Salvation's Edge Guide: Conquer Every Encounter & Best Loot

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Salvation's Edge, released on June 7, 2024, with Destiny 2's The Final Shape expansion, represents the climactic 6-player raid activity that concludes the long-arching Light and Darkness saga. This encounter system places Guardians in direct opposition to The Witness, the paramount antagonist within the Destiny narrative. The entirety of the raid unfolds within the colossal, sentient structure of The Witness's Monolith, which has breached the interior of the Traveler. This unique environmental context introduces reality-distorting mechanics and culminates in an encounter designed to be a defining moment for the game's overarching story. The very architecture of the raid is, in essence, the physical form of The Witness, creating an unparalleled level of narrative and environmental immersion. This design choice signifies a notable evolution in Destiny's raid philosophy, aiming to fuse the gameplay space with profound thematic resonance, making the environment an active participant in the narrative rather than a mere backdrop for combat.

Guardians undertaking Salvation's Edge should anticipate an exceptionally challenging and mechanics-intensive experience. The raid's complexity has been observed to test even highly experienced fireteams. Success hinges on meticulous coordination, precise mechanical execution, and a comprehensive understanding of novel gameplay systems unique to this activity. A pervasive feature across nearly all encounters is a wipe timer, often designated as "Final Shape Looming," which applies continuous pressure on the fireteam to perform efficiently and correctly. Unlike some prior raid designs that might have allowed for more passive roles, Salvation's Edge mandates active participation in mechanics from all six fireteam members; the traditional "add clear" (enemy management) role is intrinsically linked to mechanical progression and is not a position of disengagement. This emphasis on shared responsibility and universal engagement suggests a design direction that elevates the baseline skill and awareness required from each participant, potentially influencing how fireteams are formed and how teaching runs are approached, given the increased burden on every individual to comprehend and execute complex tasks.

Preparing for Salvation's Edge

Salvation's Edge Raid Guide

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Successful navigation of Salvation's Edge necessitates meticulous preparation in terms of game progression, power level, equipment, and team coordination.

Access Requirements

To initiate the Salvation's Edge raid, the designated fireteam leader is required to have completed the main campaign of The Final Shape expansion and the subsequent "Wild Card" Exotic quest. This prerequisite for the leader may indicate that the "Wild Card" quest introduces a narrative element or a mechanical understanding that is foundational for accessing or contextualizing the raid. While it is strongly recommended by the developers that all participating Guardians complete the campaign to avoid narrative spoilers and ensure a cohesive story experience, the specific burden of the Exotic quest completion falls upon the leader.

Recommended Power Levels

The recommended Power Level for Salvation's Edge varies based on the active mode:

Essential Pre-Raid Checklist

A comprehensive pre-raid checklist should address gear, communication protocols, shared terminology, and time allocation.

General Gear Recommendations

Guardians should enter Salvation's Edge with a versatile arsenal of well-upgraded legendary and exotic weapons and armor; substandard equipment (e.g., blue or green rarity items) is strongly discouraged. Loadouts should be adaptable, with options for:

• Add Clear: Weapons effective at dispatching large numbers of weaker enemies, such as submachine guns, auto rifles, and wave-frame grenade launchers.
• Single-Target DPS: Weapons optimized for dealing high damage to bosses and resilient targets, including sniper rifles, linear fusion rifles, and rocket launchers. Specific exotic weapons frequently cited for general raid utility include Divinity, Gjallarhorn, Outbreak Perfected, Witherhoard, and Izanagi's Burden. For Salvation's Edge, weapons such as Microcosm 13, Still Hunt 13, and swords like Lament or Falling Guillotine have been noted.
• Champion Stunning: The Repository encounter features Unstoppable Champions, requiring appropriate anti-champion modifications or abilities.

All character subclasses and their associated abilities should be fully unlocked to maximize strategic options.

Communication

Understanding Key Destiny 2 Raid Terminology

A shared understanding of common raiding terms is essential for efficient communication:

Time Commitment

Encounter 1: Substratum

The Substratum is the inaugural encounter of the Salvation's Edge raid, introducing fireteams to the core mechanics of Resonance manipulation and the persistent threat of a wipe timer. The primary objective involves charging a series of plates distributed across a multi-room arena, collecting the resultant Pyramidal Resonance, and depositing these into a central Resonant Altar to extend the "Final Shape Looming" timer, which, if depleted, results in a full team wipe. The encounter space is characterized as a 9x9 grid of interconnected rooms, with orange energy conduits linking the plates to Resonance Conduit pillars.

Detailed Stage-by-Stage Walkthrough

The encounter progresses through distinct stages of enemy clearance, plate activation, Resonance collection, and deposition.

Initiation:

The encounter commences when a fireteam member picks up an initial Pyramidal Triangle object located in the main room and deposits it into a designated "Deposit Resonance" receptacle. This action activates the "Final Shape Looming" wipe timer and unseals two doorways, from which explosive Supplicant enemies will emerge.

Stage One – Powering the Plates (Enemy Cycle):

The fireteam must divide into two sub-teams of three, each proceeding through one of the opened doorways. A specific sequence of enemy eliminations must be followed, repeated twice per side, to activate the plates:

1. In a side room, defeat a Quantum Minotaur. This will cause a Keeper of the Monolith (a Hydra-type enemy) to spawn on the opposite side of the arena complex.
2. Eliminate this Hydra. Its defeat will open further doorways on the opposite side from where the Hydra was located.
3. Through these new openings, locate and defeat an Overload Champion. This Champion's demise will trigger the appearance of a Threshold Sentinel Tormentor in the large, central room of the encounter area. A system message, "You are being beckoned back to the center," will cue this phase.
4. Both sub-teams must then converge in the central room to defeat the Threshold Sentinel Tormentor. Successfully eliminating the Tormentor opens additional doors and, crucially, energizes a plate in the room where the preceding Overload Champion was defeated. The message "Energy flows into the architecture" signifies plate activation.

The optimization of this enemy elimination cycle is paramount; faster kills directly translate to quicker plate activation, affording more time for subsequent Resonance mechanics and alleviating pressure from the main encounter timer.

Stage Two – Collect Pyramidal Resonance:

Once two Tormentors have been defeated and a plate on each side of the arena is glowing, the fireteam reconfigures into three pairs. For each pair, one player positions near the initially glowing plate (the "sending" plate), while the other locates a room where a Resonance Conductor pillar is also glowing—this indicates the position of the second plate in their sequence (the "receiving" plate).

This "bouncing" of energy must be repeated between the two plates until three Pyramidal Resonance triangles have been generated for that pair of plates. The system message "All resonance has been pulled forth" will confirm this.

Each player should endeavor to collect three stacks of Pyramidal Resonance. Acquiring more than three stacks of any given Resonance type is lethal. Resonance pickups have an individual timer, but this timer can be reset by collecting another Resonance stack.

The plate bouncing mechanic serves as a foundational skill. Its emphasis on precise timing and inter-player coordination is a theme that will be revisited and amplified with additional variables, such as more Resonance types and complex wiring, in subsequent encounters like Repository. Mastering this system in Substratum is therefore critical for the fireteam's overall success in Salvation's Edge.

Stage Three – Closing Conduits & Depositing Resonance:

When players have amassed their Pyramidal Resonance (ideally three stacks each), or when the "Final Shape Looming" timer is critically low (approximately 40 seconds remaining), two Resonance Conductors must be closed.

• To close a Resonance Conductor, a player who currently possesses Pyramidal Resonance must shoot the triangular symbol on the target Conductor pillar before stepping onto the associated plate at the correct time in the energy transfer sequence. This action consumes one stack of that player's Pyramidal Resonance.
• Successfully closing two Resonance Conductors triggers the spawn of a Harbinger of the Witness (another Subjugator variant) in the main central room.
• This Harbinger must be defeated swiftly. Its elimination will cause all side doors to close and a new Resonant Altar to materialize in the central chamber.
• Players must then deposit their collected Pyramidal Resonance into this Altar. Each successful deposit extends the "Final Shape Looming" timer by 20 seconds.

This entire three-stage cycle—powering plates, collecting Resonance, closing conduits, killing the Harbinger, and depositing Resonance—must be repeated a total of three times to complete the Substratum encounter. Notably, on the final repetition, only a single Resonance deposit may be necessary to trigger completion.

Enemy Prioritization

Effective threat management involves prioritizing specific enemy types based on their mechanical importance or immediate danger:

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

Clear role delineation is crucial for the synchronized execution required in Substratum:

• Initial Clearing Teams (Two teams of three): Responsible for progressing through the side rooms, eliminating the sequenced major enemies (Minotaur, Hydra, Overload) to trigger Tormentor spawns. One team typically manages the left progression path, the other the right.
• Plate Activation Teams (Three teams of two): Formed after initial plates are active.
  • Plate Activators/Senders: Players who step on the initially energized plate to send the current.
  • Plate Receivers/Conduit Closers: Players who step on the second plate in the sequence to spawn Resonance. Later, these players (or designated individuals) will be responsible for shooting the conduit symbol and stepping on the plate to close it.
  • Resonance Collectors: All fireteam members are responsible for collecting Pyramidal Resonance.
• Add Clear: A continuous responsibility for all players, particularly those not directly operating the plates at a given moment. Focus should be on high-threat targets like Weavers or any enemies endangering plate operators.

Common Callouts

Standardized callouts facilitate efficient coordination:

// Common callouts for Substratum encounter
"Minotaur down, Hydra spawning."
"Overload down, Tormentor spawning mid."
"Tormentor defeated, plate is now active."
"[Location] plate sending current." / "[Location] plate receiving, stepping now."
"Resonance spawned [General location if needed, e.g., 'near pillar']."
"Closing conduit."
"Harbinger has spawned in mid."
"Depositing Pyramidal Resonance."
"Timer at [X] seconds!"

Challenge Modes

Substratum features two distinct challenge modes: "Touch and Go" and "Scenic Route."

Beginner Tips: Easiest Roles, Safe Spots, and Recovery

Encounter 2: Dissipation (Herald of Finality - First Boss)

The Dissipation encounter introduces the first major boss of Salvation's Edge: the Herald of Finality, a formidable Taken Captain-like entity. This encounter builds upon the Resonance mechanics from Substratum, incorporating a new Resonance type (Spherical) and a critical buff management system ("Stolen Valor/Favor") necessary for deciphering conduit requirements. The arena is a broad, open space featuring a central rectangular field where the boss primarily resides, and three Resonance Conduit pillars—Left, Right, and Middle (or "Close" relative to spawn)—each equipped with an upper (sending) and lower (receiving) plate. The "Final Shape Looming" wipe timer remains a constant pressure.

Detailed Stage-by-Stage Walkthrough

The encounter unfolds in phases involving buff acquisition, Resonance generation, conduit closure, and boss damage.

Initiation & Setup:

To commence the encounter, a fireteam member must shoot a prominent Taken blight located in the center of the arena. The fireteam should organize into three pairs, with each pair assigned to one of the three Resonance Conduit pillars (Left, Middle, Right).

Stage One – Obtain Stolen Valor/Favor:

1. Upon initiation, the Herald of Finality will spawn, accompanied by an array of Taken and Dread enemies. Notably, yellow-bar Taken Knights (referred to as Trammels, with specific types like Wizard, Phalanx, or Ogre potentially tied to locations, or generically as "Trammel of enemy type") will appear at each pillar section. It is critical to prevent these Knights from stepping onto the plates, as this will trigger an immediate team wipe.
2. At each pillar, the team must eliminate three of these yellow-bar enemies. Their defeat will cause three Taken blights to manifest near that pillar's plate system.
3. A distinct audio cue (a gong sound) will signal that one player from each of the three pairs has received the "Beckoned to Fight" buff.
4. Players with the "Beckoned to Fight" buff must destroy the nearby Taken blights (though any player can contribute to their destruction) and, in doing so, will acquire the "Call for Reckoning" buff.
5. Subsequently, a new, smaller Taken Blight will materialize above the Herald of Finality in the central arena. Players holding the "Call for Reckoning" buff must proceed to the center and shoot this smaller Blight. This action transforms their "Call for Reckoning" buff into "Stolen Favor".
6. The "Stolen Favor" buff is crucial, as it allows the possessing player to perceive the type of Resonance (Pyramidal/triangle or Spherical/circle) required to close their assigned Resonance Conduit pillar. Without this buff, the symbols indicating the required Resonance type are indecipherable. If a player with "Call for Reckoning" remains in the main pillar area for too long without converting it by shooting the boss's blight, the encounter may reset.
7. While the "Beckoned" players are engaged in the central arena, the players remaining at the pillars must locate and destroy a large Taken orb that spawns in their vicinity.
8. The message "Energy flows into the architecture" will appear after the Trammel enemy at a section is defeated, signifying that the plates for that section are now active and can be used for Resonance generation.

Stage Two – Generate Resonance & Close Conduits:

Two primary strategies exist for this phase, largely differing in their timing relative to Stolen Favor acquisition:

Stage Three: Damage and Final Stand:

1. Once all three Resonance Conduit pillars have been successfully closed, a Resonance deposit box will materialize in the central boss arena.
2. All fireteam members should converge on this box and deposit their collected Resonance stacks. Each stack deposited adds time to the "Final Shape Looming" timer.
3. When the deposit box vanishes (or after a set duration), the Herald of Finality's shield will lower, initiating the DPS (damage per second) phase.
4. Effective DPS strategies often involve the use of a Well of Radiance for damage amplification and healing, combined with high-damage swords such as The Lament or Falling Guillotine.
5. This cycle of buff acquisition, Resonance management, conduit closing, and DPS is repeated until the Herald of Finality reaches its Final Stand phase. During Final Stand, an increased number of Ogre-type enemies will spawn, intensifying the challenge. The boss must be defeated before the "Final Shape Looming" timer expires.

Boss Abilities & Attack Patterns

The Herald of Finality employs aggressive Taken Captain attacks within the central arena. Additionally, throughout the encounter, one of The Witness's hands will be visible, launching projectile attacks that target circular areas on the ground. These are telegraphed and can be avoided with situational awareness.

Enemy Prioritization

Successful execution demands prioritization of key enemy units:

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

Each of the three pillar teams (pairs) has shared and specific responsibilities:

• Stolen Favor Acquirer: One player per pair will typically focus on obtaining the "Beckoned to Fight" buff, progressing it to "Call for Reckoning," and finally to "Stolen Favor" by engaging the boss in the central arena. This player is then responsible for reading the Resonance requirement at their pillar.
• Pillar Partner: This player focuses on add clear at the pillar, assists with plate mechanics, helps destroy the large Taken orb, collects Resonance once the type is called out, and aids in closing the conduit.
• Strong communication and coordination within each pair are vital for managing adds, mechanics, and Resonance effectively.
• All players contribute to add clear, especially during the initial phase and while the Stolen Favor acquirer is in the central arena.

Common Callouts

// Common callouts for Dissipation encounter
"[Player Name] is Beckoned / has Call for Reckoning."
"Small blight is up on the boss!"
"[Player Name] has Stolen Favor."
"[Location] pillar requires [Resonance Type]."
"Sending plate." / "Receiving plate, preparing to close conduit."
"All conduits closed, moving to center for deposit."
"Depositing Resonance now."
"DPS phase initiated!"

Challenge Modes

Dissipation features two challenge modes: "Changing Tactics" and "At Capacity."

Beginner Tips: Easiest Roles, Safe Spots, Recovery, and DPS

Encounter 3: Repository (Carve a Path)

The Repository encounter, also known as "Carve a Path," functions as a high-intensity gauntlet across three vertically-ascending floors, presenting a significant escalation in mechanical complexity and enemy pressure without a traditional boss fight. It re-employs and expands upon the plate-based Resonance generation and conduit-closing mechanics observed in the preceding encounters. A third Resonance type, Square (or Hexahedron) Resonance, is introduced here, joining the existing Pyramidal and Spherical types. The "Stolen Favor" buff returns, granted to the player who lands the final blow on specific Tormentor enemies, enabling them to discern the required Resonance types for each conduit. This encounter also features Unstoppable Champions, demanding appropriate countermeasures from the fireteam.

Detailed Stage-by-Stage Walkthrough (per floor)

The core loop of killing Tormentors, generating Resonance, closing conduits, depositing Resonance, and clearing a final wave of enemies is repeated on each of the three floors.

1. Initiation (Each Floor): The encounter on each floor begins with the fireteam, typically divided into three pairs, confronting Tormentor enemies near each of the three Resonance Conduits. The player who secures the final blow on a Tormentor is granted the "Stolen Favor" buff. The defeat of these Tormentors activates the plate systems for Resonance generation but also triggers the spawn of numerous, highly dangerous Scorpious Turrets throughout the room.
2. Resonance Generation & Conduit Closing:
   • The immediate priority after Tormentor elimination is to neutralize all active Scorpious Turrets, as their sustained fire can quickly lead to a team wipe.
   • Once the turrets are managed, teams utilize the activated plates to generate Pyramidal, Spherical, and Square/Hexahedral Resonance by bouncing an energy beam between connected plates, mirroring the mechanic from previous encounters. Precise timing is crucial; errors in the sequence will spawn a Subjugator enemy, consuming valuable time.
   • The player(s) holding the "Stolen Favor" buff must identify and communicate the specific type of Resonance required to close each of the three conduits on that floor.
   • Players then collect the necessary Resonance stacks and proceed to close their assigned conduits by shooting the correct symbol on the conduit while possessing the matching Resonance type and stepping on the plate at the opportune moment.
3. Depositing Resonance & Progression to Next Floor:
   • If a conduit is not successfully closed in a timely manner, a Harbinger of the Witness (Subjugator) will spawn, adding further complications. However, if all three conduits are correctly closed, a glowing Resonant Altar (or chest) will materialize in a central location on the current floor.
   • Fireteam members deposit their collected Resonance stacks into this altar/chest.
   • Upon successful deposition, a wave of standard enemy reinforcements will appear, accompanied by a formidable Unstoppable Champion (specifically an Unstoppable Incendior, according to some sources). This contingent must be rapidly eliminated.
   • The defeat of all these enemies, including the Unstoppable Champion, will unseal the door leading to the subsequent floor.
4. Repeating for Floors 2 & 3:
   • The fundamental mechanics remain consistent for the second and third floors.
   • Floor 2 Specifics: Increased vigilance is required regarding Tormentor attacks, particularly their dive maneuvers, which can easily knock players off the edges of the platforms to their death. Additionally, the energy conduits (wires) connecting the plates may begin to intersect on this floor, demanding greater spatial awareness and careful identification of plate pairings.
   • Floor 3 Specifics: The third floor is characterized by a more open layout. After depositing Resonance and defeating the Unstoppable Champion on this final floor, the Repository encounter is successfully completed.

Enemy Prioritization

Strategic target prioritization is critical for navigating Repository:

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

While the fireteam generally operates in three pairs, flexibility and shared responsibility are key:

• Tormentor Killer / Stolen Favor Holder: Ideally, one player per pair (or a designated single player for the "Singular Torment" challenge) secures the final blow on their section's Tormentor to acquire the "Stolen Favor" buff. This player is then responsible for reading their conduit's Resonance requirement.
• Plate Operators / Resonance Collectors: Both players within each pair will typically engage with the plate mechanics and collect Resonance.
• Add Clear / Turret Control: A continuous and crucial responsibility for all fireteam members. Given the lethality of Scorpious Turrets, immediate and coordinated fire is necessary.
• Unstoppable Champion Duty: At least one player per pair, or designated "floater" players with appropriate anti-Champion loadouts, should be prepared to stun and eliminate Unstoppable Champions.

Common Callouts

// Common callouts for Repository encounter
"Tormentor down, [Player Name] has Stolen Favor."
"Turrets are active! Focus fire [Call out specific turret locations if needed]."
"[Location] conduit requires [Resonance Type]."
"Closing conduit."
"All conduits closed, depositing Resonance."
"Unstoppable Champion has spawned!"

Challenge Modes

Beginner Tips: Easiest Roles, Safe Spots, and Recovery

"The Final Shape looms... but we stand together against the darkness." Guardian's Creed

The Ultimate Salvation's Edge Raid Guide - Part 2

Master the final encounters of Destiny 2's pinnacle raid with our comprehensive walkthrough!

Encounter 4: Verity (See Beyond)

Navigate the complex puzzle mechanics of shape manipulation in this challenging encounter

The Verity encounter stands as a uniquely intricate puzzle within Salvation's Edge, demanding exceptional communication, spatial reasoning, and coordinated execution from the entire fireteam. It revolves around the manipulation and matching of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) shapes via interactions with a series of statues. The arena is bifurcated: an "outside" or main room containing six large, Guardian-like statues, and three isolated "inside" or solo rooms, each housing a single, smaller statue. At the start of each cycle, three fireteam members are randomly teleported into these solo rooms, while the other three remain in the outside area. The encounter involves several distinct phases, including symbol collection and manipulation by inside players, statue "dissection" by outside players to create target 3D shapes, and a complex resurrection mechanic involving the collection and correct placement of player Ghosts. Successful completion requires three full cycles of these mechanics. The cognitive load and communication demands of Verity are substantial, often making it a significant progression barrier for many teams.

Symbol Explanations & 2D to 3D Shape Combinations

A fundamental understanding of the shapes involved is crucial for all participants.

• 2D Shapes: These are the basic building blocks, collected from defeated Splintered Curator Knights or observed on statues and wall shadows. They are: Triangle, Circle, and Square.
• 3D Shapes: These are formed on the larger, outside statues by combining two 2D shapes. The goal for inside players is to ultimately embody one of these 3D shapes (as an aura) to escape their solo rooms.

Detailed Stage-by-Stage Walkthrough

The encounter proceeds through a repeating cycle of symbol manipulation, statue dissection, and resurrection.

Initiation & Setup:

The encounter is initiated when one player interacts with one of the six statues in the outside room, selecting the "Free Guardian" prompt. This action teleports three randomly selected players into the three separate "inside" solo rooms. The remaining three players constitute the "outside" team in the main room. There are anecdotal reports that player positioning at the start (e.g., two players near the statues, four near the spawn point) might influence who is teleported.

Inside Player Mechanics (Solo Rooms):

Each inside player operates independently within their room but must coordinate their findings and actions with the outside team and, indirectly, with the other inside players.

1. Initial Callout: Upon arrival in their solo room, each inside player must identify the 2D shape (Triangle, Circle, or Square) that their individual statue is holding. They must also observe a projection or shadow on the far wall of their room, which will typically cycle between two different 2D shapes, or loop a single shape. The sequence of 2D shapes held by the statues in the inside rooms (from left to right, as perceived by the team) must be clearly communicated to the outside team.
2. Phase 1 – Symbol Exchange & Wall Shadow Manipulation (Shadow Dispelling):
   • The primary objective for an inside player is to manipulate the shapes on their wall shadow and ultimately acquire the correct 2D shapes to form a "key" (a 3D shape aura) to escape. This involves killing Splintered Curator Knights that spawn in their room, which drop 2D shapes corresponding to those displayed on their wall shadow. If Knights cease to spawn, an Ogre will appear; defeating this Ogre will spawn more Knights.
   • A crucial, though sometimes poorly explained, mechanic is that inside players must exchange shapes. They cannot simply use the shapes that drop in their own room for their own escape key if those shapes were their starting ones; shapes must be "passed". To do this, an inside player collects a 2D shape dropped by a Knight and deposits it at one of the other two inside players' statues (accessible via interact points in their room). Depositing a shape into another player's statue influences the symbols appearing on that recipient player's wall shadow.
   • The immediate goal is often described as making the shapes on their wall shadow display two instances of the same 2D shape that their statue is currently holding (e.g., if their statue holds a Circle, their wall should show two Circles). However, alternative interpretations suggest the goal is for the wall to show two shapes that are not the one their statue is holding. The "exchange" rule implies that the specific wall pattern is less important than the act of giving and receiving shapes.
3. Phase 2 – Preparing for Escape:
   • Ultimately, for an inside player to escape, their wall shadow should display two different 2D shapes, neither of which matches the shape their own statue is currently holding. For example, if their statue holds a Triangle, their wall might need to show a Circle and a Square.
   • To escape, the inside player must kill two Knights and simultaneously pick up the two specific 2D shapes displayed on their wall shadow. This combination grants them a 3D shape aura (their "key") that allows them to pass through the previously impermeable glass wall at the back of their solo room and rejoin the outside team. The 3D shape aura they form must correspond to the 3D shape constructed on their respective statue in the outside room by the outside team.

Outside Player Mechanics (Main Room):

The three players in the outside room are responsible for add control, managing their own Knight and Ogre spawns, and, most critically, "dissecting" the main statues.

1. Statue Dissection:
   • The outside team listens to the initial callout from the inside players regarding the 2D shapes held by the L, M, R inside statues.
   • The primary goal of dissection is to alter the 3D composition of the three central statues in the outside room so that each one corresponds to the escape requirements of the inside player in the matching position (Left, Middle, Right). Specifically, the 3D shape on an outside statue (e.g., Outside Left) must be composed of the two 2D shapes that are not the 2D shape currently held by the corresponding inside player's statue (e.g., Inside Left). For instance, if the Inside Left player's statue is holding a Triangle, the Outside Left statue must be manipulated to become a Cylinder (formed by Circle + Square).
   • To dissect a statue, an outside player kills a Knight in their area to obtain a 2D shape. They then approach one of the large statues and interact with it ("Dissect" prompt) while holding the 2D shape. This action "dunks" the held shape into the statue, effectively removing one of the 2D components of the statue's current 3D form and replacing it with the dunked shape, thereby altering the 3D object it represents. If a player attempts to dunk a shape that is not a component of the target statue's current 3D form, the offering will be rejected.
   • Typically, one or two players are designated as "Dissectors," while the remaining outside player(s) focus on add clear and protecting the Dissectors.

Combined Mechanics & Resurrection Cycle:

The encounter features two distinct resurrection phases per full cycle.

1. Witness Intervenes (Inside Player "Death"): At a certain point, often after some symbol exchanges or dissection progress, a message "The Witness notices your efforts..." will appear. Shortly thereafter, The Witness will "kill" all three inside players. These are not true deaths; they do not consume revive tokens or trigger a wipe timer. The "dead" inside players appear as statues with glowing cracks.
2. Resurrection (Part 1 - Outside Revives Inside): The outside team must rescue the downed inside players. They do this by finding the three distinct Ghost shells of the "dead" inside players (which appear near their static bodies). Each Ghost must be picked up and deposited at the correct, now invisible, statue pedestal in the outside room that corresponds to the revived player's original inside position (Left, Middle, or Right). The "dead" inside players can often see one of the statue locations illuminated from their perspective and must call this out to guide the outside team. Depositing a Ghost in the correct pedestal revives the corresponding inside player. Depositing a Ghost in an incorrect pedestal results in the death of the player who made the deposit.
3. Inside Players Escape: Once the inside players are revived and the outside statues have been correctly dissected to match their escape requirements, the inside players can kill their Knights, simultaneously pick up their two designated 2D shapes to form their 3D "key" aura, and pass through the glass wall to rejoin the outside team.
4. Witness Intervenes (Team "Death"): After all three inside players have successfully escaped to the outside room and the 3D shapes on the outside statues are confirmed correct, The Witness will "kill" five of the six fireteam members, leaving only one player alive.
5. Resurrection (Part 2 - Full Team Revive): The sole surviving player is responsible for reviving the other five. The "dead" players will each see a specific statue location highlighted, corresponding to another downed player's Ghost. They must call out which player's Ghost they see at which statue location (e.g., "Player X's Ghost is at the Left statue"). The living player collects the indicated Ghost (found in front of the downed player's body) and dunks it at the called-out statue pedestal to revive that player. Revived players can then assist in reviving others. This entire team resurrection must be completed within a 60-second time limit.
6. Repeat Cycle: Once all six players are revived in the outside room, one full cycle of the Verity encounter is complete. The entire process—teleportation, inside symbol manipulation, outside statue dissection, and both resurrection phases—must be successfully executed three times to complete the Verity encounter.

Enemy Prioritization

Managing enemy spawns is crucial for both inside and outside teams:

• Splintered Curator Knights: These Hive Knights are the source of the 2D shapes required for all mechanical interactions. They are a constant high-priority target for both inside and outside players.
• Ogres: These larger enemies appear to control the respawn waves of Knights. If shape-dropping Knights are needed, Ogres must be defeated. On Master difficulty, Ogres in the solo rooms become Unstoppable Champions, adding significant threat.
• Unstoppable Champions (Outside): These typically spawn in the outside room after the full team resurrection phase, before the next cycle begins.
• General Adds (Outside): The outside team must continuously manage waves of standard enemies to protect the Dissector(s) and maintain control of the area.

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

Clearly defined roles are essential due to the split nature of the team and the high volume of information flow:

Common Callouts

Precise, constant, and unambiguous communication is the lifeblood of the Verity encounter. Standardized callouts are critical:

Challenge Modes

Verity includes two challenging Triumphs: "Equal Distribution" and "Varied Geometry."

Beginner Tips: Easiest Roles and Understanding Core Logic

Understanding Core Logic:

• Inside Players' Goal: Your fundamental objective is to acquire the two 2D shapes on your wall shadow that are different from the 2D shape your statue was initially holding. You achieve this by killing Knights and strategically giving away the shapes you collect (including your initial ones) to the other two inside players, and receiving shapes from them in return.
• Outside Players' Goal: Your primary task is to ensure the three large 3D statues in your room are transformed to match what the inside players require for their escape. If an inside player (e.g., the one corresponding to the Left statue) started with a Triangle on their statue, your goal for the main Left 3D statue is to make it a Cylinder (which is formed by Circle + Square, the two shapes not a Triangle).

The Verity encounter's design, with its heavy reliance on abstract puzzle-solving, cognitive load management (tracking multiple shape states, player positions, and a high volume of callouts), and intricate communication, marks it as a unique challenge in Destiny's raid history. Its complexity can serve as a significant gatekeeper for LFG (Looking For Group) teams and players less accustomed to such intense, non-combat-focused mechanics, likely contributing disproportionately to raid attempt failures.

Encounter 5: Zenith (The Witness - Final Boss)

Face The Witness in the ultimate confrontation that concludes the Light and Darkness saga

The Zenith encounter represents the ultimate confrontation with The Witness, serving as the dramatic conclusion to the Salvation's Edge raid and the Light and Darkness saga. This multi-phase battle takes place on a distinctive V-shaped platform, with The Witness positioned at the far end. Success demands mastery over several interconnected mechanics, including the acquisition of the "Glyphbreaker" buff through specific Resonance collection, the destruction of glyphs on The Witness's chest, survival during a "Witness Test" pillar-shooting phase, and sustained damage output during DPS windows, all while under the pressure of a "Final Shape timer".

Detailed Stage-by-Stage Walkthrough

The encounter cycles through buff acquisition, glyph breaking, potential tests, and damage phases.

Phase One – Acquiring Glyphbreaker & Breaking Glyphs:

1. Resonance Spawning Hand Attacks: The encounter begins with three of The Witness's colossal hands spawning on each side of the arena. These hands execute distinct attacks, each corresponding to a specific type of Resonance and color:
   • Pyramidal (Green) Resonance: Generated by pulsing triangular energy fields on the floor, often associated with hands descending from the sky.
   • Spherical (Yellow) Resonance: Generated by swirling orb-like projectiles ("bees"), often associated with hands emerging from the floor like a flower.
   • Hexahedron (Red) Resonance: Generated by horizontal beams or lasers, often associated with hands appearing from the walls.
2. Collecting Resonance: Designated players, typically 2-3 "runners" or "Glyphbreakers", must intentionally stand within these hazardous attack zones to acquire a corresponding x1 Resonance buff. Accumulating more than three stacks of a single Resonance type is lethal. Resonance stacks can be removed by successfully breaking a glyph on The Witness's chest or by standing in close proximity to a teammate who does so.
3. Revealing Wristband Symbol & Color: While under the effect of a specific hand's attack, a player must shoot the wristband or bracelet on that same attacking hand. This action reveals a symbol on the hand's wrist and a colored band around it (Yellow for Spherical, Red for Hexahedron, Green for Pyramidal). It is crucial that the player is within the hand's corresponding attack area to be able to damage the wristband.
4. Acquiring Glyphbreaker Buff: A player who possesses the Resonance buff type that matches the revealed colored band on the hand must then shoot that colored band on the same hand again. This destroys the hand segment and grants that player the "Glyphbreaker" buff. This mechanic functions even if the player cannot visually discern the color of the band due to visual clutter, as long as they have the correct matching Resonance.
5. Breaking Glyphs on The Witness's Chest: The player with the Glyphbreaker buff must proceed to a small island platform near The Witness, which houses a Well of Light. From this vantage point, they must shoot one of the six glowing glyphs (or "buttons") on The Witness's chest that matches the symbol previously seen on the destroyed hand's wrist. Successfully shooting the correct glyph removes both the Glyphbreaker and Resonance buffs from the player. Each glyph broken will trigger the spawn of Subjugator enemies (typically one on each side of the main platform, or simply referred to as multiple Subjugators). These Subjugators must be eliminated quickly.
6. Repeat: This process of collecting Resonance, revealing hand symbols, acquiring Glyphbreaker, and breaking chest glyphs is repeated until all six glyphs on The Witness's chest are destroyed. The destruction of all six glyphs typically ends the "Final Shape timer" and initiates the damage phase.
7. Hand Despawning & Flexibility: If a targeted hand is not broken quickly enough, it may despawn and be replaced by another. The player might still possess the correct Resonance buff for the new hand by chance (a 50/50 probability is anecdotally reported), or they may need to acquire a different Resonance type. If multiple hands of the same attack type spawn, runners must diligently note the specific location of the hand they are targeting. Effective communication allows for flexibility; for instance, a runner can request a teammate who already has the correct Resonance type to shoot the wristband they are currently working on, saving time. Runners may also need to "overwrite" their current Resonance buff by intentionally taking damage from a different hand attack if their required color/type is not spawning favorably.

The Witness Test (Intermittent Mechanic):

This mechanic can trigger after a random glyph is broken or, according to some observations, if a hand glows with a golden aura upon its destruction. The appearance of the system message "The Witness tests you" signals its initiation.

1. Regroup: The entire fireteam must quickly converge at the initial spawn point of the arena.
2. Pillar Configuration: A formation of Resonance pillars will materialize in the air. Players must selectively shoot and destroy certain pillars to leave a specific geometric pattern (Triangle, Circle, or Square/Diamond) formed by the remaining unshot, faded pillars.
3. Pattern Determination: The required geometric pattern is dictated by the type of Witness hand that was last broken to grant a player the Glyphbreaker buff:
   • Up Arm (Floor-to-ceiling hand, typically associated with Yellow/Spherical attack): Requires a Circle pattern. This is achieved by shooting the four corner crystals and the two uppermost center crystals, leaving a vaguely diamond or circular arrangement.
   • Side Arm (Horizontal hand, typically associated with Red/Hexahedron attack): Requires a Square pattern.
   • Down Arm (Hand attack creating floor triangles, typically associated with Green/Pyramidal attack): Requires a Triangle pattern.
4. Survival: After a short duration, The Witness's eyes will flash, telegraphing an imminent arena-wide wipe attack. All players must execute a well-timed jump to avoid this attack. Successfully completing the pillar pattern and surviving the jump cancels the wipe. Failure to correctly form the pattern or to jump in time results in a team wipe.

Phase Two – Damage:

1. Once all six glyphs on The Witness's chest are broken (and any Subjugators from the final glyph break are eliminated), the central platform will rise, and a large critical damage spot will open on The Witness's chest.
2. The fireteam must maximize damage output on this critical spot while actively evading The Witness's attacks:
   • Diagonal Beam Attacks: These can often be sidestepped or jumped over.
   • Frontal Attacks: These are telegraphed by a distinct flash from The Witness and must be jumped over.
   • Horizontal Sweeps: The Witness may perform sweeping attacks across specific sections of the platform (e.g., top left, then bottom right).
   • Platform-Wide Sweep: Similar to the Witness Test, an attack telegraphed by glowing eyes and a characteristic "swishing" sound requires all players on the DPS platform to jump to avoid lethal damage.
3. Platform Retraction: After a set duration of DPS, or when The Witness draws back its hand or straightens its posture, the DPS platform will begin to lower. Players must quickly jump back to the main arena to avoid falling to their death.
4. The cycle of Phase One (Glyphbreaker acquisition and glyph breaking) and Phase Two (Damage) is repeated until The Witness reaches its Final Stand health threshold.

Final Stand:

1. This phase typically initiates when The Witness's health is reduced to approximately 10%. Players should wait for its chest to glow yellow, signaling vulnerability.
2. During Final Stand, The Witness attacks with increased speed and frequency, often almost continuously.
3. The fireteam must unleash all available damage (Supers, heavy ammunition, abilities) to defeat The Witness before a final wipe mechanic occurs or the encounter timer expires.

The Zenith encounter serves as a comprehensive test of all skills developed throughout Salvation's Edge, demanding mastery of Resonance collection, symbol recognition (glyphs and Test patterns), multi-player coordination for a central objective, and high-stakes survival under relentless boss attacks and timer pressure.

Boss Abilities & Attack Patterns

The Witness employs a diverse and lethal set of abilities:

• Hand Attacks (Phase 1): As detailed above, these generate Pyramidal (pulsing triangles), Spherical (swirling orbs/bees), and Hexahedron (horizontal beams/lasers) Resonance, which are hazardous if not intentionally collected for the mechanic.
• Witness Test: The pillar-shooting puzzle culminating in a synchronized jump to avoid a wipe.
• DPS Phase Attacks: A barrage of diagonal beams, telegraphed frontal assaults, horizontal sweeps, and a platform-wide attack requiring a jump. Recognizing the subtle telegraphs for each attack is crucial for survival on the confined DPS platform.

Enemy Prioritization

Effective management of additional threats is key:

• Subjugators: These formidable enemies spawn each time a glyph is broken on The Witness's chest. They must be eliminated rapidly, especially before transitioning to a DPS phase, as they can severely disrupt damage efforts or overwhelm the team. The Subjugator on the left side is often designated as a priority target.
• General Adds (Phase 1): While less mechanically critical than Subjugators, standard enemies must be controlled during Phase 1 to ensure the safety and efficiency of the Glyphbreaker runners.

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

Clear roles facilitate the complex interplay of mechanics:

Common Callouts

High-tempo, precise communication is essential:

Challenge Modes

Zenith includes two challenging Triumphs: "Careful Calculation" and "Coordinated Efforts."

Beginner Tips: Easiest Roles, DPS Phase Survival, and Attack Telegraphs

Salvation's Edge Loot & Rewards

Discover the powerful weapons, exotic gear, and cosmetic items you can earn from the raid

Salvation's Edge offers a unique suite of Exotic and Legendary rewards, including weapons, armor sets, cosmetic items, and a new raid Memento. Understanding the loot pool and acquisition methods is a primary motivator for many Guardians.

Detailed Loot Table

The raid features one Exotic weapon, six Legendary weapons (all craftable), class-specific armor sets, an Exotic Sparrow, an Exotic Ghost Shell, shaders, and emblems.

Exotic Weapon:

• Euphony: A Strand Linear Fusion Rifle that drops exclusively from the final boss, The Witness, in the Zenith encounter. The drop chance can be increased by completing specific Triumphs associated with the raid. Its Exotic traits are "Unwound" (sustained damage spawns Threadlings at the target's location) and "Spindle" (damage dealt by these Threadlings increases Euphony's damage). This weapon uses Special ammo.

Legendary Weapons:

All Legendary weapons from Salvation's Edge are craftable and feature the "Collective Purpose" Origin Trait, which grants increased range and handling when teammates are nearby. Many also feature the potent "Chaos Reshaped" perk.

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Class-Specific Legendary Armor Sets:

Other Cosmetic Rewards:

• Turmoil Engine (Exotic Sparrow): Awarded for completing the "Ignited Light" Triumph, which requires finishing all Master difficulty encounter challenges.
• Timeless Bond (Exotic Ghost Shell): Awarded for completing the Salvation's Edge raid on Master difficulty.
• Weapon Shaders: Examples include "Resonant Cellweave," awarded for the "Fragmented Truths" Triumph (looting all hidden chests).
• Emblems:
  • Edification: Complete any version of the Salvation's Edge raid.
  • Hunker Down: Complete the raid during Contest Mode.
  • Fates Intertwined: Guide ten Guardians through their first Salvation's Edge completion (via Bungie Rewards, may not always be available).
  • Twitch Drops (typically time-limited around launch): "Stand in Salvation," "Roots Remain," "Wrest the Heart".

Encounter-Specific Loot Table

The following table details the specific weapon and armor drops associated with each encounter in Salvation's Edge, based on community compilations. This information is invaluable for players targeting specific items.

Adept Weapons

Adept versions of the Salvation's Edge Legendary weapons are typically obtainable by completing encounters on Master difficulty, or potentially through completing specific Master encounter challenges. Adept weapons offer minor statistical advantages over their standard counterparts and can equip powerful Adept mods. Notably, Adept swords can utilize the Adept Impact mod, providing a free increase to their impact stat.

Raid Memento & Merchandise

• A unique Memento can be acquired for completing the raid without any "hard wipes" (full team death to orbit), though this has reportedly been bugged for some fireteams.
• Time-limited real-world merchandise, such as a Salvation's Edge Raid Jacket, Sling Bag, and Pin, are often made available via Bungie Rewards to players who complete the raid by specified dates. An Iconoclast Title Pin is also typically offered for those who earn the raid's associated Seal.

Farming Salvation's Edge for Loot

Players looking to acquire all weapon patterns (Deepsight Resonance versions) or complete their armor sets can farm Salvation's Edge through several methods:

• Weekly Featured Raid: When Salvation's Edge is the designated weekly featured raid, all encounters become fully farmable, allowing multiple completions on the same character within the week for loot drops.
• Spoils of Conquest: After defeating the final boss (The Witness), a special chest named the "Cache of the Salvation" appears. Players can spend 20 Spoils of Conquest at this cache to purchase specific weapons or armor pieces they have previously unlocked from the raid.
• Guaranteed Deepsight Weapon: A player can purchase one guaranteed Deepsight (red-border) version of a previously acquired raid weapon per week from this final cache.
• Weekly Challenges: Completing the active weekly challenge for an encounter typically rewards an additional chest, which can increase the chances of obtaining rare weapon drops and may also boost the drop rate of the Exotic weapon, Euphony.

Hidden Chests

Salvation's Edge contains two standard hidden chests that can be looted once per character per week. These chests typically drop raid mods and gear pieces that the player has already acquired from encounters.

• First Hidden Chest: Located in the jumping puzzle section between the second encounter (Dissipation) and the third encounter (Repository). More specifically, after climbing the large red gravity lift post-Dissipation, players navigate through an area with large greenish-blue cubes. The chest is found by looking for a hole in some yellow crystals in a chamber off the main path, often near Grim enemies and a Strand Subjugator. One description places it in a back-left corner room of a long orange hallway with orange cubes, requiring a crouch jump onto a ledge to find a back room.
• Second Hidden Chest: Found right before the final boss fight with The Witness, after the Verity (fourth) encounter. As players follow the path of large black roots spiraling up towards The Witness's arena, about three-quarters of the way to the top, a series of floating platforms can be seen leading towards the center, underneath the main boss platform. Jumping across these and into gaps/hand-holds in cube and rectangle formations leads to a secret room containing the chest.

The prevalence of the "Chaos Reshaped" perk on many raid weapons, alongside the "Collective Purpose" Origin Trait, suggests a design focus on rewarding coordinated team play and sustained engagement, offering tangible benefits for fireteams that fight in close proximity and maintain damage uptime. This aligns with the overall mechanical philosophy of the raid, which heavily emphasizes teamwork.

Advanced Strategies & Optimizations

Take your raid performance to the next level with these expert tips and optimizations

While the core mechanics of each encounter form the basis of a successful clear, advanced strategies and optimizations can significantly improve efficiency, speed, and consistency, particularly for experienced teams or those attempting Master difficulty or specific challenges. These often revolve around fine-tuned role execution, specific loadout synergies, and a deeper understanding of encounter scripting.

For the Zenith (The Witness) encounter, several advanced tactics have emerged:

DPS Weapon Choices & Techniques

• Rockets/Snipers or Heavy Grenade Launchers/Snipers: Preferred for teams comfortable with high mobility and precision during DPS.
• Microcosm: A consistent and ammo-efficient option, especially beneficial for players who need to focus on movement and survival. It receives a damage buff for 20 seconds after the user casts their Super.
• Grand Overture: With appropriate artifact mods enhancing blind-inflicted damage, this can be an easy-to-use and consistent DPS weapon, allowing for hip-fire while dodging.
• Still Hunt: A popular choice for Hunters, often paired with Celestial Nighthawk for massive burst damage.
• Whisper of the Worm: Potentially the highest DPS if players can maintain Whispered Breathing by consistently single-jumping over wipe attacks, though this requires significant skill.
• Solar Resistance Mods: Equipping two Solar resist mods paired with a Concussive Dampener mod can allow players to survive at least one of The Witness's diagonal beam attacks during DPS, providing a crucial margin for error.

Across other encounters, optimizations often involve:

• Substratum/Repository Plate Mechanics: Understanding that players can step on the receiving plate as soon as the energy pulse visually enters the plate, rather than waiting for the circle to fully appear, can save a few seconds per bounce.
• Dissipation "Fail Plates" Strategy: As detailed in Encounter 2, intentionally failing the plate ping-pong before obtaining Stolen Favor can create a safer window for Resonance collection by controlling add spawns. This demonstrates a nuanced manipulation of encounter triggers.
• Verity Dissection: Designating a single, highly proficient Dissector for the outside statues can streamline communication and reduce errors compared to multiple players attempting to manipulate shapes simultaneously.
• Time Savers for Challenges: For challenges like "At Capacity" in Dissipation, optimizing Resonance collection (e.g., closers taking only one stack, senders taking three) ensures maximum timer extension while adhering to challenge rules. On final DPS rounds where a kill is imminent, teams might not need to maximize Resonance stacks for the timer, allowing for faster conduit closing.

These advanced strategies highlight that mastery of Salvation's Edge extends beyond simply knowing the mechanics to understanding how to manipulate encounter pacing, enemy spawns, and buff/debuff windows to the team's advantage.

Common Failure Points & Overlooked Optimizations

Identify and overcome the most frequent roadblocks to raid success

Despite detailed guides, fireteams often encounter recurring issues in Salvation's Edge. Understanding these common pitfalls and potential optimizations can significantly reduce wipes and improve clear times.

General Raid-Wide Issues:

Encounter-Specific Failure Points & Optimizations:

Encounter 1: Substratum

Encounter 2: Dissipation (Herald of Finality)

Encounter 3: Repository

Encounter 4: Verity

Encounter 5: Zenith (The Witness)

Conclusion

Master the ultimate challenges of Destiny 2's Light and Darkness saga

The Salvation's Edge raid stands as a formidable and intricate capstone to Destiny 2's Light and Darkness saga. Its design philosophy marks a significant step towards demanding universal mechanical competency from all fireteam members, largely abandoning the concept of passive roles. The pervasive wipe timers across encounters underscore the necessity for efficient execution and clear, constant communication.

The raid iteratively introduces and then escalates core mechanics, primarily centered around the collection and strategic use of various "Resonance" types (Pyramidal, Spherical, and Hexahedral/Square). From the foundational plate-bouncing and conduit-closing of Substratum, players progress to managing multiple Resonance types and crucial buffs like "Stolen Favor" in Dissipation and Repository, the latter also introducing Unstoppable Champions and significant environmental threats like Scorpious Turrets.

The Verity encounter represents a pinnacle of non-combat puzzle complexity within the Destiny raid landscape, requiring intense cognitive load management for its 2D-to-3D shape manipulation, statue dissection, and multi-stage resurrection mechanics. Its reliance on abstract logic and flawless communication makes it a notable gatekeeper. Finally, the Zenith encounter against The Witness masterfully synthesizes many of these established themes—Resonance collection, symbol matching, coordinated multi-person actions, and high-stakes survival—into a climactic and challenging final boss fight.

Successful navigation of Salvation's Edge hinges not only on individual skill but profoundly on a team's ability to prepare meticulously, communicate with precision, and adapt to complex, often overlapping, mechanical demands. The loot system, featuring craftable Legendary weapons with unique perks like "Chaos Reshaped" and the coveted "Euphony" Exotic, provides strong incentives for repeated clears. However, the raid's inherent difficulty, particularly encounters like Verity, suggests that it will remain a significant undertaking, pushing the boundaries of teamwork and problem-solving for the Destiny 2 player base. The emphasis on every player contributing to mechanics signifies a potential direction for future endgame PvE content, valuing comprehensive engagement over specialized roles.

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