TL;DR
- Ascendant Challenges rotate weekly with six different locations in Dreaming City
- Tincture of Queensfoil is mandatory for accessing the portal in Aphelion’s Rest Lost Sector
- Destroy blights to remove crystal shields while managing knight threats strategically
- Complete within 10-15 minutes for Powerful gear rewards and Solstice progression
- Use specific weapon loadouts and movement techniques for optimal completion
The Dreaming City’s Ascendant Challenge system operates on a precise six-week rotation schedule, bringing players back to the Week 1 location known as Forfeit Shrine. This timing coincides perfectly with the Solstice of Heroes event, creating an excellent opportunity to boost your Power level toward the 750 cap before Shadowkeep’s arrival. Each weekly reset refreshes Petra Venj’s bounty offerings, making this the ideal moment to tackle this particular challenge whether you’re a returning veteran or new to the Dreaming City’s mysteries.
Understanding the rotation pattern is crucial for efficient gameplay. The six challenges cycle through distinct ascendant realms, each with unique mechanics and environmental hazards. Week 1’s Forfeit Shrine focuses on precision destruction and target prioritization, setting the foundation for mastering subsequent challenges. The timing with Solstice of Heroes means completion contributes to both your Powerful gear progression and event-specific objectives simultaneously.
Before embarking on your ascendant journey, secure Petra’s Ascendant Challenge bounty from the Dreaming City. The non-negotiable requirement is obtaining a Tincture of Queensfoil, which can be acquired through various Dreaming City activities or purchased from certain vendors. Experienced guardians recommend carrying multiple Tinctures to account for potential mistakes or multiple runs.
Navigate to the Aphelion’s Rest Lost Sector in the Strand area of the Dreaming City. Unlike standard lost sector clears, you don’t need to complete the entire instance. Approximately halfway through the winding cavern, you’ll encounter a distinctive hill formation where the ascendant portal manifests. Activate your Tincture of Queensfoil to gain the Ascendance buff, revealing the ethereal gateway that transports you to the challenge arena.
Pro Tip: Equip gear with enhanced radar capabilities before entering, as situational awareness becomes critical inside the ascendant plane. The portal remains active for 30 minutes per Tincture use, allowing for methodical exploration if needed.
Upon entering Forfeit Shrine, you’ll find yourself in a floating island landscape with corrupted blights scattered throughout the environment and shielded crystals positioned centrally. Your primary objective involves systematically eliminating all blights, which subsequently disables the protective barriers around the primary targets. The encounter design requires strategic positioning and efficient target acquisition.
The major threat comes from ascendant knights that spawn continuously throughout the challenge. These formidable enemies deal significant damage and can quickly overwhelm unprepared guardians. Optimal strategy involves maintaining mobility while prioritizing blight destruction. Shotguns and fusion rifles prove exceptionally effective against both the blights and knights due to the close-quarters nature of the arena.
Advanced players should utilize the environment’s verticality for tactical advantage. The floating platforms allow for evasive maneuvers and create separation from pursuing knights. A well-timed super ability can clear multiple blights simultaneously or create breathing room during intense combat phases. Most experienced fireteams complete the challenge within 10-12 minutes, while solo players may require 15-20 minutes depending on skill level and loadout optimization.
Successfully destroying all crystals while surviving knight assaults rewards you with completion credit for Petra’s bounty and a guaranteed Powerful gear drop. These rewards scale with your current Power level, making them essential for progression toward the 750 cap. Additionally, completion contributes to Solstice of Heroes armor objectives and provides Dreaming City resources.
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Many guardians fail by focusing exclusively on crystals before clearing blights, wasting ammunition on immune targets. Others underestimate knight aggression and become trapped in unfavorable positions. The most frequent error involves poor Tincture timing – activating it too early before reaching the portal location.
For optimal efficiency, coordinate with a fireteam to divide responsibilities: one member focuses on blight clearance while others manage knight control. Specific subclasses like Nightstalker Hunter or Well of Radiance Warlock provide significant advantages through crowd control or survivability enhancements. Remember that ascendant challenges represent just one component of endgame progression – complement this activity with other Powerful reward sources detailed in our Complete Guide to maximize your weekly gains.
Action Checklist
- Purchase Tincture of Queensfoil and collect Petra’s bounty
- Navigate to Aphelion’s Rest Lost Sector in Dreaming City
- Activate Tincture at hill formation and enter portal
- Systematically destroy all blights while evading knights
- Eliminate now-vulnerable crystals and claim rewards
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Destiny 2 Guide: Ascendant Challenge Week 1 Location Video (August 6-13) Master the Week 1 Ascendant Challenge with expert strategies, common pitfalls, and optimization tips for Destiny 2 veterans
