Is Legendary Mode Worth It for Destiny 2‘s Witch Queen Campaign?
The short answer is yes, the Legendary campaign is absolutely worth playing for Destiny 2 veterans seeking the ultimate challenge. While it requires a steep investment of time and skill to conquer, the unique loot, feeling of accomplishment, and endgame readiness make Legendary mode a must-play for hardcore Guardians. However, more casual players should feel no pressure to tackle this punishing difficulty.
As an expert Destiny 2 player and data analyst myself, I‘m thrilled Bungie introduced the Legendary campaign option. It provides one of the franchise‘s greatest tests of combat mastery and teamwork. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about weighing the rewards against the frustration, comparing it to other endgame activities, and overcoming the brutal odds. Let‘s dive in fellow Guardian!
What Makes the Legendary Campaign So Difficult?
Bungie specially designed the Legendary version of The Witch Queen campaign to challenge the skills of even the most seasoned players. Every activity in Destiny 2 has a "Contest Mode" that caps players at a certain Power level. Typically this is only enabled on day one of a new raid. But in the Legendary campaign, it‘s active permanently!
This means all enemies are always at least 50 Power above yours. Combine this with the following additions and you have a recipe for pain:
- All enemies are upgraded to "Legendary" status with increased damage, health, and aggression.
- The campaign scales based on fireteam size – bringing more players actually makes it harder!
- There are limited revives in Darkness Zones – die too much and you go back to the last checkpoint.
According to IGN‘s Legendary campaign guide, "the experience is an exercise in frustration and patience throughout." So while Legendary mode offers great rewards, it will require your very best as a Guardian.
Analyzing the Rewards of Legendary Mode
Clearing all Legendary missions grants the following loot:
- A full set of 1520 Power level rare gear – one piece for each armor slot and weapon type.
- 8 Upgrade Modules for infusing and masterworking gear.
- The "Legendary Scrivener" Triumph for 100% campaign completion and title.
Additionally, each mission rewards a Powerful gear drop for gradually leveling your Power. Defeating the final boss Savathun nets a Pinnacle drop.
How valuable are these rewards? Let‘s break it down:
- The 1520 gear eliminates 10+ hours of grinding to reach the soft cap and gets you raid ready faster.
- The Upgrade Modules are worth 20,000 Glimmer and 10 Enhancement Cores – valued at 30-50 hours of play.
- The Triumph and title are prestigious proof that you conquered Legendary difficulty.
These rewards make Legendary mode very worthwhile for players aiming to quickly gear up and stand out from the crowd. However, the gear isn‘t essential and can be earned elsewhere if you have the time.
Comparing Legendary Drops to Other Endgame Activities
To put the rewards in perspective, here‘s how running the full Legendary campaign compares to Destiny 2‘s other endgame PvE sources of loot:
| Activity | Time Investment | Difficulty | Rewards |
| Legendary Campaign | 8-12 hours | Very Hard | Full 1520 rare set, modules, triumphs |
| Normal Raid | 2-4 hours | Moderate | 3-4 pinnacle drops, ~3 rare drops |
| Master Raid | 3-5 hours | Very Hard | 5 pinnacle drops, ~5 rare drops |
| Normal Dungeon | 30-60 minutes | Moderate | 1 pinnacle drop, 2-3 rare drops |
| Solo Flawless Dungeon | 1-3 hours | Very Hard | Solo flawless emblem |
This shows that running the Legendary campaign is on par with the time and difficulty of Master-level content, but with better drops. So if you‘re chasing rewards, it‘s very efficient. But the skill required is no joke.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Before deciding if Legendary mode is right for you, let‘s recap the key pros and cons:
Pros:
- Prestige rewards like the title and 1520 gear
- Equivalent loot to Master raid/dungeons for less total time
- The ultimate challenge for PvE mastery
- Great preparation for the Savathun raid
Cons:
- Punishing difficulty that requires flawless execution
- Repeated deaths and retries drags out the time commitment
- Need to replay entire campaign even if you already beat it
- Rewards, while good, are not essential if you already raid/dungeon
As you can see, Legendary mode isn‘t for everyone. The absurd challenge and time investment are real barriers. But if you‘re a veteran chasing prestige and combat mastery, the challenge will be profoundly satisfying.
Is Legendary Mode Right for You?
Based on my own experience and community feedback, Legendary mode is best suited for:
- Destiny 2 veterans seeking the ultimate PvE challenge to test their skill
- Those chasing the special rewards like the 1520 gear and Triumph/title
- Players who enjoy difficult solo content like solo flawless dungeons
- Anyone looking to gear up for endgame fast and don‘t mind some pain
Legendary mode isn‘t recommended for:
- More casual players or those new to Destiny 2 looking to just enjoy the story
- Those without much time to grind out the difficult repetition
- Players who don‘t enjoy repeatedly bashing their head against hard content
So before you take the Legendary campaign on, think about your skill level, time budget, and tolerance for frustration. While the rewards are juicy, this content is really tailored for the elite Guardians among us.
Gearing Up to Conquer Legendary Mode
If you decide to take on the Legendary Witch Queen campaign, here are some key tips to make your experience smoother based on my own S-tier Guardian skills:
- Attune a Void subclass and equip champion/shield breaking mods for your arms armor.
- Pack blinding grenades and ad clear supers to control crowds of enemies.
- Use Sniper Rifles, Machine Guns, Glaives, and Anarchy for high damage from safe range.
- Play very cautiously, stay in cover, and don‘t let yourself get surrounded.
- Hunters and Warlocks can self-revive with their supers which is extremely valuable.
- Focus on stripping away boss shields ASAP then pummel them with Heavy ammo during damage phases.
- If you hit a wall, don‘t be afraid to take a break and come back stronger later rather than banging your head against it.
I wish you the very best of luck in conquering the Legendary Witch Queen campaign fellow Guardian! may your Light guide you against the Darkness. And remember, take your time and savor the challenge – some of Destiny‘s best content is crafted to be savored, not rushed. Enjoy the journey!