Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen Starts Next Week

Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen starts next week on February 9th and will run through May 11th. The Season 13 trailer, just released by Bungie, reveals that Guardians will once again go to war with the Cabal, coming full circle from the Red War that kicked off the first action of Destiny 2.

The Season of the Chosen trailer also indicates that Season 13 will feature three new strikes, a new three-player activity called Battlegrounds, and the return of Guardian Games. It will also bring in heaps of new loot items, some of which can be seen in the trailer below.

The Story behind Season of the Chosen

Destiny 2:’s Season of the Chosen builds upon the story of Season of the Hunt. While Guardians were able to drive back the darkness of the Hive God Xivu Arath in Season 12, the Season 13 trailer shows that Xivu Arath’s influence still lingers.

Season 13 will have Guardians meet with the Empress Caiatl, daughter of Emperor Calus and leader of the Cabal. As the trailer indicates, Empress Caiatl asks Guardians to join forces with the Cabal to eradicate the Hive and take down Xivu Arath once and for all. However, this meeting quickly sours when Zavala refuses to bow down to the Cabal Empress. This triggers the new conflict between the Guardians of the Last City and the Cabal empire.

Three Strikes for Season 13

The Season of the Chosen brings on three new Vanguard strikes, which are free for all players. The first two are reintroduced Destiny originals, Devil’s Lair and Fallen S.A.B.E.R. The third is an all-new strike called Proving Grounds, which will be released later in the season. This strike will pit Guardians against the Cabal in an effort to save the Last City.

Battlegrounds: A New Activity

Bungie describes Battlegrounds as a three-player matchmaking activity in which “Guardians will engage in ritual combat against Caiatl’s chosen warriors.” It appears that Battlegrounds may take place at multiple locations in the game world. But beyond that, not much more is known about this new activity.

The Return of Guardian Games

Last year’s Guardian Games saw Titans take the victory by a landslide. In this season’s Olympic-themed seasonal event, Warlocks and Hunters will be given another chance to prove their class most worthy. Or, in the spirit of this season, to prove that they are the chosen ones.

Lots of New Loot in Season of the Chosen

Players who have been disappointed with the sunsetting of numerous Destiny 2 weapons might now rejoice in the Season of the Chosen. With 25 new and reissued weapons coming in Season 13, Guardians will have the chance to rebuild their armory once again.

One of these new weapons is an Exotic bow called Ticuu’s Divination, which “charges multiple Solar arrows that can track several targets at once.” Bungie has also teased a new quest for an Exotic weapon or armor item coming in Season 13, and adds the new Praefectus armor set to the Season Pass.