New and Returning Player FAQ
Earlier this week, we asked you for questions we could answer for Guardians returning to Destiny 2 who are getting ready for the Monument of Triumph update next week and are looking to find their footing faster. Here are some of those questions and answers:
Q) As a returning player, where is the best place to start?
A) We recommend you go to the Tower and visit the main social hub, or go to the Cosmodrome to interact with Shaw Han and begin the New Light quest.
Q) Where should I start Monument of Triumph on launch day?
A) Go to the Tower and visit the Monument of Triumph in the center to begin the onramp quest. Following that, you can go into Sparrow Racing League in Crucible Ops, fireteam up you’re your friends to complete a Pantheon challenge, play some Dungeons, battle Distortions on destinations, and more. We also have a very thorough guide covering this update on Bungie Help.
Following the release of Update 9.7.0 on June 9, 2026, Destiny 2 will no longer receive planned live-service content updates. Please view ou
Q) Where can I find other people to play with?
A) Check out Fireteam Finder, our in-game LFG (looking for group) tool. You can access it from the roster screen.
Q) I haven't played since Forsaken/Shadowkeep/Beyond Light/Witch Queen/Lightfall, what's new?
A) Welcome back. There is a lot of content for you to discover, from Campaigns and Expansions, to Destinations you can explore. There are also some Raids available to all players such as Vault of Glass, King’s Fall, and Crota’s End. If you are looking for your first steps, check in with Shaw Han in the Cosmodrome to complete the New Light quest.
Q) Where did my Legendary Shards and Planetary Materials go?
A) Both currencies were deprecated and are no longer required for gear infusion. If you still have them in your inventory, some of these deprecated currencies can be exchanged for other currencies with Rahool in the Tower.
Q) What happened to Bounties and how do I progress with Vendors?
A) Most bounties were deprecated, except for Destination-specific and Clan bounties. Beginning on June 9, vendor reputation is progressed by playing certain activities (Vanguard, Crucible, Gambit, etc.) or by completing missions and bounties on Destinations. There is an informational tooltip in each vendor’s inventory screen that explains how to gain reputation with them.
Q) What is Guardian Rank and why is it important?
A) Guardian Ranks are an overall progression system in Destiny 2. Completing higher Guardian Ranks unlock certain systems, like Loadouts and mods. Guardian Ranks also prove to others you are proficient in Destiny 2.
Q) How do I get more Special (Green) and Heavy (Purple) ammo?What happened to Primary (White) ammo?
A) With The Edge of Fate, we improved the ammo generation systems of Destiny 2. While Primary Ammo remains infinite, Special and Heavy ammo now drop when you fill their respective ammo generation bars at the bottom left of your HUD, below your weapons and abilities HUD element. Your Weapons stat on your Armor determines how fast those fill up. You can increase your weapons stat by using Armor mods or receiving Armor with a high weapons stat.
Q) What do all of these weapon perks do?
A) Most weapon perks offer informational tooltips. Hover over the weapon perk and it will tell you what it does. The best way to figure out how a weapon works is to use it!
Q) Where did Resilience, Recovery, and the old Armor stats go?
A) Armor stats in Destiny 2 have been reworked as part of The Edge of Fate, with a greater focus on specific areas of combat. For example: The Health stat increases the amount of health you gain each time you pick up and Orb of Power, as well as reducing flinching from incoming fire while aiming a weapon. The Melee stat reduces your melee cooldown and increases the amount of melee energy you gain from all sources. Open your character and hover over each of the stat icons on the right side to read more about what each stat does and how it can improve your build.
Q) What are Armor Set Bonuses and how do I use them?
A) Armor Set Bonuses are additional bonuses that activate when you are wearing 2 and 4 pieces of the same set of armor. For example, wearing a Helmet and an Arms piece of the Ferropotent Armor Set enables the Rapid Repair perk, which grants flinch resistance and damage resistance for a short time upon your shields beginning to regenerate.
Q) Will the Power cap be increasing in Monument of Triumph?
A) There is no Power Level increase for Monument of Triumph. The maximum power cap will be 550.
Q) What about Powerful and Pinnacle Gear?
A) Powerful gear now loosely refers to anything that provides your Guardian with a power boost.
Q) What do I need to own to access Stasis, Strand, and Prismatic?
A) To access Stasis, Strand, and Prismatic...
🧊 Stasis: Complete the Beyond Light campaign on Europa, which is available to all players.
❇️ Strand: Progress through the Lightfall campaign on Neomuna, which requires ownership of the Lightfall expansion.
🔺 Prismatic: Progress through The Final Shape campaign in the Pale Heart, which requires ownership of The Final Shape expansion.
Q) What are Aspects and Fragments? How do I get them?
A) Aspects and Fragments are ways to build your Guardian’s subclass into your preferred playstyle. Aspects are abilities that grow your build and provide energy for Fragments, perks that modify your character’s abilities.
💠 You can unlock Aspects and Fragments for Arc, Solar, and Void subclasses by visiting Ikora at the Tower and purchasing them with Glimmer.
🧊 You can unlock Aspects and Fragments for Stasis by visiting The Exo Stranger in Beyond on Europa.
❇️ You can unlock Aspects and Fragments for Strand by visiting the Pouka Pond in the Hall of Heroes on Neomuna.
🔺 You can unlock Aspects and Fragments for Prismatic by completing main missions, adventures, side missions and additional objectives in The Pale Heart.
Q) I have a question that this post doesn't cover.
A) Ask your question in the comments.
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