Destiny 2’s next dungeon gets a raid race and guaranteed Exotic for contest mode

Destiny 2 players may get some popcorn ready ahead of Oct. 11 if they’re planning to watch the new show. The game’s next dungeon, called Vesper’s Host, is getting a race to world’s first—and a new Exotic if you can clear it within 48 hours.

Raid races have been an essential part of seasons and expansions in Destiny 2. In a blog post today, Bungie confirmed the upcoming Vesper’s Host dungeon is getting the same treatment, including unique rewards and a 48-hour-long contest mode. Players who complete the dungeon within the first 48 hours can also get a guaranteed drop of the dungeon’s Exotic weapon, which is likely the popular Ice Breaker from the first Destiny. The studio teased the weapon in a blog post for the franchise’s 10th anniversary earlier this month, and players can start to chase it after next month.

This is the first time a dungeon gets a full-on raid race with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with the event. However, there will be minor changes for the race, including a top-three finish rather than a squad of six getting the trophy.

Another new addition is that, despite contest mode running for the first 48 hours, players can try the normal version once the raid race is over. This is a positive change, considering this extra difficulty was previously the only available option for 48 hours after a raid’s release. This has long been a point of contention among players, though Bungie may have finally found a somewhat satisfactory middle ground.

The new dungeon race might be a way to appeal to some of Destiny 2‘s finest moments while the game is in dire straits with a bleak future. The next year of Destiny will only have one raid and one dungeon, Bungie confirmed yesterday, so the race might be an attempt to artificially instill some of the excitement from this old practice into a new release.

Players can dive into Vesper’s Host, the new dungeon, on Oct. 11 with contest mode enabled, while everyone can try the activity at any difficulty after the raid race ends. The dungeon requires The Final Shape‘s dungeon key, which is sold separately. If you’re not partaking in Vesper’s Host, the game’s second episode, Revenant, kicks off on Oct. 8.