Destiny 2: Solstice Event Guide – Your Ultimate Companion to Earning Glorious Rewards
Welcome, Guardians, to the most radiant celebration of the year in Destiny 2: Solstice! At Gaming News, we understand that navigating the myriad of activities, objectives, and rewards during this limited-time event can be as challenging as a Grandmaster Nightfall. That’s why we’ve meticulously compiled this comprehensive guide, designed not just to inform, but to equip you with the optimal strategies and in-depth knowledge to maximize your Solstice experience and claim every coveted reward. Prepare to shine brighter than ever before, for Solstice is your chance to forge powerful armor sets, unlock exclusive cosmetics, and relive the joy of summer.
Understanding the Solstice Event: A Time for Celebration and Power
The Solstice of Heroes is an annual in-game event in Destiny 2 that brings Guardians together to commemorate their triumphs and forge new legends. It’s a time when the Tower and its surrounding areas are adorned with festive decorations, and the air is filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. The core of the Solstice event revolves around a special Solstice armor set that players can earn and upgrade. This armor isn’t just for show; it provides significant stat bonuses and can be infused to higher power levels, making it an invaluable asset for any Guardian’s arsenal.
The event typically spans a few weeks, offering a focused period for players to engage in specific activities to progress through the various stages of the Solstice armor. Each year, Bungie introduces new themes, activities, and rewards, ensuring that Solstice remains a fresh and exciting experience for both veteran and new players alike. Our goal here at Gaming News is to demystify every aspect of this event, from the initial armor acquisition to the final pinnacle rewards.
Earning Your Solstice Armor: The Foundation of Your Celebration
The journey to mastering Solstice begins with acquiring the Solstice armor set. This year, as in previous iterations, the process involves completing specific objectives across various destinations and activities within Destiny 2. The armor set is divided into five pieces: Helm, Gauntlets, Chest Armor, Leg Armor, and Class Item. Each piece plays a crucial role in your progression and eventual power boost.
Initial Armor Acquisition: The First Steps to Radiance
Upon the commencement of the Solstice event, Guardians will be prompted to visit Eva Levante in the Tower. Eva, the event vendor, will be your primary contact for all things Solstice. She will bestow upon you the Ignited, Renewed, and then Majestic Solstice armor sets. These initial sets are earned by completing a series of introductory challenges that typically guide you through the core mechanics of the event.
The early stages focus on completing activities like Patrols, Public Events, and Strikes. As you progress, the requirements will naturally become more demanding, often tasking you with defeating specific enemy types with certain damage types or abilities, or achieving high scores in unique event-specific activities. It’s crucial to pay close attention to the objectives for each armor piece, as they are the key to unlocking the next tier of armor and its associated benefits.
Upgrading Your Solstice Armor: The Path to Unparalleled Power
Once you have obtained the initial set of Solstice armor, the real work begins: upgrading it. The Solstice armor set typically has several tiers of upgrades, often referred to by descriptive names that reflect their evolving brilliance. These tiers are unlocked by completing increasingly challenging objectives.
Tier 1 (Kindling): This initial upgrade phase often involves gathering Kindling. Kindling is a unique event resource that is earned by completing specific event challenges. Applying Kindling to a piece of Solstice armor allows it to be upgraded to the Renewed tier. This tier provides a good baseline stat distribution and begins to unlock specific perks related to the Solstice event.
Tier 2 (Silver Leaves and Silver Ash): To further enhance your Solstice armor, you will need to gather Silver Leaves and then convert them into Silver Ash. Silver Leaves are primarily earned by completing activities while wearing Solstice armor. The more Solstice armor you equip, the faster you will accumulate Silver Leaves. These leaves are then processed at the Solstice Wreath (or a similar event-specific apparatus) to create Silver Ash. Silver Ash is then consumed to upgrade your armor from the Renewed tier to the Majestic tier. This tier often boasts significantly improved stats and unlocks the potential for further, more potent enhancements.
Tier 3 (Exotic Armor and Masterworking): The ultimate goal for many Guardians is to reach the pinnacle of Solstice armor enhancement. This often involves a final set of demanding objectives that may require completing Raids, Dungeons, or high-difficulty Seasonal Activities. Successfully completing these challenges allows you to Masterwork your Solstice armor. Masterworked Solstice armor provides substantial stat boosts and often comes with a unique visual flair, signifying your dedication and prowess during the event. Furthermore, specific event triumphs may unlock unique Exotic armor perks or ability enhancements tied to the Solstice armor itself, making it an incredibly potent gear choice for the duration of the event and beyond.
Solstice Activities: Where the Magic Happens
The Solstice event isn’t just about the armor; it’s also about participating in unique, time-limited activities that are specifically designed to facilitate your progression and offer exciting rewards.
The Solstice Playlist: A Dedicated Arena for Progress
Bungie typically introduces a dedicated Solstice playlist during the event. This playlist often features modified versions of existing activities, such as Strikes, Crucible matches, or Gambit encounters, with unique modifiers and objectives tailored to Solstice progression. Engaging in these activities is usually the most efficient way to earn the necessary resources and complete the armor upgrade challenges.
Expect these playlists to be populated with event-specific enemies, modified encounter mechanics, and unique bounties that grant bonus Solstice rewards. Prioritizing these activities will significantly streamline your Solstice journey.
Event Challenges and Triumphs: Guiding Your Path to Glory
Throughout the Solstice event, a series of Event Challenges and Triumphs will be available. These are essentially a checklist of objectives that reward you with Kindling, Silver Leaves, Silver Ash, and other valuable resources. Completing these challenges is paramount to efficiently upgrading your armor.
We strongly advise checking the Triumphs tab regularly to see what objectives are available and how best to tackle them. Some challenges might be more efficiently completed in specific activities, while others might encourage experimentation with different loadouts and playstyles. Strategic planning based on these Triumphs will be your greatest asset.
Seasonal Bounties and Daily Challenges: Consistent Resource Generation
Eva Levante will also offer a rotation of daily and weekly bounties. These bounties are small, bite-sized objectives that provide a steady stream of Solstice-related resources. While individually they may not offer massive rewards, completing them consistently over the course of the event can significantly contribute to your overall progress. Don’t underestimate the power of these seemingly minor tasks.
Solstice Rewards: Beyond the Armor
While the Solstice armor set is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the event, Solstice offers a wealth of other desirable rewards that will enhance your Guardian’s capabilities and aesthetic.
Solstice Ornaments: Customizing Your Look
For those who prefer to use their favorite armor sets while still benefiting from the Solstice bonuses, Solstice Ornaments are the solution. These are purely cosmetic items that can be applied to your existing armor pieces, transforming their appearance into the Solstice-themed designs.
Earning these ornaments often requires completing specific, more challenging Triumphs related to the Solstice event. This could involve achieving a certain rank in the event’s progression system, completing specific activities on Master difficulty, or acquiring all the associated lore entries.
Event Specific Emblems and Ghost Projections:
Solstice events are traditionally accompanied by a host of unique cosmetic items, including Emblems and Ghost Projections. These are often awarded for completing significant milestones within the event, such as fully upgrading a Solstice armor set or reaching a high tier of event progression. They serve as a visual testament to your participation and success.
Sparrow and Ship Cosmetics:
In some Solstice events, players have been able to earn exclusive Sparrows and even Ships that share the radiant, summer-themed aesthetic of the event. These are typically tied to more involved or difficult achievements, making them highly sought-after collector’s items.
Glimmer, Enhancement Materials, and Ascendant Shards:
Beyond the flashy cosmetics, Solstice also serves as an excellent opportunity to stock up on essential Glimmer, Enhancement Materials (like Enhancement Cores and Enhancement Prisms), and even Ascendant Shards. These are often awarded for completing bounties, challenges, and participating in the Solstice playlist, making the event a valuable resource grind for any player looking to improve their overall Power Level.
Strategies for Maximum Solstice Efficiency
To truly excel during the Solstice event and outpace your fellow Guardians in the race for rewards, a well-defined strategy is essential. At Gaming News, we’ve distilled some of the most effective approaches.
Prioritize Solstice Armor:
The single most important strategy is to prioritize acquiring and upgrading your Solstice armor. As you equip more pieces of Solstice armor, you will earn Silver Leaves at an increased rate. This creates a snowball effect, allowing you to convert more leaves into Silver Ash and progress through the armor tiers faster. Aim to have your full Solstice armor set equipped whenever you are actively participating in Solstice-related activities.
Leverage Public Events and Lost Sectors:
For the initial stages of armor upgrades, particularly those involving gathering basic resources or defeating specific enemy types, Public Events and Lost Sectors on destinations like the EDZ, Nessus, or the Moon are excellent choices. They are generally quick to complete, offer consistent enemy density, and provide a reliable source of the required materials. Look for Heroic Public Events for enhanced rewards.
Optimize Your Loadout for Event Challenges:
Many Solstice challenges will require you to defeat enemies with specific damage types or utilize particular abilities. Carefully review the objectives for each armor piece and adjust your subclass, weapon choices, and exotic armor accordingly. For instance, if a challenge requires arc ability kills, ensure you’re running an arc subclass with abilities that generate multiple projectiles or have a high rate of fire.
Group Up for Maximum Efficiency:
Playing with a fireteam can significantly speed up your Solstice progression. Coordinating your efforts, sharing buffs, and tackling activities together can reduce the time spent on individual objectives. Especially for activities within the Solstice playlist, a well-coordinated fireteam can clear encounters much faster, leading to a higher overall resource gain per hour.
Don’t Neglect Bounties:
Eva’s bounties, while seemingly small, offer a consistent and reliable stream of Solstice resources. Make it a habit to pick up and complete all available daily and weekly bounties. They are an easy way to supplement your progress and can often be completed passively while you are focusing on larger objectives.
Targeted Farming for Specific Resources:
If you find yourself needing a particular resource, such as specific elemental kills or completed activities, identify the most efficient methods for acquiring them. For example, if you need Solar kills, consider a Solar-focused subclass with a powerful Solar exotic weapon and focus on activities with high enemy density.
The Solstice of Heroes: A Time for Guardians to Unite and Shine
The Solstice event is more than just an opportunity to acquire powerful gear; it’s a celebration of Guardians’ resilience, dedication, and shared triumphs. It’s a time to revisit beloved destinations, engage in unique activities, and forge bonds with fellow players. At Gaming News, we are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information to ensure you can fully embrace and conquer the Solstice of Heroes.
By following this guide, paying close attention to the event’s objectives, and employing smart strategies, you will be well on your way to earning the most glorious Solstice armor, unlocking exclusive cosmetics, and solidifying your legend in the world of Destiny 2. Prepare to embrace the light, ignite your potential, and shine brilliantly throughout this exceptional event. Your journey to becoming a true Solstice legend starts now.