Guardians, let’s talk about one of my absolute favorite pastimes in Destiny 2: running strikes. There’s something deeply satisfying about teaming up with two other warriors, diving into enemy-infested strongholds, and emerging with piles of glimmer, engrams, and maybe a catalyst or two. Over the years, I’ve cleared hundreds of these PvE missions, and by 2026, the landscape has shifted a little with reworks and fresh encounters. So, here’s my personal, completely biased ranking of the best strikes you should queue up right now.
Before we jump in, I want to mention that I’m not just looking at raw difficulty. A good strike needs a mix of atmosphere, enemy variety, boss personality, and efficiency—nobody wants a slog that overstays its welcome. Easy strikes can be just as fun as brutal ones if they deliver a tight, satisfying combat loop. So, from a few duds to the absolute cream of the crop, let’s break down my top-tier selection.
10. Broodhold – A Hive-Filled Hideaway
Kicking things off is Broodhold, a strike from the Forsaken expansion that’s now tucked into the Destiny Content Vault rotation. This mission sends you into a crashed Hive warship on the Tangled Shore to flush out a creepy dual boss known as the Brood Queen. I love this one for its claustrophobic, alien feel. The nest destruction objective is straightforward, and the final encounter against that two-headed monstrosity never gets old. It’s a relatively quick and easy run, making it perfect for farming faction kills or just chilling with a fireteam after a long day.
9. The Arms Dealer – Turrets, Tanks, and Bracus Zahn
Next up is The Arms Dealer, a Cabal-heavy operation where you hunt down a weapon supplier named Bracus Zahn. The mission structure is simple—no puzzles, just a series of eight objectives that lead to a chaotic boss arena. What makes this strike memorable is the tank section. Who doesn’t enjoy commandeering an intercept and shredding Psions, War Beasts, and Incendiors? The final fight versus Zahn with his jetpack and incendiary missiles can catch you off guard if you’re under-leveled, but overall, it’s a classic, no-nonsense strike that respects your time.
8. The Disgraced – Nostalgia With a Twist
A remastered classic from the Cosmodrome, The Disgraced brings back memories of the original Destiny 2 beta. You’ll mow down hordes of Hive and Fallen—Shanks, Dregs, Thralls—on your way to the Skywatch and then the Jovian Complex to face Navôta, a reborn wizard. What I appreciate about this strike is that the difficulty scales gracefully. At normal levels, it’s a cakewalk, but throw in some modifiers during a Nightfall, and those Acolyte grenades become genuinely threatening. The final encounter’s split-level arena forces you to stay mobile, especially when Navôta summons her Darkness clouds.
7. The Corrupted – Beautiful, Yet Infuriating
Ah, The Corrupted. I have a love-hate relationship with this one. Set in the Dreaming City, it’s visually stunning with locales like the Temple of Illyn and The Adytum. The taken enemies, the ball-passing mechanic, and the vertical platforming sections make it feel like a mini-raid. However, one misstep on those narrow ledges and you’re tumbling into the void, and don’t get me started on a teammate who doesn’t know to pass the orb. It’s objectively one of the hardest strikes in the game, but that’s precisely why it’s here. When you find a coordinated fireteam, the flow of zipping between islands and cleansing relics feels incredible.
6. Lake of Shadows – The Speedrunner’s Paradise
If efficiency is your game, Lake of Shadows in the European Dead Zone is a godsend. This strike can be completed in under ten minutes with a solid team, making it the go-to for weekly pinnacle gear or killing Taken for bounties. The boss, a Taken Hydra, is incredibly squishy if you coordinate your heavy DPS. The rework a few seasons back added a Taken blight that taints the water supply, giving the environment a swampy, corrupted vibe. Despite the facelift, it remains a straightforward, linear path with minimal downtime—perfect for farming.
5. Proving Grounds – Enemy Density Madness
Proving Grounds from Season of the Chosen is an absolute meat grinder. You board a colossal Cabal land tank to challenge Ignovun, Caitl’s champion, and the entire mission is packed with hundreds of Legionaries, Gladiators, and War Beasts. I adore this strike for testing add-clear builds. Wielding a Voltshot weapon or a grenade launcher here is pure catharsis. The boss room itself is a massive circular arena with fire pits that keep you moving, and the music swells perfectly as you melt the champion’s shield. It’s easy, endlessly replayable, and a loot piñata.
4. The Devil’s Lair – Level Design Masterclass
This strike is a testament to Bungie’s art team. Returning from the original Destiny, The Devil’s Lair sends you beneath the Cosmodrome to disrupt the House of Devils and destroy Sepiks Prime. The journey through the Refinery, the wall defenses, and the final showdown where Sepiks teleports around the room is pure nostalgia in 2026. The sheer number of enemies can be overwhelming if you’re not careful, and the music—that iconic synth track—makes the whole experience feel epic. A good fireteam can clear it in under 30 minutes, and it’s one I never skip.
3. Warden of Nothing – A Tour of the Prison of Elders
Warden of Nothing is like a greatest-hits compilation of enemy factions. From Cabal and Vex to the occasional Fallen, you’re always switching weapon elements, which keeps you engaged. The setting in the Prison of Elders and the Reef is gorgeous, with wide-open chasms and arcs of neon light. The objective to defuse three splinter mines while fighting off waves of enemies is tense, and the final boss, the Mad Warden, a giant Servitor, has a chaotic add-spawning phase. It’s a visually stunning strike that feels rewarding every time.
2. The Glassway – Europa’s Icy Gauntlet
Europa’s harsh climate sets the stage for The Glassway, a strike that balances straightforward objectives with intense enemy variety. You’ll face Fallen, Vex, and even the occasional Brig, all while navigating the icy corridors of the Rathmore Chaos. The boss fight against Belmon, a massive Vex Hydra, is a true test of your fireteam’s crowd-control abilities—especially when the smaller Hydras spawn and shield him. What I love is the pacing; even with eleven objectives, you can speedrun it in under 15 minutes if you synergize your supers. The atmosphere here, with snowstorms and crackling Radiolaria lakes, is unmatched.
1. The Scarlet Keep – The Reigning Champion
Topping my list is the masterpiece that is The Scarlet Keep. This strike feels less like a routine mission and more like a raid lite. You ascend a towering Hive fortress on the Moon, battling through Cursed Thralls, Wizards, and Knights in a gothic, blood-red stronghold. There are areas where your fireteam must split up to clear rooms, which adds a layer of coordination absent in most strikes. The final boss, the High Celebrant of Xivu Arath (after the rework), has multiple phases that force you to rotate between DPS and add clearing. It’s tough, atmospheric, and perfectly paced. Whenever this appears in the Vanguard Ops playlist, I get genuinely excited—and that’s the mark of a truly best-in-class strike.
There you have it, my fellow Guardians. Whether you’re a New Light or a seasoned veteran, these strikes are the heartbeat of Destiny 2’s co-op experience. Each one offers a different flavor of chaos, and I guarantee you’ll find your own favorites as you chase those god rolls. Now grab your fireteam, stock up on heavy ammo, and dive in—the Tower needs you.