Reset Reward: Enhancement Prisms and (maybe) Crucible Pinnacle/Ritual Weapon Random Rolls for Max Glory
This is pretty self explanatory but there isn’t a consistent way to get Enhancement Prisms for PvP players –an item that is needed for masterworking armor.
Reward a random amount, around five to ten upon resetting Valor and/or Glory.
If Bungie really wanted to be spicy, a neat touch would be to float some random roll pinnacle/ritual weapons as a possible drop for reset. I’d probably restrict it to hitting max Glory to make Competitive that much more enticing.
I admit that might be too difficult to balance though given that these weapons are already very powerful and problematic in some cases. We’re just spitballing here.
High Tier: Iron Banner
Reward: Pinnacle Gear, Ascendant Shards, Exclusive Weapons/Armor
I’d say Bungie almost has this one right. It does reward Pinnacle Gear, it has its own unique set of weapons and armor, and it does have power enabled which helps it stand out from other game modes.
The only thing missing is a way to earn at least one Ascendant Shard, the rarest upgrade material in Destiny 2 which currently can’t be obtained in PvP.
Bungie insists on making players do an Iron Banner quest before allowing players to turn in tokens so at least sweeten the pot. Each time you have to go through that reward players with an Ascendant Shard.
High Tier+: Trials of Osiris (Nine, Whatever)
Reward: Pinnacle Gear, Ascendant Shards, Exclusive Weapons & Armor, and an Exclusive Exotic Weapon for Flawless Cards.
While Iron Banner is currently treated like the pinnacle activity in Crucible, it really doesn’t feel like one. It’s a variant version of the traditionally casual Control mode with just better rewards and power enabled.
It’s at least a somewhat rare event though, so I’m fine with it having the rewards we suggested above in case Trials is just too hardcore for some.
The true try-hard game mode which should have the best rewards on offer on a weekly basis for those willing to brave it is Trials whenever it eventually returns to Destiny 2.
It should throw the whole kit and caboodle at PvP players. It should be a weekly source for pinnacle gear like raids and 980 content. It also needs to have its own weapon and armor that players can roll for as participation trophies for those that at least give it a go, win or lose.
I’d like to see victories of any kind have a very small chance of rewarding Enhancement Prisms and Ascendant Shards to help keep players interested even if they have their god rolls, but flawless runs should have the ultimate rewards.
Upon opening that flawless chest that I’m hoping returns very soon, players should be treated to a curated Trials weapon and one to three Ascendant Shards.
I would even go one step further than that. Although maybe controversial to some, I’d add to the flawless loot pool an exotic weapon designed with PvP play in mind that would serve as the ultimate carrot on the stick for the hardest of the hardcore players.
If Bungie had the resources, a new one every season (or year) that is a guaranteed drop when you get your first flawless would be ideal.
If that’s too generous or not realistic, then leaving just one permanent exotic weapon that remains forever exclusive to flawless runs that drops with RNG (similar to raid exotics) would also do the trick. It would drive people crazy for sure, but it would be a major incentive to continue to work at being the best trials player you can be.
There you have it; from newbie to PvP legend without ever needing to step into PvE.
Outside of reintroducing Trials and having some exclusive content to be gained from that game mode (which has already been hinted as a thing that’s going to happen soon), none of what I suggested above would require Bungie to really do anything other than shifting rewards around and treating PvP as a mode worthy of standing on its own.
What do you think? Do you like this plan? Is it too unrealistic? What would make Crucible more incentivizing for you? Let us know in the comments below.
