Destiny 2: Does New Land Beyond Live Up To The Hype?

On Tuesday, we unveiled the latest Destiny expansion – “The Edge of Fate“. As anticipated, pre-orders followed promptly, and as usual with the Ultimate package, there was a bonus for an exotic weapon. Interestingly, this weapon wasn’t entirely new; it was a familiar face from the early days of Destiny, given a fresh makeover.

In a fresh version of the renowned Destiny weapon, No Land Beyond Once More, which is a kinetic Sniping rifle, certainly delivers a powerful blow, if not understated. However, the question remains: is this gun genuinely valuable, considering it’s concealed within a $100 pre-order package? To help answer that question, I decided to invest my own funds and give it a try. Here are my findings.

In this write-up, we’ll explore the question of whether it’s worth investing in New Land Beyond. Although spending $100 on a game expansion solely for one weapon may seem hard to justify initially, if you’re undecided and curious about whether New Land Beyond delivers on its promise, this article should provide you with the answers you seek.

Overview

Element: Kinetic

Ammo: Special

Magazine: 8

Reserves: 45

Rate of Fire: 72RPM

Perks:

The Master: Scoring precision hits increases this weapon’s damage until the wielder’s defeat. Massively increases ammo reserves.
Snapshot Sights: Faster time to aim down sights.

A Catalyst will arrive along with the Edge of Fate Expansion, but specifics about it are currently unknown.

PvE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PvP Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The New Land Beyond packs quite a punch, in essence. It delivers forcefully, similar to a large vehicle, firing it is an exhilarating experience, and the process of loading its bolt is smoothly animated, creating a sense of power that’s genuinely noticeable every time you pull the trigger.

As a gamer, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying wielding this weapon in both Player versus Environment (PvE) and Player versus Player (PvP) scenarios. The sheer fun of pulling the trigger is unmatched, and the damage bonus from Precision shots feels incredibly valuable, particularly in PvE, where it makes a significant difference.

How to obtain New Land Beyond?

At present, “New Land Beyond” can be secured solely through purchasing the “Year of Prophecy Ultimate Edition,” priced at 100 USD. This purchase will additionally grant you:

The Edge of Fate Campaign + Raid
Renegades Campaign + Dungeon
Active Reward Pass All Year
3 x Reward Passes
Dark Side Legends Bundle
Astral Cartography Exotic Emote
Exotic Sparrow
Anisotropic Shell Ghost and External Sights Emblem (if preordered before July 15th)

PvE

In terms of everyday use, this firearm seems excessively impractical. At the moment, the cost of bullets is incredibly high and likely to shift in the future; however, having 52 shots available in a single round during a chase is more than sufficient for most situations, particularly given that bricks can replenish your ammunition.

It’s absurd that the permanent damage increase persists until death, as this significantly enhances your damage output even in Grand Master situations, provided you have survivability. Moreover, its ability to deal over 300 damage in a single shot sets it apart from other sniper rifles, making it an extremely powerful choice for champion and major eliminations.

In simpler terms, the boost in damage significantly decreases when transitioning from Master to Grandmaster buff. However, the ability to gather additional, free damage by landing precise shots remains beneficial, even after this reduction. This extra damage can stack up to a maximum of 100. There are numerous instances on Reddit showcasing this weapon delivering over 300k damage per shot, and these high damages are often achieved effortlessly throughout various activities.

Absolutely, but keep in mind that consistent accuracy against enemies is crucial and it’s not an easy feat due to its powerful punch coming with significant flinch and recoil. This means you’re vulnerable for a short period after firing a shot. Moreover, reloading also requires some time. However, if your aim is exceptional, this weapon excels in PvE scenarios, becoming even more potent.

DPS

I tried using a single Well of Radiance against The Witness, resulting in a damage figure of 2,129,331 with no additional boosts or enhancements. In contrast, Queenbreaker yielded 3,563,385 during my tests under the same conditions, and Cloudstrike managed 1,852,601.

Given my lack of expertise in damage testing and the challenging nature of this gun, I have doubts about the precision of these numbers. However, what I can affirm is that it left an impression on me by surpassing the 2 million mark, and to be less than 1.5 million short of Queenbreaker’s damage (a more straightforward option and a heavy ammo weapon) is quite remarkable.

As a fan, I’ve given it a spin alongside Aberrant Action and Hezen’s Vengeance, and let me tell you, it felt quite clumsy. It slowed down the whole sequence significantly and reduced the number of rockets I could unleash. Frankly, I don’t think this combo is effective in rotations at all, especially when compared to a well-timed Hezen’s Vengeance for maximum DPS output at present.

This strategy might not significantly impact the overall DPS meta due to its awkward handling and poor performance in rotations. However, when coupled with Scintillation or any other heavy DPS legendary, it serves as an effective secondary DPS choice if additional damage is required (and is already equipped for general clear). It also delivers the necessary damage to justify its use.

Is it worth it for PvE?

So, what are the benefits of New Land Beyond?

Great ammo economy: This thing has insane reserves.
Lots of easy damage: Even in DPS scenarios, it can perform decently well, with a very easy way to stack damage.
Feels fun to use: The gun just generally feels quite unique and fun to use, in my opinion.

Among the options available, you won’t have to pre-order an entire expansion pack to get weapons such as Rocket Sidearms, Fusion Rifles, and additional types of Sniper Rifles.

As a gamer, if you’re considering preordering but unsure about the gun’s fun or quality factors, let me assure you – this gun is one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever wielded! While I haven’t quite figured out my battlefield yet, I can confidently say that it has the potential to stand out in numerous situations.

This gun isn’t the most user-friendly one, as mastering it for precise shots requires a significant learning curve, much like trying to control an untamed animal. However, if you find its appearance appealing and are up for the challenge, I strongly suggest giving it a try.

PvP

Among the sniper rifles in PvP, the New Land Beyond is likely my preferred choice, despite being somewhat tricky to handle compared to others like Cloudstrike. However, its immense power and fulfillment in using it make it worth the effort.

Initially, this item is placed in the Kinetic slot, allowing for its combination with an Energy SMG or Hand Cannon. Earlier, finding a suitable Exotic Sniper for PvP was challenging because the top-tier one, Cloudstrike, also belonged to the Energy class.

As a player, let me tell you, this weapon is a game-changer! It’s a one-shot kill from nearly any distance I’ve encountered, so if you’re good at landing headshots, it gives you an incredible advantage in the Crucible. You’ll be able to turn the tide of battles quickly!

I’d say it’s similar to Cloudstrike, but New Land Beyond seems more effective and versatile in various situations. The multi-kill feature on Cloudstrike is excellent, but it falters when it comes to double-shotting. However, New Land Beyond performs exceptionally well in these scenarios. A single body shot can completely deplete an enemy’s shield and deal additional damage, allowing you to quickly shoot, seek cover for reloading, and let your teammates finish off the opponent if you didn’t get the kill.

It’s clear that there’s a significant trade-off: after firing, reloading this weapon could put you in grave danger, so you’ll need to swiftly switch to another one to avoid becoming an easy target. Moreover, it tends to be rather cumbersome to handle, and aiming isn’t nearly as straightforward as with Cloudstrike.

Competitive and Trials

Typically, in both competitive scenarios and the absence of Trials of Osiris since its launch, this weapon is likely to be highly sought after. Its usage seems reminiscent of the AWP in Counter-Strike, making it ideal for controlling strategic positions such as lanes and sightlines.

Typically, I find that this weapon is more about tactical shooting compared to Cloudstrike’s swift sniping abilities. However, do bear in mind that it comes with a certain level of risk when using it, especially in competitive PvP scenarios. To mitigate potential issues, I often equip it alongside Exalted Truth, allowing me to deal damage through body shots and then swiftly finish off the target.

I’m really looking forward to trying out this weapon in Trials, as I believe it showcases a lot of player skills and has the potential to be a regular feature in the Crucible over time.

Is it worth it for PvP?

In essence, I appreciate the gun I have, but I believe Cloudstrike is sufficient. There’s no need for excessive concern about missing out on New Land Beyond due to not having it.

If you’re considering pre-ordering and wondering if New Land Beyond is worth it as a pre-order bonus for PvP, I can confirm that it is, assuming you’re willing to put in the effort to master the gun that comes with it. It’s not a weapon you can simply use without understanding its mechanics, so learning how it functions will be crucial.

Closing Time

The game “New Land Beyond” offers an enjoyable shooting experience. Whether purchasing it in advance is beneficial depends on your interest in the upcoming expansion. If you’re already planning to pre-order, then this additional item could be appealing. However, I don’t consider it indispensable, and it’s important not to let the excitement of a pre-order bonus drive your decision, as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can sometimes cloud rational thinking.

Of course, here’s my take: I can’t help but be impressed by this gun! If you share my enthusiasm, let me know. But if it doesn’t quite resonate with you, don’t worry – we’ve got plenty more to explore in our latest coverage on The Year of Prophecy and Rite of the Nine. Stay tuned for all the latest updates!

Thank you so much for your time, and I’ll see you in the land beyond.

2025-05-08 08:08