Of course, Guardian! Let's get you set up and ready to face the Darkness. Getting Vanguard bounties is a core part of the Destiny 2 experience, and a great way to earn XP, rank up with Zavala, and get some sweet loot.
Let's begin, shall we? Strap in, because it's time to get to work.
A Note on the New System
Before we dive in, a crucial update: as of the release of The Final Shape expansion, the traditional system of picking up bounties from Zavala has been replaced for the core Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit playlists. Instead, you now use the Ritual Pathfinder system. While the bounty system still exists for other vendors and activities, the steps below will guide you through the new, more streamlined process for the core Vanguard activities.
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| How To Get Vanguard Bounties Destiny 2 |
Step 1: The Gateway to Glory - The Director
QuickTip: Re-reading helps retention.
First things first, let's open up your navigation. You can't start a mission without a map, right?
Open the Director: Press the designated key/button to bring up your Director (e.g.,
Mon PC, touchpad on PlayStation, view button on Xbox). This is your central hub for all things Destiny 2.Navigate to the Vanguard Node: On the Director screen, you'll see several destinations and activities. Look for the Vanguard Operations node. It's the one with the Vanguard symbol, a stylized circle with a triangle in the middle.
Feeling a little lost? Don't worry, even the most seasoned Guardians get turned around in the Tower. Just remember that the Director is your friend!
Step 2: Unlocking the Pathfinder
The old bounty board is gone, but something even better has taken its place.
Select the Vanguard Operations Node: Click on the Vanguard Operations icon. This will take you to a new screen.
Find the Pathfinder: On the left side of the screen, you'll see a new interface called the Vanguard Pathfinder. This is where you'll find your objectives. It's a branching path of challenges, and completing them rewards you with Vanguard reputation and other goodies.
Inspect the Paths: Each node on the Pathfinder represents an objective. You'll see things like "Complete strikes," "Defeat enemies with a specific weapon type," or "Get final blows with abilities." The first step on a path is always active and ready to be completed.
QuickTip: Read in order — context builds meaning.
Step 3: Completing Your Objectives and Claiming Rewards
Now for the fun part: getting your hands dirty.
Engage in Vanguard Operations: Jump into the Vanguard playlist. This includes Strike playlists, Nightfalls, and the new seasonal activities. The objectives on your Pathfinder will automatically track as you play.
Track Your Progress: You can always check your progress on the Pathfinder from the Director. As you complete an objective, the node will fill with a green bar.
Claim Your Rewards: Once you complete an objective, a notification will pop up. Return to the Pathfinder in the Director to claim your reward and unlock the next node on the path. This is a key difference from the old system, where you had to return to the Tower to turn in bounties.
Step 4: The Weekly Challenge and Repeatable Paths
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The Pathfinder has a rhythm to it, and understanding it will maximize your rewards.
Weekly Resets: The entire Pathfinder resets every Tuesday at the weekly reset. This is when a new set of challenges becomes available. Make sure to complete as many paths as you can before the reset!
Completion Rewards: Each completed path node gives you a reward, and completing an entire path gives you a larger reward, including a significant amount of Vanguard reputation.
Repeatable Paths: After you've completed a certain number of paths each week, you'll unlock repeatable Pathfinder nodes. These are great for grinding out additional reputation and XP. They don't offer as much reward as the weekly paths, but they're a great way to keep earning while you play.
QuickTip: Skim for bold or italicized words.
Step 5: Don't Forget Other Vendors!
While the core Vanguard bounties from Zavala are now part of the Pathfinder, other vendors still offer traditional bounties you can pick up.
Banshee-44, the Gunsmith: He offers daily and weekly bounties for defeating enemies with specific weapon types. Completing these is a great way to earn Gunsmith reputation and Enhancement Cores.
Ada-1, the Armor Synthesis Vendor: She offers bounties for getting synthcord, which you can use to unlock cosmetic armor ornaments.
Event Vendors: During seasonal events like the Dawning or Solstice, special event vendors like Eva Levante will appear in the Tower, offering daily and weekly bounties that often reward Bright Dust. These are a fantastic source of this valuable currency!
Destination Vendors: Each planetary destination has a vendor who offers bounties specific to that location. These are great for earning planetary materials and XP.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to get Vanguard bounties in Destiny 2 in 2025? As of The Final Shape, you no longer get bounties from Commander Zavala. Instead, you get your objectives from the new Vanguard Pathfinder found in the Director under the Vanguard Operations node.
How to find Commander Zavala in Destiny 2? You can still find Commander Zavala in his usual spot in the Tower Courtyard, standing in front of the large Vanguard table. While he no longer gives you bounties, you still visit him to rank up your Vanguard reputation and focus engrams.
QuickTip: Read actively, not passively.
How to get daily Vanguard bounties? Daily Vanguard objectives are now part of the Vanguard Pathfinder system, which refreshes daily. Simply open the Director, go to Vanguard Operations, and check the Pathfinder for your new daily objectives.
How to get weekly Vanguard bounties? The Vanguard Pathfinder is your source for weekly objectives, which are larger, multi-step challenges that reset every Tuesday. Completing an entire path will grant you a substantial reputation bonus.
How to get Bright Dust from Vanguard activities? You can earn Bright Dust from Vanguard activities by completing the Vanguard Pathfinder paths that have Bright Dust as a reward. Additionally, keep an eye out for weekly bounties from seasonal event vendors like Eva Levante, who offer bounties with Bright Dust rewards during events.
How to increase my Vanguard reputation? You increase your Vanguard reputation by completing objectives on the Vanguard Pathfinder, completing strikes, and completing Nightfalls. Turning in completed paths to the Pathfinder will grant you a significant reputation boost.
How to get the New Light "On the Offensive" quest done? The "On the Offensive" quest from the New Light campaign now directs you to complete Vanguard activities and objectives within the new Pathfinder system. The quest will track your progress as you complete the nodes on the Pathfinder.
How to tell the difference between daily and weekly paths on the Pathfinder? The Vanguard Pathfinder displays both daily and weekly objectives. Weekly paths are larger, multi-step chains, while daily objectives are smaller, single-step nodes that refresh more frequently.
How to abandon a Pathfinder objective? You can't directly "abandon" a Pathfinder objective like you could with a traditional bounty. However, if you don't want to complete a path, you can simply ignore it. The paths will reset on their own with the weekly refresh.
How to find out which weapons to use for a Pathfinder objective? The description of each node on the Vanguard Pathfinder will tell you exactly what you need to do, including the type of weapon or ability to use. Pay close attention to the details to ensure you're making progress.
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