Unlocking the Treasures of The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition: A Deep Dive

The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition of Destiny 2 was a treasure trove of content designed to enhance the player experience throughout Year 5. At its core, the Deluxe Edition granted access to everything in the Standard Edition, plus a suite of bonus items that provided a significant advantage and kept players engaged all year long. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you got:

• All Year 5 Season Passes (Four Seasons Total): This was arguably the biggest draw. The Deluxe Edition included access to all four seasons that followed the release of the Witch Queen: Season of the Risen (Season 16), Season 17, Season 18, and Season 19. Each season brought new storylines, activities, weapons, armor, and rewards.
• Access to Two Year 5 Dungeons: These dungeons offered challenging endgame content with unique loot and experiences. They provided a significant test of skill and coordination for fireteams.
• Exotic SMG “Osteo Striga,” Ornament, and Catalyst: The Osteo Striga is a unique and powerful weapon that fires a stream of sentient, poisonous projectiles. The ornament provided a cosmetic upgrade, while the catalyst enhanced its abilities even further.
• Exotic Throne World Sparrow: A stylish vehicle for traversing Savathûn’s Throne World and beyond.
• Pre-Order Bonuses (If Applicable): Players who pre-ordered any edition, including the Deluxe Edition, received instant access to items redeemable from Master Rahool in the Tower or Shaw Han in the Cosmodrome for new players.

In short, the Deluxe Edition was designed to provide a complete Destiny 2 experience throughout Year 5, offering a constant stream of new content and challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition

1. What was the main draw of the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition?

The primary benefit of the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition was gaining access to all four seasons of content released during Year 5. This included new quests, activities, weapons, and armor that would have otherwise required individual purchases.

2. What did the Year 5 Season Passes unlock?

Each Season Pass unlocked access to the seasonal storyline, a new seasonal activity, a unique set of weapons and armor, and premium rewards from the Season Pass track, including exotic engrams, upgrade materials, and cosmetic items.

3. What were the two dungeons included in the Deluxe Edition?

The two dungeons available with the Deluxe Edition were a separate purchase if you did not get the Deluxe Edition. These dungeons are challenging, endgame activities with unique mechanics and valuable rewards.

4. What made the Osteo Striga Exotic SMG so special?

The Osteo Striga is a kinetic exotic SMG that shoots sentient, poisonous projectiles that apply a stacking damage-over-time effect. Upon final blows, it spawns a toxic burst. Its unique design and powerful effects made it a highly sought-after weapon.

5. How did you obtain the Osteo Striga?

The Osteo Striga was obtained by completing the Witch Queen campaign and then crafting it using materials earned through campaign missions and the crafting system introduced with the expansion.

6. Did the Deluxe Edition include previous expansions like Beyond Light or Shadowkeep?

No, the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition did not include previous expansions. Those expansions had to be purchased separately.

7. Was it worth buying the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition later in Year 5?

Whether it was worth buying late in the year depended on how much of the content you planned to play. If you intended to experience all the seasonal storylines and dungeons, it could still be a good value. However, if you were only interested in a portion of the content, purchasing individual seasons or the dungeon key separately might have been more economical.

8. What was the difference between the Witch Queen Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition?

The Standard Edition included only the Witch Queen campaign, a new raid, and access to the new Throne World destination. The Deluxe Edition added the four seasonal passes, two dungeons, the Osteo Striga, and the Throne World Sparrow.

9. Did the Deluxe Edition include the 30th Anniversary Pack?

No, the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition did not include the 30th Anniversary Pack. The 30th Anniversary Pack was a separate purchase that included a new dungeon, exotic weapons, and cosmetics inspired by Bungie’s history. The Deluxe Edition + Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack bundle included both.

10. Where could you claim the pre-order bonus items?

Players who pre-ordered any edition of The Witch Queen could claim their pre-order bonus items from Master Rahool in the Tower or Shaw Han in the Cosmodrome for new players.

11. Was there a physical Collector’s Edition of The Witch Queen?

Yes, there was a physical Collector’s Edition of The Witch Queen, which included various physical items, such as a Hive Ghost replica, a lore book, and exclusive emblems.

12. Did completing The Witch Queen campaign on Legendary difficulty grant special rewards?

Yes, completing The Witch Queen campaign on Legendary difficulty granted players an exclusive emblem, a full set of 1520 Power Level gear, 8 upgrade modules, new Witch Queen exotic armor, and a Triumph required for the Throne World Title!

13. What happened to the seasonal content after Year 5?

The seasonal content from Year 5 was available until the launch of the Lightfall expansion. After that, the seasonal activities and storylines were removed from the game as part of Destiny 2’s content vaulting system, but the dungeon pass is still available.

14. What is content vaulting in Destiny 2?

Content vaulting is a process where Bungie removes older content from Destiny 2 to reduce the game’s overall size and improve performance. This allows them to focus on developing new content and features.

15. How does the Witch Queen campaign compare to previous Destiny 2 campaigns?

The Witch Queen campaign is widely regarded as one of the best in Destiny 2 history, praised for its engaging story, challenging encounters, and memorable characters, especially when played on Legendary difficulty. Bungie’s dedication to creating a compelling narrative and challenging gameplay experience elevated the expansion to new heights. You can explore more of the impact of gaming and learning at the Games Learning Society and their website: GamesLearningSociety.org.