Is Destiny: Rising's Endgame Worth the Grind? Raids & Gauntlet Modes Explained

Destiny: Rising continues Bungie’s tradition of deep, rewarding endgame content, much like the core Destiny franchise. While leveling offers a compelling journey through an alternate timeline of Destiny, the true test for every Lightbearer comes in endgame activities—Gauntlet Ops raids, Gauntlet challenges, and limited-time events that push teams to their limits.

Unlike many mobile RPGs focused on repetitive grinding, Destiny: Rising delivers console-level depth with coordinated mechanics, progression systems, and rewards that keep dedicated players engaged. This guide explains everything you need to know about Gauntlet Ops raids, Master difficulty, Week One events, rewards, and progression systems—and helps you decide if the grind is truly worth it.


Gauntlet Ops: Destiny: Rising’s Raid System {#gauntlet-ops}

Gauntlet Ops are Destiny: Rising’s equivalent of traditional Destiny raids. These multi-stage missions are designed for full fireteams, requiring precise mechanics, team coordination, and role specialization.

Current Gauntlet Ops Raids

Raid NameLevel RequirementRecommended PowerKey Features
Gauntlet: BlitzLv. 36–45 (Normal)
Lv. 46–80 (Heroic)
◆21,690 (Normal)
◆23,070 (Heroic)
Introductory raid, bridge mechanics, teamwork roles
Gauntlet: OnslaughtLv. 50–80◆39,600Multi-stage raid, puzzles, complex boss encounters

Onslaught – The Ultimate Test

The Onslaught raid is the pinnacle of Destiny: Rising’s endgame. It features three phases that demand mastery:

  1. Break In – Bridge puzzle with plate coverage, Access Key carriers, and breaker destruction.

  2. The Menace Above – Vertical arena with Power Cells and code-entry mechanics.

  3. Issakis’s Tabernacle – Final boss requiring portal coordination, DPS bursts, and hazard management.

Each fight pushes fireteams to communicate, rotate roles, and execute mechanics under pressure.


Master Difficulty: The Ultimate Challenge {#master-difficulty}

Is Destiny: Rising's Endgame Worth the Grind?
For hardcore players, Master and Grandmaster raids raise the stakes with new mechanics, higher enemy health, and additional hidden challenges.

Master Difficulty Highlights

  • Enhanced mechanics that force deeper coordination.

  • Tougher enemies that demand optimized loadouts.

  • Hidden challenges offering bonus rewards.

  • Leaderboards tracking Week One clears.

Preparation Checklist:

  • Power Level ~◆39,600 for Onslaught.

  • Balanced team comp (DPS, support, control).

  • Artifact upgrades and perk optimization.

  • Weapons with raid-specific traits (elite damage, add-clear).


Week One Events & Seasonal Challenges {#week-one-events}

Week One events are a cornerstone of Destiny: Rising’s community-driven endgame, offering time-limited prestige rewards.

  • Season 0 Event: Exclusive emblem for first-week clears.

  • Season 1 Event: Global synchronized launch, live leaderboards, unique rewards, and fairness adjustments.

  • Monolith’s Fall Event: Requires Onslaught clears for rare rewards and the Spiderbane Emblem, with heightened difficulty during the event window.

👉 Pro Tip: Schedule with your Tribe or Discord group to secure early clears before difficulty ramps up.


Endgame Rewards & Loot Economy {#reward-structure}

Destiny: Rising rewards both loot and resources critical for progression.

Raid-Specific Rewards

  • Mythic Weapons – Best-in-slot with unique perks.

  • Exotic Materials – For enhancing exotic gear.

  • Ascension Cells – Raise character rarity tiers.

  • Exclusive Cosmetics – Emblems, shaders, armor ornaments.

Endgame Resource Economy

Resource                            Use                                                Best Source
Exotic Infusion CoresExotic weapon enhancementsCampaign, Black Market
Superposed PhotonsUnlock exotic catalystsCampaign drops
Artifact ShardsPower artifact slotsStrikes, Expanse activity
Implacitor ClustersAdvanced talent upgradesWeekly missions, shop
Mythic Weapon ParamsExchange for engramsPvP, raid completions

⚠️ The Black Market Controversy
Players can purchase Exotic Infusion Cores, Photons, and Catalyst Chips with real money, giving paying players a significant progression advantage. This creates an ongoing pay-to-progress debate in the community.


Power Level, Team Level & Builds {#progression-systems}

Progression in Destiny: Rising relies on two main systems:

  • Team Level (cap: 80): Shared across all characters, raised through story and milestones.

  • Power Level: Determines combat effectiveness, based on gear, relics, artifacts, and mods.

Optimization Tips

  • Focus upgrades on your best weapons.

  • Farm Singularity Chaos mode for artifacts.

  • Target weapon traits like Subsistence, Rampage, Outlaw for PvE.

  • Manage mods carefully—they are permanently bound.

Popular Endgame Builds

  • Ability Spam: Cooldown reduction + ability traits.

  • Tank Build: HP/shield boosting artifacts + damage reduction.

  • Crit Build: Critical chance/damage stacking for precision DPS.


Community, Tribes & Matchmaking {#community-matchmaking}

Unlike Destiny 2, Destiny: Rising offers matchmaking for all activities—even Gauntlet Ops.

Matchmaking System

  • Full matchmaking for raids and events.

  • Bot fill for empty slots.

  • Tribe priority matchmaking reduces queue times.

Community Benefits

  • Scaled global rewards: the more players clear, the better for all.

  • Cross-play between iOS and Android ensures larger player pools.

  • Tribes (guilds) enhance teamwork with shared bonuses, scheduled raids, and knowledge sharing.


Verdict: Is the Endgame Grind Worth It? {#verdict}

The Case For

  • Console-level raids on mobile.

  • Exclusive prestige rewards.

  • Strong community systems.

  • Deep character progression.

The Case Against

  • Black Market pay-to-progress imbalance.

  • Steep resource demands and RNG.

  • Weekly lockouts cap progress.

Final Take

Destiny: Rising’s endgame is worth the grind for players who enjoy team-based challenges, raids, and progression systems, even with monetization caveats. It delivers one of the most robust mobile endgames available today—adapted from Destiny’s legacy into a mobile-first experience.


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