Tips For The Nether In Destiny 2

Summary

• Level up the Shaping Slab for easier Nether runs.
• Utilize the Tome of Want to focus loot preferences.
• Use enhancements and boons strategically for a successful Nether run.

As is the case with all DLC and Seasonal/Episodic releases for Destiny 2, Episode Heresy has introduced a new activity for Guardians to sink their teeth into. The Nether is the latest addition. It takes some of the best elements from a previous host of seasonal activities to provide a uniquely challenging experience for all players, whether they play with a team, or prefer to explore content solo.

This list provides several tips to help players overcome the Nether, which has proven itself to be one of the more challenging offers Bungie has provided in some time. With no health regeneration, ramping enemy difficulty, and limited revives, it may well be worth getting familiar with the Nether before diving into its higher difficulties.

1

Level Up The Shaping Slab

The Rewards Are Worth It

The Shaping Slab is the newest vendor in Destiny 2, being the players’ focal point for episodic upgrades, rewards, and quest steps. Found in Eris Morn’s apartment in The Last City, on Earth, the Shaping Slab allows players to level up their reputation with it, providing episodic gear and other rewards for each level. It also allows the player to acquire and manage their enhancements, which are mentioned again in a later entry.

The most important reason to level up this vendor is the fact that for every two levels a player gains, they are given access to another enhancement slot for the Nether, making proceeding runs a little bit easier. This vendor is also the way the player gains access to the Tome of Want, which is an important part of the loot cycle for the episode.

2

Use The Tome Of Want

Focus The Most Desirable Loot

The Tome of Want is Episode Heresy’s version of the tonic crafting system from Episode Revenant, but this time it’s a little simpler. Instead of managing multiple currencies, running back and forth to the brewing station, and constantly reactivating different tonics, the Tome of Want gives the player two simple choices. What type of gear do they want, and what specific item do they want? The Tome of Want also provides permanent buffs to the artifact perks available in this episode, which can be found by leveling up the Shaping Slab.

While not a guaranteed god roll, this item guarantees that the player will at least be getting the type of gear they want whenever they run the nether, increasing the likelihood they will find the perfect perk combination that they have been hunting.

3

Utilize Enhancements

Smalls Boosts Add Up

Enhancements are a new system that provides a “permanent” buff whenever the player is in the Nether. The player must unlock these enhancements using a new currency, and has a limited amount of spaces available, with certain enhancements requiring a certain number of slots. These slots are increased by leveling up the Shaping Slab, and it is important to focus on getting the maximum number of slots to get the most out of this system.

These buffs can offer the player powerful abilities, such as being able to see exactly what gear is in a chest before opening it, or providing an over shield upon picking up a healing orb. Each of these enhancements makes a Nether run either easier or more efficient, reducing the amount of materials a player will waste on loot they don’t want.

4

Select Boons That Work Together

Roguelite Build Crafting

Boons are yet another new system introduced for the Nether and are similar in enhancements in the way they directly power up the player. Boons can be found by defeating enemies, opening chests, or completing encounters in the Nether, resetting at the end of every run. Minor boons provide small stat bumps, from damage reduction against bosses to reduced ability cooldowns. Major boons provide more powerful buffs, such as creating a wave of Solar energy when the player slides, or giving the player Bolt Charge stacks as they sprint.

While it may be tempting to grab whatever boons seem the flashiest, a run of the Nether will be made a lot easier if the player focuses on boons that mesh well with their build, such as picking up Bolt Charge boons while using an Arc-focused build. Having a well-oiled loadout is important for any difficult content, and boons add another layer of build crafting to this specific activity.

5

Look Out For Health Orbs

Literal Life Savers

The Nether is the only activity in Destiny 2 that has, by default, health regeneration turned off. Player health is drastically increased to compensate for this, turning health into a precious resource, made even more so by the limited number of revive tokens a team has. As a way to remedy this, healing orbs consistently spawn from both downed enemies and destructible pots found around the arenas.

Keeping an eye out for these is important as they can easily be the difference between life and death in an intense situation. Nothing feels worse than dying after the last revive token is used and forced to spectate the rest of the team, especially if it could have been avoided. While this isn’t as important in lower-tier completions, expert-level Nether runs require the player to always be on the lookout for these life-saving orbs.

6

Look For Secrets

They Lurk Everywhere And Provide Loot

Secrets hide around every corner in the reprized Dreadnaught and come in various forms. One that is available in all areas (although will not always spawn in every run) is Toland, the Shattered. While completing activities in the Nether, players may come across a small glowing orb that floats around and disappears when approached. If they follow the orb around the arena, eventually it will reveal a secret chest that would otherwise be missed.

Another secret that is easy to find is bowls on the ground that can be interacted with. If the player interacts with all three in the area, a miniboss will spawn. Upon killing this boss, another secret chest will spawn, once again providing otherwise missed loot. There are plenty more secrets to find, so make sure to explore.

7

Collect Everything

Become A Loot Goblin

Destiny players are usually some of the worst hoarders in the gaming world, filling up their vaults and inventories with useless stuff. However, in the Nether, this is something to strive for. The Dreadnaught is full to the brim with chests, materials, destructible pots, and secrets, all of which provide useful currencies and loot. Utilizing a Wombo Detector mod on the ghost, a player will be able to see indicators as to where these chests and materials lie.

While this mod won’t show everything, many secrets requiring a little bit of work, it can help point the player toward some easy loot, and push them on their way to other things to collect. Hoarding materials simply makes the gameplay loop of the episode easier, and the amount of loot that can be gained is truly unmatched.

8

Take It Slow

There Is No Need To Rush

There is no time limit on the Nether. While it may feel amazing to complete a lightning-fast run, a lot of free loot will be missed. Exploration is integral to this activity, finding hidden secrets, chests, materials, and puzzles. There is no reason to rush through everything, as it will only put the player back in terms of their loot gained, making proceeding runs harder, and ultimately making the activity feel less rewarding than it should.

Taking it slow is also a great way to make the lack of health regeneration feel less threatening. If a fight it dire, retreat. If there are chests on the way to the next activity, stop and open them. The process of exploring and playing slowly will make this activity feel less like any other episodic activity and more like the unique experience it is intended to be.