Destiny 2: Complete Guide to the Rite of the Nine

Destiny 2: Complete Guide to the Rite of the Nine

In an exhilarating announcement, Bungie has unveiled the Edge of Fate expansion alongside a sneak peek at a Star Wars-themed Renegades, marking the launch of Destiny 2’s latest event, Rite of the Nine. This event serves as a pivotal conclusion to Episode Heresy and the Light and Dark Saga.

The Rite of the Nine event will allow players to explore three rotating dungeons, where they’ll have the opportunity to acquire unique dungeon loot enhanced with Nine aesthetics as well as Adept versions of various weapons.

As of May 6, 2025, details about the event are still emerging. While some sections of this guide may be incomplete, we will provide weekly updates as new dungeons rotate and more secrets are unveiled. Rest assured that the information currently available will remain accessible.

How to Access the Rite of the Nine

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The Rite of the Nine is available to all players immediately, and can be accessed by selecting Eternity from your Director.

However, before diving into your first dungeon, you need to collect certain items from The Third Spire, a newly revamped location familiar to veterans of Trials of the Nine.

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Upon arrival at The Third Spire, you’ll meet the Emissary of the Nine— an essential character for the unfolding saga. Here, you’ll also find two chests and several attunement holograms reminiscent of the Into The Light mission.

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The mechanics of Rite of the Nine mirror those of the Into the Light event. Your first step is to collect gifts from the chest located next to the Emissary, which include:

  • Izanagi’s Burden (Exotic Kinetic Sniper Rifle)
  • Aeon Soul/Safe/Swift (Exotic Gauntlets)
  • Prophecy Dungeon Weapons: Adjudicator (Kinetic SMG), Prosecutor (Arc Auto Rifle), Chain of Command (Stasis Machine Gun)
  • Prophecy Dungeon Armor Set

Additionally, you can convert all Curios of the Nine earned during Episode Heresy into Nonary Manifolds, a new currency also obtainable through completing Rite of the Nine bounties and dungeon encounters.

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The Emissary also functions as the vendor for this activity, offering both daily and repeatable bounties, along with raid banners. Players can earn a new shader and two emblems by achieving specific Rite of the Nine triumphs.

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Behind the Emissary awaits a selection of 12 reprised weapons from the featured dungeons, which will be detailed in a separate rankings article.

Difficulty Levels

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Explorer

For those who are new to dungeon gameplay and wish to start with a low-stakes environment, the Explorer difficulty may be the perfect entry point.

This option minimizes pressure, allowing players to explore and enjoy the dungeon play without the fear of wipe scenarios or respawn timers. You can tackle this difficulty solo or through matchmaking, but note that triumphs cannot be completed at this level, nor will you receive the dungeon’s exotic rewards.

Eternity

The Eternity difficulty represents a balanced challenge, suited for those with decent weapons and builds who prefer an engaging yet manageable experience.

Players will face moderately tougher adversaries equipped with random modifiers that elevate the challenge, making it a great option for teaming up with friends or using the Fireteam Finder to build your squad. Completing this difficulty grants access to earn the dungeon exotic.

Ultimatum

The Ultimatum difficulty is the most formidable challenge, akin to the Master versions of dungeons. Expect to face significantly stronger foes, and only through this tier can players obtain Adept weapons. In both the Eternity and Ultimatum difficulties, avoiding deaths is crucial if you wish to earn the coveted Gold Tier rewards.

Rewards Overview

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Completing dungeons within the Rite of the Nine can reward you with any of the 12 reprised weapons specific to the respective dungeon.

Prophecy A Sudden Death Prosecutor Relentless Judgement
Spire of the Watcher Liminal Vigil Long Arm Terminus Horizon Wilderflight
Ghosts of the Deep Gold Comfort Greasy Luck New Pacific Epitaph No Survivors

Spire of the Watcher

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Updated May 6th, 2025: The Rite of the Nine events cycle weekly, and specific changes to the Prophecy and Ghost of the Deep encounters are yet to be confirmed. This guide will continue to receive updates as necessary.

We will provide detailed, comprehensive guides for each dungeon soon, but for now, here’s a summary of the essential mechanics and key changes to note in the Spire of the Watcher.

This dungeon, set in a towering structure containing advanced artificial intelligence, will have players combating swathes of Vex enemies as they navigate through its heights.

Arctrician Buff

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A central feature within this dungeon is the Arctrician buff, which becomes available when you stand within a white circle that spawns after defeating a Vex Minotaur.

Your goal is to locate nodes scattered throughout the encounter and engage them correctly. There are two types of cables to keep in mind:

  • Yellow Cables: Indicate the need to find the initial node and then shoot the subsequent nodes in a specific order.
  • Red Cables: Require players to shoot nodes that will appear in a timed sequence.

Success in hitting the correct node will cause the cable to emit a blue arc glow, and also temporarily extend your Arctrician buff timer.

What’s Changed

After completing the initial encounters, a mini-boss will spawn, which you must defeat to progress.

The second encounter, you’ll face Vex drones that will ensnare you in bubbles. During boss encounters with Akelous and Persys, glowing shapes will appear in the center of the arena, guiding you to complete circuits that match the displayed symbols.

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For the early encounters, including the ascent through the tower, players should focus on a loadout with strong survivability and add-clearing capabilities.

A rapid-fire weapon, such as an SMG, Auto Rifle, or machine gun, is particularly beneficial for effectively shooting nodes during encounters.

When facing the first boss, Akelous, utilize a rapid-fire weapon to target nodes as well as its weak points. A precision weapon, especially a Linear Fusion Rifle, is advisable.

A Warlock utilizing Well of Radiance combined with a Titan exhibiting the Storm’s Keep Aspect will bolster damage effectiveness while maintaining distance.

As of Episode Heresy, the Queenbreaker remains a top choice for extended, precision-focused damage output.

For the final boss, Persys, the same loadout strategy applies, though due to the challenge of targeting its weak spots, players may opt for Divinity. If unavailable, a rocket launcher featuring Gjallarhorn or Lord of Wolves is equally effective.

Collectibles

Currently, two collectibles are hidden within the Spire of the Watcher. The first can be discovered during the jumping puzzle that follows the initial encounter, while the second is positioned just prior to the drop into the final boss arena.

Prophecy

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Prophecy is a well-known dungeon that remains accessible and straightforward, making it manageable for players to tackle solo flawlessly.

This dungeon is open to everyone, even when it is not part of the Rite of the Nine rotation.Players can engage with it via the Legends tab for practice.

Light and Dark Motes

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The central gameplay mechanic in this dungeon revolves around gathering Light and Dark motes, which drop from Taken Knight enemies.

These Taken Knights yield Light or Dark motes dependent on their positioning within light or shadow, so it’s crucial to eliminate them accordingly.

Upon collecting five motes, you’ll switch to third-person view and need to dunk them into the appropriate plate, identified by a pillar of either light or dark.

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As with most dungeons, select a loadout that enhances your comfort; however, prioritize survivability and add-clearing capabilities if uncertain.

For the Phalanx Echo boss encounter, any potent close-range weapon or abilities should suffice. Consider using shotguns, swords, or Glaives with Synthoceps for an edge.

For Kell Echo, employ any precision weapon with high damage potential. Options like sniper rifles and linear fusion rifles excel in this scenario, with Queenbreaker being a standout choice for extended DPS phases.

Ghosts of the Deep

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Ghosts of the Deep is regarded as one of the most challenging and tedious dungeons in the game, where players must thwart a Lucent Hive ritual to resurrect Oryx, the Taken King.

Hive Runes

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This dungeon requires players to dive underwater while collecting air bubbles and searching for the appropriate Hive runes to activate.

Don’t forget to eliminate Lucent Hive Ghosts after defeating a Hive Lightbearer for additional upgrades.

Memorization plays a significant role; you’ll want to develop your codes or names for each rune to streamline the process.

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Once again, as with previous encounters, maintain a focus on survivability while dealing with enemies. For the boss encounter against Ecthar, effective close-range combat methods—such as swords, shotguns, and melee attacks—are highly effective. A Well of Radiance could prove invaluable here.

In the long and arduous battle with Simmumah Ur-Nokru, utilize all available resources as this boss possesses considerable health.Arbalest, free for all players, can efficiently break her shield, while precision weapons like Divinity enhance your overall arsenal. Heavy grenade launchers also prove useful against this formidable adversary.

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