Leveling your gear and growing your Energy degree is a vital a part of Future 2, but it surely’s additionally very complicated.
This web page breaks down every part you need to find out about growing your Energy degree following the discharge of Lightfall — an enlargement that elevated the extent cap and the necessities for numerous high-level actions, comparable to Nightfalls or raids.
Notice: Bungie has not elevated the facility degree because the launch of Lightfall, though among the Highly effective sources have modified as of the late November rollout of Season of the Want.
How Energy degree and equipment drops work in Future 2
Energy degree in Future 2 is a numerical worth that determines how a lot harm you are taking and deal to your foes — the upper the extent, the extra harm you deal and the much less you obtain. Exterior of dictating how a lot harm you deal, know that actions within the recreation can have a set Energy degree and also you’ll be more practical whenever you’re near or exceeding that degree.
Gamers and enemies every have a Energy degree and so they get in contrast collectively. Your total Energy degree comes from averaging the Energy degree of your gear, plus any extra ranges out of your seasonal artifact.
Relating to gear, Future 2 staggers your progress with completely different Energy degree caps: the mushy cap, the Highly effective cap, and the Pinnacle cap. Every of these caps represents some extent at which sure varieties of drops will not enhance your Energy degree, and so you need to shift your priorities every week with the intention to proceed growing your degree.
![A Guardian shows off their fancy armor and high power level in Destiny 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1h2rMbhs14OMoJryp0c_E6qcL8g=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25102637/Destiny_2_Screenshot_2023.11.21___13.02.31.91.png)
Picture: Bungie through Polygon
Moreover, a seasonal artifact degree is added on high of your gear’s common Energy degree. That is how you’ll be able to get to the next degree than the Pinnacle or Max cap. You achieve artifact ranges by taking part in all through a season and gaining XP. Nevertheless, in contrast to your gear degree, your artifact degree resets on the finish of season. If you happen to’re trying to achieve XP quick, it’s finest to farm bounties or Seasonal Challenges, as they supply among the quickest and best XP within the recreation.
Max degree caps in Future 2
There are three degree caps in Future 2: the mushy cap, the Highly effective cap, and the Pinnacle cap. For Lightfall, these caps are:
- Smooth cap: 1750
- Highly effective cap: 1800
- Pinnacle cap: 1810
We’ll break down every cap beneath.
Find out how to attain the mushy cap in Future 2
The mushy cap for Future 2 is 1750. What does “mushy cap” imply? It signifies that up till you attain 1750 Energy degree, just about something and every part can provide you a Energy degree enhance. This may be blue drops from the bottom or exercise rewards; something that drops for you can be a number of Energy above your present Energy degree. When you attain the mushy cap, you’ll not get blue drops.
One of the best ways to succeed in the mushy cap is to easily play the sport, as no matter exercise, you’ll obtain gear as much as that Energy degree commonly.
![Purple, gold and green Engrams in Destiny 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dYAb5_yc6GhKt9TvMNR6PhST9WI=/0x0:1280x422/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1280x422):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24466832/destiny_2_power_level_engrams.jpg)
Picture: Bungie
If you wish to get previous the mushy cap shortly, and you’re simply beginning Lightfall, then it’s price contemplating taking part in the Legendary marketing campaign, which will provide you with fastened gear at 20 Energy above the mushy cap upon completion (1770). It is a problem, nonetheless, particularly for brand new gamers — so take into account taking part in different actions as a substitute whereas you become familiar with the sport.
Find out how to attain the Highly effective gear cap in Future 2
![A look at Nimbus’ Challenge on Neomuna in Destiny 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1KbqlWrAqobaXLzkqCgsbj95pI8=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25102626/Destiny_2_Screenshot_2023.11.21___12.59.44.71.png)
Picture: Bungie through Polygon
The Highly effective cap for Future 2 is 1800, that means that between 1750 and 1800, the solely solution to enhance your Energy degree is to get a reward from actions that grant Highly effective or Pinnacle gear. All of those sources reset weekly.
Actions and sources with Highly effective gear drops in Lightfall embrace:
- Finishing eight vendor bounties for Banshee-44 (+1 Energy)
- Weekly Dusk problem (+1 Energy)
- Full three Strikes (+1 Energy)
- Three Crucible matches (+1 Energy)
- Three Crucible Labs matches (+1 Energy)
- Three Gambit matches (+1 Energy)
- Gambit, Vanguard, Crucible, and Banshee rank rewards (+1 Energy)
- Defeat combatants in Terminal Overload for Quinn on Neomuna (+1 Energy)
- Weekly repute with Nimbus on Neomuna (+1 Energy)
- Full three Deep Dives (+1 Energy)
- Full three Defiant Battlegrounds (+1 Energy)
- Open reward chests from Season of the Witch (+1 Energy)
- Flip in eight Spirit of Riven bounties (+1 Energy)
- Clear 4 pathways in Riven’s Lair (+2 Energy)
- Give out 5 Commendations (+2 Energy)
- Three Dares of Eternity runs (+2 Energy)
- Prime and Unique Engrams, which drop at random
If you’re attempting to be as optimum as doable — probably for a day one raid — you’ll wish to save your whole highly effective rewards till after you get to 1800. Highly effective loot drops are restricted per week, so that you don’t wish to waste Highly effective or Pinnacle drops when you’ll be able to nonetheless get ranges from unrestricted rewards.
Find out how to attain the Pinnacle / Max Energy cap in Future 2
![A look at the Root of Nightmares panel on Neomuna in Destiny 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CkDU2H_4dKyVogf1qPej2s2-Sgs=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25102633/Destiny_2_Screenshot_2023.11.21___13.02.56.79.png)
Picture: Bungie through Polygon
The Pinnacle cap for Future 2 is 1810, that means that between 1800 and 1810, the one solution to enhance your Energy degree is to get Pinnacle rewards. Just like Highly effective rewards, in case you are attempting to maximise the effectiveness of the Pinnacle rewards, you gained’t wish to acquire them till after you have got reached Energy 1800, as these loot drops are restricted per week.
Actions with Pinnacle gear drops in Lightfall embrace:
- Full eight bounties for exercise distributors: Lord Shaxx, Commander Zavala, and Drifter
- 200,000 Dusk rating throughout the week
- Weekly marketing campaign mission on Neomuna with over 100,000 group rating
- Full Partition mission whereas in possession of Polymorphic Shellcode
- Full the Unique rotator mission twice
- Crota’s Finish, the most recent reprised raid
- Warlord’s Break, the most recent dungeon (releasing on Dec. 1)
- Full the Avalon Unique mission
- 250,000 rating on Dares of Eternity
- Iron Banner Challenges (when the occasion is lively)
- Remaining encounter of the raid and dungeon highlighted within the weekly rotation
- Accumulate 100,000 factors in The Coil
It’s price mentioning that there’s no level in saving Pinnacles should you’re not going to succeed in 1800 on that character by the top of the week. We suggest simply doing all Highly effective rewards on a personality first after which tackling Pinnacle actions.
When is one of the best time to open Engrams in Future 2?
Till you hit the Highly effective cap, you need to flip in Prime Engrams instantly after you decide them up. These are thought of +1 Highly effective rewards from once they drop, that means their Energy doesn’t enhance as your Energy degree does. If you happen to proceed to degree up with out turning the Prime Engram in, you’ll primarily waste it. If you happen to’re struggling within the raid and also you get a Prime Engram, it’s all the time price taking a Tower break to decrypt it.
![A stock image of Destiny 2’s purple legendary engrams](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ilyAx90xWpTzftUtgCl60uKEYLY=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24404284/umbral_engram_destiny_2k_feature.jpg)
Picture: Bungie
Future 2 additionally makes use of a slot leveling system, that means that gear drops per slot and relies in your present common Energy degree. A sticking level of this technique is that a few of your gear slots could fall behind. Your total degree may very well be 1725 whereas your Hunter’s Cloak may very well be caught at 1720 and your helmet is at 1728.
To benefit from your Highly effective and Pinnacle drops, attempt to maintain your objects inside a number of Energy ranges of one another, which may be executed by amassing objects that drop “at Energy”. “At Energy” means the gear drops at your present common Energy degree, which might help carry up some items that fall behind (bringing your Cloak as much as 1725 and elevating your total common with out utilizing a weekly Highly effective or Pinnacle reward drop). This may enhance your total Energy degree and make these Highly effective and Pinnacles extra impactful.
If you happen to don’t even out your armor, a Pinnacle or Highly effective may drop a +2 energy helmet, which might be a waste because it’s already your finest slot. Many playlist actions — Strikes, Gambit, Crucible — will drop objects “at Energy,” so maintain an eye fixed out for any gear that’s lagging behind.
Find out how to attain the Pinnacle cap shortly in Future 2
For these trying to degree as quick as doable — for a raid or different end-game actions — there are a number of finest practices to think about.
First, run the Legendary marketing campaign and full any and all actions to hit 1800 as shortly as doable.
![Raid emblem for Destiny 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IFTgfK9wU09vkX-Wd84JtkM8x9s=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24466836/lightfall_raid.jpg)
Picture: Bungie
In case you have three Future lessons, you may wish to degree one up quicker than the others. You’ll be able to really play in a selected order to make this simpler, because the final character you play in per week will virtually all the time find yourself the best of your three characters resulting from the truth that they’ll share weapons.
One of the best ways to maximise your energy is to make use of a snaking order. First, rank your characters in an order that you simply really feel you wish to deal with, the place your high character is your primary, and the final character is the one you play the least. If you happen to play so as from favourite to least favourite, your least favourite will find yourself your strongest by the top of your first week of grinding. The next week, you’ll wish to reverse your order to make sure your primary character finally ends up probably the most highly effective in week two.