts, for example, require repeated runs to acquire specific gear and complete associated bounties. The Garden of Salvation raid is a complex and challenging activity that can take several hours to learn and complete, even with an experienced team. Gathering all the Dreambane armor with optimized stats can also be time-consuming.
Ultimately, the actual time investment depends on individual skill level, playstyle, and whether you’re playing solo or with a fireteam. Players who are familiar with Destiny 2’s mechanics and have a dedicated group of friends to play with will likely complete the content faster than solo players.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shadowkeep
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the scope and longevity of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep:
1. What do I get for beating Shadowkeep?
Beating the Shadowkeep campaign unlocks several key features and rewards:
- Pit of Heresy dungeon: A challenging three-player activity with unique rewards.
- Dreambane armor and Moon weapons: Essential gear for progressing through Shadowkeep content.
- Eris Memory quest line: Provides additional story and rewards.
- Experience boost: For your Season Pass and Artifact.
- Additional gear and resources: That drop throughout the completion.
2. Can I still play the Shadowkeep campaign in 2024?
Yes, you can still play the Shadowkeep campaign in 2024, and beyond. Bungie announced in 2022 that they would no longer remove expansion campaigns, ensuring that Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, and future expansions will remain playable.
3. How big is the Shadowkeep DLC in terms of storage space?
Initially, Shadowkeep required a significant amount of hard drive space. It increased the game’s size to around 165 GB back in 2019. However, due to ongoing optimizations and changes to Destiny 2’s architecture, the game’s overall size has fluctuated over time. The current total size of Destiny 2, including all installed expansions, will vary depending on your platform and the specific content you have downloaded.
4. Are Nightmare Hunts worth doing?
Yes, Nightmare Hunts are worth doing, especially if you’re looking for specific gear and a challenging activity. They are the primary way to obtain Essence Quests which unlock unique legendary weapons and armor associated with the Moon.
5. Is Shadowkeep hard to complete?
Shadowkeep’s difficulty is subjective and depends on your experience with Destiny 2. Some players found it challenging, particularly compared to earlier Destiny 2 content. The Pit of Heresy dungeon and the Garden of Salvation raid are both considered to be challenging endgame activities. If you are coming from games like The Division 2, you may find Shadowkeep to be a more thought-provoking experience in terms of PvE engagements.
6. What is the story conclusion of the Shadowkeep campaign?
The Shadowkeep campaign culminates in a confrontation with the Darkness on the Moon. Afterward, the story leads you toward the Black Garden, where you defeat the Sanctified Mind in the Garden of Salvation raid. The defeat of the Sanctified Mind temporarily stops the artifact’s signal, but it also triggers a Vex invasion of the Moon.
7. What Exotic weapons can I obtain from Shadowkeep?
Shadowkeep offers several exotic weapons:
- Leviathan’s Breath (Combat Bow)
- Eriana’s Vow (Hand Cannon)
- Bastion (Fusion Rifle)
- Symmetry (Scout Rifle)
- Devil’s Ruin (Sidearm)
- Tommy’s Matchbook (Auto Rifle)
- The Fourth Horseman (Shotgun)
- Witherhoard (Grenade Launcher)
8. Does Shadowkeep grant the Assassin’s Cowl?
Yes, to obtain the Hunter exotic Assassin’s Cowl, you need to own the Shadowkeep DLC and complete the Shadowkeep campaign. It is typically awarded upon completion.
9. How many story missions are in Shadowkeep?
There are a total of 19 named missions in Destiny 2’s Shadowkeep expansion. Some of these missions involve speaking with an NPC, while others are combat-focused.
10. Is the Garden of Salvation raid included in Shadowkeep?
Yes, the Garden of Salvation raid is a key component of the Shadowkeep experience and its narrative conclusion.
11. How many Strikes were added with Shadowkeep?
While Shadowkeep didn’t introduce a large number of brand-new strikes on its own, it does integrate with the overall strike playlist and the Nightfall rotation. As of Shadowkeep’s release, there were 17 strikes in Destiny 2.
12. Why was the Forsaken campaign and Tangled Shore removed from Destiny 2?
The Forsaken campaign and the Tangled Shore destination were removed as part of Bungie’s content vaulting strategy. This strategy aimed to reduce the overall size of the game and allow developers to focus on new content and improvements without being constrained by the limitations of older, less relevant areas.
13. Will Bungie ever bring back vaulted content?
Bungie has stated that expansions will no longer be vaulted. However, seasonal content will continue to be available throughout the current expansion year before being moved to the Destiny Content Vault when a new expansion launches.
14. What is Destiny 2’s content vaulting system?
Destiny 2’s content vault is a process where certain content, including story campaigns and maps, are removed from the game. This is done to improve the overall game performance, reduce the game’s file size, and make way for new updates and expansions. While content is vaulted, it is not permanently deleted and could potentially return in the future.
15. Where can I learn more about game design principles and the impact of games on learning?
For more insights into game design and the educational impact of games, visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org. They offer valuable resources for educators, researchers, and game developers interested in exploring the intersection of games and learning.