The icy moon of Europa, introduced in Destiny 2: Beyond Light, holds many secrets beneath its frozen surface. Among the most coveted is The Lament, an Exotic Sword that blends raw power with surprising utility. More than just a blade, The Lament functions like a devastating chainsword, capable of revving up to unleash incredible damage while simultaneously healing its wielder. Its intrinsic Anti-Barrier capabilities further solidify its place as one of the game's premier Exotic weapons, offering both immense damage potential and crucial utility against Champion enemies.
Acquiring this weapon requires undertaking the "Lost Lament" quest, a multi-step journey delving into the history of the Exos and the secrets held within the Deep Stone Crypt. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the Lost Lament quest, from its prerequisites to mastering the devastating power of the sword itself.
Preparing for the Lament: Prerequisites
Before embarking on the quest to claim The Lament, Guardians must meet several conditions:
- Beyond Light Expansion Ownership: The Lost Lament quest and The Lament sword are tied directly to the Beyond Light expansion. Guardians must own this expansion to access the quest content.
- Beyond Light Campaign Completion: The main story campaign of the Beyond Light expansion must be fully completed. This introduces key locations, characters, and unlocks necessary areas on Europa.
- Variks' Post-Campaign Quests (Highly Recommended): While not strictly required to start the Lost Lament quest, completing Variks the Loyal's post-campaign missions is essential for progression later on. Specifically, completing the questline encompassing "Reclaiming Europa," "Empire's Fall," and "The Dark Priestess" is necessary to unlock the Exo Challenges, a mandatory step in the Lost Lament quest. It is strongly advised to complete these beforehand to ensure a smoother quest experience.
The Lost Lament: A Step-by-Step Quest Walkthrough
Once the prerequisites are met, the journey to obtain The Lament can begin.
Initiating the Quest: Whispers from the Tower
The quest giver for Lost Lament is Banshee-44, the Tower's Gunsmith. After completing the Beyond Light campaign (and ideally Variks' post-campaign quests), visit Banshee-44. He will speak of strange visions and the Deep Stone Crypt's influence, tasking the Guardian with investigating dead Exos scattered across Europa. Accept the "Lost Lament" quest from him. Historically, this quest became available after the world's first completion of the Deep Stone Crypt raid, but this is no longer a barrier to entry.
Step 1: Echoes of the Fallen - Locating 3 Dead Exos
The first task is to locate and scan three of the nine inactive Exo bodies hidden across Europa. Any three will suffice for quest progression, but finding all nine contributes to the "Salvage the Past" Triumph. Numerous video and visual guides exist online detailing all locations. For efficiency, the following three are commonly cited as relatively easy to find:
| Location | Area | Directions & Visual Cues |
|---|---|---|
| Cadmus Ridge | Central Plateau | Look for the highest snowy plateau/ice shelf near the center of the zone, often near a large Vex structure. The yellow Exo is lying out in the open snow on top. |
| Cadmus Ridge | Perdition Lost Sector | Enter the Perdition Lost Sector (northwest part of Cadmus Ridge). Fight through to the final boss room (the orange room with pillars). The blue Exo is located in the front-left corner as you enter the room. |
| Bray Exoscience | Entrance Area | Enter the main Bray Exoscience facility building from Cadmus Ridge. Immediately go through the door on the right and up the short stairs. In this first large room (often containing Fallen), hug the right wall. The Exo ("surrounded by factory equipment") is tucked in the back-right corner. |
Approach each inactive Exo and interact to scan it. Once three are scanned, the quest progresses.
Step 2: The Giant's Rest - Finding the Giant Exo Head
With data from the fallen Exos, the quest directs you to locate a massive Exo head hidden deep within Bray Exoscience. While the destination is marked on the map, navigating the newly opened "Creation" area is required.
Navigation: Enter Bray Exoscience from Cadmus Ridge. Head right into the large initial room and go up the stairs into the small office area. Proceed through the only available path into the next room. Here, a previously closed door on the right wall should now be open, leading into Creation.
Through Creation: Follow the corridors. You will eventually reach a room with a tram system to the right; look for a hole in the floor in the back of this room to drop down. Continue through the tunnels until you reach a vast, cavernous factory-like area. Drop down from the initial walkway (potentially through broken glass flooring) to the lower platforms. The path becomes fairly linear; follow it until you reach a steel door at the top of a short flight of stairs. Proceed through the corridor into the final large room containing the Giant Exo Head.
Interaction: Approach the Giant Exo Head and interact with it to initiate dialogue and receive the next quest step.
Step 3: Trial by Vex - Sword Combat Proficiency
The Clovis AI demands proof of the Guardian's worthiness, tasking them with demonstrating skill with a sword against the Vex on Europa.
Objectives:
- Defeat 100 Vex on Europa using Swords.
- Defeat 20 Minotaurs, Hydras, or Cyclops on Europa using Sword final blows.
Farming Strategy: The most frequently recommended and efficient location for this step is the Perdition Lost Sector in Cadmus Ridge. This Lost Sector is densely populated with Vex, including Minotaurs and a Hydra. A useful technique is to clear the Lost Sector, exit back to Cadmus Ridge until the location name appears, and then immediately re-enter; the enemies inside will have respawned. Vex Public Events, particularly the Spire Integration event in Asterion Abyss, are also excellent sources, especially for the larger Minotaur and Hydra kills. Other mentioned Vex locations include the Nexus and Well of Infinitude.
Ammo Management: Running out of sword ammo can slow progress. Utilize public event rally banners to refill all ammo before entering a Lost Sector or engaging in events. Equipping Sword Ammo Finder mods on helmets can also help generate heavy ammo bricks. Remember that even hitting enemies with an empty sword hilt counts towards kills, although it is significantly less efficient.
Step 4: Allegiances Proven - Variks & Zavala Quests
This step requires the completion of three specific post-campaign quests initiated by Variks and Commander Zavala: "Reclaiming Europa," "Empire's Fall," and "The Dark Priestess".
Auto-Completion: If these quests were completed previously (as recommended in the prerequisites), this step will automatically complete upon finishing Step 3. These are the same quests required to unlock Exo Challenges.
Step 5: Simulation Challenge - Completing an Exo Challenge
The Clovis AI demands further proof of worth, requiring the completion of an Exo Challenge.
Unlocking Exo Challenges: As mentioned previously, access to Exo Challenges is granted upon completing the "Old Secrets, New Challenges" quest obtained from Variks after finishing the main Variks post-campaign questline ("Reclaiming Europa," "Empire's Fall," "The Dark Priestess"). This quest involves investigating a power drain within Bray Exoscience. If a player is stuck on this step and cannot see the Exo Challenge icon on the map, they should check Variks' inventory or the Quest Archive terminal in the Tower or H.E.L.M. for the "Old Secrets, New Challenges" quest. Player confusion regarding this unlock step is common.
The three types of Exo Challenges are:
- Survival: Involves platforming and combat while managing the "Biting Cold" debuff, which requires staying near heat sources or collecting motes from defeated Vex.
- Safeguard: Requires defending designated zones against waves of Vex.
- Agility: Focuses on platforming challenges amidst Vex opposition.
Step 6: The Finishing Blow - Vex Finisher Kills
The AI requires one final demonstration of ruthlessness: defeating Vex using finisher moves.
Objective: Gain percentage progress by defeating Vex with finishers. Approximately 60 minor Vex kills are needed, but defeating powerful Vex (Majors/yellow bars) grants significantly more progress.
Farming Strategy: The Perdition Lost Sector remains the ideal location due to its high Vex density. Use standard weapons (not the sword for this step) to damage Vex until the finisher icon appears above their heads, then execute the finisher move.
Step 7: Shards in the Glass - The Glassway Strike
With the AI satisfied, the focus shifts to recovering fragments of the blade itself, lost within The Glassway strike.
Accessing the Strike: Launch The Glassway directly from the Europa map; a specific playlist or Nightfall version is not required.
Target Identification: Proceed through the strike to the final boss encounter against Belmon, Transcendent Mind. During this fight, usually after the first wave of reinforcements or after dealing some initial damage to the boss, a specific Major (yellow health bar) enemy called a Transcendent Harpy will spawn. This Harpy is the key to obtaining the blade pieces.
Acquiring the Blade Pieces: The crucial step is to defeat this specific Transcendent Harpy. While some accounts mention the drop feeling automatic or coming from a random enemy, the specific enemy data and consensus confirm the Transcendent Harpy is the source. The quest item likely goes directly into the player's inventory or postmaster upon the Harpy's defeat, making it feel "automatic." However, it's wise to keep an eye out for a potential ground drop just in case. The Harpy itself isn't exceptionally tough and can blend in with other Vex, so focused fire is recommended once it appears. Once the blade pieces are acquired (indicated by quest progression), completing the rest of the strike is optional.
Step 8: Broken Dreams - Return to Banshee-44
With the fragmented blade pieces recovered, return to Banshee-44 in the Tower. Speak with him, and he will provide the "Broken Blade" quest item, advancing the story.
Step 9: The Hidden Bunker - Bunker E15 Lost Sector
Banshee-44 sends the Guardian back to Europa, instructing them to search the Eventide Ruins for an "abandoned bunker".
Clarification: This cryptic instruction refers directly to the Bunker E15 Lost Sector, located within the Eventide Ruins area of Europa.
Completion: Enter and complete the Bunker E15 Lost Sector as normal. Defeat the final boss and loot the cache chest at the end. Opening the chest will reward the Guardian with the Lament blueprint, progressing the quest. Be aware of potential bugs where completion might not register correctly.
Step 10: Reforging the Past - The Final Mission
Acquiring the blueprint unlocks the final mission: "Reforging the Past". The objective is to return the fragments to the Clovis AI in Bray Exoscience and defend it from a Vex assault.
Starting the Mission: Locate the mission banner just outside the Bunker E15 Lost Sector entrance in Eventide Ruins and launch the activity. Ensure you have a free Heavy weapon slot.
Mission Flow: The mission involves fighting back through familiar territory towards the Giant Exo Head in Creation. An early section involves commandeering a Fallen Heavy Shank (tank) to clear Vex forces. The climax occurs in the Giant Exo Head chamber, where the Guardian places the broken blade on a pedestal to initiate the forging process. This triggers waves of Vex attacking the AI. The Guardian must defend the location.
Solo Defense Strategy: Prioritize high-threat Vex like Wyverns or Overloads (if they spawn). Utilize cover effectively within the large chamber. Don't hesitate to use Super abilities and grenades to manage large groups or powerful enemies. Once the forging completes, the Guardian picks up The Lament. Use its powerful attacks and healing to clear the remaining Vex waves.
Troubleshooting Progression Bugs: If the mission bugs out (e.g., enemies don't spawn, objectives don't progress), the recommended solution is to abandon the activity via the Director (do not abandon the entire Lost Lament quest itself) and restart the "Reforging the Past" mission, taking care to progress slowly and deliberately. This careful approach is often necessary to circumvent the mission's sensitivity to rapid progression.
Reward: After successfully defending the Clovis AI and clearing all Vex, speak with the AI again. It will grant The Lament to the Guardian permanently.
Step 11: A Legend Reborn - Final Report to Banshee-44
Although The Lament is now in hand, one final step remains. Return to the Tower and speak with Banshee-44 one last time to formally conclude the Lost Lament quest and share the discoveries.
Mastering the Lament: Unleashing its Power
Obtaining The Lament is only the beginning. Understanding its unique perks and optimal usage is key to maximizing its devastating potential.
Anatomy of a Chainsword: Understanding the Perks
The Lament's power stems from its unique combination of Exotic perks:
| Perk Name | Description | Gameplay Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Banshee's Wail (Intrinsic) | Hold Block (L2/LT) to rev the blade, consuming sword energy. Increases damage on all attacks, adds shield piercing, and grants stacks (up to x9) on hit with revved attacks. Stacks further increase heavy attack damage and grant damage resistance during heavy attacks. | The core mechanic. Enables high burst damage combos, shield penetration (including Barrier Champions), and defensive boosts. Requires managing sword energy. |
| Revved Consumption | Damaging any combatant heals the wielder. | Provides significant survivability, allowing aggressive close-quarters combat. Healing amount was reduced by 20% in The Final Shape. |
| Jagged Edge | Increases damage at the cost of sword ammo capacity. | Boosts overall damage output slightly, but requires more careful ammo management. |
| Enduring Guard | Sword guard has high efficiency (resists draining) and high endurance (total block capacity), but low resistance (doesn't reduce incoming damage as much as other guards). | Allows for longer blocking/revving but offers less protection per hit compared to guards focused on resistance. |
| Tireless Blade | Grants sword ammo for every other powered sword kill. | Helps sustain ammo during add-clear situations, mitigating the cost of Jagged Edge somewhat. |
| Intrinsic Anti-Barrier | The sword naturally pierces Barrier Champion shields when attacking (especially when revved). | Eliminates the need for an Anti-Barrier weapon mod, freeing up mod slots and allowing greater loadout flexibility in Champion content. Some inconsistencies reported against certain shield types (e.g., Hydra rotational shields). |
The Wail of the Banshee: Optimal DPS Combos
Executing the correct attack sequence is crucial for maximizing The Lament's damage output. The core loop involves revving the blade, performing light attacks to build stacks, unleashing a powerful heavy attack, and then using normal light attacks to recharge sword energy before repeating.
Current Optimal Combo (Post-Nerf): The most widely recommended and efficient combo for sustained DPS after The Final Shape nerf is 2 Revved Light Attacks -> 1 Revved Heavy Attack -> 2 Normal Light Attacks (2L-1H-2N). This combo reaches high stacks quickly (around x6-x7 after the heavy hit), delivers significant damage with the heavy attack before the nerf's major impact at x9, and uses the two normal light attacks to efficiently recharge sword energy for the next cycle. Importantly, this combo achieves near-peak DPS while only requiring one Lucent Blade armor mod for optimal charge rate. This frees up armor energy for other valuable mods like damage resistance.
| Combo | Lucent Blade Req. | Execution Notes | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L-1H-2N | 1 | Hold Block (L2/LT) -> Light (RB/R1) -> Light (RB/R1) -> Heavy (RT/R2) -> Release Block -> Light (RB/R1) -> Light (RB/R1) -> Repeat | High, efficient DPS; minimal mod cost; good balance of damage and energy recharge. | Requires precise timing; slightly lower burst than max-stack combos pre-nerf. |
Controller Execution Tips:
- Holding Block: Remember to hold the block button (L2/LT) throughout the revved light and heavy attack sequence to maintain the rev and build stacks.
- Releasing Block: Release the block button before performing the normal light attacks used for energy recharge.
- Consistency: Timing can be tricky. Practice the rhythm. Be mindful of uneven ground, which can sometimes interrupt the combo. Avoid accidentally triggering sprint, as this can cancel the guard/rev.
- Tracking: The Lament can sometimes have issues tracking targets, especially smaller or highly mobile ones, leading to missed attacks ("whiffing"). Aim carefully and try to stay grounded. Jumping before attacking might slightly speed up the animation, but can also increase the risk of whiffing.
- Flying Enemies: The Lament performs poorly against flying targets like Hydras or Servitors due to tracking difficulties and the upward angle required.
- Full Auto Melee: Enabling the "Full Auto Melee" setting in the game options can make the normal light attack portion of the combo easier, as you can just hold the attack button.
- Animation Cancels: There are no known animation cancels to significantly speed up The Lament's combos. Focus on smooth execution of the established sequence.
Sustaining the Assault: Healing and Survivability
The Revved Consumption perk is a cornerstone of The Lament's utility, providing healing whenever the sword damages an enemy.
Healing Strategy: The Lament's healing capabilities are particularly valuable in solo content like dungeons or Lost Sectors, or when operating outside the safety of a Well of Radiance.
Titan Stronghold Synergy: For Titans, pairing The Lament with the Stronghold Exotic gauntlets creates an almost unkillable combination. Stronghold maximizes sword guard stats (efficiency, resistance, endurance) and provides restoration (a powerful healing effect) on timed blocks. This synergy allows Titans to tank immense amounts of damage while constantly healing through both Stronghold's perk and Revved Consumption.
Nerf Impact: While the 20% reduction to healing in The Final Shape diminishes its potency slightly, Revved Consumption remains a powerful survival tool, especially when combined with other sources of damage resistance or healing.
Building Around the Blade: Mods and Synergies
To fully unlock The Lament's potential, consider these armor mods and subclass synergies:
Lucent Blade (Charged with Light Mod):
- Primary Benefit: The secondary perk of Lucent Blade significantly increases sword energy recharge rate. This is crucial for executing Lament combos more frequently, boosting overall DPS.
- Damage Buff: The primary perk grants a 35% damage buff for 5 seconds after hitting an enemy while Charged with Light, consuming one stack. While potent, this buff does not stack with other common buffs like Well of Radiance or Radiant. It's most beneficial when solo or lacking other damage buffs.
- Recommendation (Post-Nerf): Due to the diminished returns of high-stack combos after the nerf, running just one Lucent Blade mod is generally recommended. This provides the essential charge rate increase needed for the optimal 2L-1H-2N combo without requiring significant armor energy investment.
- Activation: To activate the secondary charge rate perk, another Arc-affinity mod must be socketed on the same armor piece or another piece of equipped armor. Mods like Powerful Friends or Radiant Light are common choices.
- Charged with Light: Remember the basics: gain stacks by picking up Orbs of Power (Taking Charge mod) or via Elemental Wells/Orbs (Elemental Charge mod), then spend stacks to activate mods like Lucent Blade.
As mentioned, Stronghold gauntlets are the premier Exotic pairing. Combine this with subclasses offering additional survivability or damage:
- Strand: Banner of War provides healing and bonus sword/melee damage, while Into the Fray grants Woven Mail (damage reduction). Fragments enhancing Tangles, grenade regen, and Woven Mail uptime synergize well.
- Solar: Sunspots provide restoration, and Throwing Hammer builds offer ability uptime.
- Stasis: Glacial Harvest and Whisper of Rime can provide overshields via Stasis shards.
Focus on survivability to enable close-range sword combat:
- Solar: Well of Radiance provides a safe zone and damage buff. Pair with healing grenades and Aspects/Fragments like Touch of Flame and Ember of Empyrean to extend restoration effects triggered by Solar kills (including Lament). Karnstein Armlets can offer additional healing on melee kills.
- Void: Devour provides healing on kills, complementing Lament's sustain.
Utilize mobility and subclass tools for survival:
- Void: Invisibility (Stylish Executioner, Vanishing Step) allows safe approaches and disengagements. Gyrfalcon's Hauberk can provide Volatile Rounds for extra damage.
- Solar: Use Knife Trick with Knock 'Em Down and Ember of Torches for easy Radiant uptime. Gambler's Dodge refunds melee. Combine with healing effects (formerly Classy Restoration, now potentially Ember of Empyrean). Star-Eater Scales can buff Super damage for burst phases.
- Stasis: Renewal Grasps provide damage reduction within Duskfield Grenades, creating safer zones for sword combat.
Lament in the Meta: Comparisons and Viability
The Lament has long been considered a top-tier sword, but how does it stack up against strong legendary competitors, especially after recent sandbox changes?
| Sword | Scenario | Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Lament (Exotic Solar) | Burst Damage (Champions, short phases) | Excellent burst via revved combo; healing adds survivability; intrinsic Anti-Barrier is invaluable. |
| The Lament (Exotic Solar) | Sustained Damage (Longer phases) | Good sustained DPS with optimal combo (2L-1H-2N), but potentially outpaced by top-rolled legendaries post-nerf; healing remains a key advantage. |
| Falling Guillotine (Legendary Void - Vortex Frame) | Sustained Damage / Add Clear | Strong sustained DPS potential with perks like Whirlwind Blade or Bait & Switch; Vortex Frame heavy attack good for groups; frees Exotic slot. Ammo economy less efficient than Adaptives. |
| Bequest (Legendary Arc - Adaptive Frame) | Sustained Damage (Surrounded active) | Highest legendary sword DPS when Surrounded perk is active; excellent ammo economy (4 ammo heavy); frees Exotic slot. |
| Bequest (Legendary Arc - Adaptive Frame) | Sustained Damage (No Surrounded) | Still strong DPS with Vorpal Weapon, potentially better total damage than Guillotine due to ammo efficiency; slightly lower DPS than Lament. |
Continued Relevance: Despite the DPS adjustments, The Lament remains exceptionally valuable. Its unique combination of potent burst damage, crucial self-healing via Revved Consumption, and intrinsic Anti-Barrier capability provides unparalleled versatility and survivability. This makes it arguably the best overall sword choice, especially for challenging solo content, less coordinated teams, or situations where consistent healing and Champion coverage are paramount. Its role has shifted slightly from pure DPS dominance to being a high-utility, high-survivability powerhouse that still packs a significant punch.
Conclusion: Wield Your Legend
The Lost Lament quest offers a rewarding journey through Europa's secrets, culminating in the acquisition of one of Destiny 2's most unique and powerful Exotic weapons. The Lament stands out with its signature revving mechanic, potent damage combos, life-saving healing, and built-in Anti-Barrier functionality. While the evolving sandbox has introduced strong legendary competitors, The Lament's blend of offense, defense, and utility ensures its continued relevance in a Guardian's arsenal. Mastering its combos and integrating it into synergistic builds unlocks a truly formidable power. Go forth, Guardian, experiment with its might, and let the wail of the Banshee carve your legend.