MASSIVE thank you to the Raid & Dungeon team for creating some of the most memorable, creative, and fun endgame content the gaming world has ever seen
Pretty much the title. Whether you love them, hate them, or never really touched them, it’s impossible to ignore the impact raids have had on this game. Other games have tried similar approaches, but nobody does the raid/dungeon formula quite like Bungie’s R&D team.
I have over 1300 raid and dungeon clears combined, have participated in every day 1 raid and dungeon race since garden of salvation, and trio'd/duo'd every raid when it was possible to do so. Everything from the environment, lore, mechanics, teamwork, music (oh my god we got some BANGERS) in-game, to the hype, the buildup, the WF race, everything else outside the game. The raid experience truly is Destiny at its absolute greatest.
I remember watching Datto clear crown of sorrow on day 1 and thinking "wow, I really want to try that next time", getting my squad together for garden of salvation's launch, and getting absolutely destroyed for 16 hours straight. Though we didn't complete it, that awoke a determination in me I never knew I had.
One year later, we tried again in deep stone crypt and cleared in 23 hours and 23 minutes. Seeing "mission complete" pop up after we killed taniks, screen fully white from just barely killing him as he was wiping us in final stand, truly was and forever will be one of the most euphoric gaming experiences I have ever had.
I have SO many stories and have made SO many amazing memories from every day 1 experience and I cherish every single one. I met some of my closest friends through LFG, and made some of my most cherished gaming memories that will I will never forget. I could yap about raiding in this game until the sun goes down.
If you've never done a raid before for whatever reason, LFG anxiety, lack of confidence, or just don't have a set team, whatever it may be, now is the absolute best time to hop in there and give one a try. Trust me when I say, you're in for a treat.
So to any members of the R&D team that may be reading this:
Thank you for creating a space where friends can come together to face a great challenge, and so many memories can be made.
Thank you for innovating the endgame experience in such a wonderfully unique and special way.
Thank you for creating a platform where the best players in the world can showcase their talent in WF races for hundreds of thousands of players to watch.
From us, the players, we thank you for all your work on this beautiful game we have called our home for so many years and cannot wait to see what you do next. We will never forget it.
Thank you.