Ranking Destiny 2's Raids & Dungeons ahead of The Final Shape
Destiny 2 is many things to many people. For some, it's a place to run Strikes and feel powerful, while for others, it's a PvP game with huge rewards in the likes of Trials of Osiris. Some are just here for the story, which has drastically improved since the franchise began in 2014.
Still, there's one thing most players agree on - Raids and Dungeons are the high point of the game. These six and three-player activities respectively offer puzzle mechanics, enemy variety, and usually some of the best loot.
The community tunes in to watch their favourite content creators battle it out to work out each Raid and Dungeon's intricacies and see who can complete it first, and after almost ten years of the franchise, there are plenty to tackle.
Destiny 2 now has eight Raids at the time of writing, and eight Dungeons. There are more lurking in the Destiny Content Vault, too, but for now, I'm focusing on the ones you can feasibly jump in and play right now.
Ranking the Raids
Got five friends and some time to burn? These are the Destiny 2 Raids, ranked.
8 - Garden of Salvation
- Exotic: Divinity (Trace Rifle)
- Launch date: October 5, 2019
- Required expansion: Shadowkeep
Click to enlargeLook, I like Garden of Salvation just as much as the next Guardian, but it's in dire need of a refresh. Not only do many of its mechanics revolve around motes, but the raid still lacks craftable weapons.
Is it fun to play? For sure, but it's just less enjoyable than others on this list.
7 - Crota's End
- Exotic: Necrochasm (Auto Rifle)
- Launch date: September 1, 2023
- Required expansion: Shadowkeep
Click to enlargeYou ever have that friend that you were really close with but you grew apart, and now you miss that spark when you're together? No, just me?
That's how I feel about Crota's End. I had a blast slapping Oryx's boy with a big sword back in Destiny 1, and as much as Destiny 2's version is still fun, times have changed and I want something a bit more exciting from my Raids these days.
6 - Root of Nightmares
- Exotic: Conditional Finality (Shotgun)
- Launch date: March 10, 2023
- Required expansion: Lightfall
Click to enlargeWe liked Lightfall, but it certainly wasn't a vintage Destiny 2 expansion. Thankfully, Root of Nightmares has grown into a pretty great Raid.
It's simple to get to grips with its mechanics, and the loot is good. That's a potent mix for multiple runs per night, and while the Legendary weapons are good, Conditional Finality remains a killer exotic that's well worth grinding for.
So why so low on the list? Root of Nightmares is fun, but the ones from here on out are just more memorable (and a little tinged with nostalgia).
5 - King's Fall
- Exotic: Touch of Malice (Scout Rifle)
- Launch date: August 26, 2022
- Required expansion: Free to play
Click to enlargeIs the last encounter too long? Yes, of course it is, but is it still a very cool moment when The Taken King himself stands before you, the size of a small moon? Oh hell yes.
King's Fall earns its place around the middle of the list here because some of its encounters are legendary. Warpriest is great, and Golgoroth remains a misunderstood soul. Plus, as a Scout Rifle fan, I feel like I'll be grinding for the Touch of Malice for the next few months, too.
If it wasn't for Vault of Glass, I feel like this Raid would be a great introduction to Raids when you're guiding friends, too, with a great mix of spectacle and lore.
4 - Vault of Glass
- Exotic: Vex Mythoclast (Fusion Rifle)
- Launch date: May 22, 2021
- Required expansion: Free to play
Click to enlargeI might be being swayed more by nostalgia than anything else, but Vault of Glass remains a great raid for a few reasons. For one, its theme of diving further into the depths of the unknown is one that's been repeated since, but never bettered - you're always heading deeper under Venus.
For another, each mechanic is solid. Oracles have been retuned in the Destiny 2 version, and while the raid as a whole is a challenge for new players, experienced teams can use it as a barometer of how good their builds are. It doesn't hurt that Vex Mythoclast remains a great weapon, too.
3 - Vow of the Disciple
- Exotic: Collective Obligation (Pulse Rifle)
- Launch date: March 5, 2022
- Required expansion: Witch Queen
Click to enlargeVow of the Disciple spawned plenty of memes about Rhulk's long legs, but it remains a very fun Raid two years on thanks to some fantastic environments and world-building, as well as enjoyable encounters that are just the right side of complex.
You'll need to be coordinated for the Acquisition encounter, while The Caretaker is a fun DPS check that feels so good to complete. Rhulk's boss fight is also fun and while it can lead to plenty of wipes, it'll never get old seeing Guardians punted across the abyss by one big kick.
2 - Last Wish
- Exotic: One Thousand Voices (Fusion Rifle)
- Launch date: September 14, 2018
- Required expansion: Forsaken Pack
Click to enlargeSeason of the Wish has brought us full circle back to the Dreaming City, which in my estimations is one of the best-looking environments in the franchise - so setting a Raid there makes a lot of sense.
Last Wish is Bungie's longest raid, too, which is a double-edged sword; more encounters mean more rewards, but equally means it's trickier to farm on your weekly Raid night.
It's also packing plenty of excellent weapons (looking at you, Apex Predator), a showdown with Riven, and some unbelievable music, to boot.
1 - Deep Stone Crypt
- Exotic: Eyes of Tomorrow (Rocket Launcher)
- Launch date: November 21, 2020
- Required expansion: Beyond Light
Click to enlargeI'll be honest, I didn't love Beyond Light (remember Stasis in PvP?) but I've come around on it and Deep Stone Crypt is a big reason why.
Whether it's avoiding being blown up at the start, the unbelievably cool lore behind the location, or the spacewalk, Deep Stone Crypt continues to surprise and delight on the first run-through, and only gets more enjoyable the more familiar it becomes.
Eyes of Tomorrow being an excellent exotic doesn't hurt, either.
Ranking the Dungeons
8 - Shattered Throne
- Exotic: Wish-Ender (with quest)
- Launch date: September 25, 2018
- Required expansion: Forsaken Pack
Click to enlargeShattered Throne is a solid first draft for a Destiny 2 Dungeon, but it's lacking in ambition all these years after its launch. The loot is mediocre, and while there are some fun encounters (including the 'Thrallway'), it lacks challenge.
In fact, I completed this one flawlessly without even really thinking about it, and I'm (sadly) not a great Destiny 2 player. Also, The Ascendant Plane is way less exciting than it was in 2018, making this whole dungeon look a bit drab.
7 - Prophecy
- Exotic: None
- Launch date: June 9, 2020
- Required expansion: Free to play
Click to enlargeI may upset some people putting this so low, and there's a lot to like about Prophecy. It looks great, the Sparrow section is fun, but with some pretty underwhelming loot and sections that are easy to get turned around in (quite literally), I don't find it as enjoyable as many others.
It's still good, but by taking place in the Nine Realms, it feels a little too distant, at least in my head, from the rest of Destiny 2 (other than Dares of Eternity and some vaulted activities).
6 - Pit of Heresy
- Exotic: Xenophage (with quest)
- Launch date: October 29, 2019
- Required expansion: Shadowkeep
Click to enlargeLaunching around Halloween was pretty apt for this spooky Destiny 2 Dungeon. It's got a horror vibe that features some Scarlet Keep motifs and some endless pits of doom, and while it could do with a bit more light and some fresh gear to earn, it's a fun dive into Hive rituals.
Still, Xenophage is great if you have the quest for it (but then I've always had a soft spot for Machine Guns).
5 - Duality
- Exotic: Heartshadow (Sword)
- Launch date: May 27, 2022
- Required expansion: Witch Queen (Deluxe)
Click to enlargeDuality, or 'Destiny Inception' as I've come to know it, is a great mix of fun mechanics, impressive art design, and a fascinating core concept.
Diving into Calus' fractured mind offers an entirely unique feel, and the closer you get to uncovering his shame, the more you feel like you understand the facets of his character.
My only issue with Duality is that hitting the bell to trigger the realm changes can be a bit hit or miss, leading to some frustrating moments.
4 - Spire of the Watcher
- Exotic: Hierarchy of Needs (Bow)
- Launch date: December 9, 2022
- Required expansion: Witch Queen (Deluxe)
Click to enlargeSeason of the Seraph's Spire of the Watcher Dungeon is a fun one. Climbing the Spire, slaying Vex as you go, is fun, and the fight with Akelous in the final arena can be pretty frantic but also welcoming for newcomers just jumping in for a sherpa'd run.
Plus, you can get a cowboy hat. So there's that.
3 - Ghosts of the Deep
- Exotic: Eyes of Tomorrow (Rocket Launcher)
- Launch date: May 26, 2023
- Required expansion: Lightfall (Deluxe)
Click to enlargeI was pretty close to putting Ghost of the Deep higher, but the trip under the methane sea of Titan more than earns third place here. Titan was a cool destination anyway, but this deep sea dive to vanquish the Hive while they attempt to resurrect Oryx is a treat that pays off with an epic finale.
The Navigator Exotic is good for PvE, but Cold Comfort is well worth grabbing, too.
2 - Warlord's Ruin
- Exotic: Buried Bloodline (Sidearm)
- Launch date: December 1, 2023
- Required expansion: Lightfall (Deluxe)
Click to enlargeThe closest Destiny gets to going Dark Souls-style medieval, Warlord's Ruin is a banger of a Dungeon with some great loot but, above all else, a unique style.
Climbing the mountain, storming the castle, and slaying the dragon at the top is exhilarating, and with a solid team you can fit a couple of runs into your next Dungeon night.
Want to learn more? Check out our interview with the Bungie team to learn how they built the Dungeon.
1 - Grasp of Avarice
- Exotic: Gjallarhorn (with quest)
- Launch date: December 7, 2021
- Required expansion: 30th Anniversary Pack
Click to enlargeI adore Grasp of Avarice. Everything about this Dungeon is nigh-on perfect; the music, the meta-commentary on the loot cave and the danger of greed, and to top it all off, earning Gjallarhorn (via a quest).
The traps, the Sparrow section, yeeting Servitors into Shield Generators. It'll take some beating to dethrone Grasp of Avarice as the best Dungeon in Destiny 2.
What's your favourite Dungeon or Raid? Be sure to check out our rundown of the best Destiny 2 PvE weapons to level the playing field against everything your foes have to throw at you.
