Destiny 2 Nightfall This Week: New Weapon, Strike Rotation & Difficulty Modifiers

Destiny 2's Nightfalls are some of the game's toughest content and are easily the high point of the game's weekly reset. If you're looking to crank up your power level during Season of the Defiance , then you've come to the right place.

Expect it to be a great way to get powerful gear too, as Adept weapons are available. Here's a rundown of this week's Nightfall, all the modifiers, and an explanation of just what it is.

• Read More: Destiny 2 - How to get Divinity (2023)

What Are Nightfall Strikes In Destiny 2?

Nightfall Strikes, also known as "Nightfall: The Ordeal" are high-level PvE activities. Pitting three Guardians against a harder variant of the game's Strike levels, they'll use modifiers to increase the challenge.

There are five difficulties, each with increased modifiers but a score multiplier, too. So the tougher the difficulty, the more points you earn for kills – and if you hit a score of 200,000 points, you'll earn an additional Pinnacle reward.

Previously, the score had to be 100k but in a single run, now, the score accumulates between different runs, giving Pinnacle Gear access to more players.

Still, that's easier said than done, though – after fifteen minutes, players will start earning fewer points (50% less), and after 18 minutes, you'll start dropping points.

Destiny 2 Nightfall - The Glassway

Below you'll find a list of the active modifiers this week.

Nightfall: The Ordeal: Hero

• Hero Modifiers: Extra Shields Maximum Effective Level 1765
• Champion Foes: You will face [Shield-Piercing] Barrier and [Stagger] Unstoppable Champions. Visit the Character or Mod Customization screen to view your active anti-Champion perks.
• Champion Foes: You will face [Shield-Piercing] Barrier and [Stagger] Unstoppable Champions.
• Solar Threat: 25% increase to incoming Solar damage.
• Empath: Enhanced radar. Take increased damage from melee.
• Overcharged Weapons: Weapon overcharges from the Seasonal Artifact are active in this activity. Kinetic weapons do increased damage when your subclass element matches an active surge.
• Solar Surge: 25% bonus to outgoing Solar damage.
• Strand Surge: 25% bonus to outgoing Strand damage.
• Overcharged Sniper Rifle: 25% bonus to Sniper Rifle damage.
• Galvanized: Combatants have more health and are more difficult to stun.

Nightfall: The Ordeal: Legend

• All previous modifiers
• Legend Modifiers: Locked Loadout Extra Shields Maximum Effective Level 1815
• Equipment Locked: You will not be able to change your equipment after this activity starts.

Nightfall: The Ordeal: Master

• All previous modifiers
• Master Modifiers: Extra Champions Locked Loadout Extra Shields Maximum Effective Level 1820
• Famine: All ammunition drops are significantly reduced.

Nightfall: The Ordeal: Grandmaster

• All previous modifiers
• Grandmaster Modifiers: Extinguish Limited Revives Contest Join In Progress Disabled Extra Champions Locked Loadout Extra Shields Maximum Effective Level 1815
• Grandmaster Modifiers: Extinguish Limited Revives Contest Join In Progress Disabled Extra Champions Locked Loadout Extra Shields Maximum Effective Level 1815
• Extinguish: If your fireteam falls in a Restricted Zone, everyone is returned to orbit.
• Limited Revives: Limited fireteam revives. Gain additional revives by defeating Champions.
• Scorched Earth: Enemies throw grenades significantly more often.
• Chaff: Radar is disabled.

Nightfall Rewards This Week

Credit: Bungie

• Powerful (Tier 1) reward: Get 3 points by completing runs. Higher difficulties grant more points.
• Pinnacle reward: Get a score of 200k. Doesn't have to be in a single run anymore as the points accumulate.

What is the Nightfall Weapon this week in Destiny 2?

Each week Bungie makes a weapon available from as possible drops from the Nightfall. The harder difficulty you choose, the more likely the weapon may drop.

For the week of May 16, The Swarm Machine Gun will be the weapon up for grabs both in its normal and Adept versions.

There are six Nightfall weapons in the rotator:

• Buzzard Sidearm
• The Swarm Machine Gun
• Wendigo GL3 Grenade Launcher
• Hung Jury SR4 Scout Rifle
• The Militia's Birthright Grenade Launcher
• Mindbender's Ambition Shotgun

A few more available for Engram decryption, however, you won't be able to get Adept versions of them. Finally, if you complete GM Nightfalls, you might earn Adept ciphers that will allow you to earn Adept weapons.

So that's it! For more Destiny 2 content, why not check out the ability changes coming with Season 21.