TL;DR
- Complete ‘The Games Begin’ quest by collecting 100 Laurels through ability kills and elite enemy takedowns
- Equip the Guardian Games class item from Zavala to enable Laurel generation and collection
- Use the Strike playlist for fastest Laurel farming with triple rewards from same-class teammates
- Focus on ability-spam builds and elite enemy targeting for maximum efficiency
- Complete one Contender Card activity to advance the quest after Laurel collection
Mastering the acquisition of Heir Apparent requires understanding both the weapon’s unique capabilities and the Guardian Games event structure. This Cabal-themed Exotic machine gun stands out with its distinctive Arc shield deployment during sustained fire, creating a mobile defensive position at the cost of movement speed.
Destiny 2’s annual Guardian Games represents a competitive showcase where Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks vie for supremacy through various in-game activities. The 2021 iteration reintroduces Heir Apparent as an accessible reward, significantly streamlining the acquisition process compared to previous years.
Veteran players who secured Heir Apparent during earlier events should focus on obtaining its Exotic catalyst through specialized quests. Newcomers can efficiently unlock the base weapon by following a structured approach to event participation.
Properly initiating the Guardian Games through Tower NPC interactions establishes the foundation for Heir Apparent acquisition.
Initiating your Heir Apparent pursuit begins with a strategic Tower visit sequence. Commander Zavala serves as your primary contact point, distributing specialized class items specifically engineered for Guardian Games scoring mechanics.
Equipping this class item immediately upon receipt proves crucial, as it activates the Laurel generation system essential for quest progression. The item remains mandatory throughout your farming activities to ensure proper credit for Laurel collection.
Following your Zavala interaction, proceed directly to Eva Levante near the Tower courtyard. She provides the foundational ‘The Games Begin’ questline that directly leads to Heir Apparent acquisition.
Many players mistakenly believe they can bypass these initial steps, but the Exotic quest trigger remains locked behind completion of these prerequisite actions. Proper sequence execution ensures smooth progression toward your machine gun objective.
Strategic planning at this stage significantly impacts your overall time investment. Allocate approximately 10-15 minutes for NPC interactions and initial setup before commencing Laurel farming activities.
Laurels represent the currency of Guardian Games progression, generated through specific combat actions while wearing your event class item. These colored motes materialize when eliminating enemies with ability-based attacks including grenades, charged melee strikes, and Super abilities.
Elite adversaries with distinctive orange or yellow health bars guarantee Laurel drops regardless of elimination method, providing consistent farming opportunities. The collection system encourages cooperative play, as you can harvest Laurels generated by teammates while contributing your own.
The collection economics favor class homogeneity – gathering Laurels from same-subclass allies yields triple the value (3 Laurels per mote) compared to cross-class collection (1 Laurel per mote). Color coding simplifies identification: crimson for Titans, azure for Hunters, and golden for Warlocks.
Completing ‘The Games Begin’ requires accumulating 100 total Laurels, achievable through various activities but optimized through strategic selection. The newly introduced Strike playlist, accessible directly from the Tower, pairs you exclusively with same-class fireteam members, dramatically accelerating Laurel acquisition rates.
For maximum efficiency, prioritize ability-focused builds that minimize cooldowns. Mods like Momentum Transfer, Impact Induction, and Innervation synergize perfectly with Laurel generation requirements.
Contender Cards represent the final quest step after Laurel collection, requiring just one completion to advance.
Seasoned Guardians can optimize their Heir Apparent acquisition through several advanced techniques. The Lake of Shadows Strike stands out for its condensed enemy density and rapid completion time, particularly when utilizing the directed same-class playlist.
Avoid the common mistake of unequipping your Guardian Games class item between activities. This simple oversight can waste hours of progress, as only equipped items contribute to Laurel tracking.
Coordinate with clanmates or LFG groups to stack same-class fireteams, ensuring maximum Laurel yield from every activity. Target Lost Sectors with high elite enemy concentrations during solo play for consistent Laurel generation.
Allocate approximately 2-3 hours for complete Heir Apparent acquisition, including setup, Laurel farming, and Contender Card completion.
Post-Laurel collection, you’ll receive access to Contender Cards – specialized bounties that advance the quest upon single completion. Select the most time-efficient option based on your current loadout and preferred playstyle.
Remember that Heir Apparent’s unique defensive capabilities make it particularly valuable in endgame content where survivability often outweighs mobility concerns. The weapon excels in situations requiring sustained damage output from fortified positions.
For comprehensive weapon mastery after acquisition, consult our BF6 Weapons Unlock Guide for advanced combat techniques and synergy recommendations.
Action Checklist
- Visit Tower and collect class item from Zavala
- Equip Guardian Games class item and speak with Eva Levante
- Farm 100 Laurels using ability kills and elite enemy takedowns
- Complete one Contender Card activity
- Claim Heir Apparent from quest completion
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Destiny 2 Heir Apparent Exotic Machine Gun: How To Unlock It During The 2021 Guardian Games Complete guide to unlocking Heir Apparent machine gun with optimized strategies and time-saving tips
