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The “Rite of the Nine” event in Destiny 2 has revamped three classic raids, introducing new mechanics and rewards, including a fresh title. Much like the Pantheon activity from the Lightfall year, this event brings significant changes to each dungeon it revisits.
From innovative encounter mechanics to customizable difficulty settings, this event has made dungeon farming approachable for both new players and seasoned Guardians. In this article, we will detail all the key dungeon updates associated with the Rite of the Nine, including general changes and an encounter-by-encounter analysis for each revised dungeon.
As the updated dungeons for Rite of the Nine are currently time-gated, not all changes have been documented yet. We will keep this guide updated as Bungie rolls out additional dungeons in the coming weeks.
General Dungeon Changes
The most noticeable update with the Rite of the Nine event is the introduction of optional difficulty levels. Each updated dungeon—Spire of the Watcher, Ghosts of the Deep, and Prophecy—now offers three difficulty tiers:
- Explorer: Converts dungeons into extended Strikes, supports matchmaking, lowers enemy difficulty, and offers guidance on mechanics via in-game prompts.
- Eternity: A standard dungeon experience without matchmaking, featuring certain enemies with special effects.
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Ultimatum: Contest Mode experience with no matchmaking, a Power Level cap of -20, and tougher enemies with multiple modifiers.
- Only this mode can yield Adept-quality dungeon loot.
Explorer mode is designed for newcomers unfamiliar with Destiny 2’s PvE endgame, while Ultimatum targets players looking for a challenge. Triumphs and the event currency, Nonary Manifolds, are obtainable in any difficulty. Additionally, weapons that drop from encounters may have multiple perks if your team avoids dying. Fewer deaths translate to more perks on dropped weapons.
All dungeon weapons in Spire of the Watcher, Ghosts of the Deep, and Prophecy have been updated with new perk pools and the Gravity Well origin trait, which collects nearby ammo when reloading.
For recommendations on weapon rolls, check our Rite of the Nine god rolls guide.
All dungeons associated with the Rite of the Nine have been enhanced with new mechanics or encounter challenges. We will detail all the changes per encounter below. Generally, many encounters now feature a boss battle along with some type of puzzle. For instance, the non-boss encounters in Spire of the Watcher now involve miniboss units that players must eliminate.
In Ultimatum difficulty, boss encounters introduce an Enrage mechanic. If your team fails to defeat the boss within three DPS phases, you will automatically wipe.
Spire Of The Watcher Changes
Opening Section
- Amphion, Awakened Mind now appears once all four circuits are completed. This miniboss Hydra has a relatively low health pool. Defeating it completes the encounter.
Spire Ascent
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Minibosses appear after charging a floor. You must defeat them to access the gravity lift to the next floor.
- Minibosses include a trio of Harpies, a Hydra, and a Minotaur.
- Ultimatum Only: This encounter has a time constraint. You must finish it before the timer runs out, or your team will wipe.
Akelous, The Siren’s Current
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Circuits must be charged in a specific sequence, as indicated from the central platform where you initiate the encounter.
- Failing this mechanic will reset a circuit.
- Ultimatum Only: Akelous becomes enraged after three DPS phases.
Persys, Primordial Ruins
- Circuits must also be charged in a specific order, similar to the previous encounter.
- Detain drones spawn when the control room is unlocked.
- Ultimatum Only: Persys enrages after three DPS phases.
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Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
