Quick Links
- How Does Power Level Work?
- Season Of The Plunder Power Level Bands
- All Power Level Sources
- General Leveling Tips
- Reaching 1,570 Power Quickly
- Reaching 1,580 Power Quickly
Every new season in Destiny 2 raises the Power level cap by a certain amount. Most seasons will raise the Power cap by 10, but seasons tied to expansions raise this cap by much more. Season of the Plunder follows this trend by increasing Destiny 2's Power level maximum up to 1,580 Power.
In essence, this rather low increase in Power maximums allows you to focus less on grinding Pinnacles and more time playing content you enjoy. With that said, players that skipped a season or two will still have some catching up to do. We'll go over how Power level works, the Power increases you can expect from each activity, and some strategies you can use to level your main and alternate characters quickly.
Updated August 23rd, 2022, by Charles Burgar: A new season means new activities to farm. Season of the Plunder added a few new ways of increasing your Power Level, including a new seasonal activity and the reprised King's Fall raid. We've updated this guide with Season of the Plunder's new Power Level caps and new Powerful/Pinnacle activities.
How Does Power Level Work?
If you're a seasoned Destiny 2 player, you can skip this section.
Power level determines two key things in Destiny 2:
- How much damage you deal
- How much damage you can take
The higher your level is, the greater both of these bonuses are. If your Power level is lower than the activity's recommended level, you will be taking substantially more damage from enemies and deal less to combatants.
To increase your Power level, you must obtain new weapons and armor with a higher Power level rating. All non-sunset loot you obtain will increase your Power level until you reach the "soft cap." This cap changes each season. For Season of the Plunder, the soft cap is 1,520 Power.
Once you reach the soft cap, you will need to obtain Powerful Gear rewards from weekly milestones and activities to obtain gear with a higher level. Your Director will list every activity that grants Powerful Gear. We'll list all of these activities later in the guide.
If you reach a Power level of 1,570, you have hit the "hard cap" for your character's level. While this sounds counterintuitive, that is not the actual cap; you can further increase your Power by obtaining Pinnacle Gear from Destiny 2's most demanding content (raids, Trials of Osiris, et cetera). This is called the "pinnacle cap" and is currently set to 1,580.
The only means of increasing your Power level past 1,580 is by leveling your Seasonal Artifact. Artifact leveling occurs passively as you earn XP in Destiny 2.
Return to Quick Links
Season Of The Plunder Power Level Bands
Season of the Plunder's Power level bands are the following:
- Soft Cap: 1,520
- Hard Cap: 1,570
- Pinnacle Cap: 1,580
Soft Cap
The soft cap can be reached by obtaining any non-sunset gear. This includes:
- Rares
- Legendaries (non-sunset)
- Exotics
Obtaining vendor packages is a reliable way to reach the soft cap in a short period of time.
Hard Cap
Powerful Gear rewards from activities are the main method of reaching the Hard Cap. Prime Engrams can also assist you in achieving this cap.
Pinnacle Cap
Pinnacle Gear rewards are the only way of increasing your gear's Power past 1,570.
Return to Quick Links
All Power Level Sources
You can find every source of Powerful and Pinnacle Gear below. These activities are listed by the reward type. Note that these activities are character-bound. If you have more than one character, you can level your second and third characters to increase your Power level even faster.
General Power Sources
- Seasonal Artifact: This grants Power level based on how much XP you've earned.
- Artifact Power is disabled in contest mode raids, Trials of Osiris, and Iron Banner.
- World Drops (Soft Cap Only): If you aren't at the soft cap, any items you find will increase your Power level.
Return to Quick Links
Powerful Gear Sources
The sources listed below will grant +3 to +5 Power. Most of these sources are weeklies found on your Director.
| Source | Requirement | Power Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary Campaign (Witch Queen) | Complete every Witch Queen campaign mission on Legendary difficulty. | Gives a full set of 1,520 Power gear |
| Prime Engrams | Decrypt Prime Engrams (rarely drops from slain enemies, and certain vendors can give them as part of their respective reward tracks) | +3 |
| Vendor Weeklies | Complete 8 bounties for a given vendor | +3 |
| Core Playlists | Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit can drop powerful gear on completion | +3 |
| Nightfall Playlist | Clear 3 Nightfalls. Higher difficulties grant more progress | +3 |
| Competitive PvP | Complete 3 Survival games | +3 |
| Glory Rank Ups | Increase your Glory division or subdivision rank | +3 |
| Fynch's Challenge | Gain reputation with Fynch | +3 |
| Altar of Reflection | Complete 2 Altars of Reflection | +3 |
| The Wellspring | Complete 3 runs of the Wellspring | +3 |
| Dares of Eternity | Complete 3 Dares of Eternity runs. Legend difficulty grants additional progress | +3 |
| Weekly Campaign Mission | Complete the weekly campaign mission on any difficulty | +3 |
| H.E.L.M. | Complete 8 bounties from the Crown of Sorrow vendor | +3 |
| H.E.L.M. | Complete 8 bounties from the Star Chart vendor | +3 |
| Expedition | Acquire 125 treasures during the Expedition activity by throwing them into your treasure haul | +3 |
| Hawthorne | Earn 5,000 Clan XP | +4 |
| Trials of Osiris | Win 3 Trials matches on the same card | +4 |
| Trials of Osiris | Win 5 Trials matches on the same card | +5 |
| Ketchcrash | Complete 3 runs of Ketchcrash | +5 |
Some of these activities are tied to the Witch Queen Expansion, Season of the Risen, Haunted, or the 30th Anniversary Pack.
Return to Quick Links
Pinnacle Gear Sources
These sources drop +6 levels higher than your current Power. If you hit the hard cap, these sources will grant gear +1 or +2 higher than your current Power, up to the pinnacle cap.
| Source | Requirement | Power Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Strike Playlist | Complete 3 strikes using the same subclass as the weekly burn | +1 |
| Crucible Playlist | Complete 3 games in any Valor Crucible playlist | +1 |
| Gambit Playlist | Complete 3 Gambit matches | +1 |
| Nightfall Playlist | Clear a Nightfall with a score of 100,000 | +2 |
| Trials of Osiris | Win 7 games on the same card | +2 |
| Trials of Osiris | Win 7 games with no losses on a Trials Passage | +2 |
| Trials of Osiris | Win 50 rounds | +2 |
| Iron Banner | Complete Iron Banner daily challenges | +2 |
| Weekly Campaign Mission | Get a team score of 100,000 or better | +2 |
| Preservation | Complete the "Preservation" weekly mission | +2 |
| Vox Obscura | Defeat powerful Cabal and Champions in the "Vox Obscura" Exotic quest | +2 |
| The Wellspring | Complete a run of The Wellspring on Master difficulty | +2 |
| Dares of Eternity | Complete Dares of Eternity with a score of 250,000 or higher | +2 |
| Ketchcrash | Complete the Ketchcrash activity on Master difficulty | +2 |
| Duality (Master) | Complete encounters in the Duality dungeon on Master difficulty | +2 |
| King's Fall | Complete encounters in King's Fall | +2 |
| Weekly Raid | Complete the weekly rotating raid (Last Wish, Garden, Deep Stone Crypt, or Vault of Glass) | +2 |
| Weekly Dungeon | Complete the weekly rotating dungeon (Shattered Throne, Pit of Heresy, Prophecy, and Grasp of Avarice) | +2 |
Some of these activities are tied to the Witch Queen Expansion, Season of the Plunder, Risen, Haunted, or the 30th Anniversary Pack.
Return to Quick Links
Activity Sources
If you haven't played Destiny 2 in a bit or don't own all of the game's DLCs, you might be confused about where some of these activities originate from. We've listed the season or DLC tied to each activity in the tables below.
Active DLC
| Free | Season Of The Plunder |
|---|---|
|
|
| Season Of The Haunted | Season Of The Risen |
|
|
| The Witch Queen | 30th Anniversary Pack |
|
|
Return to Quick Links
General Leveling Tips
Complete The Witch Queen Legendary Campaign
The Witch Queen campaign has a Legendary difficulty variant you can start up at any time from Savathun's Throne World. Completing the Witch Queen campaign on Legendary grants a full set of gear at 1,520 Power. This bypasses a massive part of the Power grind. If you own the Witch Queen expansion and have the skill and/or friends to clear the campaign on Legendary, we highly encourage you to do so.
Additional Tips
Complete Pinnacle Gear challenges whenever your items have a similar Power level. This will grant a major boost to one slot, making Powerful Gear rewards "even out" your other slots. Be sure to complete bounties while completing weeklies, as the XP they provide can greatly accelerate your Artifact's progression. The more XP you earn, the more Power level you'll receive.
If you have more than one character, it is best to level the character you play/like the least. When you're done leveling them, transfer your guns to your second character. Level that character, transfer your weapons once more to your main character, then complete every weekly milestone. This will nearly ensure that you reach the hard cap in the first week of a given season.
Finally, if you want to rush to the hard cap as fast as possible, give the Glory Crucible playlist a shot. If you win most of your games, nearly every match will give you a subdivision or division rank up, granting Powerful Gear as a reward. A few hours of Competitive Crucible is enough to gain nearly a dozen Power.
Return to Quick Links
Reaching 1,570 Power Quickly
Reaching the soft cap in Destiny 2 is easier than ever, mostly thanks to the Gift of Thunder boost introduced in Season of the Plunder. If this offer ever expires, then there is another way you can quickly level your Guardian.
Option #1: Gift Of The Thunder Gods Boost
Make your way to the H.E.L.M. and interact with the nearby glowing chest. This chest contains a full set of 1,540-1,570 gear for you to claim. The gear's minimum Power is 1,540, available for New Lights or players returning from a lengthy break. If you're above 1,540, the chest will be +10 over your maximum Power, up to a cap of 1,570. For example, if your max Power is currently 1,557, the chest will give 1,567 gear. Gear from this chest cannot exceed 1,570 Power.
Anyone can claim this chest, not just veteran players. This chest will be removed in the future, so be sure to claim its offerings as soon as possible.
Option #2: Competitive PvP
Before you obtain any Powerful Gear, make sure that you hit the soft cap first. Clearing the Witch Queen campaign on Legendary difficulty is the fastest way of doing so, as you'll receive a full set of gear at 1,520 Power when the campaign is finished.
For leveling quickly, you'll want to obtain Powerful Gear rewards that offer the largest Power level jump. If you haven't played the season at all, completing one or two Pinnacle Gear sources isn't a bad idea, as these will give you a +6 item.
From there, you'll want to complete weeklies that grant minor Power level increases. These items will almost always drop in your other gear slots and "even out" the Power level distribution on your gear. When obtaining a +3 item becomes less impactful, complete another challenge that grants a massive boost.
The leveling process should look something like this:
- Claim a Pinnacle Gear reward.
- Complete three or four Powerful Gear weeklies.
- Claim a Powerful Gear (+4 or +5) reward.
- Complete three to four Powerful Gear weeklies.
- Claim a Powerful Gear (+4 or +5) reward.
- Complete three or four Powerful Gear weeklies.
- Play Glory-enabled Crucible to even out your gear.
If you're really far behind on the Power level scale, consider replacing the T2 and T3 Powerful Gear rewards with Pinnacle sources instead.
You can complete whatever content you prefer for the Pinnacle and Powerful rewards, but you should complete them in that order. Obtain a reward that grants a massive Power jump, then level your Crucible Glory rank to even out your gear quickly. If you do this right, you can reach the hard cap one or two weeks into a season.
Return to Quick Links
Reaching 1,580 Power Quickly
Reaching 1,580 Power will boil down to RNG. If you are lucky enough to get drops in the slots you need, you can reach the Pinnacle cap three weeks into a season.
For Season of the Plunder, there isn't any particular order you need to complete these weeklies in. With that said, we do have a few suggestions:
- Level alts first: Alternate characters should be your priority if you're rushing towards this cap. Level your third, least-played character before transferring your weapons to your second character. Complete their Pinnacle weeklies, transfer the guns to your main character, then run every Pinnacle source one more time.
- Complete +2 rewards first: Certain Pinnacle sources drop at +2 Pinnacle instead of +1. These are the activities you should complete first, as they'll allow you to increase your Power level faster.
- Complete Seasonal Challenges: Seasonal Challenges grant an absurd amount of XP. That XP directly contributes to your Artifact's Power level, allowing you to reach the Pinnacle Cap and beyond without grinding for weeks on end. This won't assist with Trials or Iron Banner, but those chasing max Power to complete Master Nightfalls or Master Lost Sectors should keep this in mind.
- Clear King's Fall: King's Fall is the current Pinnacle raid of Destiny 2. Each encounter you clear will give a +2 Power upgrade.
Next: Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Complete Guide And Walkthrough
FAQs
What is the fastest way to get high power level in Destiny 2? ›
To level up fast in destiny 2 season 18 for seasonal ranks and bonus power you're best doing the
What is the fastest way to level up in Destiny 2 2022? ›If you want to speed this up and have completed all story missions, then Crucible matches and Public Events are among the fastest way to do it.
How can I get 1560 Fast? ›- Complete 3 Vanguard Ops (With same subclass element as the current burn)
- Complete a Nightfall Strike with a score over 100,000.
- Complete 3 Crucible matches in any Playlist.
- Complete 3 Gambit matches in either Playlist.
- Complete a Dares of Eternity run with a score over 250,000.
The new max Power is 1570 (1580 with Pinnacle gear) as of Season of Plunder.
What is the highest light level in Destiny 2 right now? ›What is the max Power Level in Destiny 2? As of Season of Plunder, the max Power Level (or Light Level, for veteran players) available in Destiny 2 is 1,580, marking a 10-level increase from the previous baseline in Season of the Haunted.
What is the hard cap in d2? ›The hard cap - the light level where you can no longer find upgrades - is 1560. To reach this tier, you'll have to go on the search for pinnacle engrams which only drop from certain weekly missions and difficult content.
What time does XUR spawn? ›Xur: Agent of the Nine and a vendor in Destiny 2. He sells Legendary and Exotic items for Legendary Shards. He only appears on the weekends between 12 PM EST on Friday to 12 PM EST on Tuesday, and his location changes each week.
How do I get Gjallarhorn catalyst? ›How To Get The Catalyst. Complete the Grasp of Avarice dungeon after receiving the Gjallarhorn, and defeat special enemies.
What activity gives the most XP in Destiny 2? ›Seasonal Challenes grant more XP than any other source in Destiny 2. These challenges are unique Triumphs that can be inspected from your Quests or Seasonal tab. Seasons have dozens of challenges to complete, each granting at least a large chunk of XP. Seasonal Challenges are also a great source of Bright Dust.
How do you XP farm in Destiny 2? ›FASTEST Destiny 2 XP Farm - Season of the Plunder (AFK and ... - YouTube
How many kills does it take to fully level up weapons in Destiny 2? ›
Primary and special weapons require approximately 140 kills per level, with heavy weapons needing 80 kills. This article lists down the best ways to level up your crafted weapons, so you can get access to all the perks you want in addition to the enhanced ones.
Where do I get 1520 gear after legendary campaign? ›After completing the Legendary campaign Ikora will give players a package with blue Rare armor that will be at 1520 Power. It will appear in a "Prepare for Battle" text screen as a reward from Ikora. UPDATE: Players should ensure that their character has completed each Legendary campaign mission.
What do you get for beating witch queen on legendary? ›As a reward for completing the whole campaign on Legendary, you will receive: A full set of 1520 Power level gear. Eight Upgrade Modules. The Triumph required to complete the Throne World's seal.
How do you get gear above 1510? ›1,510 is the cap for all regular loot. To progress to 1,560 you need to look for sources of 'Powerful' or 'Pinnacle' loot, Prime Engrams are powerfuls so those help. At 1,560 only the Pinnacle loot can take you further to the seasonal hard cap of 1,570.
Does light level matter in Crucible? ›Light Level was still a factor in Iron Banner for the first five years. It wasn't until Season 17 that Bungie finally decided to change that and render it moot, aligning it with Crucible. Since then, Light Level for PvP has only mattered in Trials of Osiris.
Is Destiny 2 still worth playing 2022? ›Destiny 2 is absolutely worth playing, if you can love it for the beautiful mess of systems and overlapping expansions. While it is free, and I'd encourage anyone to try it, you'll undoubtedly get more out of its systems, story, and setting by picking up the expansions.
How do I get Destiny DLC for free? ›...
In essence, this is what you must do:
- Download the Epic Games Launcher.
- Log in.
- Go to 'Store'
- Find Destiny 2.
- Click on 'Get'
| Rank | Player | Glory Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | lShaxm | 5,500 |
| 2 | tyypa | 5,500 |
| 3 | spawn_dive | 5,500 |
| 4 | Honoured | 5,500 |
The new soft cap is 1500. This is the level that you can reach by playing regular content and equipping or infusing the blue (Rare) and purple (Legendary) gear you receive as rewards. Most players will find themselves closing in on 1500 by the time they finish the Witch Queen campaign on Classic difficulty.
What is the fastest way to soft cap in Destiny 2? ›Destiny 2: Fastest Way To Hit SOFT CAP 1,500! Witch Queen ... - YouTube
Is The Witch Queen worth buying? ›
Even if you have no desire to grind for loot or engage with the rest of Destiny 2's muddled live-service sandbox, Witch Queen is worth playing all by itself. It even has mission checkpoints.
How long does it take to max out in Destiny 2? ›For most, a measured pace of pumping in PvE. The duration of the season in the game is three months, so there is enough time to reach the maximum level, even playing 2-3 hours several times a week.
Does deep stone crypt drop powerful gear? ›If you've been grinding for gear in Destiny 2, you might've heard that you can get powerful loot drops from running Deep Stone Crypt. (If not, now you know.) Players have been trying to figure out whether or not that's intended functionality, and Bungie has now confirmed that it's not supposed to be happening.
What did Xur sell? ›If you're new to Destiny 2 and need a bit more information about how this works, you should know that Xur is a special vendor who sells exotic weapons and armor. Each week, he comes to the solar system with a slate of goods, including an exotic weapon and one piece of exotic armor for each character class.
Does Xur still sell exotics? ›Does Xur still sell Exotics in the game's sequel? Yes, he does! His arsenal now includes Exotic and Legendary armor and weapons with random rolls. The main currencies you need to buy from Xur are Legendary Shards and Glimmer, but some of his exotic wares require spending Ascendant Shards and Exotic Cyphers as well.
How often does Xur reset? ›What time does Xur appear? Xur appears every Friday at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST and will stick around until Tuesday's Destiny 2 weekly reset. The reset takes place on Tuesdays at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST.
Is Gjallarhorn guaranteed drop? ›Retrieve Gjallarhorn's Final Component
Banshee-44 tells you that the final component for Gjallarhorn is located in Exodus Garden 2A, a Lost Sector in The Divide. It takes a couple of minutes to clear, and the drop is guaranteed.
You need to kill 400 combatants to fully charge and activate the Gjallarhorn Catalyst.
How do you pronounce Gjallarhorn? ›How to Pronounce Gjallarhorn - YouTube
Does Fireteam XP boost stack? ›Shared Wisdom works when a player uses a Small Fireteam XP Boost and they join a fireteam. Every boost used will provide a 2% XP boost that stacks on itself, to a maximum of 8% XP boost. For example, if a player used 3 Fireteam XP Boosts, they'll get a total of 6% XP boost under the Shared Wisdom buff.
How much XP does Thrallway give? ›
While this process is still viable inside other activities such as Shuro-Chi or Grasp loot cave, Thrallway was unique because of the infinite XP gain.
Does Fireteam XP boost work in orbit? ›For example, if you're completing bounties, you'll get the bonus, but if you're just in orbit in your ship, you won't. The Shared Wisdom XP Boost maxes out at 8% and you won't need a full Fireteam in order to max it out. The bonus comes from the player in your party with the greatest Fireteam XP Bonus (up to 8%).
Can you get banned for Thrallway? ›You will not get banned as long as you don't use any external programs.
How much XP does crucible give? ›| Source | Location | Base XP |
|---|---|---|
| Crucible Daily | Tower | 6,000 |
| Iron Banner (x4) | Tower | 12,000 |
| Gambit Repeatable | Tower | 4,000 |
| Gambit Daily (x4) | Tower | 6,000 |
Thanks. Edit: They only give 3000 XP, don't waste your time saving them when a repeatable bounty is more efficient.
Where can I farm kills in Destiny 2? ›If you're going for maximum efficiency, then the Thrallway checkpoint from the Shattered Throne dungeon is your best bet. This checkpoint is well-known amongst Destiny 2 players — not only is it the best place to farm Taken, it's also the best overall farming location if you need to kill lots of enemies fast.
What's the highest weapon level in Destiny 2? ›The Enigma what is the max weapon level ? If you need a max then its usually 16 for all enhanced perks and 30 when you are able to use the shader exclusive to a memento applied to a crafted weapon otherwise there is no max level.
How do you farm witch queen weapons? ›BEST WAY TO FARM THE NEW WITCH QUEEN WEAPONS
How do I get to Level 1330 Destiny 2? ›How to level up quickly in Destiny 2 Season Of The Lost - YouTube
What is the best way to increase power? ›- Add balance exercises. ...
- Medicine Ball Squat Throws. ...
- Squat Jump. ...
- Barbell Curl.
How do you get gear above 1510? ›
1,510 is the cap for all regular loot. To progress to 1,560 you need to look for sources of 'Powerful' or 'Pinnacle' loot, Prime Engrams are powerfuls so those help. At 1,560 only the Pinnacle loot can take you further to the seasonal hard cap of 1,570.
What is the fastest way to level up artifacts in Destiny 2? ›Destiny 2 fastest season pass! Fastest Artifact level up Season ... - YouTube
What is the hard cap in d2? ›The hard cap - the light level where you can no longer find upgrades - is 1560. To reach this tier, you'll have to go on the search for pinnacle engrams which only drop from certain weekly missions and difficult content.
How do I get to 1320 fast in Destiny 2? ›How to POWER LEVEL to 1320 in Season 14 (Over-Simplifed Guide)
What time does XUR spawn? ›Xur: Agent of the Nine and a vendor in Destiny 2. He sells Legendary and Exotic items for Legendary Shards. He only appears on the weekends between 12 PM EST on Friday to 12 PM EST on Tuesday, and his location changes each week.
How do you stay at power? ›- Don't waste energy complaining. ...
- Accept responsibility for how you feel. ...
- Establish healthy boundaries. ...
- Practice forgiveness. ...
- Know your values. ...
- Don't waste time on unproductive thoughts. ...
- Avoid language that implies you're a victim.
To increase the horsepower of your 4 cylinder car, replace the stock intake tube with a cold air intake to increase the air flow into your engine.
Does LAST WISH drop Pinnacle gear? ›The Last Wish raid does not reward powerful or pinnacle gear unless it is the weekly featured raid.
Does light level matter in Crucible? ›Light Level was still a factor in Iron Banner for the first five years. It wasn't until Season 17 that Bungie finally decided to change that and render it moot, aligning it with Crucible. Since then, Light Level for PvP has only mattered in Trials of Osiris.
What is the soft cap for witch queen? ›The new soft cap is 1500. This is the level that you can reach by playing regular content and equipping or infusing the blue (Rare) and purple (Legendary) gear you receive as rewards. Most players will find themselves closing in on 1500 by the time they finish the Witch Queen campaign on Classic difficulty.
What Season rank is 20+ power? ›
When you get to +20 Power bonus, your Season Pass will be around level 207. That's grind!
How much XP does it take to unlock all artifact mods? ›...
Artifact Unlock XP requirements.
| Artifact Unlocks | XP required | Total XP |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 425,000 | 2,660,000 |
| 14 | 460,000 | 3,120,000 |
| 15 | 490,000 | 3,610,000 |
| 16 | 520,000 | 4,130,000 |
All Mods Solo - How to Get Any Mod in Destiny 2 - YouTube