Destiny 2
Destiny 2

Vanguard Activities

Master Destiny 2 Vanguard activities: Strikes and Nightfalls. Learn about Champions, modifiers, rewards, and how to succeed.

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Engage in the core PvE activities offered by the Vanguard, the defenders of the Last City. Strikes and Nightfalls are the bread and butter of Vanguard operations, providing consistent challenges and rewards. This section details how to participate and succeed in these cooperative missions.

The Vanguard Playlist

Accessed from the Director, the Vanguard playlist offers three main activity types:

  • Strikes: These are 3-player cooperative missions that typically involve traversing a map, defeating waves of enemies, completing objectives, and culminating in a boss fight. They are a fundamental part of the Destiny 2 experience and a great way to earn Vanguard reputation, gear, and Glimmer.
  • Nightfall: A more challenging version of Strikes that rotates weekly. Nightfalls feature increased enemy difficulty, unique modifiers (like Champions, which require specific weapon types or abilities to stun), and a scoring system. Higher difficulties offer better rewards.
  • Nightfall: The Ordeal: A tiered version of Nightfalls designed to be more accessible. It offers different difficulty levels (Adept, Hero, Legend, Master, Grandmaster) with increasing challenges and reward potential. Grandmaster Nightfalls are the pinnacle PvE activity, demanding optimal builds and flawless execution.

Strike Specifics & Bosses

Each Strike has a unique theme, location, and boss encounter. Examples include:

  • The Devil's Lair (Cosmodrome): Features the Fallen boss, Sepiks Prime.
  • Fallen SABER (Cosmodrome): Another Fallen-themed Strike with a focus on combat against Servitors and a large mech boss.
  • Lake of Shadows (EDZ): A Hive-infested Strike with a challenging boss encounter in a large cavern.
  • The Glassway (Europa): A Vex-themed Strike with a unique boss that requires coordinated efforts to defeat.

Understanding boss mechanics and enemy types within each Strike is key to efficient completion.

Nightfall Modifiers & Champions

Nightfalls introduce modifiers that significantly alter gameplay:

  • Champions: Elite enemies that are immune to most damage until stunned. There are three types: Barrier, Overload, and Unstoppable. Specific weapon perks or abilities are required to stun them. Your Ghost can equip mods to help identify and stun Champions.
  • Threats: Increased damage from specific elemental types (Solar, Arc, Void).
  • Shields: Enemies will have shields matching specific elements.
  • Match Game: Enemy shields are highly resistant to damage unless matched with the corresponding elemental weapon.
  • Equipment Lock: Your loadout is locked once the activity begins, so choose wisely.

The weekly "This Week at Bungie" post or in-game notifications will detail the active modifiers and Champion types for the current Nightfall.

Vanguard Reputation & Rewards

Completing Vanguard activities earns Vanguard Reputation. Ranking up your Vanguard reputation unlocks:

  • Vanguard Engrams: Can be decrypted for Vanguard-themed weapons and armor.
  • Ascendant Shards & Enhancement Prisms: Essential materials for Masterworking gear.
  • Vanguard-themed Weapons: Unique weapons with powerful perks that can be earned and focused.

Focusing Vanguard engrams at Commander Zavala allows you to target specific weapons you're looking for.

Tips for Success

  • Coordinate with your Fireteam: Communicate about Champion stunning, boss mechanics, and revives.
  • Equip Appropriate Mods: Ensure your Ghost and armor have mods to counter the active Champions and elemental threats.
  • Use a Balanced Loadout: Carry weapons that can handle different enemy types and shields.
  • Prioritize Survival: In higher difficulties, staying alive is more important than dealing damage. Use cover and your abilities wisely.