I remember Bungie mentioned GM Vanguard Alerts would be of similar difficulty as old GMs, we expected around -40 power level (more or less the same power deficit as GM conquests). Went in there with my girl 2-man and tried a few loadouts, and every one feels horrible. Wish ender and Eriana’s Vow do not one shot barrier shields, Peregrine does about 1/2 of champ health etc. I don’t remember old GMs being this difficult. We were looking forward to new weekly challenges, I guess this is not it. I think our mistake was expecting it to be somewhere between GM and Ultimate Conquests as far as difficulty goes.
Edit: My main complain was with how weak Eriana’s or Wish Ender felt, Revision Zero however made the run much smoother for some reason. (Also, the Supremacy sniper with kinetic tremors). Thanks to those who have pointed out, the fallen pikes do insane amount of damage and helped save ammo / time in our runs.
Ran it with some friends. it was definitely easier than i remember gms being. Yes i ran strongholds with praxic blade. But even then staying alive didnt feel difficult aside from when i got two shot by a hydra over and over. Even then it was my own fault because i didnt bring any resist mods. Just strand for banner of war and into the fray. Woven mail was enough for everything aside from exploder shanks. Enemies felt no where near as bullet sponge as like the avalon conquest from last season. Even enemies in epid Desert feel harder to kill.