Destiny 2 Update 1.15 (1.1.3) Adds Nightfall Scoring - Patch Notes

Destiny 2 update 1.1.3, or 1.15 on PS4, is finally here. As promised in Bungie's most recent roadmap, the patch adds a Nightfall scoring system with challenge cards that act as point multipliers. While not every problem on fans' wishlists can be addressed in 6GB of data, here's everything the latest round of fixes includes.

NIGHTFALL STRIKE SCORING

Both normal and Prestige Nightfall now have scoring

• Enemy kills and orb generation will accrue points
• Highest set scores will display on each Nightfall's respective emblem
• Scores above a target value will enable the Nightfall Aura and a fireteam Vanguard Token bonus
• Total team score will be displayed at the end of the Nightfall in the PGCR

NIGHTFALL PRESTIGE CHALLENGE CARDS

The Prestige Nightfall challenge card allows players to select modifiers for the Prestige Nightfall that affect gameplay and score multipliers

• Players can select active Elemental modifiers to boost outgoing and incoming damage
• Players can opt into using a power handicap that will lower their character power level in the Prestige Nightfall but raise the score multiplier
• Extinguish is always on when applying the Nightfall Challenge Card. If the full fireteam wipes in a respawning restricted area, the fireteam will be returned to orbit
• Cards cannot be modified once the activity has been launched
• These cards will drop for DLC owners in the normal or Prestige Nightfall
• The fireteam leader's card is applied to the entire fireteam when launching the Prestige Nightfall

EMBLEM VARIANTS

Crucible Emblems

• Victorious Veteran tracks your lifetime Crucible kills and how many of each class you've defeated
• Victorious Veteran has six variants: the first three variants are class specific, the last three are unlocked after defeating 1,000 of that class in PVP
• This emblem can be purchased from Shaxx after opening 10 faction packages

Destination Emblems

• Lost Sector Emblems have been changed into Destination Emblems that track Lost Sectors Found, Region Chests Opened and Ghost Scans Discovered
• Each Destination Emblem has four variants in addition to the default emblem
• Each variant has a chance to drop from chests in the destination
• For players who did not have the respective Lost Sector emblems, they may purchase the new destination emblems from the respective vendors after opening 10 faction packages

Nightfall Emblems

• New Nightfall Emblems exist for each individual Nightfall strike and track your high score in that strike
• Each Nightfall Emblem has three variants in addition to the default emblem, these variants have a chance to drop when you hit a certain score tier and complete the Nightfall

AURAS

• Raid Emblem "Glory To The Emperor" tracks total Leviathan clears on Prestige difficulty and unlocks the orange Prestige Raid Aura if you've completed a Prestige difficulty raid activity in the last 14 days
• Trials Emblem "You Are Worthy" tracks number of flawless tickets and unlocks the blue Trials Aura if you've gone flawless in the last 14 days
• Nightfall Emblems awarded from completing each Nightfall strike track your high score in the respective Nightfall and unlock an aura if your high score in that strike is higher than a global target score

GENERAL

• Opt-in Text Chat for PC is now available in Social Spaces and Public Areas
• Fireteam members now appear on Destination Map
• Damage Reduction granted by Armor Masterworks while a Super ability is active has been increased from three percent to five percent per armor piece
• Fixed an issue where Ammo Masterworks could decrease the maximum ammo capacity of a weapon
• Fixed an issue where some players would have irretrievable items within the Postmaster
• The Eater of Worlds Raid Lair will now grant Faction Tokens during Faction Rallies events
• The Seeker of Brilliance and Seeker of Opulence perks on the Contender Ghost Shell may now trigger during the Crossing encounter of the Eater of Worlds Raid Lair
• Fixed an issue in Trials of the Nine where players could receive erroneous losses if the opposing team left before match start
• Fixed an issue where players could encounter BAT errors when joining a Mercury Adventure
• Fixed an issue where players were placed facing the wrong direction after dunking an item during public events
• Fixed an issue where the Phoenix Dive Warlock Ability could be used to get out of the intended playspace
• Helm of Saint-14 no longer affects allies when guarding with the Sentinel Shield Super
• The Insurmountable Skullfort Titan Exotic now properly has three stat points
• Projectiles from the Colony Exotic Grenade Launcher properly track enemies on PC when frame rate is set higher than 30 FPS

In much fewer words, the advantages to Destiny 2 update 1.1.3 are twofold. Now that a scoring system is in place for the game's most challenging raids, players will be more encouraged to attack enemies instead of cheesing the system by hanging back for as long as possible. The challenge cards essentially push strike teams to be more aggressive, which means greater loot rewards if the job actually gets done.

On the cosmetic end of the spectrum, Auras are essentially being folded into the new Emblem system. These variants are more than just custom icons now, because they'll also track your greatest achievements in Crucible, Nightfall and collectible completion. Auras aren't going away completely, though. They're saved for accomplishing the highest-level raid milestones.

This isn't the deepest update in the pipeline, but it certainly adds greater purpose and reward compared to past Nightfall frustrations. Oh, and if you were hoping for a solution to that annoying shader selection menu bug, a fix will supposedly be in place for update 1.1.4

Destiny 2 is available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC. The 1.1.3 update should be live across all platforms.

What do you think of Destiny 2 version 1.15? Are you happy with the Nightfall scoring system and challenge cards? Tell us in the comments section!