Destiny 2features many different modes of play, most being player-versus-environment. However, one mode is dedicated to player-versus-player action: the Crucible.Destiny 2’sCrucible is home to a number of maps for players to battle on, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and popularity among fans. One of the most divisive active maps within Crucible is Exodus Blue.
Since its launch in late 2017,Destiny 2has adhered to a seasonal content schedule releasing new modes, maps, story, and gear. Exodus Blue was a Crucible map added in Season 10, but it was a returning map that served as a pre-order bonus for the originalDestiny.After Exodus Blue was reintroduced forDestiny 2’sCrucible Map lineup, members of the community either praised the map’s asymmetrical lanes or found issue with its tiny, cramped size, and both arguments could hold water.
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What Makes Exodus Blue So Divisive in Destiny 2
Exodus Blue is a medium-sized map, but it often feels smaller because it is split into three different lanes with just a handful of alternate routes connecting them. These routes are much smaller than the lanes themselves, and considering only one lane has reasonably long sight lines, players who don’t preferDestiny 2’sclose-quarters engagementsmay find sniping more difficult.
There are few connections between lane A (south) and B (mid), with lane C (north) only having one entry point into B by way of a small hole in a very open, dangerous stretch of land. More maps like Exodus Bluecould be beneficial toDestiny 2, but preferably with some tweaks to the asymmetrical design, as it currently leaves most players divided.
Exodus Blue’s Three Lanes Mean Three Times The Action
Out of Exodus Blue’s three asymmetrical lanes, lane A is the side with theheavy ammo spawn, leaving it heavily contested. Lane A has very little in the way of long-range sight lines, making it more difficult to engage at-range. Instead, stairs introduce verticality, funneling Guardians into a small underground passage that winds around to both sides of lane B. That middle lane is the most cramped and challenging to hold, creating points of constant action. Meanwhile, the third lane is the most open, with one of the easiest-to-hold control points deep in the area with the longest sight lines.
Individual play styles that embrace small spaces are the key to enjoying such maps. Players who want fast-moving Guardians with an agile subclass, maxed out mobility, and a shotgun will get the most out of Exodus Blue. With how small and interwoven the map feels, those kinds of players will very likely excel while others are funneled and focused into their preferred lanes. EvenDestiny 2’s mid-range fusion riflescan be considered more viable on a map like Exodus Blue, which is great for fans of that style.
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Exodus Blue Doesn’t Make Long Range Easy for Defensive Guardians
There’s nothing inherently wrong with map elements that focus on tight spaces; some players greatly enjoy fast, intense action, andDestiny 2doesn’t have a lot of maps like Exodus Blue in the Crucible. However, players who pefer medium to longer-range firefights won’t enjoy them nearly as much. ForDestinyfans who seek defensive buildsand an objective-seeking style, smaller maps are a problem. Loadouts that focus on scout rifles, sniper rifles, and bows won’t have the same opportunities that shotgun players have at excelling in mid-match firefights. Another issue stems from Exodus Blue itself, where lane B can be a particular mess due to how tiny it is, leading to area-of-effect attack spam.
Exodus Blue forces players to engage within its lanes, so if they haven’t been practicingDestiny 2’s PvP shotgun meta, they’re apt for a rude awakening. Small maps like Exodus Blue put a strong emphasis on offensive abilities, making more passive abilities and defensive exotics less viable. The same can be said for Crucible modes like Mayhem and Rumble, where the emphasis on indiscriminate carnage plays into the strengths of aggression in tight corridors. While it does come down to player interest, hopefully Bungie focuses its future map designs on less niche offerings so there aren’t as many people left behind.
Destiny 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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