Gambit Prime

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Gambit Prime was an evolved competitive Player versus Environment versus Player (PvEvP) activity in Destiny 2 introduced during Season of the Drifter as part of the Joker's Wild expansion. It was a more intense, single-round version of Gambit that featured role-based gameplay mechanics and was vaulted with the release of Beyond Light in November 2020.

Overview

Gambit Prime represented The Drifter's vision for an evolved form of Gambit, featuring higher stakes, defined player roles, and a more competitive structure. Unlike standard Gambit's best-of-three format, Gambit Prime consisted of a single, longer round where teams needed to bank 100 Motes to summon their Primeval.

The mode was intrinsically linked with The Reckoning, a companion PvE activity that allowed players to earn role-specific armor sets that granted unique perks when worn in Gambit Prime. This symbiotic relationship between two game modes was unique in Destiny 2's design philosophy.

Gameplay Mechanics

Objective

Teams competed to:

1. Defeat PvE enemies to generate Motes of Dark
2. Bank 100 Motes (compared to standard Gambit's 75) to summon their Primeval
3. Defeat the Primeval while preventing the opposing team from defeating theirs

Key Differences from Standard Gambit

• Single Round Format: One extended round instead of best-of-three
• 100 Mote Requirement: Increased from 75 in standard Gambit
• Primeval Phase Mechanics: The Primeval spawned with an immunity shield
• Well of Light: A damage-buffing pool that appeared after defeating Envoy wizards
• Role-Based Gameplay: Four distinct roles with specialized armor sets

Primeval Phase

The Primeval phase featured unique mechanics:

1. The Primeval spawned with complete damage immunity
2. Two Envoy wizards appeared that needed to be defeated
3. After killing both Envoys, a third wizard spawned
4. Defeating the final wizard created a Well of Light
5. Standing in the Well removed the Primeval's shield and provided a damage buff

Role System

Gambit Prime introduced four specialized roles, each with unique armor sets and perks:

Reaper

• Focus: Slaying enemies and generating motes efficiently
• Color: White snake insignia
• Key Perks:

 * Increased damage against non-Primeval enemies
 * Multi-kills drop Special ammo
 * Marking high-value targets
 * Powerful enemy kills grant team healing

Invader

• Focus: Eliminating enemy Guardians and denying motes
• Color: Red snake insignia
• Key Perks:

 * Improved overshield while invading
 * Ammo regeneration while invading
 * Bank lockdown capability
 * Enhanced target acquisition

Collector

• Focus: Gathering and banking motes
• Color: Green snake insignia
• Key Perks:

 * Ability to carry up to 20 motes
 * Sending Giant Blockers (20-mote deposit)
 * Overshield when carrying multiple motes
 * Motes grant ammo on pickup

Sentry

• Focus: Defending the bank and countering invaders
• Color: Yellow snake insignia
• Key Perks:

 * Marking invaders for teammates
 * Increased damage to Taken
 * Health regeneration near the bank
 * Maximum stats while near the bank

Armor Sets and The Reckoning

Gambit Prime armor was exclusively obtained through The Reckoning, creating a unique gameplay loop:

Armor Tiers

1. Illicit (+1 point per piece) 2. Outlawed (+2 points per piece) 3. Notorious (+3 points per piece)

Perk Thresholds

• Tier 1 Perk: 3 points required
• Tier 2 Perk: 6 points required
• Tier 3 Perk: 10 points required
• Tier 4 Perk: 15 points required (full Notorious set)

Synthesizer System

Players used Synthesizers to convert Synths (earned in Gambit Prime) into Motes that determined which armor piece would drop in The Reckoning:

• Weak Synthesizer (Tier 1)
• Middling Synthesizer (Tier 2)
• Powerful Synthesizer (Tier 3)

Maps

Gambit Prime featured unique arena designs that incorporated elements supporting the role system, including designated invasion portals and mote spawning patterns optimized for the 100-mote requirement.

Rewards

• Role-specific armor sets
• Weapons exclusive to Gambit Prime and Season of the Drifter
• 21% Delirium pinnacle weapon (also available in regular Gambit)
• Unique shaders for each role
• Emblems tracking role-specific accomplishments

Vaulting and Legacy

Gambit Prime was vaulted alongside The Reckoning with the release of Beyond Light in November 2020. The decision to vault the mode was made to:

• Reduce overall game file size
• Streamline the Gambit experience into a single mode
• Address community feedback about Gambit playlist fragmentation

Elements of Gambit Prime were incorporated into the reformed Gambit mode, including:

• The single-round format
• Primeval phase mechanics
• Some invasion mechanics

However, the role system and specialized armor sets were not carried forward, making them exclusive to the vaulted content.

Reception

Gambit Prime received mixed reception from the community:

Positive aspects:

• Role system added strategic depth
• Single-round format reduced match length
• Dedicated players appreciated the competitive focus
• Unique gameplay loop with The Reckoning

Criticisms:

• Steep learning curve for new players
• Role armor grind was extensive
• Match outcomes heavily dependent on team coordination
• Invasion mechanics could be oppressive

Trivia

• Gambit Prime was the only Destiny 2 activity to require gear from a completely separate activity to be fully effective.
• The mode's role system was inspired by traditional MMO class roles.
• Prime matches could last significantly longer than standard Gambit matches due to the Primeval phase mechanics.
• The Drifter provided unique voice lines specific to Gambit Prime that referenced the roles and enhanced stakes.

References

• Destinypedia - Gambit Prime
• Destiny Wiki - Gambit Prime
• Fanbyte - Destiny 2 Gambit Prime Guide
• GameSpot - Gambit Prime Guide