Destiny 2 Garden of Salvation Raid Guide – How To Beat Shadowkeep’s Raid

Garden of Salvation represents Destiny 2’s most mechanically intensive raid experience, pushing fireteams to their absolute limits in coordination, strategic execution, and role mastery. As the premiere endgame activity following Shadowkeep’s launch, this Vex-infested journey through the Black Garden demands that six-player squads operate with near-perfect synchronization. Beyond the thrilling challenge, completing this raid provides essential Pinnacle gear drops that enable power progression beyond the 950 soft cap, making it indispensable for dedicated players seeking endgame advancement.

This complex activity requires every team member to understand and execute specialized roles with precision. Our comprehensive breakdown covers every combat scenario, including detailed strategies for both major boss encounters and precise locations for the raid’s concealed treasure caches. While navigating Garden of Salvation, ambitious guardians can pursue additional hidden rewards including Divinity, the exclusive exotic trace rifle—though acquiring this powerful weapon necessitates solving numerous intricate environmental puzzles. This guide delivers all critical knowledge needed to successfully invade the Black Garden, defeat both the Consecrated and Sanctified Minds, and emerge victorious from Garden of Salvation.

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Divide your fireteam into two specialized squads—Team Alpha maintains engagement with the primary boss entity while Team Bravo advances to unlock the initial gateway and secure the subsequent chamber. This strategic separation requires constant communication and timing precision, as miscoordinated actions can trigger wipe mechanics. Team composition should balance damage output, support capabilities, and mechanical expertise to handle the diverse challenges each section presents.

You’ve got a brief respite here while you dismantle the remaining two forcefield locks, so take advantage of this calm before the storm. The upcoming combat zone represents the most demanding segment of this encounter. After eliminating all three locking mechanisms, your squad must dash across exposed terrain populated by Cyclopes, Overload Minotaurs, and various hostile units. Simultaneously, the Consecrated Mind will translocate to the field’s center and begin deploying Voltaic Overload charges. Essentially, your fireteam needs to compete for these Overloads, collecting them promptly to prevent total team elimination and encounter restart. You’ll also need to evade precision fire from Cyclopes and other adversaries during this mad dash. This segment transforms into an explosive sprint for survival.

Before initiating this phase, critically assess which teammates carry Overload countdowns versus those who don’t—remember, there’s no time pressure during preparation. Players without active timers should immediately rush toward Voltaic Overloads the moment the forcefield dissipates. Your team will likely encounter approximately three Overloads total, so ensure sufficient personnel are positioned to handle them. Remaining members should establish covering fire and attempt to divert enemy attention. The Cyclopes present here constitute a severe danger, as they can incapacitate your Overload collectors and potentially cause complete mission failure. Our squad discovered the optimal countermeasure involved swift, calculated sniper rifle engagements: we employed Honed Edge ammunition in Izanagi’s Burden to eliminate Cyclopes with single shots and rapidly reduce battlefield threats. Keep in mind that velocity remains paramount here and Voltaic Overload management takes precedence. When forced to choose between retrieving an Overload and perishing due to the timer, or allowing it to detonate, sacrificing one operator proves the wiser tactical decision. Regardless, you’ll be traversing extremely hazardous conditions.

All personnel should generally sprint toward the zone’s distant perimeter. Gather all Overloads encountered during transit and continue advancing until you reach the boundary. With its escape routes eliminated, the Consecrated Mind will teleport to safety, concluding the engagement and granting access to reward containers.

The subsequent raid segment involves a platforming challenge through the Undergrowth region. The route ahead isn’t particularly complex—you need to progress generally forward from your initial descent point underground. If you observe shifting barriers attempting to knock you into fatal drops, you’re following the correct path.

This sector also contains a concealed treasure cache to discover. While relatively straightforward to find, it can be easily overlooked by inattentive guardians.

Upon initially entering the Undergrowth, you’ll notice one route extending leftward along a wall, and another tracking the right wall. To reach the chest, proceed left onto the substantial tree root spanning the chasm. Advance to its terminus and gaze across the gap toward the bronze Vex constructs visible in the middle distance. That location represents your target destination.

On the bronze structure’s right flank, you should observe a rectangular platform oscillating vertically like an elevator. It pauses briefly at the apex but reverses direction rapidly upon reaching the base, requiring precise jump timing to board successfully. You’re actually aiming to proceed just beyond this elevator. Land on it when it reaches its lowest position, then disembark to locate a compact aperture in the wall immediately adjacent to its bottom stopping point. Enter this opening to discover the chest. Note that this secret cache provides modifications and color schemes, but no high-level gear. You may obtain duplicate raid equipment you’ve previously unlocked from other engagements, but it will only appear at your present power level.

The forward path is optimally accessed from the area’s right side from the beginning, traversing the large tree roots to leap toward the sections containing deadly moving barriers. While challenging to navigate, the route ahead remains reasonably evident. Beyond the Undergrowth’s opposite side, you’ll encounter the second engagement, requiring you to protect multiple Vex spires from approaching hostiles.

• Divide into two squads: Two operators remain at the initial spire (Spire 1) as Team 1, the remaining four proceed along the left route to the subsequent spire as Team 2.
• Team 1 eliminates the Angelic and protects their assigned spire. Should Vex units offer themselves to it, complete team elimination occurs.

This challenging Destiny 2 activity revolves around systematically securing four spires while managing continuous enemy assaults. The engagement begins with your fireteam splitting responsibilities between capturing new positions and defending acquired ones against relentless waves of combatants.

The central mechanic involves the Enlightenment buff, which becomes essential for overcoming shielded adversaries. Defenders must periodically activate central cubes to establish energy tethers connecting to their assigned spire. This activation grants the crucial Enlightenment status, enabling damage against otherwise invulnerable shielded enemies. The strategic complexity emerges from requiring coordinated two-person teams to successfully generate these buff chains—individual efforts prove insufficient for chain completion.

Strategic mobility becomes available through Vex gates that activate near each captured spire. These teleportation conduits enable rapid transit between adjacent positions, facilitating efficient buff renewal and reinforcement during critical defense moments.

Weapon selection critically impacts your team’s effectiveness throughout this demanding encounter. For primary weapons, consider The Recluse for its exceptional add-clearing potential against swarming enemies. Special weapons like Tractor Cannon provide valuable utility by eliminating multiple minor combatants with single shots and creating breathing room by displacing shielded foes from spire proximity.

Long-range engagement tools prove vital for dealing with Angelic Hydras and distant threats. Sniper rifles offer precision damage against high-priority targets, while grenade launchers deliver area denial and burst damage capabilities. Ensure your fireteam maintains a balanced arsenal capable of handling both swarming enemies and formidable Angelic opponents.

Advanced loadout considerations should include weapons with demolitionist perks for grenade regeneration or trench barrel shotguns for close-range Angelic encounters. Consider checking our comprehensive Weapons Unlock guide for additional armament options that might suit your playstyle.

Initiate the encounter by assigning two guardians to defend Spire 1 while the remaining four form the capture team. The initial defenders should immediately begin establishing Enlightenment chains while clearing the first wave of attackers, including the central Angelic Hydra that activates the tether mechanics.

The capture team proceeds to Spire 2, eliminating all opposition including troublesome Barrier Hobgoblins. Each spire features its own Angelic; defeating this priority target officially secures the position. Upon capturing Spire 2, leave one defender from the capture team behind while three members advance to Spire 3.

Strategic personnel distribution becomes crucial at this stage. Maintain at least one permanent defender per captured spire, with one of the original Spire 1 defenders transitioning to a floating role between Spires 1 and 2. This mobile guardian assists with buff renewal and reinforcement during wave intervals.

When Spire 3 falls under your control, the floating defender can establish permanent residence there, freeing three players to assault Spire 4. Defenders at Spires 1, 2, and 3 should clear their respective assault waves before utilizing Vex gates to mutually reinforce and renew Enlightenment buffs. Timing proves critical—move efficiently during brief respawn windows while maintaining spire integrity.

With all four spires under control, your team configuration should include one dedicated defender per spire plus two floating players facilitating buff renewal and defense support. The encounter dynamically shifts at this milestone, spawning three Angelic Hydras simultaneously at a single spire location.

Vigilance and communication become paramount—team members must consistently call out Angelic spawn locations. The two floating guardians should immediately teleport to the threatened spire using Vex gates, while permanent defenders must eliminate their current wave of shielded enemies before providing reinforcement.

Maintain tight coordination to rapidly eliminate Angelic threats, then systematically renew Enlightenment buffs before defenders return to their assigned positions. This cycle repeats until Angelic enemies have been defeated at each spire location, triggering the collapse of the central arena barrier.

Common coordination failures include defenders abandoning their posts prematurely before clearing shielded enemy waves, resulting in spire recapture. Additionally, teams often underestimate the timing requirements for buff chain formation during intense combat situations. For broader team composition strategies, consult our Class Guide to optimize your fireteam’s capabilities.

The concluding phase requires your entire fireteam to converge on the central arena, where a fifth spire awaits defense alongside an additional buff cube. Angelic combatants spawn from hallway approaches while shielded enemies advance from multiple directions—this represents your ultimate defensive challenge.

Coordinate to ensure at least some teammates maintain Enlightenment for shield destruction. A single buffed shot eliminates any shield, so if buff availability becomes limited, prioritize shield elimination to enable unbuffed allies to finish vulnerable enemies.

Your team will face three distinct waves of Angelics and additional adversaries in the center area. Particularly dangerous are Vex Supplicants—explosive harpies from the Vault of Glass that aggressively charge your position. Defensive supers like Titan Bubbles, Warlock Wells of Radiance, and Hunter Shadowshot tethers provide significant advantage during these intense final moments.

A well-coordinated, appropriately leveled fireteam should encounter minimal difficulty repelling the concluding assaults. Upon successfully clearing the required enemy waves, the encounter concludes with a reward chest containing your hard-earned loot. For comprehensive encounter strategies beyond this guide, explore our Complete Guide for additional strategic insights.

Preventing the Consecrated Mind from eliminating your captured ally requires precise targeting of its illuminated crimson ocular sensors. The boss features six distinct eye positions organized in triangular formation across its dorsal structure—dual optics on the upper crest, with additional pairs on both port and starboard fins. Whenever a player acquires a Voltaic Overload charge, your squad must neutralize one specific eye on each fin to incapacitate the entity. Optimal execution involves designating specific fin responsibilities to each Voltaic team member, with the immobilized player handling the upper crest positioning.

The restrained participant’s critical function involves observing which of the two upper crest eyes illuminates with crimson energy—either the exterior or interior optic. This visual indicator determines which specific eye requires engagement on every fin; non-restrained players perceive both eyes as active simultaneously. The captured individual communicates the target designation verbally, enabling all three combatants to synchronize their fire on the correct ocular targets. Failing to strike the proper eye within the allocated timeframe results in immediate termination of the trapped teammate.

Advanced Coordination Tip: Establish clear callout terminology like “inner” and “outer” to prevent communication errors. The stun window typically lasts 8-10 seconds, requiring rapid target acquisition and execution. Many teams fail by having multiple players shoot different eyes or hesitating too long between callouts and execution.

While the Voltaic Overload squad pursues the mobile boss entity, your remaining fireteam members execute mechanics reminiscent of Gambit gameplay systems. At encounter commencement, one of the four previously secured spires will emit brilliant white luminescence, indicating it requires protection from advancing shielded Vex combatants, mirroring the previous engagement’s defensive requirements. All four spire locations remain visible through the corridors extending from the central combat arena.

Unlike earlier phases, you cannot utilize the conductive chains to obtain the Enlightenment enhancement for spire defense. Your team must instead locate and eliminate Vex Minotaurs, which disperse Voltaic Motes upon destruction—similar to Motes of Darkness in Gambit activities. Each Minotaur yields precisely five motes per elimination. When the Gambit squad neutralizes one, a single player should gather the complete mote set and proceed directly toward the designated spire.

You can deposit these energy fragments into the spire receptacle identical to Gambit banking mechanics. Contributing any quantity of motes (including a single unit) immediately grants the full Enlightenment buff duration. The individual who banks remains stationed at the spire to defend against incoming hostiles, while remaining Gambit members have approximately 40 seconds to locate another Minotaur, eliminate it, and bank subsequent motes to rotate defensive positions.

Maintaining spire integrity throughout the engagement prevents team elimination, but mote banking provides additional strategic benefits. After accumulating 30 total motes deposited, you’ll receive notification that the boss is being attracted to the overloaded spire. Immediately upon this message, all personnel should converge on the spire location, as you’ve initiated the damage phase and must assault the boss to avoid annihilation. The Gambit team should maintain manual tally of deposited motes, as the interface provides no numerical indicators. When approaching the 30-mote threshold, begin directing your entire team toward the spire position.

Pro Strategy: Designate one player as “mote counter” using text chat or voice communication. Experienced teams complete each mote collection cycle in 25-35 seconds, allowing comfortable rotation before the 40-second Enlightenment buff expires.

When the Consecrated Mind arrives at the overloaded spire, it extends its fins and exposes multiple crimson ocular targets. Your entire squad should rapidly eliminate all visible eyes through coordinated fire. The entity will then reveal a brilliant white vulnerability point at its core—this represents your primary damage target. However, the Consecrated Mind simultaneously initiates retrograde movement toward the arena center, progressively increasing targeting difficulty as it withdraws.

Immediately preceding this sequence, quickly deploy a Titan Ward of Dawn with Weapons of Light augmentation and launch a Shadowshot anchor at the boss to impede its retreat velocity. As the entity withdraws, pass through the protective dome to acquire the Weapons of Light damage enhancement, then focus fire on its central weak point using precision sniper rifles; successful loadouts include weapons featuring the Firing Line perk, Whisper of the Worm exotic sniper, and Izanagi’s Burden. Grenade launchers equipped with spike grenades demonstrate respectable performance, as does a Hunter utilizing Golden Gun super combined with Celestial Nighthawk exotic helmet. Your team must inflict sufficient damage to stagger the boss during this phase, otherwise it triggers team elimination; additionally, begin advancing forward promptly because delayed movement results in Vex containment barriers trapping your squad near the spire.

Weapon Tier List: Izanagi’s Burden with catalyst remains top choice for burst damage, followed by Whisper of the Worm for sustained DPS. Grenade launchers with spike grenades and full court provide excellent alternative options for teams lacking exotic snipers.

Following each damage sequence where the boss resumes invulnerability status, repeat the entire process with another activated spire until achieving final elimination. You must complete the encounter within three damage phases to prevent the Consecrated Mind from entering Enraged state, which significantly increases its lethality and attack patterns.

At the beginning of subsequent rounds after damage phases, verify your team’s Voltaic Overload counters, as temporary player reassignment may become necessary to ensure someone can collect Overload charges to prevent team elimination. Similarly, the Overload team should assist with Minotaur eliminations when feasible (while avoiding mote collection), and one Gambit team member should prepare to transition and acquire a Voltaic Overload if all three Overload specialists already possess active counters. Important note: player death clears your Overload timer, enabling you to retrieve the charge again. Throughout the entire engagement, maintain constant awareness of Vex Supplicants, which exhibit rapid mobility and can detonate before visual identification. These units spawn within the extended corridors leading to the spires and typically proceed directly toward the central area. Supplicants frequently position themselves along your return trajectory after collecting Voltaic Overloads, where they can eliminate you immediately upon landing.

Team Management Protocol: Establish clear rotation schedules between Voltaic and Gambit roles. Designate two flexible players who can switch between teams as needed based on Overload counter status and spire defense requirements.

Upon defeating the Consecrated Mind, egress becomes available through the portal behind the rotating corridor. The subsequent path returns you through additional platforming challenges, though these remain relatively straightforward navigation sequences. Continue advancement until reaching a floral meadow featuring arboreal elements and multiple substantial waterfalls of alabaster Vex radiolarian fluid. Your second and concluding concealed reward cache of the raid is situated within this environment.

Reward Insight: This hidden chest typically contains powerful gear, mods, or raid-specific weapons that can significantly enhance your weapons arsenal for subsequent engagements. Successful teams typically complete the entire encounter in 15-25 minutes depending on coordination and experience levels.

Successful raid execution begins with mastering the portal rotation system between your three fireteams. Team 2 initiates the sequence by eliminating enemy combatants and gathering their dropped motes, with a critical threshold of 15 motes required to progress. Once this quota is achieved, they must immediately signal the remaining squad members to target the boss’s right shoulder weak point, triggering the teleportation sequence that returns them to the main arena.

Team 3 then advances through the newly activated portal, replicating the exact collection protocol previously executed by Team 2. This systematic rotation ensures continuous mote acquisition while maintaining defensive positioning. Many teams fail by rushing this phase – proper communication and timing are absolutely essential.

Advanced teams should assign specific roles within each fireteam: one player focuses on add control, another on mote collection, and a third on monitoring the boss’s attack patterns. This specialization dramatically improves efficiency and survival rates during the initial engagement phase.

Following successful portal extraction, Team 2 proceeds to deposit their accumulated motes into the orange spire positioned on the right flank. This critical action grants the Enlightenment buff, which is mandatory for engaging the newly spawned shielded adversaries. Immediately after deposit completion, prioritize eliminating these shielded threats before they overwhelm your position.

Concurrently, Team 3 executes their extraction protocol, signaling allies to facilitate their return from the portal dimension. Upon reentry, they immediately deposit their mote collection and engage the Enlightenment-shielded enemy contingent. The timing between these two team actions must be perfectly synchronized to prevent buff expiration or enemy accumulation.

Team 2 then transitions to the next phase by targeting the boss’s left hip weak point, which activates the blue portal. They advance through this new gateway to commence mote gathering on the opposite side, repeating the established collection and deposit cycle. Proper class selection becomes crucial here, as certain specializations excel at add clear while others optimize mote collection speed.

When both Vex spires reach their maximum capacity of 30 motes each, immediately eliminate the spawning Angelic enemy before focusing on continuous add management. This transitional phase requires precise target prioritization to maintain control of the encounter space.

The boss subsequently generates a substantial plus sign-shaped locking mechanism, colored either blue or orange to correspond with the left or right Vex spire respectively. The designated construction team, augmented by one additional squad member, must rapidly form a connection chain to this lock to initiate the primary damage phase. Speed is absolutely critical during this sequence.

The chain team should then immediately reposition to the alternate Vex spire and establish another connection when the boss manifests a subsequent lock. Meanwhile, all remaining fireteam members concentrate their firepower on the boss’s distinctive white weak point utilizing their most potent available weapon loadouts. Optimal damage output requires coordination between precision weapons for weak point targeting and add-clear weapons for enemy management.

Successfully clearing both locking mechanisms extends the damage phase duration significantly. During this extended window, the entire squad should focus exclusively on dealing maximum damage to the boss with their most effective armaments. Teams that master this phase often achieve single-phase completions, dramatically reducing overall encounter time.

Team synchronization represents the most challenging aspect of this encounter. Establish clear callouts for each phase transition, with designated shot-callers for critical actions like portal activation and lock engagement. The most successful squads use consistent terminology and predetermined roles to minimize confusion during high-pressure moments.

Common failure points include: mismanagement of the 15-mote threshold (collecting too many risks loss, too few halts progress), delayed Enlightenment shield clearing (leading to team wipes), and improper chain formation timing (resulting in missed damage phases). Advanced teams should practice each segment individually before attempting full encounter runs.

Optimization strategies include assigning your most mobile classes to chain duty, positioning long-range specialists for weak point targeting, and ensuring at least one player in each portal team specializes in rapid mote collection. For comprehensive raid preparation, consult our Complete Guide which covers gear preparation, subclass selection, and additional advanced tactics for mastering this challenging content.

Time estimates for mastering this encounter range from 2-4 hours for learning groups to under 30 minutes for optimized teams. Don’t get discouraged by initial failures – this complex mechanics dance requires muscle memory development through repetition and refined communication protocols.

Successfully navigating the portal system requires precise team coordination. When your squad deposits the full 30 motes through the orange portal, that specific spire becomes completely charged and inactive. This creates a critical timing issue—if you’re left holding excess motes, you’ll be unable to acquire the Enlightenment buff necessary for eliminating shielded adversaries.

Execute the sequence properly by rapidly targeting the vulnerability on the boss’s opposite flank. This action generates the blue portal and summons a Cyclops on the arena’s left perimeter. Dispatch your initial team to gather additional motes, which they’ll contribute to the blue spire upon return. Ensure you achieve the complete 30-mote quota; if falling short, deploy additional personnel through the portal until requirements are met. Both spires demand full 30-mote activation; failure to meet this threshold prevents damage phase initiation and leaves your team vulnerable to annihilation mechanics.

While mote collection teams handle portal duties, the builder squad assumes completely different responsibilities. These specialists focus on enemy elimination and preventing the boss from dismantling the combat environment. Throughout the engagement, the Sanctified Mind will gradually transform arena sections to orange, causing those platforms to vanish and instantly eliminate any players positioned there. Though rear platform loss is manageable, sacrificing forward sections severely compromises both survival capabilities and enemy clearance efficiency.

Builders utilize the spires to establish energy connections to various floating cruciform locks scattered throughout the area, thereby restoring the terrain the boss demolishes. Execute this restoration promptly, but ideally during enemy wave intervals—activating the connection nodes and forming chains renders you unable to engage hostiles, potentially creating dangerous scenarios when spire defense becomes paramount.

Typically, two operators can establish connections to most locks, but maintain a third defender on standby for extended chain requirements. The construction team demands exceptional coordination to counter the boss’s environmental destruction, and they must clearly communicate their operational zones. Keep other defensive personnel at distance during chain formation to ensure rapid, precise connections without disrupting combat effectiveness. During non-building phases, the construction team should prioritize Goblin elimination to protect the spires, while assisting with portal reactivation to facilitate mote team returns and deposits.

Following a predetermined interval—approximately four to five enemy assault waves—the boss generates a massive, colored cruciform lock directly before it. This represents the primary team elimination mechanic. You must dismantle this lock before it achieves full charge to avoid certain death, though the extended activation period allows adequate time for enemy clearance before addressing the imminent threat. An additional Angelic combatant materializes, accompanied by more shielded Goblins attempting to reach the spires. Continue elimination efforts and neutralize the Angelic to restore cube accessibility.

Once the area is secured, establish an energy chain from the appropriately colored spire to the boss’s lock. The optimal approach designates one individual as the initial chain link and another as the terminal connection. Position both operators accordingly—one adjacent to the boss and one near the spire. Then, the two players lacking Enlightenment complete the intermediate chain connections. Four personnel typically suffice for boss lock connections, and minimizing participant count accelerates chain formation. However, remain flexible to adjust personnel allocation if necessary, as proximity to the boss’s lock is essential and may demand additional reach.

Once the chain successfully clears the boss’s lock, you gain access to its substantial white critical vulnerability. However, within mere seconds, the boss ascends and a secondary cruciform lock emerges. You have limited time to replicate the identical procedure from the opposing spire. The most effective methodology involves: eliminating the initial lock, then directing the chain team to reposition to the opposite side for the subsequent lock. The two or three operators not required for the second lock should remain at the original spire and inflict maximum damage possible. When you clear the secondary lock, your damage window against the Sanctified Mind expands considerably, at which point the entire team should unleash their arsenal.

Deploy a Titan Ward of Dawn with Armaments of Light to optimize your precision rifle or explosive launcher effectiveness. Solar Hunter’s Golden Gun combined with Celestial Nighthawk is strongly advised, alongside rally barricades to guarantee peak damage output. With one flawlessly executed damage phase, my fireteam successfully eliminated exactly fifty percent of the Sanctified Mind’s health pool. Once the boss returns to invulnerability, you must repeat the entire sequence. Given adequate coordination, your squad should defeat the boss within two or three phases. Importantly, following each damage phase completion, the active Vex spires relocate, necessitating mote deposits at new positions on both arena flanks.

When the Sanctified Mind is permanently defeated, you’ve conquered Garden of Salvation, though additional raid content remains accessible. Consult our comprehensive guide for obtaining Divinity, the raid’s exclusive energy beam rifle, which demands substantial effort—including intricate six-player puzzle resolution—to acquire.

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