Introduction to Renegades Endgame Systems
Destiny 2: Renegades introduces two interconnected progression systems that shape the expansion's endgame: Syndicates and Active Orders. Syndicates represent three factions competing for control over the Tharsis social hub, offering unique abilities, weapons, and upgrades as you pledge allegiance and increase reputation. Active Orders function as a simplified objective system that rewards progression materials, seasonal mods, and exclusive cosmetics. You'll need to understand both systems to maximize your efficiency in obtaining Tier 5 equipment and seasonal power.
This guide covers choosing a Syndicate, leveling faction reputation efficiently, getting fragile mod drops from Active Orders, and unlocking the yellow Praxic Blade crystal.
The Three Syndicate Factions
Syndicates control Renegades' endgame structure. Three distinct factions operate from the Tharsis social hub, each offering different rewards and gameplay advantages.
Alignment: Fallen-aligned faction
Focus: Mobility-focused abilities
Exclusive Weapon: Refurbished A499 (Heavy Legendary Sniper Rifle)
Alignment: Cabal-aligned faction
Focus: Combat-oriented abilities
Exclusive Weapon: Modifier B-7 (Hand Cannon with unique Stasis perks)
Alignment: Vex-aligned faction
Focus: Defensive and offensive abilities
Exclusive Weapon: All or Nothing (Pulse Rifle)
How Syndicate Allegiance Works
You can pledge allegiance to one Syndicate at a time, but you're not permanently locked into this choice. Change your alliance anytime by interacting with the banner in each Syndicate's office within the Tharsis social hub. Your pledged faction determines which Priority Contracts become available and which reputation gains are accelerated.
Alternatively, you can function as a "triple agent" by completing contracts for all three factions without pledging exclusively to one. This approach provides small reputation gains across all factions but sacrifices the accelerated progression available through Priority Contracts.
Unlocking the Syndicate System
Access to Syndicates requires completing specific campaign progression.
- Complete the Renegades Campaign - Finish the main story campaign to unlock post-game content
- Progress "The Territory War Begins" Mission - This post-campaign mission introduces the Syndicate system
- Pledge to a Syndicate Banner - Interact with faction banners in each office to choose your allegiance
The system becomes fully functional after this progression, allowing access to contracts, reputation leveling, and faction-specific rewards.
Syndicate Rewards Breakdown
Each Syndicate offers three categories of rewards that unlock as you increase reputation rank: Renegades abilities, Praxic Blade upgrades, and exclusive weapons. All rewards reach their full potential once you've maxed out the respective Syndicate's Reputation Rank.
Pikers of the Eliksni Rewards
Totality Division of the Cabal Rewards
Tharsis Reformation of the Vex Rewards
How to Level Syndicate Reputation
Reaching maximum reputation rank with a Syndicate is necessary for accessing Tier 5 equipment drops and unlocking the full potential of faction-specific rewards. The reputation system uses a tiered structure requiring 15,000 total reputation across five ranks.
Reputation Rank Tiers
| Rank | Reputation Required | Cumulative Total |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Rank 2 | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Rank 3 | 3,000 | 6,000 |
| Rank 4 | 4,000 | 10,000 |
| Rank 5 | 5,000 | 15,000 |
Methods for Gaining Reputation
Priority Contracts (Most Important Daily Activity)
Priority Contracts offer double reputation compared to standard contracts and appear once per daily reset. These contracts provide increased reputation XP for your pledged Syndicate and better loot quality, making them crucial for fast progression toward maximum rank.
If you maintain multiple characters, you can pledge each character to a faction and complete Priority Contracts three times per day (once per character). This approach triples your daily reputation gains.
Standard Contracts
Regular contracts provide 160 faction XP per completion. At least one contract for your pledged faction appears during each activity run. Contracts for all three factions are always active simultaneously, so you can complete multiple contracts during a single run if requirements overlap.
Requirements vary but can be straightforward, such as using a faction loadout ability during a run. Completing contracts for non-pledged factions provides small reputation gains for those factions, allowing gradual progression across multiple Syndicates.
Dark Matter Ingots (Fastest Reputation Method)
Dark Matter Ingots represent the most efficient reputation leveling method available. Depositing ingots into a faction's chest at their base provides:
- 100 reputation per 10 ingots
- 1,000 reputation per 100 ingots
Approximately 60% of reputation gains come from ingot donations if you prioritize this method. Ingots also provide loot from faction chests, though at lower tiers initially. Chests can also reward "shinies," valuable items with enhanced properties.
Reputation Leveling Timeline
With focused effort on a single faction, reaching maximum reputation rank within one week is achievable. Players can reach rank 3 in multiple factions simultaneously through contract overlap and rank 5 in a primary faction within four days of focused effort.
Claiming Your Tier 5 Upgrade
Choosing the Best Syndicate for Your Playstyle
While all three Syndicates eventually provide valuable rewards, prioritizing one faction for maximum reputation rank first provides the fastest path to Tier 5 equipment. The choice depends on which abilities and weapons best fit your preferred activities.
Recommended Priority: Totality Division (Cabal)
Based on gameplay experience and ability effectiveness, the Totality Division of the Cabal makes the best first choice for maximizing progression.
- Behemoth mecha highly effective against PvE enemies
- Multiple firing modes provide versatile combat options
- Drop Pod helps during invasions for ammo resupply
- Modifier B-7 features unique Stasis perk combinations
- Restoration Drone is one of the two best abilities in the game
- Strong utility in both PvE and PvP content
- Requires learning Behemoth controls effectively
- Drop Pod has cooldown limitations
- Less mobility compared to Pike
Second Priority: Tharsis Reformation (Vex)
The Vex faction works well as your second Syndicate to level.
- Forceful Blade upgrade significantly increases Praxic Blade damage
- Most valuable blade modification available
- All or Nothing Pulse Rifle provides solid weapon rewards
- Defensive Dome offers survivability in challenging content
- Stunning Airstrike provides crowd control
- Abilities more situational than Cabal options
- Defensive focus may not suit aggressive playstyles
- Less impactful in standard content
Third Priority: Pikers of the Eliksni (Fallen)
The Fallen faction ranks third in overall priority.
- Pike mobility fun for traversal and combat
- Refurbished A499 Heavy Sniper Rifle is noteworthy
- Guard Resistance and Endurance from Grip mod offer defensive benefits
- Mortar ability provides area denial
- Overall reward package less impactful
- Pike less effective in confined spaces
- Limited endgame utility compared to other factions
Understanding Active Orders
Active Orders function as a simplified objective system introduced in Destiny 2: Renegades. Unlike traditional bounties, Active Orders adapt to your playstyle, can be rerolled for different objectives, and provide a progression path toward valuable seasonal rewards including fragile mods and exotic items.
You can access Active Orders through your seasonal hub within the Portal. Three tiers of orders exist: Common, Legendary, and Exotic, each offering increasingly valuable rewards.
Why Active Orders Matter
Active Orders serve multiple progression purposes:
- Provide XP and Bright Dust for character leveling
- Reward fragile mods (powerful seasonal modifications for weapons)
- Grant Tier 5 weapon drops
- Offer exotic armor pieces and exclusive cosmetics
- Include the only method to obtain the yellow Praxic Blade crystal
While the common rewards (XP, Bright Dust) are modest, the system's true value lies in progressing toward Legendary and Exotic orders.
Common Orders: The Foundation
Common Orders represent the baseline tier of Active Orders. These objectives are designed to align with your current loadout and playstyle, though the system's accuracy isn't perfect.
How Common Orders Work
Common Orders automatically generate based on your equipped weapons and subclass. For example, if you're using auto rifles and solar abilities, common orders will typically involve auto rifle kills or solar ability usage. The system generally aligns with player loadouts but doesn't always match perfectly.
Rerolling Common Orders
You can spend Glimmer to reroll any active order you dislike. This is particularly useful when orders require activities you don't want to play (like multiple Crucible orders when you prefer PvE) or when objectives don't match your current loadout or goals.
Legendary Orders: Fragile Mods and Progression
Legendary Orders represent the primary reason to engage with the Active Orders system. These orders have a chance to reward fragile mods, seasonal weapon modifications that provide significant power increases.
How to Unlock Legendary Orders
Legendary Orders don't appear automatically. They generate after completing Common Orders. An ammo meter-style gauge appears at the bottom of the Active Orders screen, filling as you complete common orders. Once this meter fills completely, a Legendary Order becomes available.
Legendary Order Objectives
Legendary Orders feature more challenging requirements than common orders. Examples include:
- Achieving specific letter grades (B or higher) on Master difficulty activities
- Completing activities with major negative modifiers active
- Obtaining rapid kills or precision kills with specific weapon types
- Completing objectives in either PvE or PvP environments
Understanding Legendary Order Rewards
Legendary Orders can provide two different reward types:
- Legendary Payout (Standard rewards including Tier 5 weapons)
- Lawless Weapon Mod Payout (Fragile mods)
When you view a Legendary Order before accepting it, the "Potential Rewards" section displays which type of reward is available. Orders showing only "Legendary Payout" won't provide fragile mods. Orders showing "Lawless Weapon Mod Payout" have a chance (described as "uncommon") to provide a fragile mod.
Fragile Mods: Seasonal Weapon Modifications
Fragile mods represent powerful seasonal modifications that can be applied to any tiered weapon in the game, including weapons from previous seasons. These mods are only available during the current season but can dramatically increase weapon effectiveness in both PvE and PvP content.
How Fragile Mods Work
- Application: Can be applied to any tiered weapon (not limited to current season weapons)
- Duration: Only available during this season
- Drop Rate: Not exactly common, so expect to complete many Legendary Orders before obtaining specific mods
All Five Fragile Mods
After not taking damage for a short duration, this weapon gains significantly increased aim-down-sight speed, handling, and flinch resistance until the next shot is fired
Reloading after a final blow loads a high-powered round, causing the next hit to deal improved additional splash damage. Strong against Barrier Champions.
This weapon gains bonus range and deals more flinch at the start of combat for an improved duration. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.
This weapon gains improved bonus damage against Cabal targets
When your shields are broken, this weapon gains an improved period of increased stability and ammo generation
Fragile Mod Priority
Recommended Farming Priority
Exotic Orders: Premium Rewards
Exotic Orders represent the rarest and most valuable tier of Active Orders. These orders generate very infrequently and provide substantial rewards including exotic armor, high-quality weapons, and exclusive cosmetics.
How Exotic Orders Generate
Exotic Orders appear occasionally as you complete Common and Legendary Orders. The generation rate is quite rare, so expect to complete many orders before seeing an Exotic Order appear. No specific trigger or guarantee exists; they appear randomly during progression.
Like other order types, Exotic Orders can be rerolled if you want to target specific rewards.
Exotic Order Reward Types
Exotic Orders provide two distinct reward categories:
Standard Exotic Payout Orders
These orders reward multiple items simultaneously:
- Exotic armor pieces (examples: Felwinter's Helm, other exotic armor)
- Tier 5 weapons (example: Tier 5 A Good Shout crossbow)
- Ascendant Shards
- Substantial Bright Dust quantities
- Significant XP
- Glimmer and upgrade cores
Praxic Professional Orders (Yellow Crystal)
This specific Exotic Order type is the only method to obtain the yellow Dark Matter Crystal for the Praxic Blade.
Obtaining the Yellow Praxic Blade Crystal
The yellow crystal represents an exclusive cosmetic modification for the Praxic Blade weapon. Acquiring it requires completing the specific "Praxic Professional" Exotic Order.
- Generate an Exotic Order - Continue completing Common and Legendary Orders until an Exotic Order appears
- Reroll Until Praxic Professional Appears - When you receive an Exotic Order, check if it's labeled "Praxic Professional." If not, spend Glimmer to reroll
- Review the Objective - The order requires: Defeat combatants in Pinnacle Ops (Expert difficulty or higher), can't die during run, must use Praxic Blade for kills
- Complete the Whisper Mission Strategy - Use the Shadow Thrall farming method described below
- Claim Your Reward - The yellow blade crystal will be awarded
Whisper Mission Shadow Thrall Strategy
Optimal Farming Route
Get approximately 400-500 kills with the Praxic Blade. The Whisper mission timer doesn't force you to orbit, allowing indefinite farming. Return to orbit without finishing the mission.
Active Orders Strategy Guide
Daily Routine for Efficient Progression
- Check Available Orders - Review all active Common and Legendary Orders
- Reroll Unwanted Common Orders - Spend Glimmer to reroll activities you don't want to play
- Complete Easy Common Orders First - This reduces reroll costs for remaining orders
- Monitor Legendary Meter - Watch the progress gauge to know when a Legendary Order will appear
- Immediately Check Legendary Rewards - When a Legendary Order generates, check if it offers Lawless Weapon Mod Payout
- Reroll Legendary Orders for Fragile Mods - Don't complete Legendary Orders offering only "Legendary Payout"
- Complete Orders During Other Activities - Integrate order completion into Lawless Frontier runs and faction contracts
Glimmer Management
Rerolling costs can become expensive, particularly for Legendary Orders. Prioritize your Glimmer spending:
| Order Type | Priority | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Common Orders | Low | Reroll once or twice maximum unless completely undesirable |
| Legendary Orders | High | Continue rerolling until Lawless Weapon Mod Payout appears |
| Exotic Orders | Situational | Reroll for Praxic Professional if targeting yellow crystal |
Combining Systems for Maximum Efficiency
Active Orders integrate well with Syndicate progression:
- Complete Common and Legendary Orders while running Lawless Frontier for faction XP
- Stack order requirements with faction contracts when objectives overlap
- Farm Shadow Thrall for Praxic Professional while also completing weapon kill orders
- Use Syndicate abilities to complete ability-based orders more efficiently
Common Questions and Important Notes
Yes, you can change allegiance anytime by interacting with the banner in a different Syndicate's office. Reputation progress remains saved for each faction independently.
Eventually, yes, to collect all rewards and weapons. Prioritizing one faction first provides the fastest path to Tier 5 equipment.
No. Fragile mods are only available during the current season. Weapons with fragile mods equipped can continue using those mods after the season ends as long as the mod isn't removed from the weapon.
Yes, fragile mods can be applied to any tiered weapon in the game, including weapons from previous seasons. They're not limited to current season weapons.
Tier 5 gear is permanent once obtained. Maxing a Syndicate enables Tier 5 drops from that faction's specific sources. Portal drops from the previous season remain Tier 5 and didn't change with the new expansion.
With focused effort on a single faction, reaching maximum rank within one week is achievable. Some players report reaching rank 5 in four days with dedicated grinding.
Conclusion
Destiny 2: Renegades offers interconnected progression systems that reward strategic planning and efficient time management. Prioritizing Totality Division for Tier 5 access while simultaneously working through Active Orders for fragile mods provides the fastest path to endgame power.
Focus on These Priorities
- Complete "The Territory War Begins" to unlock Syndicates
- Pledge to Totality Division and begin Priority Contracts daily
- Deposit all Dark Matter Ingots into Cabal faction chests
- Claim the faction max triumph and speak to Spider after reaching rank 5
- Complete Common Orders to generate Legendary Orders
- Reroll Legendary Orders until Lawless Weapon Mod Payout appears
- Target Overpressured Munitions if preparing for the Cabal dungeon
- Farm Exotic Orders by continuing order completion
- Reroll Exotic Orders for Praxic Professional if targeting the yellow crystal