Destiny 2's Edge of Fate expansion dropped July 15th with sweeping changes to Trials of Osiris that have completely changed the competitive PvP experience. The first weekend revealed a radically different landscape for competitive players, featuring new reward structures, revised matchmaking, and the elimination of power level advantages.
The biggest change removes power level from combat entirely. Previously, players with higher gear scores dominated matches regardless of skill. Now everyone fights on equal footing, though you still need to hit the 200 power minimum to enter Trials.
Power Level Changes Level the Playing Field
Bungie removed power-enabled combat to make Trials more accessible without sacrificing its competitive edge. The 200 power requirement stays in place, but your gear's numbers won't determine fight outcomes anymore.
Two-Passage System Replaces Complex Options
Edge of Fate simplified the passage system down to two clear choices that serve different player needs and skill levels.
Lighthouse Passage: The Main Event
The Lighthouse Passage runs on Connection-Based Matchmaking (CBMM), prioritizing connection quality over skill matching. When anyone in your fireteam has this passage, you'll face the CBMM pool instead of skill-based matching.
The big change here is win counting. You only need seven total wins to reach the Lighthouse, regardless of losses. Perfect streaks are no longer required. Losses don't reset your progress; they just accumulate while you work toward seven wins.
Repeatable Lighthouse rewards drop on every visit until you earn a Flawless Passage. The system gives consistent rewards without the old pressure of going perfect.
Trials Passage: Practice Mode
The second option puts you in Weekly Performance-Based Matchmaking, facing players with similar skill levels based on your current week's performance. Think of it as the old Practice Pool.
This passage focuses on participation over achievement. You get bonus reputation, weapon chances on wins and losses, occasional ghost shells, and extra rewards for running full fireteams. However, this Passage does not grant you the Lighthouse privileges.
Weekly Win Streaks Add New Progression
Edge of Fate introduces Weekly Win Streak Rewards that work independently of Lighthouse chests. These milestone rewards reset weekly and stack. Earning a higher streak automatically grants all lower rewards you haven't claimed yet.
The progression scales from basic materials at one win to cosmetics and better quality and more rewards at seven wins:
- 1-Win Streak: Enhancement Cores (3-5), Enhancement Prism, Ascendant Shard, Adept Mod, Ghost Shell progress, and the Hardened By Trial emblem.
- 2-3 Win Streaks: Osirian Ciphers and Trials armor pieces.
- 4-Win Streak: More Enhancement Cores and Ciphers.
- 5-Win Streak: Yellow Trials Glow, Base weapon, Trials Memento, vehicle progress, ghost progress, weekly shaders, and Flawless emblems (Light for the Lost, Flawless Empyrean, Sunward Ordeal).
- 6-Win Streak: White Trials Glow and Enhancement Prisms.
- 7-Win Streak (Flawless): Red Trials Glow, Weapons with Higher Tiers, Flawless Passage unlock, and new stat tracker access.
Lighthouse Chests Get Major Buff
Traditional Lighthouse rewards got a significant upgrade. Every seven-win completion guarantees Enhancement Prisms, a base weapon, armor piece, and three Osirian Ciphers. You also get a 45% shot at an Ascendant Shard.
Trials Armor Drops More Frequently
Trials of Osiris Armor features an incredible set bonus system that activates when you collect multiple pieces. The 2-piece set bonus provides healing whenever you pick up an ammo brick, which can be a lifesaver in intense PvP situations.
Community Farming Reports:
- Full armor sets can be farmed within hours
- Armor drops much more frequently than weapons
- Higher Power Level and Guardian Rank increase tier quality
Performance-Based Rewards:
Trials features a performance ranking system similar to other Portal activities, rewarding skilled play with better loot. Players at 450 Power Level report nearly guaranteed Tier 5 drops and Holofoil weapons.
Players who maintain consistent performance while reaching high Power Levels can expect premium armor sets that both look unique and provide substantial gameplay advantages.
Flawless Pool Returns with Hybrid Matchmaking
Going seven wins without losses (mercies don't count) automatically converts your passage into a Flawless Passage. This brings back something similar to the old Flawless pool, but with important differences.
Flawless Passage holders get better loot chances on every win but face Weekly Performance-Based Matchmaking unless they team with players who have incomplete Lighthouse passages. The system tries to match Flawless players against each other first, then expands to general matchmaking to avoid long queue times.
Players who reach seven wins but choose not to reset enter a "Completed Lighthouse Passage" state. This provides Performance-Based Matchmaking and bonus rewards on wins, though specific drop rates aren't detailed.
Five New Weapons Enter the Pool
Edge of Fate refreshed the entire Trials weapon collection with two new weapons and three returning options. Bungie confirmed no featured weapon rotation for the first six weekends, making all five simultaneously available.
Aureus Neutralizer: Spread Shot Hand Cannon
PvE: Proximity Power + One-Two Punch for melee synergy. PvP: Opening Shot + Barrel Constrictor for consistent two-taps.
This Kinetic Spread Shot Hand Cannon joins Phoneutria Fera as only the second weapon of this archetype. The main draw is getting Spread Shot functionality in your primary slot instead of energy.
For PvE builds, the god roll pairs Proximity Power (melee stat bonuses) with One-Two Punch (melee damage boost). This creates the same melee synergy as Phoneutria Fera but in the Kinetic slot. Trench Barrel offers an alternative damage path with three boosted shots after melee hits.
PvP builds focus on maximizing two-tap potential at range. Opening Shot provides first-shot accuracy while Barrel Constrictor tightens the spread pattern. The goal is consistent body-shot kills at surprising distances.
Auric Disabler: Precision Auto Rifle
This 450 RPM precision frame features rare perk combinations, particularly Dragonfly and Hatchling in the left column where they usually don't appear.
The standout PvE combination pairs Hatchling or Dragonfly with damage-boosting perks like Onslaught, Sword Logic, or Target Lock. Getting typically competing perks in different columns opens up powerful synergies.
PvP builds emphasize stability through Zen Moment or Dynamic Sway Reduction, paired with Target Lock for improved dueling performance.
Unwavering Duty: Solar Machine Gun
This returning 450 RPM adaptive frame has generated the most excitement thanks to Incandescent appearing in the left column.
The premier PvE combination pairs Incandescent with Killing Tally, creating what players call the "Solar version" of the dominant Destabilizing Rounds plus Killing Tally builds from Episode Heresy. This provides both area damage and scaling weapon damage.
Alternative builds include Incandescent plus Burning Ambition for maximum Scorch application, or Fourth Time's the Charm plus Bait and Switch for boss DPS.
PvP builds mirror the old Hammerhead god roll with Fourth Time's the Charm and Killing Tally before that weapon got adjusted.
Forgiveness: Heavy Burst Sidearm
This 325 RPM heavy burst sidearm features Voltshot in the left column, another typically right-column perk.
The standout PvE build combines Voltshot with Kill Clip or Surrounded. Both Voltshot and Kill Clip trigger after reloading, creating powerful post-reload damage windows.
PvP builds focus on accuracy through Zen Moment or Tap the Trigger, paired with Precision Instrument or Headseeker for damage optimization.
Aisha's Embrace: Rapid-Fire Scout
This 260 RPM Void Scout offers Demolitionist in the left column paired with Destabilizing Rounds in the right for Void keyword synergy.
The weapon lacks Explosive Payload, which limits its general PvE effectiveness compared to other Scouts. The Void synergy build works for subclass integration but doesn't compete with explosive-payload alternatives.
PvP builds emphasize stat improvements through Keep Away or Eye of the Storm, paired with Precision Instrument for damage scaling that doesn't require kills.
Duo Queue Gets Loss Forgiveness
Starting March 10th (Act 2 of Heresy), solo players matched with duos receive loss forgiveness in both Trials and Competitive. Wins still count for streak progression, but losses won't end streaks or cost rank points.
Solo players must avoid early leaving, going AFK, or intentionally losing to qualify for protection. Duos will also be able to match against trios, expanding their opponent pool.
Mixed Community Reception
The first weekend produced divided feedback from the Trials community.
Players praised the power level changes and better reward structures. Many appreciated the reduced barriers to entry and guaranteed loot drops that address time investment concerns.
Some veterans feel the changes reduced Trials' aspirational nature. "It completely lost its aspirational nature with the new loot system," one longtime player commented. "There's no real point to go Flawless other than a nebulous tier reward increase."
Technical issues also surfaced, including reports of trials multiplier caps at 1.48x despite 12-13 win streaks. Some players suggested higher power levels correlate with better reward drops even on losses.
Access Requires Current Expansion
Starting with Edge of Fate, Trials access requires owning the latest expansion. Players without Edge of Fate lose access to competitive PvP but retain pre-expansion PvE content.
The expansion costs $39.99 standalone or $79.99 for the Year of Prophecy bundle that includes additional content and dungeons.
What's Next for Trials
Edge of Fate represents the most thorough Trials overhaul since the mode's relaunch. The focus on accessibility while maintaining competitive integrity shows Bungie's commitment to growing the player base without alienating dedicated participants.
Success will likely be measured through sustained population growth, new player retention, and community satisfaction with rewards. The power level removal should create more skill-based outcomes, though long-term engagement impact remains unclear.
The expanded reward systems provide multiple progression paths for different player motivations. Loot pool concerns suggest future adjustments may be needed to maintain satisfaction with gear acquisition.
As Bungie monitors feedback and gameplay data from early weekends, expect refinements to matchmaking, rewards, and mechanical clarifications. The foundation provides flexibility for future iterations based on real-world performance and community response.
The redesign of Trials in Edge of Fate represents a bold reimagining of Destiny 2's competitive landscape. Early indicators show promising improvements alongside areas needing ongoing attention. The ultimate success depends on sustained community engagement and Bungie's responsiveness to feedback in the coming weeks.
