The endgame activities for Destiny 2 are one of its biggest draws. It’s here that players will find pieces of gear that roll at the pinnacle Light level and help make their Guardians as strong as possible. Some of the most engaging of these endgame activities are the dungeons that Destiny 2 has introduced over the past few years. Each dungeon sports a specific loot table that drops some of the most effective weapons in the game.
Currently, there are a total of four unique dungeons spread across different locations in Destiny 2. Each of these four dungeons, while similar in length, incorporate different themes and mechanics for players to get comfortable with. These mechanics generally build on one another, creating a path to understanding the dungeon while also forcing players to take novel approaches when defeating enemies.
The Shattered Throne
The first dungeon to be introduced was The Shattered Throne in the Forsaken expansion. Focusing on Taken enemies, The Shattered Throne fleshes out key parts of the lore for Destiny 2 and was a major step in the game’s current direction. With the curse of Dul Incaru, one of Destiny 2’s worst enemies yet was introduced, trapping the Dreaming City in a perpetual time loop. This has set off a chain reaction within the Taken, Scorn, and Hive factions, with it all likely coming to a head in The Witch Queen expansion.
The dungeon itself has become a premier choice for players seeking to grind experience and quickly work through bounties thanks to a location dubbed the Thrallway. Here countless Taken Thrall will spawn in waves, allowing players to find a safe spot to grind out kills without having to wait for respawns. This location is also ideal for chipping away at the necessary kills when completing lengthy exotic weapons catalysts in Destiny 2.
The Pit of Heresy
Following the introduction of The Shattered Throne was the Pit of Heresy dungeon. This dungeon is tied to the Hive and was introduced as part of the Shadowkeep expansion. Located on the Moon, it sends players deep into the underbelly of the Scarlet Keep, forcing Guardians to fight past the Hidden Swarm: the last of Oryx’s living descendants. While this isn’t as influential as the lore associated with The Shattered Throne, the Pit of Heresy dungeon also plays a role in Savathun’s schemes. It was the Witch Queen's hope that Guardians would return to the Moon and wipe out the last of her brother’s bloodline as she believed it had finished running its course.
In terms of gameplay, the Pit of Heresy is a dungeon that requires more on-foot traversal than others. While the Necropolis and Tunnels of Despair will require players to navigate vertical elevators and a winding dark maze filled with Hive, it’s The Harrow that many players might find the most frustrating. The jumping puzzle is complicated and designed to kill players at every opportunity. While not the first in the series, it is one of the most frustrating platforming sections introduced in Destiny 2, something nowhere near as forgiving as the Deep Stone Crypt raid.
The Prophecy Dungeon
The Prophecy dungeon stands out as the first to be available for all players, regardless of whether they had the seasonal pass for Season of Arrivals. Similar to The Shattered Throne, it also focuses on Taken enemies - but with a twist. The Taken within the Prophecy dungeon are simulated entities generated by the inroporeal beings known as the Nine. This plays into the role Prophecy has as a quest for answers rather than a focus on defeating dangerous enemies.
Prophecy also stands out as the first of the Destiny 2 dungeons to allow players access to their sparrows in both the Wasteland and Deadsea areas, making it one of two alongside the Grasp of Avarice. While useful in the Wasteland, this can be difficult in the Deadsea section thanks to the rollercoaster-like nature of the Prophecy dungeon.
The dungeon’s focus on sparrow riding is limited, and its playstyle is one more focused on puzzles. The balance of Light and Darkness is a major aspect of the encounters that players face in Prophecy. This mechanic incorporates Light and Dark motes similar to the ones used in the Gambit game mode through all of its three major encounters. Depositing these motes into corresponding wells becomes the key to the final boss encounter, allowing fireteams to proceed to the damage phase and gain an audience with the Emissary.
Grasp of Avarice
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As the newest addition to Destiny 2, the Grasp of Avarice dungeon’s secrets might not all be revealed, but it has quickly become one of the most entertaining activities. Grasp of Avarice might be the most distinct from the other dungeons as its chosen lore doesn’t seem to bear as much weight. This seems to be held up by comments on the dungeon’s appearance, as many players believe The Goonies inspired Grasp of Avarice and its aesthetic.
On top of this, Grasp of Avarice also plays a key role for Guardians who want to get their hands on the exotic Gjallarhorn rocket launcher. The near-mythical rocket launcher has been asked for by Destiny 2 players since release. Combined with the pirate-themed loot inspired by previous Bungie titles, Grasp of Avarice has quickly soared in popularity.
Despite how the dungeon stands out, Grasp of Avarice also makes a change by not being free or part of expansions. While Grasp of Avarice has been released in Season of the Lost, it is a part of the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack. This seems to be a trend that will continue in the future, and has directly led to community discussions on whether Destiny 2 should treat dungeons as DLC. Still, along with the other dungeons in Destiny 2, this makes up some of the best-paced activities for players to try; the perfect middle-ground between the end of an expansion and raids.
Destiny 2 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
