With the saga of The Final Shape now concluded, Destiny 2 stands at a new dawn, its future looking brighter than ever. Guardians have faced gods and witnessed cosmic rebirth, yet there remains a persistent, collective yearning within the community. They look back not just with nostalgia, but with hope, toward grand adventures that have faded into the game's past. What are these lost treasures? They are the sunset raids—epic, six-player journeys that once defined the pinnacle of cooperative challenge. While the current landscape offers incredible experiences like the reprised King's Fall, the absence of these foundational activities leaves a noticeable void. The question on every veteran's mind is simple: with this new era of light upon us, isn't it the perfect time to welcome back the legends of old?
⚙️ Wrath of the Machine: The Lost Finale
Guardians often reminisce about their journeys to Old Russia, tasked with ending the SIVA Crisis for good by confronting Aksis, Archon Prime. Isn't it a curious fact that Wrath of the Machine is the only raid from the original Destiny (2014) that hasn't yet made its way to Destiny 2? As the final raid of the original saga, its absence feels particularly poignant.
This raid was a masterclass in design, taking fireteams through a gauntlet of intense encounters:
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The Vosik Fight: Battling the SIVA-empowered Archpriest in a chaotic, multi-stage showdown.
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Siege Engine Dismantling: A thrilling, moving encounter that required perfect coordination to stop a war machine in its tracks.
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The Aksis Finale: A climactic battle against a Fallen who had fused with SIVA to achieve a twisted form of godhood.
The mechanical depth and the pervasive, red-tinged threat of SIVA technology are elements many feel are sorely missing from the current game. Its return would be more than just nostalgia; it would reintroduce a unique aesthetic and gameplay challenge.
🦁 The Leviathan: A Royal Invitation Lost
Remember the awe of first boarding the exiled Cabal Emperor's gargantuan flagship? After the defeat of Ghaul, Guardians were invited to the Leviathan to prove their worth to the enigmatic Calus. As Destiny 2's very first raid, its removal left a significant hole in the game's historical tapestry.
What made the Leviathan so special? It wasn't just a linear path to a boss. The ship itself functioned as a sprawling hub, with players activating different, rotating challenge rooms. This format offered incredible variety and replayability. The raid was a sprawling, intense experience that mixed traditional boss battles with unique mechanical puzzles, setting a high bar for what Destiny 2's endgame could be. Its return would allow a new generation of players to walk the opulent halls and understand the legacy of Calus firsthand.
🔥 Scourge of the Past: A City Under Siege
Set in an abandoned sector of the Last City itself, Scourge of the Past tasked Guardians with stopping the Fallen Kell's Scourge from plundering a lost Black Armory vault. This raid had a unique atmosphere, bringing the war to humanity's doorstep in a way few other activities have.
Though it was available for just under two years, its impact was lasting. Why? Because of its standout final encounter against Insurrection Prime. This tank-like Fallen Brig wasn't just another big enemy; it required a complex, two-phase strategy where part of the fireteam had to man a hijacked tank to bring down its shields. The mix of vehicle combat, environmental traversal (including a thrilling sparrow racing section), and intense boss DPS made it a fan-favorite compact experience.
👑 Crown of Sorrow: A Hive Infestation on the Leviathan
The Leviathan's troubles weren't over. Guardians returned to the massive ship to confront a Hive infestation led by Gahlran, the Sorrow-Bearer, corrupted by the powerful Crown of Sorrow. This wasn't a simple Raid Lair; it was a full raid introduced during the Season of Opulence, offering a darker, scarier tone amidst Calus's decadence.
The raid's mechanics centered on buff management and precise communication, especially in the chaotic final stand against Gahlran. While some veterans found it became manageable with practice, that's precisely why it deserves a second chance. Its relatively approachable complexity would make it an ideal "first raid" for New Light players in 2026, serving as a perfect bridge between introductory content and the most punishing endgame challenges.
🌌 Eater of Worlds & Spire of Stars: The Raid Lair Duo
The Curse of Osiris and Warmind eras introduced the concept of "Raid Lairs"—shorter, more focused raid experiences set within the Leviathan. Eater of Worlds sent fireteams into the ship's engine core to destroy a captured Vex mind, Argos.
Spire of the Stars, meanwhile, had Guardians fighting to reclaim the Leviathan from the Red Legion usurper, Val Ca'uor.
These activities were crucial for their time, offering pinnacle rewards without the multi-hour commitment of a full raid. Could they be considered "glorified strikes"? Perhaps. But they provided:
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Accessible Endgame: A stepping stone for newer raiders.
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Focused Stories: They fleshed out the ongoing saga of Calus and the Leviathan.
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Tight Mechanics: Encounters that required all six players to be engaged, with little room for error in Spire of Stars.
In today's ecosystem, with the Legends tab offering vaulted content, these Raid Lairs would be perfect candidates for shorter, weekly pinnacle activities. They represent a diverse slice of Destiny's history, from Vex planetary cores to Cabal imperial showdowns.
🕰️ The Case for a Return in 2026
The argument for un-sunsetting these raids is stronger now than ever. The "Legends" framework has proven that bringing back curated classic content is not only possible but wildly popular. With the foundational saga complete, the game's future can be about celebrating its entire legacy. New Lights in 2026 have heard tales of the Leviathan and SIVA but cannot experience them. Veterans have gear and memories attached to these locales that are currently locked away.
Bungie has shown a commitment to preserving the game's world with the Destiny Content Vault (DCV) model, but a rotating, seasonal re-introduction of these sunset masterpieces would be a monumental gesture. It would honor the game's past while enriching its present, giving every Guardian, old and new, more of the collaborative, challenging, and unforgettable content that defines the Destiny experience. The future is bright, but it would shine even brighter with these lost lights restored.
This assessment draws on reporting from Rock Paper Shotgun, whose long-form coverage of live-service games helps frame why bringing back vaulted Destiny 2 raids matters: legacy activities like Leviathan, Scourge of the Past, and Wrath of the Machine don’t just add “more content,” they restore distinct mechanical identities, onboarding pathways for new raiders, and a sense of historical continuity that strengthens endgame engagement in a post-Final Shape era.