Destiny 2: Vanguard - game mode Destiny 2 Guide

Last update: 28 March 2021

In this chapter of our game guide to Destiny 2 you can find out what is the Vanguard's gameplay mode, what variants of this mode are available and what can be obtained from them.

Vanguard is one of the gameplay modes available in Destiny 2 that you can enter from the Solar System Map. Vanguard mode can be divided into two separate mission types: Strikes and Nightfall: The Ordeal. Performing missions in this mode is essential for scoring Daily and Weekly Bounties from Commander Zavala NPC, as well as for acquiring better class equipment and exclusive cosmetic items.

• Strikes and Nightfall - General Tips
• Vanguard - how to start, rewards
• Nightfall: The Ordeal - How to start, rewards, Challenge Card

Strikes and Nightfall - General Tips

Before you jump into Vanguard mode, you should read a few key tips to help you complete all missions, complete Bounties and get additional rewards, such as Powerful Gear Tier 1 or Pinnacle Gear.

1. Bounties - before you start performing Strike or Nightfall: The Ordeal missions, make sure you have purchased all available Bounties from Commander Zavala NPC. Quests commissioned by this NPC are closely related to this gameplay mode;
2. Challenges - if you exceed the Gear Score of 900, you will be given access to weekly challenges from which you can receive the Powerful Gear Tier 1 and Pinnacle Gear rewards;
3. Save some time - when performing Strike or Nightfall: The Ordeal missions you are not obliged to kill every single enemy. If you care about time, you can just run to the main boss and only do the things that provide you some progress in the mission;
4. Matchmaking - Strikes and Nightfall: The Ordeal on the first difficulty levels are associated with matchmaking so you can join a solo game and be assigned to a team made up of random players. Harder levels allow you to play solo only or in pre-made team;
5. Strikes - after choosing a Strike mission, you will be transported to a random location, where you have to complete a specific quest and kill the final boss to receive a reward;
6. Equipment change - during Strikes and on lower difficulty levels of Nightfall: The Ordeal you can change equipment, but if you change your weapon to one you haven't used before, you won't have any ammunition for it;
7. Nightfall: The Ordeal - unlike regular Strikes, Nightfall: The Ordeal missions change every Tuesday at 19:00 CET.

Vanguard - how to start, rewards

Strikes are basic missions in Vanguard mode in which players are sent to a random location where they must complete a specific objective (mission) and eliminate the last boss to complete the entire quest. Strikes have some unique modifications that change every Tuesday at 19:00 CET.

You can check what modifications the current Strike has in the bottom left corner of the screen when you click on the mission. If you hover the pointer over each icon, you will receive appropriate information. Unlike Nightfall missions, Strikes have only one difficulty level.

Vanguard - Rewards & Awards

Strikes are carried out like any normal mission by performing certain objectives along the way. At the very end, the boss must be killed in order to complete the mission and receive rewards. Possible rewards include:

1. Vanguard Tokens for which you can buy items from Commander Zavala NPC;
2. Glimmer;
3. Crafting materials from different regions;
4. Imperials;
5. Legendary equipment;
6. Random drop after defeating opponents, such as Engrams.

Nightfall: The Ordeal - How to start, rewards, Challenge Card

Nightfall: The Ordeal is a more difficult variation of the regular Strike and the entry to this mission is located in the center of the Vanguard view. Nightfall: The Ordeal also features a Weekly Challenge during which you can obtain Powerful Gear Tier 1, as well as Pinnacle Gear.

Unlike regular Strike missions, Nightfall: The Ordeal missions are available throughout entire week and reset every Tuesday at 19:00 CET. This means that every time you join the game you will have exactly the same mission to complete until the reset.

In the Nightfall: The Ordeal mission there are 5 difficulty levels to choose from. The harder the difficulty level gets the higher the amount of negative modifications will be added to the gameplay - up to 8 impediments on the highest difficulty levels. The first difficulty levels have the matchmaking option enabled so that anyone can join a solo game and be assigned to a team of 3 random players. Harder versions of this mission, such as Legend or Master don't have matchmaking - it's disabled. Depending on the difficulty level of the Nightfall mission, players can earn additional and extremely rare rewards.

In Nightfall: The Ordeal you will also encounter powerful opponents for the very first time. You will need special modifications to your weapons, such as Overload, Anti-Barrier etc. in order to defeat them. What's more, at higher levels of difficulty you won't be able to change your equipment either. It is also worth noting that Nightfall: The Ordeal missions can be modified by using special Five of Swords (Challenge Card) items.

Nightfall: The Ordeal - Five of Swords (Challenge Card)

Five of Swords (Challenge Card) is a special item which you can use to additionally modify Nightfall: The Ordeal missions. Challenge Cards have the ability to make the mission more difficult, but also increase the Score Multiplier so that you can score more points and thus make it easier for you to score above 100,000 points to complete the Weekly Challenge. If you haven't got your Five of Swords card yet then you can find out how to get it in the FAQ section of this guide.

Nightfall: The Ordeal - Rewards

Nightfall: The Ordeal has to be completed like any normal mission, performing certain activities along the way. At the very end, the boss must be killed in order to complete the mission and receive rewards. Possible rewards include:

1. Vanguard Tokens for which you can buy items from Commander Zavala NPC;
2. Glimmer;
3. Crafting materials from different regions;
4. Legendary cosmetic items;
5. Exclusive Exotic cosmetic items;
6. Legendary and Exotic equipment (weapons, armor);
7. Exotic Catalyst (for Exotic weapons to upgrade them into Masterwork);
8. Enhancement Cores;
9. Enhancement Prisms;
10. Ascendant Prisms;
11. Random drop after defeating opponents, such as Prime Engrams, Exotic Engrams.