Welcome, Guardian. So, you're ready to answer the call of the Vanguard? Whether you're a fresh face just starting your journey or a returning veteran looking to get back into the swing of things, the Vanguard Ops playlist is your go-to destination for PvE action in Destiny 2. It's a fantastic way to earn gear, level up, and hone your skills against the galaxy's most dangerous foes.
Let's dive in and break down exactly how you can become a champion of the Vanguard.
Step 1: Locate the Vanguard Ops Playlist
First things first, you need to know where to go.
Open your Director: From anywhere in the game, open your Director (the map of the solar system).
Navigate to the Vanguard tab: Look at the top of the screen. You'll see tabs for destinations like the Tower, Crucible, Gambit, and Vanguard. Click on the Vanguard tab.
Select Vanguard Ops: You'll see a few different options here, including Nightfalls and Onslaught. For this guide, you want to focus on the Vanguard Ops playlist, which is a matchmade activity. This means the game will automatically find two other Guardians for you to play with, so you don't need to worry about finding a fireteam beforehand. It's perfect for solo players!
Think of the Vanguard Ops playlist as a random lottery of strikes and battlegrounds. When you launch it, you'll be dropped into one of many different missions, from fighting the Cabal in the EDZ to battling the Vex on Nessus. Each one is a unique adventure, and you'll never know what you'll get!
Step 2: Prepare Your Guardian
Now that you know where to go, let's talk about what to bring. While Vanguard Ops isn't the hardest content in the game, being prepared will make your runs smoother and more rewarding.
Sub-step 2.1: Check Your Power Level
Look at the recommended Power Level for the playlist. While you can technically launch it even if you're below the recommended level, you'll have a much easier time if you are at or above it. Your gear and character will have a higher damage output and will take less damage.
Sub-step 2.2: Optimize Your Loadout
This is where you can have some fun and experiment!
Weapons: Bring a variety of weapon types. An Auto Rifle or SMG is great for clearing out groups of enemies (known as 'adds'), a Sniper or Fusion Rifle can handle tougher enemies or bosses, and a Rocket Launcher or Machine Gun is fantastic for dealing with a boss's health bar. Try to mix it up and see what feels good!
Subclass: Your subclass is a powerful tool. A good build can make a huge difference. For example, a Solar Warlock with a healing rift can keep your team alive, while a Void Hunter can use their super to clear out a room full of enemies. Don't be afraid to experiment with different abilities, grenades, and aspects.
Armor Mods: Armor mods are crucial for boosting your power. Check your armor pieces and equip mods that synergize with your weapons and subclass. For example, if you're using a lot of grenade abilities, equip some mods that reduce your grenade cooldown. If you're using a machine gun, equip mods that give you more heavy ammo.
Step 3: Run the Activity and Complete Bounties
Once you're ready, hit the launch button and get ready for action!
Sub-step 3.1: Engage with Your Fireteam
Even though it's a matchmade activity, a little bit of teamwork goes a long way.
Stick together: Don't run off on your own! It's much easier to take down enemies when you're all shooting at the same target.
Revive your teammates: If a teammate goes down, try to revive them. It helps the whole team and earns you a few points towards your score.
Use your Super: Don't save your Super for the boss! Use it to clear out a room of enemies or to get out of a tough spot. You'll generate orbs of power for your teammates to use their supers too.
Sub-step 3.2: Complete Bounties
While you're playing, you should always be working on bounties.
What are bounties? Bounties are small tasks you can pick up from vendors in the Tower, like Commander Zavala. They give you XP and Glimmer, and completing them helps you level up your season pass and your Vanguard rank.
Where to get them: You can get Vanguard bounties from Commander Zavala in the Tower Courtyard. Make sure you pick them up before you start your Vanguard Ops runs!
Why they matter: Completing bounties is a key part of the Destiny 2 grind. It's how you get a lot of your rewards and progress your character.
Step 4: Claim Your Rewards and Increase Your Vanguard Rank
Once you've finished the strike or battleground, you'll be sent back to orbit. But the journey isn't over yet!
Sub-step 4.1: Check the Loot
After completing a Vanguard Ops activity, you'll be rewarded with gear and engrams. These can be anything from legendary weapons and armor to upgrade materials.
Vanguard Engrams: You'll also earn Vanguard Engrams, which you can take to Commander Zavala in the Tower and focus for specific weapons from the Vanguard loot pool. This is a great way to hunt for a 'god roll' on a weapon you want.
Sub-step 4.2: Increase Your Vanguard Rank
Completing Vanguard Ops activities will increase your Vanguard Rank with Commander Zavala. The more activities you complete, the higher your rank goes.
Rank Rewards: As you increase your rank, you'll earn rewards from Zavala, including legendary gear, upgrade materials like Enhancement Cores and Prisms, and even an Ascendant Shard at max rank.
Vanguard Streak: If you complete activities in a row, you'll build a Vanguard Streak, which increases the amount of reputation you earn. Keep running the playlist to maximize your gains!
Resetting Your Rank: Once you reach the maximum rank (Legend), you can reset it with Zavala to earn even more rewards. This is how you unlock unique ritual weapons and their ornaments.
Remember, consistency is key! The more you play, the more you'll earn and the faster you'll progress. So load up that playlist and get to work, Guardian!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to get Vanguard Bounties in Destiny 2? You can get Vanguard Bounties from Commander Zavala in the Tower Courtyard. He offers daily and weekly bounties that you can complete while playing Vanguard Ops.
How to increase my Vanguard Rank fast? The fastest way to increase your Vanguard Rank is by playing Vanguard Ops and Nightfalls, especially during weeks with a "Double Vanguard Rank" bonus. Completing bounties and building a Vanguard Streak also significantly boosts your reputation gains.
How to get Nightfall weapons in Destiny 2? Nightfall weapons are exclusive rewards from the Nightfall playlist. They have a chance to drop upon completion, with a higher drop rate on higher difficulties and a guaranteed drop with a Platinum score on Grandmaster difficulty.
How to get a Platinum score in a Nightfall? To get a Platinum score, you need to defeat all the Champions in the strike. Make sure your fireteam has the appropriate anti-Champion mods from the seasonal artifact.
How to get Adept Nightfall weapons? Adept Nightfall weapons are a guaranteed drop for getting a Platinum score in a Grandmaster Nightfall. They have enhanced stats and can equip Adept mods.
How to focus Vanguard Engrams? You can focus your Vanguard Engrams by visiting Commander Zavala in the Tower. You can spend them on specific Vanguard weapons from the loot pool to try and get a better roll.
How to unlock the Vanguard Ops playlist? The Vanguard Ops playlist is available to all players from the start of the game. You simply need to open your Director and navigate to the Vanguard tab.
How to find a fireteam for Nightfalls? While Vanguard Ops has matchmaking, higher-difficulty Nightfalls like Master and Grandmaster do not. You can use the in-game Fireteam Finder, the official Destiny 2 Companion App, or external LFG (Looking for Group) websites and Discord servers to find teammates.
How to check the weekly Nightfall weapon? The weekly Nightfall weapon rotates every Tuesday. You can check the current weapon by hovering over the Nightfall playlist in the Director, or by checking community websites and apps like TodayInDestiny or the official Companion App.
How to get Enhancement Prisms and Ascendant Shards from Vanguard? You can get Enhancement Prisms and Ascendant Shards from Commander Zavala as rank-up rewards when you reach higher Vanguard ranks. Grandmaster Nightfalls are also a great source for these valuable upgrade materials.
