5 Ways to Get Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2

Destiny 2

Featured Image: [Image of Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2]

Ascendant Shards are a valuable currency in Destiny 2, used to upgrade Masterworked weapons and armor to their maximum potential. However, obtaining these Shards can be a daunting task, requiring players to engage in challenging activities and make strategic choices.

Master Raids: Master Raids are the most reliable way to earn Ascendant Shards. These challenging versions of Raids offer a guaranteed drop of an Ascendant Shard upon completion, making them a top priority for players seeking to upgrade their gear. However, Master Raids require a high level of skill and coordination, making them accessible only to experienced players.**

Flawless Dungeons: Flawless Dungeons present another opportunity to acquire Ascendant Shards. Completing a Dungeon without dying grants players a chance to receive an Ascendant Shard as a reward. While Flawless Dungeons are less difficult than Master Raids, they still require players to possess a high level of competency and execution. Additionally, the chance of receiving an Ascendant Shard is not guaranteed, making it a less consistent source compared to Master Raids.**

Ascendant Shards: An Overview

Ascendant Shards are rare and valuable materials in Destiny 2, essential for upgrading weapons and armor beyond the usual Power cap. Acquiring these elusive fragments requires completing challenging activities and leveraging specific farming techniques.

**What are Ascendant Shards Used For?**

These coveted materials are primarily utilized to upgrade Masterworked weapons and armor to Tier 10. Masterworking involves enhancing gear with specific perks, granting improved stats, damage buffs, or additional abilities. By reaching Tier 10 Masterwork status, players unlock the item’s maximum potential and gain a significant advantage in gameplay.

**Rarity and Value of Ascendant Shards**

Ascendant Shards are highly sought after due to their scarcity and crucial role in optimizing gear. They cannot be purchased or obtained through regular gameplay; instead, players must engage in specific activities and employ focused farming strategies. This rarity contributes to their significant value within the Destiny 2 community, making them a worthy investment for enhancing the most prized gear in one’s arsenal.

Acquiring Ascendant Shards through Nightfalls

Nightfalls are a pinnacle activity in Destiny 2 that offer some of the game’s most rewarding loot. Ascendant Shards are a rare and valuable currency that can be used to upgrade exotic weapons and armor, and they can be obtained by completing Nightfalls on the highest difficulty setting, Grandmaster.

To unlock Grandmaster Nightfalls, you must first reach Power Level 1350 and complete the prerequisite questline. Once you have unlocked Grandmaster Nightfalls, you can launch them from the Director in the Tower.

Completing Grandmaster Nightfalls

Completing Grandmaster Nightfalls is a challenging task. Enemies are much tougher than in regular Nightfalls, and you will need to be well-coordinated with your fireteam to succeed.

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of completing a Grandmaster Nightfall:

Make sure you and your fireteam are all at or above Power Level 1350.
Use the best weapons and armor you have available.
Be aware of the modifiers that are active for the week. These modifiers can make the Nightfall more difficult, but they can also provide you with advantages if you play to their strengths.
Coordinate with your fireteam to develop a strategy for completing the Nightfall. This includes deciding which roles each member will play and how you will handle specific encounters.

If you are successful in completing a Grandmaster Nightfall, you will be rewarded with a variety of loot, including Ascendant Shards. The number of Ascendant Shards you receive will vary depending on your performance and the modifiers that are active for the week.

Here is a table summarizing the rewards you can get for completing Grandmaster Nightfalls:

Difficulty	Loot Pool
Grandmaster	Ascendant Shards Exotic armor and weapons Upgrade modules Enhancement prisms

Raid Encounters

Ascendant Shards are a rare and valuable resource that are used to upgrade your armor in Destiny 2. They can only be obtained by completing certain raid encounters, and the drop rate is very low. The following is a list of all the raid encounters that can drop Ascendant Shards:

* Last Wish – Riven of a Thousand Voices
* Garden of Salvation – Sanctified Mind
* Deep Stone Crypt – Taniks, the Abomination
* Vow of the Disciple – Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness

Farming Ascendant Shards

The best way to farm Ascendant Shards is to complete the Last Wish raid. The Riven of a Thousand Voices encounter has a higher drop rate for Ascendant Shards than any other raid encounter. However, it is also one of the most difficult encounters in the game. If you are not confident in your ability to complete the Last Wish raid, you can try farming Ascendant Shards from the other raids listed above.

Master Raids

Master raids are a more difficult version of the normal raids. They have a higher power level requirement and the enemies are more powerful. However, master raids also have a higher drop rate for Ascendant Shards. If you are looking for the best way to farm Ascendant Shards, master raids are the way to go.

Other Sources

Ascendant Shards can also be obtained from the following sources:

* Xur – Xur is a vendor who sells exotic items. He sometimes sells Ascendant Shards for 7 Legendary Shards each.
* Clan vendor – The clan vendor sells Ascendant Shards for 100,000 Glimmer each.
* Prime engrams – Prime engrams have a chance to drop Ascendant Shards.

Raid Encounter	Drop Rate
Last Wish – Riven of a Thousand Voices	15%
Garden of Salvation – Sanctified Mind	10%
Deep Stone Crypt – Taniks, the Abomination	10%
Vow of the Disciple – Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness	10%

Pinnacle Gear and the Ascendant Shard Path

Ascendant Shards are a valuable resource in Destiny 2, as they are required to upgrade Pinnacle gear to their maximum Power level. Pinnacle gear is the highest-level gear that can be obtained in the game, and it is essential for endgame activities such as raids and Grandmaster Nightfalls.

There are several ways to obtain Ascendant Shards, but the most reliable way is through the Pinnacle Gear grind. Every week, there are a number of activities that reward Pinnacle gear, including:

Completing the weekly Nightfall Strike
Completing the weekly Raid
Completing three weekly Crucible matches
Completing three weekly Gambit matches
Completing the weekly Dungeon

Each of these activities has a chance to drop Pinnacle gear, and each piece of Pinnacle gear has a chance to drop with an Ascendant Shard. The drop rate for Ascendant Shards is relatively low, but it is still the most reliable way to obtain them.

In addition to the Pinnacle Gear grind, there are a few other ways to obtain Ascendant Shards:

Purchasing them from the Eververse store for Silver
Receiving them as a reward from certain quests
Finding them in chests or caches in the world

Ascendant Shards are a valuable resource, so it is important to use them wisely. The best way to use Ascendant Shards is to upgrade Pinnacle gear to their maximum Power level. This will give you a significant advantage in endgame activities.

The Varied Uses of Ascendant Shards

Ascendant Shards are one of the most valuable resources in Destiny 2. They are used to upgrade Masterworked armor to their maximum power, and to purchase certain exotic weapons and armor from Xur.

Here is a breakdown of the different ways you can use Ascendant Shards:

Masterworking Armor

Masterworking armor requires both Enhancement Cores and Ascendant Shards. The number of Ascendant Shards required depends on the tier of the armor (1 for tier 9-10, 3 for tier 11-12, and 5 for tier 13-14).

Tier	Ascendant Shards
9-10	1
11-12	3
13-14	5

Purchasing Exotic Weapons/Armor from Xur

Xur is a vendor who sells exotic weapons and armor. He appears in a different location each week, and his inventory changes from week to week. To purchase exotic gear from Xur, you will need Legendary Shards and Ascendant Shards. The amount of Ascendant Shards required varies depending on the item (1 for weapons, 3 for armor pieces).

Gear Ascending and Ascendant Shards

Ascending gear in Destiny 2 requires players to spend resources called Ascendant Shards. These shards are essential for upgrading weapons and armor to their maximum potential.

What are Ascendant Shards?

Ascendant Shards are rare resources that can only be obtained through end-game activities such as Master Nightfalls, Trials of Osiris, and Grandmaster Nightfalls.

How to Get Ascendant Shards

1. Master Nightfalls

Master Nightfalls have a chance to drop Ascendant Shards upon completion.

2. Trials of Osiris

Players can earn Ascendant Shards by winning matches in Trials of Osiris.

3. Grandmaster Nightfalls

Grandmaster Nightfalls guarantee an Ascendant Shard after the first completion each week.

4. Seasonal Challenges

Some seasonal challenges reward Ascendant Shards upon completion.

5. Crucible and Gambit Bounties

Rarely, Crucible and Gambit bounties can reward Ascendant Shards.

6. Raids

Some raids have a chance to drop Ascendant Shards as rewards for completing encounters.

7. Dungeons

Dungeons can also drop Ascendant Shards, but the chances are lower compared to other activities.

8. Random Drops

Ascendant Shards have a very small chance to drop from any enemy or activity in the game.

9. Xur’s Exotic Cipher

Xur’s Exotic Cipher	Cost	Amount
Aetheric Cipher	1 Exotic Cipher	1 Ascendant Shard
Heir Apparent	5 Exotic Ciphers	5 Ascendant Shards

Xur, the weekly vendor, sells Aetheric Ciphers that can be exchanged for 1 Ascendant Shard each. Additionally, the Exotic Machine Gun Heir Apparent can be purchased using 5 Exotic Ciphers, which results in obtaining 5 Ascendant Shards.

Prioritizing Ascendant Shard Allocation

In Destiny 2, Ascendant Shards are a valuable resource used for Masterworking exotic gear and enhancing weapons through the Monument to Lost Light. While acquiring these shards can be challenging, prioritizing their allocation ensures you maximize their benefits.

Essential Masterworks

Prioritize masterworking gear that significantly impacts your gameplay. Focus on exotic weapons and armor that offer substantial bonuses to damage output, survivability, or mobility.

Weapon Enhancements

Consider enhancing high-impact weapons in the Monument to Lost Light. Enhancements like Rangefinder and Moving Target improve weapon performance in a variety of scenarios.

Raids and High-Level Content

Reserve Ascendant Shards for gear that will be used in challenging activities such as raids and Grandmaster Nightfalls. Masterworking raid exotic gear boosts its stats and provides additional perks.

Exotic Weapons

Enhance exotic weapons that complement your playstyle and loadout. Focusing on weapons with unique perks or exceptional damage capabilities is recommended.

Exotic Armor

For exotic armor, prioritize pieces that provide significant stat boosts or have useful perks that enhance your playstyle. Exotic armors with high Energy and Intellect are particularly sought after.

Crafting Materials

Consider using Ascendant Shards as crafting materials when Masterworking crafted weapons. This saves additional grind time for Deepsight Resonance weapons, allowing you to obtain crafted weapons faster.

Additional Tips

Remember to check Xur’s inventory, as he sometimes sells Ascendant Shards. Additionally, Ascendant Shards can be obtained through the Nightfall Strike: The Ordeal, Pit of Heresy dungeon, and high-level activities that reward Pinnacle Gear.

Activity	Ascendant Shard Chance
Master Nightfall (Platinum Rank)	100%
Hero Nightfall (Platinum Rank)	10%
Legend Lost Sector (Platinum Rank)	10%
Pit of Heresy Dungeon	25%

How To Get Ascendant Shards Destiny 2

Ascendant Shards are a rare currency item in Destiny 2 that is used to upgrade Masterworked weapons and armor to their maximum potential. They are also used to purchase certain items from the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower. Ascendant Shards can be obtained through a variety of methods, but the most common methods are:

Completing Nightfall strikes on the highest difficulty setting
Opening chests in the Last Wish raid
Purchasing them from the Eververse store for Silver

Farming Nightfall strikes is the most reliable way to obtain Ascendant Shards, but it can also be one of the most challenging. In order to complete Nightfalls on the highest difficulty setting, you will need to have a well-coordinated team and be prepared for a tough fight.

Opening chests in the Last Wish raid is another good way to get Ascendant Shards, but it is not as reliable as farming Nightfalls. The Last Wish raid is one of the most difficult raids in Destiny 2, and it can be challenging to complete even for experienced players. However, if you are able to successfully complete the raid, you will have a good chance of getting at least one Ascendant Shard.

Purchasing Ascendant Shards from the Eververse store is the most expensive way to get them, but it is also the most convenient. If you do not have the time or patience to farm Nightfalls or complete the Last Wish raid, you can simply purchase Ascendant Shards from the Eververse store using Silver.