Of course, Guardian! Let's get you set up to farm those Vanguard Engrams. Whether you're a New Light or a seasoned veteran, understanding the most efficient ways to earn these crucial items is key to getting those sweet ritual weapons, high-stat armor, and powerful weapon rolls.
First things first, let me ask you a question. Are you ready to make Commander Zavala proud? If the answer is a resounding "yes!", then let's get into the nitty-gritty of becoming a Vanguard legend and drowning in purple pyramids.
Step 1: Understand What a Vanguard Engram Is
Before we start grinding, let's clarify what we're after. A Vanguard Engram is a Legendary Engram that you earn specifically from completing Vanguard activities. These engrams contain a random Legendary Vanguard weapon or armor piece. The real magic, however, lies in their ability to be "focused" at Commander Zavala in the Tower.
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What does "focusing" mean? Focusing allows you to spend your Vanguard Engrams and other materials to guarantee a specific item drops from a vendor's loot pool. For example, if you're hunting for a specific Nightfall weapon like the Hothead Rocket Launcher, you can spend your Vanguard Engrams at Zavala to get a focused roll, significantly increasing your chances of getting that "god roll" you've been dreaming of.
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| How To Get Vanguard Engrams |
Step 2: The Core Method - Play Vanguard Activities
This is the most straightforward and essential step. Vanguard Engrams are a reward for engaging with the Vanguard-related playlists. The more you play, the more Engrams you'll earn.
Sub-heading: Vanguard Ops Playlist
This is your bread and butter for farming Vanguard reputation and, by extension, Vanguard Engrams. The playlist consists of a rotation of Strikes and Battlegrounds. Each completion grants you Vanguard Rank, which is the primary source of your Engrams.
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Grind, Grind, Grind: The key here is repetition. Get a fireteam together or dive in solo and just keep running strikes. The faster you complete them, the more you can do in a session.
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Activity Streak: Pay close attention to your Activity Streak. This is a hidden multiplier that increases your Vanguard Rank gains for consecutive completions without leaving the playlist or going to a different destination.
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Streak 1: +3 Vanguard Rank
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Streak 2: +6 Vanguard Rank
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Streak 3: +9 Vanguard Rank
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Streak 4: +12 Vanguard Rank
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Streak 5: +15 Vanguard Rank (and it caps here)
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To maintain your streak, just go to orbit and re-queue after each strike. Don't go to the Tower or any other destination.
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Sub-heading: Nightfalls
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
Nightfalls are the tougher, weekly-rotating versions of strikes with modifiers and higher power level requirements. They are a fantastic source of Vanguard Rank and offer a better chance at Vanguard Engram drops, especially on higher difficulties.
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Difficulty Matters: The higher the difficulty, the greater the Vanguard Rank multiplier.
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Hero: x1 multiplier
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Legend: x1.2 multiplier
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Master: x1.4 multiplier
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Grandmaster (GM): x1.5 multiplier (and a guaranteed Adept weapon drop with a Platinum score!)
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The Platinum Grind: Aim for a Platinum score by defeating all Champions. This gives you a significant boost to your Vanguard Rank and rewards.
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The Best Nightfalls to Farm: Look for Nightfalls that are quick and easy to complete. Strikes like Lake of Shadows, The Arms Dealer, and any of the Cosmodrome strikes are generally considered the best for farming due to their linear paths and easy bosses. Avoid the longer ones like The Corrupted or Scarlet Keep if you're trying to be efficient.
Step 3: Supercharge Your Gains
Now that you know the core methods, let's talk about how to optimize your farming.
Sub-heading: Double Vanguard Rank Weeks
Keep an eye on the weekly reset. Bungie will often have weeks with Double Vanguard Rank gains. This is the absolute best time to grind, as your progress is dramatically accelerated. A few hours of farming during these weeks can get you a full Vanguard Rank reset, netting you a ton of Engrams and other rewards.
Sub-heading: Using a Ghost Mod
Make sure you equip a Ghost mod that increases Glimmer, XP, or reputation gains. While there isn't a direct "Vanguard Engram drop rate" mod, increasing your general gains helps you level up faster and get more rewards, including Engrams.
Step 4: Visit Commander Zavala
QuickTip: Skim first, then reread for depth.
Once you've collected a bunch of Vanguard Engrams, it's time to cash them in. Head to the Tower and speak with Commander Zavala.
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Check Your Rank: You'll earn Vanguard Engrams at specific rank-up intervals. Be sure to claim them from Zavala's reward track.
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Focusing Your Engrams: This is where you turn your Engrams into specific loot.
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Focused Decoding: This tab offers newer weapons and armor that have been in the loot pool for the past year or so.
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Legacy Gear: This tab contains older armor sets and weapons. They are slightly more expensive to focus, but it's a great way to hunt for that classic gear you missed.
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Adept Weapons: If you have Nightfall Ciphers (which drop from Grandmaster Nightfalls) and a Vanguard Engram, you can focus for Adept versions of Nightfall weapons. These are the best of the best with enhanced stats and the ability to use Adept mods.
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Pro-Tip: If you have enough resources, you can keep focusing a specific weapon or armor piece until you get the perfect roll. It's a true endgame grind.
Step 5: The Post-Final Shape Landscape
With the release of The Final Shape, the loot landscape is always evolving. However, the core methods for earning Vanguard Engrams remain consistent. The Vanguard Ops and Nightfall playlists will continue to be your primary source. The new Onslaught activity, a wave-based defense mode, is also a great place to farm, as it is a Vanguard activity.
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Keep an eye on community guides and news for the most efficient farming methods for the current season. Sometimes, a specific strike might be bugged, or a certain week's Nightfall might be exceptionally easy to speed-run, making it the go-to farm.
Now, go out there and show the enemies of humanity what the Vanguard is made of!
10 Related FAQ Subheadings with Quick Answers
How to check my Vanguard Rank?
You can check your Vanguard Rank by hovering over the Vanguard Ops playlist on your Director or by visiting Commander Zavala in the Tower.
Tip: Reread key phrases to strengthen memory.
How to reset my Vanguard Rank?
Once you reach the maximum Vanguard Rank (10,000 reputation points), you can speak with Commander Zavala to reset your rank. This will award you with an Ascendant Shard and reset his reward track, allowing you to earn more rewards.
How to get Nightfall Ciphers?
Nightfall Ciphers are a special currency that drops from completing Grandmaster Nightfalls. They are required to focus Adept versions of Nightfall weapons at Commander Zavala.
How to increase my Vanguard Rank fast?
The fastest way to increase your Vanguard Rank is to farm Nightfalls on higher difficulties (Master or Grandmaster) during a Double Vanguard Rank week, while maintaining a high Activity Streak.
How to get Vanguard weapons?
You can get Vanguard weapons by earning Vanguard Engrams and either having them drop as a random reward from the Engram or by focusing them at Commander Zavala in the Tower.
QuickTip: Go back if you lost the thread.
How to farm for a specific Vanguard weapon roll?
Once you have obtained a Vanguard weapon, you can farm for a specific roll by focusing Vanguard Engrams at Commander Zavala for that specific weapon.
How to open a Vanguard Engram?
You don't "open" a Vanguard Engram in your inventory. You take it to Commander Zavala in the Tower and either focus it into a specific item or allow it to be automatically decoded when you rank up.
How to get a Vanguard Engram from a strike?
Vanguard Engrams are a primary reward for increasing your Vanguard Rank. You earn reputation for completing strikes, and at certain reputation levels, you'll be rewarded with an Engram. They are not a guaranteed drop at the end of every activity.
How to get Vanguard Engrams after The Final Shape?
The methods for earning Vanguard Engrams remain the same after The Final Shape. Continue to play Vanguard Ops, Nightfalls, and Onslaught to increase your Vanguard Rank and earn Engrams.
How to make sure I don't lose my Activity Streak?
To maintain your Activity Streak, always return to orbit after a strike and then re-queue for the next one. Do not go to the Tower, the HELM, or any other destination in between activities.
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