When I first booted up Destiny 2 back in 2023, terms like 'ritual activity' made my head spin 🤯. Fast forward to 2025, and I've lived through countless seasons of grinding these core playlists. Ritual activities – Vanguard Ops, Crucible, and Gambit – are Destiny's beating heart, offering evergreen content that never gets vaulted. Let me break down why they're essential for every Guardian's journey, especially with the killer loot pools available this year!

🔍 What Exactly Are Ritual Activities?

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Picture this: you're staring at your Director screen, and those three icons at the top? That's your ritual trifecta. Vanguard Ops (PvE), Crucible (PvP), and Gambit (PvEvP) form the holy trinity of repeatable content. The beauty? Any bounty or challenge tagged "ritual activity" lets you mix and match progress across all three! Honestly, it's like having a universal key for loot vaults – no more being pigeonholed into one grind.

Personal take? I adore how Bungie keeps these modes alive season after season. During Lightfall's sunsetting chaos, rituals felt like familiar ground when everything else vanished. They whisper: "I’m always here for you, Guardian."

⚔️ Vanguard Ops: My PvE Comfort Zone

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Commander Zavala’s domain is where I cut my teeth as a Kinderguardian. Here’s the lowdown:

Activity Player Count Key Features Loot Highlights
Vanguard Ops 3-player Random strikes/battlegrounds, no modifiers Basic Vanguard gear & engrams
Nightfalls 1-3 players Weekly rotation, Grandmaster difficulty Scintillation, Lotus-Eater
Onslaught 3-player Wave defense (10-50 waves), escalating chaos Brave arsenal meta weapons

Onslaught is the star this season – that mode throws enemies at you like a toddler hurling LEGOs! 😂 Farming the 10-wave version gifted me Edge Transit and Falling Guillotine early on. Every weapon from the Brave arsenal feels like a trusty companion; Succession literally carried me through my first dungeon clear. Pro tip: Redeem engrams at Zavala for targeted rolls. His stern face hides a generous soul!

🔥 Crucible: Where Legends Are Forged

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Lord Shaxx’s arena screams competition – it’s where I learned humility (and that Hunters can dodge but can’t hide). Current playlists include:

  • Control (6v6): My go-to casual mode. Capturing zones feels like claiming territory in a playground brawl.

  • Iron Banner (6v6): The Hunt mechanic turns matches into glorious chaos ⚔️. Saladin’s loot? Chef’s kiss!

  • Trials of Osiris (3v3): Weekend sweatfest alert! Saint-14’s weapons reward persistence. Got my Reed’s Regret after 15 painful runs – worth every death.

Colloquial truth bomb? Crucible rep builds faster than my anxiety during a 1v3! Double-dipping event tracks (like Trials + Shaxx rep) is chef’s kiss efficiency. Just… maybe avoid Rumble when tilt-prone. We’ve all been there!

🎲 Gambit: Destiny’s Chaotic Wildcard

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Oh, Gambit. You beautiful, neglected mess. The Drifter’s 4v4 hybrid mode is pure adrenaline: race to melt bosses while invading rivals. That moment you wipe their team with Xenophage? chef’s kiss

Why I still play it:

  • Fastest ritual challenge clears – high enemy density = rapid bounty progress

  • Invasion control: Need Guardian kills? Pop over when ready

  • Underrated loot: Seasonal weapons like the new solar SMG slap

Personal gripe? Bungie’s left Gambit gathering dust since Witch Queen, which breaks my heart. But it remains the ultimate multitasker for seasonal grinds. Drifter’s engam focusing? A lifesaver when RNG hates you.

💎 My Top Ritual Picks for 2025

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After thousands of hours, here’s where I send new lights:

  1. Onslaught first: Farm Brave weapons (Edge Transit! Mountaintop!) – they’re literal meta-changers

  2. Gambit for challenges: Quick matches, flexible objectives, less salt than Crucible

  3. Vanguard Ops for chill farming: Perfect podcast-background activity with solid loot

Wave defense in Onslaught feels like Destiny’s love letter to horde-mode fans. Last week, my fireteam lasted 47 waves – we celebrated like we’d won the lottery! Meanwhile, Gambit’s chaotic rhythm becomes weirdly therapeutic once you embrace the jank.

So, fellow Guardians… what ritual activity owns your heart right now? Spill your hot takes below! 👇