Randy Chandler
The Scourge of the Past is a challenging raid encounter in Destiny 2 that requires precise coordination and execution, but players have discovered a strategy known as the cheese to bypass some of its mechanics. This method involves exploiting specific areas of the environment to avoid certain phases of the fight, making it easier for less experienced fireteams to complete the raid. While controversial due to its deviation from the intended design, the cheese strategy has become popular for its efficiency and accessibility. To execute it successfully, players must understand the raid’s layout, timing, and positioning, ensuring they stay within the designated safe zones to skip the more difficult portions of the encounter. This approach is particularly useful for those looking to farm loot or complete the raid quickly, though it requires careful communication and practice to master.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Raid Name | Scourge of the Past |
| Cheese Strategy | A method to bypass mechanics and quickly defeat the final boss, Insurrection Prime |
| Required Players | 6 (full fireteam recommended) |
| Recommended Loadout | High single-target damage weapons (sniper rifles, linear fusion rifles, rockets) |
| Key Mechanics Bypassed | - Platform activation - Orb collection - Boss damage phases |
| Execution Steps | 1. Initial Setup: Position two players on the left and right platforms near the boss arena. 2. Damage Phase: All players focus fire on Insurrection Prime's crit spot (chest) from a safe distance. 3. Platform Skip: The two players on the platforms jump off and immediately use their supers to deal massive damage to the boss. 4. Repeat: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the boss is defeated. |
| Benefits | - Significantly faster completion time - Reduced risk of wipes due to bypassed mechanics |
| Drawbacks | - Requires precise coordination and timing - Less engaging gameplay experience |
| Patch Status | As of October 2023, this strategy is still viable in Destiny 2. |
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What You'll Learn
Optimal Loadout Setup
In the Scourge of the Past raid, your loadout is the backbone of your strategy, especially when attempting the cheese method. The goal is to maximize damage output while minimizing risk, ensuring you can exploit the mechanics efficiently. Here’s how to craft the optimal loadout setup for this specific approach.
Weapon Selection: Precision and Power
For the cheese strategy, your primary focus should be on weapons that deal high single-target damage to quickly eliminate the Siege Engine and Insurrection Prime. Kinetic slot options like *Izhanami* (sniper rifle) or *Heritage* (shotgun) are ideal for precision shots. In the energy slot, *Tarrabah* (exotic SMG) or *The Fourth Horseman* (shotgun) excel due to their sustained DPS. For the heavy slot, *Anarchy* (grenade launcher) paired with *Eyes of Tomorrow* (rocket launcher) creates a devastating combo, melting bosses in seconds. Ensure your weapons are masterworked for maximum efficiency.
Armor Mods: Synergy and Survival
Your armor setup should prioritize mods that enhance damage output and survivability. Equip *Taking Charge* and *Charge Harvester* for grenade energy regeneration, allowing frequent use of high-damage abilities. *Global Reach* and *Impact Induction* boost melee damage, useful for quick add clears. For survivability, *Concussive Dampener* reduces incoming damage during critical phases. Don’t forget *Scavenger mods* for ammo efficiency, especially for heavy weapons. Tailor your mods to your subclass for maximum synergy.
Subclass Choice: Abilities and Supers
The cheese method thrives on burst damage, so choose subclasses with high-impact supers. For Warlocks, *Well of Radiance* paired with *Phoenix Protocol* gloves provides sustained damage buffs. Titans should opt for *Thundercrash* with *Code of the Missile* for massive single-target damage. Hunters excel with *Blade Barrage* or *Celestial Nighthawk* for precision strikes. Pair your subclass with exotic armor like *Phoenix Protocol*, *One-Eyed Mask*, or *Orpheus Rig* to amplify your abilities.
Practical Tips: Execution and Coordination
Coordinate with your fireteam to synchronize damage phases. Assign roles for weapon swaps and ability usage to avoid downtime. Practice precision shots on the Siege Engine’s weak points to expedite the encounter. During the Insurrection Prime fight, focus on destroying the Taken Blights quickly to maintain the cheese window. Communicate ammo reserves and super availability to ensure a seamless run.
By meticulously crafting your loadout around these principles, you’ll maximize your efficiency in the Scourge of the Past cheese method. Every weapon, mod, and ability choice should align with the goal of rapid, coordinated damage. Master this setup, and you’ll turn a challenging raid into a streamlined victory.
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Team Composition Tips
In the Scourge of the Past raid, team composition is pivotal for executing the "cheese" strategy effectively. This method relies on precise timing, role specialization, and coordination, making every class and subclass choice critical. A well-balanced team typically includes at least one Void Hunter with the "Spectral Blades" Super for crowd control, a Well of Radiance Warlock for sustained healing and damage buffs, and a Titan with either Banner Shield or Bubble for additional defensive and offensive support. These roles synergize to create a stable environment for the cheese, allowing the team to bypass traditional mechanics and focus on damage output.
While the core roles are essential, flexibility in subclass selection can enhance the team’s adaptability. For instance, a Voidlock’s ability to generate orbs of power through Nova Bomb complements the Well of Radiance, ensuring consistent Super energy for the team. Similarly, a Sentinel Titan’s ability to suppress enemies during the cheese phase can mitigate unexpected adds. However, avoid overloading on defensive subclasses, as this may slow down the damage phase. Striking a balance between offense and defense ensures the team can both survive and capitalize on the cheese window efficiently.
Communication is the linchpin of successful team composition in this strategy. Assigning clear roles before the encounter—such as who will handle adds, who will focus on damage, and who will provide cover—prevents chaos during execution. Use callouts for key moments, like when the cheese window opens or when enemies spawn unexpectedly. Teams that practice this coordination in lower-stakes environments, such as the raid’s earlier encounters, tend to perform better when it matters most.
Finally, consider the team’s experience level and adjust the composition accordingly. Less experienced players may struggle with precise timing or add management, so pairing them with seasoned raiders can provide guidance and stability. For example, a veteran Hunter can focus on crowd control while a newer player handles damage from a safe position. This mentorship approach not only improves the chances of success but also fosters a collaborative learning environment, making future attempts smoother and more efficient.
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Phase 1 Skip Strategy
The Phase 1 Skip Strategy in Scourge of the Past is a high-risk, high-reward technique that bypasses the initial wave of enemies and boss mechanics, shaving minutes off your run. This method requires precise timing, coordination, and a deep understanding of the encounter’s mechanics. Executed correctly, it allows your team to engage Insurrection Prime earlier, reducing the overall complexity of the fight. However, one mistake can lead to a wipe, making it a strategy best reserved for experienced fireteams.
To execute the skip, assign roles clearly: one player will act as the "jumper," while the rest provide support. The jumper must sprint toward the left side of the map, hugging the wall to avoid early detection by the Psion sniper. At the same time, the team’s Titan should place a barricade near the jumper’s path to block the sniper’s line of sight. A Warlock with Rift or a Hunter with Healing Dodge should accompany the jumper to provide immediate recovery in case of damage. Timing is critical—the jumper must reach the designated spot within 10 seconds of the encounter starting to avoid triggering additional enemies.
A common mistake in this strategy is overcommitting to the skip without accounting for random enemy spawns. For instance, a single Thrall or Vandal can aggro and follow the jumper, alerting the boss prematurely. To mitigate this, have a designated add clearer (preferably a Void Hunter with Vanishing Step) follow the jumper at a distance, ready to eliminate any stragglers. Communication is key; the jumper should call out their progress and any threats encountered. If the skip fails, the team must immediately fall back to the standard strategy to avoid a chaotic wipe.
While the Phase 1 Skip is efficient, it’s not suitable for every fireteam. Newer players or those unfamiliar with the encounter’s timing will struggle to execute it consistently. Additionally, the strategy becomes riskier in higher-difficulty versions of the raid, where enemies deal more damage and have increased health. For teams aiming for speedruns or flawless completions, however, mastering this skip is essential. Practice in a controlled environment, such as a private lobby, to refine timing and coordination before attempting it in a live raid.
In conclusion, the Phase 1 Skip Strategy is a powerful tool for optimizing Scourge of the Past runs, but it demands precision and teamwork. By assigning clear roles, anticipating common pitfalls, and practicing diligently, fireteams can consistently execute the skip and significantly reduce their completion time. Remember: the goal isn’t just to skip Phase 1—it’s to do so without compromising the team’s overall performance.
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Boss Damage Rotation
In the Scourge of the Past raid, boss damage rotation is a critical component of the cheese strategy, allowing teams to bypass mechanics and focus solely on dealing damage. The key to success lies in understanding the damage phases and coordinating abilities to maximize output. During the Insurrection Prime encounter, the boss becomes vulnerable after each set of mechanics, providing a narrow window for damage. Teams typically use this opportunity to unleash their highest-damage supers, such as Blade Barrage from Hunters or Nova Bomb from Warlocks, ensuring they are fully charged and ready for each phase.
Analyzing the rotation reveals that timing is as crucial as the abilities themselves. For instance, Tether from Nightstalker Hunters should be used at the start of the damage phase to amplify the team’s damage for 20 seconds. This should coincide with the activation of damage-boosting abilities like Melting Point or Bubble Titan’s Blessing of Light, which provide a 30% damage increase for 10 seconds. Coordinating these abilities ensures the team capitalizes on every second of the boss’s vulnerability, shaving minutes off the encounter.
A persuasive argument for optimizing rotation is the efficiency it brings to the cheese strategy. By assigning specific roles—such as one player focusing on Tether, another on Melting Point, and others on high-damage supers—teams minimize downtime and maximize damage per phase. This structured approach not only speeds up the encounter but also reduces the risk of wiping due to misaligned abilities. For example, a well-executed rotation can reduce Insurrection Prime’s health by 30% in a single damage phase, compared to 20% with uncoordinated efforts.
Comparing this rotation to traditional raid strategies highlights its unique advantages. In a standard run, teams must balance damage with managing mechanics like the Siege Engine or Taken Orbs. However, the cheese method allows players to ignore these entirely, focusing solely on damage. This shift in priorities requires a different mindset, emphasizing precision and coordination over adaptability. Teams must practice their rotation until it becomes second nature, ensuring every ability is used at the optimal moment.
In conclusion, mastering boss damage rotation in the Scourge of the Past cheese is about synergy and timing. By aligning high-damage supers with buffs like Tether and Melting Point, teams can exploit the boss’s vulnerabilities efficiently. This approach not only speeds up the encounter but also simplifies it, making it accessible to less experienced raiders. With practice, any team can execute this rotation flawlessly, turning a complex raid into a streamlined damage race.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common pitfalls in the Scourge of the Past cheese strategy is neglecting the timing of the jumping puzzle. Players often rush through the initial platforming section, only to find themselves stuck or falling to their death due to misaligned jumps. The key here is precision and patience. Each jump requires careful observation of the moving platforms and an understanding of their rhythm. For instance, the first set of spinning blades demands a well-timed leap, ideally when the blades are at their lowest point, providing a safer passage. A single mistimed jump can lead to a frustrating restart, so it's crucial to master this sequence before attempting the cheese strategy.
Another frequent error is the improper use of the tractor beam during the encounter with the Insurrection Prime. Players might assume that the cheese method involves a straightforward approach, but it's a delicate process. The tractor beam must be activated at the precise moment when the boss is in the correct position, typically after its first stomp attack. Activating it too early or too late can result in a missed opportunity, forcing players to wait for the next cycle. This mistake often stems from a lack of communication or coordination within the fireteam, emphasizing the need for clear roles and timing.
In the final phase, where the cheese strategy is executed, players often overlook the importance of team composition and ability cooldowns. The success of this phase relies on a well-coordinated super ability rotation. For example, a Hunter's Blade Barrage or a Warlock's Nova Bomb can deal significant damage, but these abilities must be used in quick succession to maximize efficiency. A common mistake is having multiple players use their supers simultaneously, leading to wasted damage potential. Instead, a staggered approach ensures continuous pressure on the boss, making the cheese method more effective.
Furthermore, the Scourge of the Past cheese requires a deep understanding of the encounter's mechanics, particularly the damage phases. Players must avoid the temptation to rush the damage phase without proper setup. This includes ensuring all damage buffs are active, such as the Well of Radiance or Lunafaction Boots, and that all team members are in position. Prematurely engaging the damage phase without these preparations can lead to insufficient damage, causing the team to miss the narrow window for success. A methodical approach, where each player knows their role and timing, is essential to avoiding this mistake.
Lastly, a critical error is the lack of adaptation to the encounter's dynamic nature. The Scourge of the Past is designed to challenge players with various mechanics, and the cheese strategy is no exception. Players must be prepared to adjust their tactics if something goes awry. For instance, if a team member dies during a critical phase, the remaining players should know how to compensate, whether by adjusting their damage output or repositioning to cover the missing role. This adaptability is a hallmark of successful fireteams and is crucial for consistently executing the cheese strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
The "Scourge of the Past cheese" refers to a strategy used in the Scourge of the Past raid to bypass certain mechanics, making the encounter easier. It typically involves exploiting specific areas or mechanics to avoid damage or skip phases.
The viability of the cheese method depends on updates and patches. Bungie often adjusts raid mechanics, so it’s essential to check the latest patch notes or community forums to see if the cheese is still possible.
The cheese method usually involves having one or more players position themselves in specific, out-of-bounds areas to avoid damage or skip phases. Detailed steps vary, so refer to a reliable guide or video tutorial for the most accurate instructions.
Yes, using cheese methods can sometimes lead to unintended consequences, such as glitches or soft locks. Additionally, Bungie may penalize players for exploiting mechanics, so proceed with caution and consider the ethical implications.
The cheese method is typically more effective in normal difficulty but may not work or be as reliable in higher difficulty levels like Master or Grandmaster. Always test the method in the intended difficulty before relying on it.
