Alright, Guardian! Are you ready to dive deep into the world of Destiny 2 and unlock the secrets of "Vanguard Ciphers"? If you've been wondering how to get your hands on these elusive items and what magical uses they hold, you've come to the right place. Let's get started on this comprehensive journey!
How to Get Vanguard Ciphers in Destiny 2: A Comprehensive Guide
Vanguard Ciphers, more accurately referred to as Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) and sometimes confused with Exotic Ciphers, are a crucial currency in Destiny 2, primarily used for obtaining specific high-tier rewards. Understanding their acquisition and utility is key to optimizing your endgame grind.
Step 1: Understanding the Different "Ciphers" and What You're Really After!
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of obtaining them, it's vital to clarify that there are a few different types of "ciphers" in Destiny 2. This guide focuses on Nightfall Ciphers (Adept), which are specifically tied to Nightfall Strikes and the pursuit of Adept Nightfall Weapons.
- Exotic Ciphers: These are used for acquiring new Exotic weapons from the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower or for getting additional Fated Engrams from Xur. You generally get these from the Season Pass and Xur's weekly quest, "Xenology."
- Vanguard Ciphers (Adept) / Nightfall Ciphers (Adept): This is what most players are referring to when they talk about "Vanguard Ciphers" in the context of getting specific gear. These are used to focus Adept versions of Nightfall weapons at Commander Zavala.
So, if you're looking to get those highly coveted Adept Nightfall weapons with enhanced perks and an extra mod slot, then Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) are your target! Ready to earn them? Let's go!
Step 2: Conquering the Grandmaster Nightfall: The Primary Source
The most consistent and reliable way to earn Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) is by venturing into the most challenging PvE activity in the Vanguard playlist: Grandmaster Nightfall Strikes.
Sub-heading 2.1: What are Grandmaster Nightfalls?
Grandmaster Nightfalls (often abbreviated as GMs) are the pinnacle difficulty of Nightfall Strikes. They feature:
- Significantly increased enemy power levels, often putting you at a significant disadvantage.
- Tons of Champions (Barrier, Overload, Unstoppable) that require specific mod combinations to defeat.
- Unique modifiers that make the strike much more difficult, such as increased incoming damage, limited revives, and sometimes even environmental hazards.
- A weekly rotation of strikes, meaning only one Nightfall is available as a Grandmaster each week.
Sub-heading 2.2: Preparing for the Grandmaster Challenge
Before you even think about tackling a Grandmaster, you need to be prepared. This isn't your average strike!
- Reach the Max Power Level: You'll need to be at the artifact cap (or very close to it) for the current season. Grandmaster Nightfalls have a fixed power cap, and being below it makes them exponentially harder.
- Assemble a Coordinated Fireteam: Do not attempt Grandmaster Nightfalls solo. You need a full fireteam of three guardians, ideally with good communication. LFG (Looking for Group) sites and the official Destiny 2 Companion App are great resources for finding teammates.
- Optimize Your Loadout: This is critical.
- Anti-Champion Mods: Ensure every member of your fireteam has the necessary anti-champion mods equipped for the Champions present in that week's Nightfall.
- Elemental Matching: Match your weapon and subclass elements to the enemy shields to break them quickly.
- Strategic Exotics & Legendaries: Consider Exotic armor and weapons that provide strong utility, survivability, or high damage output. Examples include Divinity for debuffing, Sleeper Simulant or Linear Fusion Rifles for boss damage, or Aeon Swift/Aeon Safe/Aeon Soul for generating exotic ammo for your team.
- Build Synergy: Discuss builds with your team. A good synergy of subclasses (e.g., Well of Radiance Warlock for healing/damage, Void Hunter for invis/debuff, Thundercrash Titan for burst damage) can make a huge difference.
Sub-heading 2.3: Completing the Grandmaster Nightfall for Ciphers
Once prepared, it's time to run the Grandmaster!
- Execute a Platinum Run: To maximize your Nightfall Cipher (Adept) earnings, you need to achieve a Platinum completion. This means defeating all Champions present in the strike. Missing even one can downgrade your reward.
- Reward Payout:
- A Platinum completion of a Grandmaster Nightfall typically rewards two Nightfall Ciphers (Adept).
- A Gold completion (missing some Champions) will still grant you one cipher, but it's not ideal if you're trying to farm them efficiently.
- Cipher Cap: Keep in mind that you can only hold a maximum of 10 Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) in your inventory at any given time. If you hit the cap, you won't earn any more until you spend them.
Sub-heading 2.4: Leveraging Double Loot Weeks
Bungie occasionally enables "double Nightfall drops" weeks. This is your prime opportunity to farm Nightfall Ciphers! During these weeks, you'll earn four Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) for a Platinum Grandmaster completion, effectively cutting your grind in half. Keep an eye on the weekly reset announcements or community calendars to know when these events are active.
Step 3: The Rare Appearance: Xur's Occasional Offerings
While not a primary farming method, there have been instances where Xur, Agent of the Nine, has sold Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) during his weekly visits.
Sub-heading 3.1: Who is Xur?
Xur is a mysterious vendor who appears in a different location in Destiny 2 every Friday at reset (10 AM PDT / 10:30 PM IST) and departs with the weekly reset on Tuesday. He sells Exotic weapons, Exotic armor, and sometimes rare currencies.
Sub-heading 3.2: Checking Xur's Inventory
- Locate Xur: His location rotates between Nessus (Watcher's Grave), EDZ (Winding Cove), and the Tower (Hangar).
- Inspect His Wares: When you find Xur, check his inventory carefully. While his primary offerings are Exotics, he occasionally has Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) for sale. This is a rare occurrence, but worth checking each weekend if you're in desperate need or want to top off your ciphers without running GMs.
- Cost: If he does sell them, they typically cost a significant amount of Strange Coins (a legacy currency that can sometimes still be earned or is primarily associated with Xur's own inventory) or Legendary Shards.
Step 4: Spending Your Hard-Earned Nightfall Ciphers (Adept)
Once you've accumulated some Nightfall Ciphers (Adept), it's time to put them to good use! Their sole purpose is to acquire Adept Nightfall Weapons from Commander Zavala.
Sub-heading 4.1: Where to Spend Them
Head to the Tower and speak with Commander Zavala, the Vanguard mentor.
Sub-heading 4.2: The Focusing Process
- Access Zavala's Focusing Options: Interact with Zavala, and navigate to his "Focusing" menu.
- Adept Nightfall Weapon Focusing: You will see an option for "Adept Nightfall Weapon Focusing."
- Requirements for Focusing: To focus an Adept Nightfall weapon, you will need:
- 10 Nightfall Ciphers (Adept)
- 1 Vanguard Engram
- A significant amount of Glimmer (typically 50,000)
- Crucially, you must have previously acquired the Adept version of that specific Nightfall weapon at least once from a Grandmaster Nightfall. This means you can't just buy any Adept weapon you want; you need to have had it drop once first. This is a crucial detail that often confuses new players.
- Random Rolls: Focusing an Adept Nightfall weapon will grant you a randomly rolled version of that weapon with Adept perks. This is an excellent way to chase "god rolls" after you've unlocked the initial Adept drop.
Step 5: Tips for Efficient Cipher Farming
- Master the Grandmasters: The best way to get Ciphers is to become proficient at Grandmaster Nightfalls. The quicker and more consistently you can complete them with Platinum rewards, the more ciphers you'll earn.
- Utilize LFG: Don't be afraid to use LFG (Looking for Group) tools to find experienced teams. Many players are constantly farming GMs.
- Check Weekly Rotations: Stay informed about which Nightfall is the Grandmaster each week and what Nightfall weapon is dropping. This helps you prioritize your farming.
- Manage Your Inventory: Remember the 10-cipher cap. Spend them when you're close to max to avoid losing out on potential drops.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to accumulating Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) and using them to acquire powerful Adept Nightfall weapons, bolstering your arsenal for all of Destiny 2's challenges!
10 Related FAQ Questions about Vanguard/Nightfall Ciphers:
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Vanguard/Nightfall Ciphers, starting with "How to" and providing quick answers:
How to use Nightfall Ciphers (Adept)?
You use Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) at Commander Zavala in the Tower's Focusing menu to acquire randomly rolled Adept Nightfall weapons, provided you've already obtained that specific Adept weapon at least once from a Grandmaster Nightfall.
How to get more than 10 Nightfall Ciphers (Adept)?
You cannot hold more than 10 Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) at a time. To get more, you must spend your existing ciphers at Commander Zavala.
How to get Exotic Ciphers instead of Nightfall Ciphers?
Exotic Ciphers are primarily obtained through the Season Pass (at certain ranks) and by completing Xur's weekly quest, "Xenology," which requires completing ritual activities (Strikes, Crucible, Gambit).
How to get Adept Nightfall weapons without Nightfall Ciphers?
Adept Nightfall weapons can directly drop from completing Grandmaster Nightfalls with a Platinum score. Ciphers are for focusing additional rolls after you've already obtained one.
How to increase Nightfall Cipher (Adept) drop chances?
The drop chance for Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) from Grandmaster Nightfalls is guaranteed (2 per Platinum run, 1 per Gold run). The only way to get more per run is during "double Nightfall drops" weeks, where you get 4 per Platinum run.
How to know which Nightfall weapon can be focused with ciphers?
You can only focus the currently featured Adept Nightfall weapon for the week at Commander Zavala using ciphers. The weapon changes with the weekly reset.
How to find Commander Zavala in the Tower?
Commander Zavala is located in the main plaza of the Tower, directly in front of where you spawn in, near the central statue.
How to prepare for Grandmaster Nightfalls to get ciphers?
Prepare by reaching the highest possible power level, assembling a coordinated fireteam, and optimizing your loadouts with anti-champion mods, elemental matching, and strong Exotic/Legendary weapon and armor choices.
How to use Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) if Xur sells them?
If Xur sells Nightfall Ciphers (Adept), you purchase them from him. They then go into your inventory and can be used at Commander Zavala in the Tower, just like those earned from Grandmasters.
How to get "Vanguard Ciphers" in general terms?
In Destiny 2, "Vanguard Ciphers" typically refer to the Nightfall Ciphers (Adept) used for focusing Adept Nightfall weapons. You acquire these primarily from completing Grandmaster Nightfalls and occasionally from Xur. If you mean Exotic Ciphers, those come from the Season Pass and Xur's weekly quest.
