Conquer Court of Blades for Extra Rewards!

The latest release of Destiny 2 introduces Episode: Heresy – Act 2, bringing players an exciting array of new content including the Guardian Games, fresh seasonal narratives, and a seasonal challenge known as the Court of Blades. This challenge is essentially Oryx’s way of evaluating whether Guardians are prepared to take on the responsibilities of the Taken King. Successfully navigating Oryx’s gauntlet will yield rewards.

Building on the suspense from the previous act’s intense showdown with the Taken royalty, players find themselves caught up in a compelling narrative—arguably the most engaging since the thrilling climax of The Final Shape. To excel in the Court of Blades, players must overcome Oryx’s champions and thwart Xivu Arath’s lethal attempts, all while navigating the various challenges presented. To start the Court of Blades, head to the Last City via the Director and locate the Court of Blades Node near the Nether.

Understanding the Court of Blades

An Action-Packed Activity with a Time Limit

Unlike the Nether, the Court of Blades operates on a time limit. For players who may not have several hours to devote to Destiny 2, this shorter format is a welcome change compared to lengthy activities like typical Nether runs. During your 10-minute stint in the Court of Blades, you will face encounters featuring both a mini-boss and a major boss in each area.

As you defeat bosses, each room will introduce unique sub-objectives (known as Augmentations) that must be completed. For example, the “Swarm” Augmentation challenges you to eliminate 45 enemies within a two-minute timespan. Others may require you to dispatch Blights, shielded Knights, or other tasks that can be tedious. After eliminating two bosses in the first area, you can review the forthcoming Augmentations before moving forward.

Fortunately, you also gain access to modifiers similar to the Nether, rewarding you as you progress while providing various buffs to support your fight. The buffs you select can significantly impact your success, so pay attention to your weaknesses during play and choose buffs that can help alleviate those challenges. These buffs are randomized, but you’ll have several choices between rooms to find one that works for you.

Strategies for Clearing the Court of Blades

Take Down Bosses, Complete Augmentations, and Gear Up for the Final Showdown

While it features many elements, the Court of Blades remains straightforward. In contrast to the Nether, which operates as an open patrol zone, the Court of Blades provides a linear experience similar to the Deep Dives from the Season of the Deep. Once you start the activity, you will be guided through with minimal challenges.

Essentially, Court of Blades functions as both an add-clearing and boss-rushing activity, so it’s crucial for you and your fireteam to manage both aspects effectively. Your main goal is to defeat the Challengers (bosses), but remember to clear the smaller enemies as well to make the encounter smoother. It can be frustrating when you unleash your super on a boss only for it to target a smaller mob in the room, so teamwork in managing adds is key as you complete Augments and take down bosses.

Once the timer runs out, a message displaying “FINAL ROUND” will appear beneath your health bar. This signals that after defeating your current boss, you’ll be taken back to the Courtroom to claim your rewards. It seems that taking down additional bosses may improve your loot, although there’s no guaranteed method for snagging adept or shiny drops.

In the early stages of the Act, there was a glitch that allowed players to bypass the timer for a complete boss run. If you defeated the first boss just seconds before time expired, you could continue battling bosses until you reached 13 before the activity concluded. This appears to have been patched, but if you’re in the mood for some loot farming, it might be worth checking to see if this still works.

Rewards and Loot from the Court of Blades

Classic Rewards: Weapons, Armor, Enhancement Cores, and More

As with any seasonal activity, the Court of Blades offers exclusive seasonal weapons, armor pieces, and other valuable materials in return for your efforts. You will find these rewards in the chest at the conclusion of the activity, and you can also deposit any Metastasized Essentia on the pedestal behind it for additional drops. Here’s a breakdown of potential drops:

This offers a diverse selection of potential drops, presenting some excellent opportunities for coveted rolls. I’m personally on the hunt for a Watchful Eye with Overflow and Jolting Feedback, a quest that has evaded me throughout Act 1. If you’re in search of a reliable Arc primary for PvE, Division with Eddy Current and Voltshot offers a fantastic option, providing solid add-clearing without the ammo limitations that come with special weapons like Indebted Kindness.

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There’s plenty of fresh content to explore in Destiny 2’s Act 2 of Episode: Heresy. The storyline is more engaging than ever, packed with the Court of Blades, new exotic weapons to uncover, and a host of main quests to tackle. So, get playing as we gear up for Codename: Apollo. If Bungie continues this level of storytelling and content, the next major DLC release is bound to be exciting.