The Prison of Elders is getting a big upgrade in the Destiny April update

Its been 18 months since Destiny launched to mixed reviews. 18 months where content was rushed through by eager Guardians and expansions were either hit or miss as Bungie’s promise of a continually-evolving online world didn’t exactly pan out all the time. But its been a learning experience so far, with expansions like House of Wolves and The Taken King addressing many of the faults in Destiny and providing at least a few new hours of entertainment.

between those downloads however, Destiny has felt like a dead zone, populated only by enemy AI and the most hardcore of fans. Hopefully the April update can bring a few Guardians back, and keep them around beyond the endgame as Bungie is floating a few neat ideas for the month of fools. Detailed in a livestream last night, Destiny’s April update will add a hefty amount of PvE content to the game, with a special focus on reviving the stagnant Prison of Elders.

Introduced in the House of Wolves expansion, Prison of Elders was a simple enough setup: Three jails, multiple rounds within each one. Survive the baddest of the bad and you’d face the end-stage boss and a chance to get some damn good loot. A level 41 version of the Prison will be introduced, with rewards now based on points scored inside.

A high score of 30 000 by a fireteam will earn a guaranteed light level 335 weapon drop, while hitting a combined score of 90 000 will drop a 335 armour piece. Here’s the list of upgrades, via Bungie:

Max Light Level Raised

New challenges demand that you become even more powerful to overcome them. Difficulty and Rewards have both been increased in Prison of Elders, Court of Oryx, Heroic Strikes, Nightfall Strikes, and in the King’s Fall Raid, as well as Iron Banner and Trials of Osiris.

Return to the Prison

For the first time, face the Taken and eight updated bosses in a Level 41 version of Prison of Elders. Visit Variks to partake in a brand new mode, Challenge of the Elders, featuring scoring, weekly boss battles, gameplay twists, and rewards. Claim an Elders’ Sigil from Variks each week in The Reef, and put your Fireteam to the test against three consecutive boss waves.

The bosses and the gameplay modifiers change each week, for a total of sixteen unique encounters. Your score is tracked on the Elders’ Sigil, and on Bungie.net Leaderboards.

The Blighted Chalice Strike

The Taken King is dead. Yet still his armies yet claw at our worlds. Even as you led the assault on the Dreadnaught, a powerful would-be Taken Prince fled for the safety of the shadows. Hunt him down before he grows too powerful.

Taken Strike – Winter’s Run

A cell, from the Prison of Elders. The Taken now corrupt this territory where the Fallen House of Winter once attempted to raise a powerful Archon Priest. Fight your way to the cell. Stop the Taken surge.

Updated Difficulty and Rewards – King’s Fall and Court of Oryx

King’s Fall Normal drops increased to light level 320. Kingsfall Hard drops increased to light level 330. Court of Oryx Artifact Drops increased to light level 335.

Sounds good! There’ll be two more livestreams over the next two weeks before the April 12 update, detailing new gear and life on the Tower. And remember: Snitches get stitches in the Prison of Elders.

Last Updated: March 24, 2016