Destiny 2's Revenant episode has carved its own niche in the post-Final Shape landscape, offering players a gothic-inspired adventure that's equal parts atmospheric brilliance and content ambiguity. As we move deeper into 2025, the Revenant experience stands as a testament to Bungie's ability to craft compelling environments, even when other elements don't quite reach the same heights.

The Revenant episode thrusts players into a deliciously dark world where the Scorn leader Fikrul has somehow obtained an Echo, planning to transform living Fallen into his undead army. Taking on the badass title of "Slayer Baron" (which honestly sounds like something straight out of a heavy metal album), Guardians team up with Eido, Crow, and a cursed Mithrax to hunt down this threat. It's like being thrown into a cosmic version of Van Helsing, complete with all the monster-hunting vibes you could ask for.

Atmospheric Excellence vs. Content Reality

Where Revenant truly shines is its presentation. The episode delivers some of the most hauntingly beautiful environments seen in Destiny 2 to date. The Scorn cathedral featured in the Kell's Fall exotic mission is particularly noteworthy, with hanging cages, ominous braziers, and even a functional pipe organ that doubles as a puzzle mechanism. You can almost smell the musty, ancient air as you navigate these darkened halls.

However, the episode suffers from what seems to be becoming a pattern in Destiny 2's recent content - stellar activities with questionable rewards. As one player put it, it's "fun to play, little to farm." The content team continues to deliver engaging experiences, but the investment system doesn't provide compelling reasons to replay them beyond initial completion.

Activities: Old Formula, New Skin

Revenant follows the now-familiar three-act structure with each act introducing a different activity:

• Act I brought us Onslaught: Salvation, a Scorn-themed spin on the wave-based PvE mode

• Act II reintroduced the Prison of Elders, now renamed Tomb of Elders

• Act III delivered the Kell's Fall exotic mission with its gothic cathedral setting

The Tomb of Elders stands out as a particularly enjoyable activity, featuring unique modifiers in each encounter room. These modifiers, such as trapped ammo drops or slower healing, add just enough variety to keep things interesting through multiple runs. The higher power level version offers better rewards, providing a reasonable challenge for those seeking greater difficulty.

The Loot Question: Where's The Chase?

One of Destiny 2's most persistent issues in this post-Final Shape era continues to be the loot incentive. Revenant introduced a tonic-making system as its seasonal gimmick, similar to the research station from Episode: Echoes or deckbuilding from Season of the Witch. Unfortunately, this system fell flat - loot tonics didn't guarantee drops, and effect tonics didn't significantly alter gameplay.

The seasonal weapons, no longer craftable (a controversial change introduced with Revenant), failed to make a lasting impression. When even dedicated players struggle to name standout weapons from a season, something fundamental is missing from the reward loop.

As one veteran Guardian noted: "It's hard to remember the last time I've really been excited about a drop or been chasing something that felt specific and necessary." This sentiment echoes throughout the community - the activities are fun, but the motivation to grind them repeatedly simply isn't there.

Story Delivery: A New Approach

Revenant made the bold decision to abandon weekly story timegating, instead opening each act's story content in its entirety on day one. This change received mixed reactions, with some players feeling the story seemed shorter without the weekly pacing. The narrative itself, while serviceable, lacked the emotional impact of The Final Shape, feeling more like a collection of errands than a compelling tale.

The conclusion did deliver some significant developments - Mithrax was crowned Kell of Kells, Fikrul was finally defeated, and the Vanguard actually recovered an Echo for the first time. But the journey to these moments often felt flat, with character interactions lacking the depth and gravitas players have come to expect.

The Verdict on Revenant

As we look back on Destiny 2's Revenant episode from our vantage point in 2025, it stands as a study in contrasts. The gothic atmosphere and environmental design represent some of Bungie's finest work, creating spaces that truly feel alien and foreboding. The activities themselves, particularly Tomb of Elders, offer enjoyable gameplay loops with enough variety to entertain.

Yet the fundamental issues with reward incentives and narrative depth prevent Revenant from reaching its full potential. The episode exemplifies the strange position Destiny 2 currently occupies - a game with excellent moment-to-moment gameplay that struggles to provide compelling reasons to engage with that gameplay repeatedly.

For players who value atmosphere and aesthetic above all, Revenant delivers in spades. For those seeking meaningful progression and exciting loot chases, the episode may leave them wanting more. As Bungie continues to navigate the post-Final Shape era, finding the right balance between these elements remains their greatest challenge.

Whether you're a dedicated Guardian or a returning player, Destiny 2's Revenant episode is worth experiencing for its gothic splendor alone - just don't expect to be hunting its loot for months to come.