Hello, Guardian! Ready to dive into the heart of the fight and prove your worth to the Vanguard? Excellent! You've come to the right place. Navigating the world of Destiny 2 can be a little tricky, but accessing the Vanguard screen is a fundamental step to engaging in some of the most classic PvE activities the game has to offer. Let's get you there.
Step 1: Open Your Director - The Gateway to All Activities!
First things first, you need to bring up your Director. This is your main hub for all things Destiny 2, where you can see planets, activities, quests, and more.
On PC: Press the
M
key on your keyboard.On PlayStation: Press the
Touchpad
on your controller.On Xbox: Press the
View button
on your controller (the one with two squares).
Did you see it pop up? Excellent. You're now looking at the Director, the central nervous system of your Guardian's world. Now let's move on to finding the right destination.
How To Get To Vanguard Screen Destiny 2 |
Step 2: Navigate to the Destinations Tab
When you first open the Director, you'll likely be on the map of your current location or in the "Destinations" tab. The Director has several tabs at the top of the screen: Destinations, Quests, Roster, Season, and Store.
QuickTip: Ask yourself what the author is trying to say.
Check the top-left corner of your screen. You should see the
Destinations
tab selected. If you're not on it, simply navigate to it using your mouse or controller.
This is where you choose your adventure! You'll see icons for all the different planets and locations you can visit, from the bustling Tower to the frozen wastes of Europa. But we're not heading to a planet just yet.
Step 3: Locate the Vanguard Icon
Now for the main event! The Vanguard screen isn't a planet you land on, but a dedicated activity hub. It's prominently featured on your Destinations map.
Look at the top left section of your Destinations screen. You will see a cluster of icons for the game's core ritual activities. These are typically arranged side-by-side.
Find the icon that represents the Vanguard. It's a stylized shield with a star on it, and it will be labeled
Vanguard
.You'll likely see it alongside icons for
Crucible
(PvP) andGambit
(a PvE/PvP hybrid).
It can be easy to miss if you're not looking in the right spot! The UI has changed over the years, so if you're a returning player, it might be in a different place than you remember. Remember to look up!
Step 4: Select the Vanguard Screen
Tip: Don’t skim — absorb.
Once you've located the Vanguard icon, simply select it.
On PC: Left-click the icon.
On Console: Hover over the icon and press
X
(PlayStation) orA
(Xbox).
Congratulations! You are now on the Vanguard screen.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Vanguard Screen
Now that you're here, what exactly are you looking at? This screen is your launchpad for all Vanguard-related activities. You'll typically find:
Vanguard Ops Playlist: This is the main playlist for Strikes and Battlegrounds. It's a great way to earn gear, level up your Vanguard reputation, and complete bounties. It's a simple, matchmade activity.
Nightfall: A more challenging version of a Strike. These have varying difficulties (Hero, Legend, Master, Grandmaster) and offer better rewards. They also have modifiers that can make them significantly tougher. Master and Grandmaster Nightfalls often require a pre-made fireteam, as matchmaking is disabled.
Onslaught: A wave-based defense mode introduced with Into the Light. It's a fantastic way to farm for re-issued BRAVE weapons. You can choose a 10-wave playlist or a more challenging 50-wave version.
You can also see your current Vanguard Rank and your progress toward the next reward. This is where you'll interact with the Pathfinder system, which has replaced bounties and other challenges for ritual activities.
QuickTip: Reading regularly builds stronger recall.
Step 5: Launching Your Activity
From the Vanguard screen, simply select the activity you want to play. You'll see the details of the activity, including the recommended Power Level and any active modifiers.
Select your desired activity.
If it's a matchmade activity like Vanguard Ops, you can just launch it. The game will automatically find other Guardians to play with.
If it's a non-matchmade activity like a high-level Nightfall, you'll need to either go in solo or invite friends to your Fireteam.
That's it! You're ready to take on the forces of the Darkness and earn some well-deserved loot. Enjoy the grind, Guardian!
10 Related FAQ Subheadings
How to find Commander Zavala in the Tower? Commander Zavala, the head of the Vanguard, is located in the Tower, the main social hub. He can be found in the main courtyard, standing in front of the large table and map.
How to increase my Vanguard Rank? You increase your Vanguard Rank by completing Vanguard activities, such as Vanguard Ops and Nightfalls. Completing activities consecutively will build a streak, which increases your reputation gains.
QuickTip: Pause at lists — they often summarize.
How to get Vanguard Engrams? You earn Vanguard Engrams as you increase your Vanguard Rank. You can then take these engrams to Commander Zavala in the Tower to decrypt them for Vanguard-specific gear and weapons.
How to start a Nightfall strike? You can start a Nightfall from the Vanguard screen in the Director. Select the Nightfall option and choose your desired difficulty.
How to play Vanguard Ops with friends? To play Vanguard Ops with friends, simply form a fireteam with them in orbit before you launch the activity from the Vanguard screen. The game will match you with one other Guardian to fill out the fireteam of three.
How to check my weekly Vanguard challenges?
Your weekly Vanguard challenges are now part of the Pathfinder system, which you can access from the Vanguard screen itself. You can also find them in the Director under the Seasonal Challenges
tab.
How to find the Vanguard Armory? The "Vanguard Armory" is more of a vendor concept than a physical location. You can find the Vanguard Quartermaster, Roni 55-30, near Commander Zavala in the Tower. They sell a variety of Vanguard gear.
How to get better gear from Vanguard activities? To get better gear, focus on completing higher-difficulty activities like Nightfalls on Legend or Master difficulty. These activities have a better chance of dropping high-stat armor and powerful weapons.
How to play Onslaught? Onslaught is also available from the Vanguard screen. Simply select the Onslaught node and choose either the 10-wave playlist or the 50-wave version to begin.
How to earn Bright Dust from Vanguard activities? You can earn Bright Dust by completing weekly challenges from the Pathfinder system on the Vanguard screen. The first completion of a Pathfinder node each week gives a significant amount of Bright Dust.