Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares guide

How do you complete the Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid? The Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid, introduced as part of the Destiny 2 Lightfall expansion, is exciting showdown of skill, wits, and bravery as players take on a powerful enemy from an ancient time.

Bungie’s newest Destiny 2 raid, now available with Destiny 2 season 20 content in the FPS game, is a showdown against Nezarec, a Disciple of the Witness.

Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid release time

The Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid launched in Contest Mode on March 10 at 9am PST / noon EST / 5pm GMT. Contest Mode, a special mode that caps player Power levels at 20 below the enemies and disables the use of specific high-DPS weapons, will last for 48 hours. Contest Mode has now ended, so players can use their preferred loadouts and Power levels are not restricted.

Ayone who completes the raid before March 21 will have the chance to order a special exclusive Root of Nightmares raid jacket.

Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid encounters

Bungie gave little information about the raid before its launch, but initially shared the following description.

“Ferried from an unknown time and place, a haunting presence has been detected. We must now confront the ancient threat growing at our doorstep,” the description says.

The raid breaks down into an brief introduction and then four major encounters.

• First encounter: Cataclysm – Survive the Onslaught
• Second encounter: Sission – Enter the Root
• Third encounter: Macrocosm – Zo’aurc
• Final encounter: Nezarec

Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares encounter breakdown

Though team Hard in the Paint completed the raid in under two and a half hours as part of Bungie’s World’s First raid race, that doesn’t mean it’s easy as the members of that team are some of the highest-calibre players in the Destiny 2 ecosystem. Most normal players will struggle with the raid, especially if they plan to complete it while it’s in Contest Mode.

Here’s a breakdown of how to complete the various steps.

Introduction

This stage is the raid opening. You’ll begin by traversing the entrance area, walking forward until you can go no further and then following the path to the left around the exterior of the ship. As you continue to round the curve, you’ll fight enemies, and in the distance, you’ll see a large statue. Use this to guide you forward. Once you pass this, follow the corridors to the right and then follow the curving pathway into the first encounter.

First encounter: Cataclysm – Survive the Onslaught

Once you reach this point, you’ll be instructed to “Survive the Onslaught.” This is an add-heavy area, so machine guns are useful here and throughout most of the raid. For enemies, you can use Divinity, Izagnazi’s Burden, or Arbalst.

Shooting the orb that looks the Traveler while inside its glowing aura will start the encounter and grants the Field of Light buff. The goal is to transfer the orb to the other side of the arena by passing it through nodes, which look like spirals. From the time you start the encounter, keep an eye on the Sweeping Terror debuff as your fireteam will wipe if it reaches zero. Note that shooting the nodes does nothing if the player does not have the Field of Light buff, and that they will lose the buff each time they shoot a node. Also, if one player grabs the buff while other players already have it, it will disrupt the current buff-holder’s buff. However, the buff can also be granted to multiple players at once.

Shooting the Traveler orb will activate a spiral node on a different plate, which the Traveler orb will direct you to in the form of a ray of light. Once you shoot that spiral node, it will transform into a Traveler orb and will have a light beam directing you to the next plate. But, the Guardian who activated the plate will no longer have the Field of Light buff and will have to rebuff by shooting the Traveler orb again.

To get this done as rapidly as possible, designate two players to be in charge of activating the orbs with the four others clearing adds throughout the encounter. One Guardian shoots at the Traveler orb while another Guardian stands outside it, granting that player who shot the orb the Field of Light buff. The Guardian with the buff should head toward the first spiral node plate. Then once that player activates it, the person still near the initial plate can immediately shoot the Traveler orb and get their own Field of Light buff, though note that this will eventually change locations around the arena. Shooting this will grant that second player the buff, so they can head to the next spiral node as called out by the first player who saw which direction the orb they just shot pointed. In the meantime, the first player should seek out the Traveler orb plate so they’re ready to get their Field of Light buff just after their fellow Guardian activates the second node. These players should alternate and do this several times while the four other teammates continue to defeat adds, until the Sweeping Terror debuff goes away and the team can move up to progress the activity.

Whenever you see shielded psions, note that someone on your team must kill them via melee so players can see the direction that points to the following node. So, they must do this as quickly as possible. Doing this will also spawn a Tormeter. The team must also kill the Tormeter quickly, adding precious time to the timer before the impacts of the Sweeping Terror debuff wipe the team. The Tormenter also blocks spawn of the next spiral node, and defeating it will spawn the next node. Keep in mind that the Tormenters will alternate spawn sides.

Each time, players can expect to connect four or five nodes and will clear about four Tormenters total to finish the encounter.

Once your team completes this, you’ll need to again make your way through the corridor, following the pathway around. Once you see a platform with a black diamond in front of it, shoot it and it will propel you across a large opening.

Follow the enemies and then again make your way across the winding pathways. Follow the corridors, tree limbs and platforms higher and higher, defeating several Aspirants of Nezarec along the way. You’ll then end up at a launcher platform where you’ll shoot a diamond and launch yourself across the way. At the end of this traversal, you’ll come across another Aspirant of Nezarec, which you must defeat.

Then again, continue making your way higher, leading you into another corridor, at which point you’re instructed to “Enter the Root.”

Second encounter: Sission – Enter the Root

Note that timing is crucial for this encounter because of the limited timeframe for players to complete specific activities. It also involves launching off the platform to cross the chasm to continue the ascent.

Start by dividing into two teams of three. Two players on each team should stay on their side, while the third, dubbed the runner, will go back and forth across the chasm. The two players who stay behind should be tasked with clearing adds. Note that at certain points, you’ll need to fight more difficult enemies such as Barrier Colossuses. Further, some enemies will be shielded and can only be damaged by players with a specific buff.

One player on one side should shoot the orb to earn the Field of Light buff. At the same time, the other player should shoot the orb on the opposite side to trigger the Flux of Darkness buff.

Like the previous encounter, these will point to nodes you must shoot to progress the activity. Again, only players who have the correct buffs can activate these nodes. This is generally similar to the first encounter but with a dark side and a light side.

Because the respective orbs are across a chasm, the runners will have to shoot a black diamond to trigger a launcher. However, they must be positioned correctly against the launcher to make it across each time without dying.

Because some enemies require that players have the buff to defeat them, it’s helpful for all players on each side to have the buff at once. Recall that everyone in the aura when it’s shot can get the buff.

• Each side’s single runner follows the orb indicators and shoots the orbs.
• This player then returns to the orb that grants the buff.
• The add killers can also return to the orb, where shooting the orb will refresh all players’ buffs.
• With the buff refreshed, the runner will then continue and the players on both sides will hold the buffs required to defeat the enemies that require the buff to defeat them.
• Players must clear the Centurions to be able to ascend to the next level. You will have to make it past three total levels.

If you time this area right and swap consistently, then you should be able to make it to the point where you can continue to ascend up the root.

You’ll then come to a portal that requires players to find and shoot several different spirals, which will open the portal. Shoot them in the order indicated by following the beams. Note that all members of the fireteam must be near the portal for it to open.

Upon completing this, you’ll be able to progress.

Third encounter: Macrocosm – Zo’aurc

This is a rather challenging puzzle that forces players to line up planets to allow for a damage phase. The room will be split into three areas (left, center, right). The planets are at the tips of triangles and, to start, the side on the left will be four light and two dark, and the right will be four dark and two light, though you won’t see this at first. Clear adds until the centurions spawn, and you’ll see colossuses spawn on each triangle. You’ll want to shift all darks to one side and all lights to left. Once the colossus is killed, one player must walk under the triangle and pick up the buff. Take the buff of the planets on the wrong side and carry them to the correct sides. Importantly, note that only the person who kills the colossus can see whether a planet is light or dark, can only see the ones on their side, and can only move the ones on their side. After the players from both sides insert the buffs, the planets will shift positions. You’ll do this with three rounds of centurions, at which point the DPS phase begins. Another centurion and colossus will spawn, and killing this colossus will show you whether the centre planets are light or dark.

Again, take the buffs to the correct sides and place them into the plates beneath the planets. If you do it correctly, the planets combine. If the boss is orange, you must stand in the orange area to deal damage. If it’s white, you must stand in the white areas to deal damage. Upon using a plate, you cannot use it again, so do this until you reach the final point at which the boss is orange, all plates are orange, and you can deal damage from anywhere.

A crystal in the encounter either respawns centurions if necessary or starts the damage cycle when your team is on the correct plate.

Final encounter: Nezarec

Drawing from the previous encounters, one or two fireteam members will need to connect the orbs to the nodes as indicated. The damage phase begins with players chain both sides from the beginning to the end. The remaining team members should be DPSing Nezarec in his critical hit spots, which will also extend the timer. After completing his head and shoulders, he turns dark or light. You must then quickly seek the buff matching his energy type. If he’s light, you must grab a darkness aura and bring it to a light node, and if he’s dark, then you must grab a light node and bring it to a dark one. Then, as previously, shooting the node will grant immunity to players within the aura.

Stand on the final light seed spot for the DPS phase, and note that he requires several damage phases and a shorter wipe timer after the first round.

Root of Nightmares secret chest locations

There are several secret chests throughout the raid. Their locations are as follows.

Secret chest #1

Moving toward the second encounter, you’ll find a psion shooting at you from high above. Kill the Tormenter that spawns in and head toward the psion to find the chest.

Secret chest #2

During the second jumping puzzle, turn at the stairs and find the darkness switch to open a door. Opening this brings you to chest, which you can find by jumping around the outside area before entering the room.

Root of Nightmares raid exotic shotgun

The newest exotic in the Destiny 2 Lightfall exotic list is the Conditional Finality, a dual-barrel shotgun that splits damage between Stasis and Solar. Landing most Stasis pellets will freeze targets, and all Solar pellets will ignite pellets. When compared with specific Aspects and Fragments, this weapon stand to make some powerful builds even more powerful.

The exotic has a low drop rate, but players who complete various triumphs will have an increased chance of earning the exotic. However, they can only earn from the final encounter against Nezarec.

Root of Nightmares loot table

In addition to the exotic, the Root of Nightmares grants several special weapons and armour pieces. Here’s what you can get.

• Briar’s Contempt Solar linear fusion rifle (first encounter, final encounter)
• Koraxis’s Distress Strand grenade launcher (first encounter, second encounter, final encounter)
• Nessa’s Oblation Void shotgun (first encounter, second encounter, final encounter)
• Mykel’s Reverence Strand sidearm (second encounter, third encounter, final encounter)
• Acasia’s Rejection Solar trace rifle (second encounter, third encounter, final encounter)
• Rufus’s Fury Strand auto rifle (third encounter, final encounter)

Root of Nightmares also grants a unique armour, some of which interacts with specific shaders to create neat effects. Therefore, it’s worth pursuing. Here are the pieces you can potentially earn with each encounter.

• First encounter: Chest, arms, helmet
• Second encounter: Chest, arms, legs
• Third encounter: Chest, legs, class
• Fourth encounter: Head, legs

Players can also earn raid-specific mods via YouTuber Aztecross.

• Chill Out: Defeating a combatant with a Stasis weapon spawns a Stasis crystal. Must have a Stasis subclass equipped.
• Precise Jolts: Rapid precision hits with Arc weapons jolt target. Must have an Arc subclass equipped.
• Volatile Volleys: Defeating powerful combatants with a Void weapon gives your Void weapons Volatile Rounds. Must have a Void subclass equipped.
• Radiant Heat: Powerful combatant final blows with Solar weapons grants Radianr. Must have a Solar subclass equipped.
• Tangled Up: Defeating a combatant with a Strand weapon spawns a Tangle. Must have a Strand subclass equipped.
• Cabal Extinguisher: When an ally grains Flux of Darkness or Field of Light, deal increased weapon damage to Cabal combatants for a short time.
• Release Recover: When you lose Flux of Darkness or Field of Light, begin recovering health.
• Focused Darkness: When you have Flux of Darkness, gain increased ability damage or mobility.
• Focused Light: When you have Field of Light, gain increased weapon damage and resilience.

That’s everything to know about the Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares raid and the multiplayer game‘s specific encounters. You’ll also want to check out our guides to earning the Destiny 2 Final Warning exotic Strand sidearm, the Destiny 2 Deterministic Chaos exotic Void machine gun, and the Destiny 2 Winterbite exotic Stasis glaive, too.