[Last Chance] Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge Location Guide Week 3 (July 9-June 16)

TL;DR

  • Ascendant Challenges provide weekly Powerful gear essential for reaching 650 Power cap
  • Shattered Ruins requires precise climbing tactics against sniper enemies and Taken rifts
  • Tincture of Queensfoil can be obtained through multiple methods including Baryon Bough trades
  • Strategic movement and positioning prevent fatal falls during the tower ascent
  • Complete Petra’s bounty alongside the challenge for maximum reward efficiency

Each week brings a fresh opportunity to conquer Destiny 2’s rotating Ascendant Challenge, offering Guardians valuable pathways to strengthen their arsenal and climb toward the current Power level maximum.

Destiny 2’s evolving content ecosystem continuously introduces new objectives for dedicated players. Beyond the Ascendant Challenge rotation, recent updates have delivered multiple high-value pursuits including the exotic pulse rifle Bad Juju, comprehensive Year Two Moments of Triumph rewards, and the legendary Lumina hand cannon. These activities collectively provide diverse methods for character progression, with the weekly Ascendant Challenge standing as one of the most reliable sources for Powerful gear drops. Understanding this challenge’s mechanics becomes crucial for efficient Power level advancement, especially with the Black Armory expansion raising the cap to 650.

Before attempting any Ascendant Challenge, Guardians must complete two essential preparations. First, visit Petra Venj in the Dreaming City to acquire the specific weekly bounty associated with the active challenge. Second, secure a Tincture of Queensfoil consumable, which grants the Ascendance buff necessary to perceive and access the hidden Taken portals. Without this temporary vision enhancement, the challenge entrance remains invisible regardless of your location accuracy.

The Shattered Ruins portal resides within the Spire of Keres region, accessible only after consuming the Tincture. Reference the embedded video guide for precise navigation to this otherworldly gateway that transports players to the Ascendant Plane’s treacherous landscape.

Upon entering the Shattered Ruins, you’ll confront a vertical ascent challenge requiring careful navigation and combat awareness. The primary objective involves scaling a precarious rock formation while contending with multiple threat sources determined to end your climb prematurely.

Strategic movement proves essential throughout the ascent. Taken snipers positioned on adjacent platforms will attempt to disrupt your progress with precision fire, while environmental hazards in the form of Taken rifts generate unpredictable physics impulses that can launch Guardians off the structure. Maintain constant awareness of your footing and utilize cover positions strategically during the climb. Advanced players recommend using mobility-enhancing armor mods and subclass abilities to improve control during precarious jumps.

The culmination of your efforts arrives at the summit, where a powerful Taken boss awaits. This encounter demands aggressive yet calculated engagement—prioritize clearing additional enemies before focusing sustained damage on the primary threat. Weapon selection significantly impacts success rates; consider bringing long-range options for sniper counterplay and high-damage special weapons for the boss phase. Average completion times range from 8-15 minutes depending on player skill and loadout optimization.

Common failure points include underestimating the Taken rift knockback effects and attempting rushed jumps between platforms. Patient progression with deliberate positioning typically yields better results than speed-running attempts, especially for players unfamiliar with the specific platform layout.

Completing the Shattered Ruins challenge delivers both immediate and progression-based rewards. The chest at the summit provides standard Dreaming City loot, while simultaneously fulfilling Petra’s bounty requirement for a guaranteed Powerful gear drop.

This Powerful gear reward structure makes Ascendant Challenges invaluable for Power level grinding, particularly following the Black Armory expansion’s increase to 650. Weekly participation ensures consistent character advancement alongside other endgame activities. For players pursuing multiple characters, the challenge reset timing allows efficient rotation between Guardians to maximize weekly Power gains.

Tincture of Queensfoil acquisition extends beyond random Dreaming City chest drops and Public Event completions. As demonstrated in the accompanying video, Guardians can exchange 50 Baryon Boughs with Huginn at a specific location for a guaranteed consumable. This alternative method proves especially valuable when RNG proves uncooperative or when immediate challenge access is required.

Optimization strategies include stacking multiple bounty completions during a single Tincture duration and coordinating fireteam members to cover different threat angles during the ascent. These advanced techniques can reduce failure rates and improve time efficiency for veteran players.

The Season of the Drifter introduces complementary activities that synergize with Ascendant Challenge progression. Gambit Prime represents an evolved version of the original Gambit mode with enhanced difficulty and refined mechanics, while The Reckoning provides pinnacle-level challenges for seasoned fireteams.

These new gameplay experiences expand the narrative continuity established through the Drifter’s storyline and previous activities like The Draw. Strategic players should consider how their Ascendant Challenge rewards might enhance performance in these parallel content streams.

Future content updates will likely build upon these foundational systems, making mastery of current challenges valuable preparation for upcoming expansions. Regular participation builds both character power and player skill, creating compound benefits across Destiny 2’s evolving endgame landscape.

Action Checklist

  • Purchase weekly bounty from Petra Venj in Dreaming City
  • Acquire Tincture of Queensfoil via chests, events, or Huginn trade
  • Navigate to Spire of Keres and consume Tincture
  • Enter portal and methodically ascend tower using cover
  • Eliminate snipers first, then focus on boss with appropriate weapons
  • Collect chest rewards and return to Petra for Powerful gear

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » [Last Chance] Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge Location Guide Week 3 (July 9-June 16) Master Destiny 2's Ascendant Challenge with expert strategies, time-saving tips, and powerful gear rewards