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Destiny 2: Lightfall launched alongside Season of Defiance, a three-month season that pits Guardians against the Shadow Legion as they attempt to gain a foothold on Earth. As with previous seasons, the first ten weeks of Defiance will release a set of Seasonal Challenges that, when completed, grant massive bundles of XP and Bright Dust. It's also your main source of upgrade materials for this season's War Table.
If you're looking to quickly level your Season Pass or get some Bright Dust, you've come to the right place. This guide will cover how to complete all ten of this week's challenges. We'll provide exact challenge values, explain how to complete each Seasonal Challenge quickly, and we'll showcase the rewards you can expect for completing each of them.
Righteous Defiance
Righteous Defiance: Complete Defiant Battleground: EDZ.
Rewards
- War Table Upgrade
- 12,500 XP
Defiant Battleground is this season's new activity and can be accessed upon completing the "First Contact" Lightfall campaign mission. Once complete, speak to Mara Sov on the Farm to unlock the activity and start the weekly questline. Complete a single run of the EDZ Defiant Battleground to finish this challenge.
Awaken, Queensguard
Awaken, Queensguard: Complete Week 1 of the "We Stand Unbroken" quest.
Rewards
- War Table Upgrade
- 12,500 XP
"We Stand Unbroken" is this season's main questline, available upon speaking to Queen Mara Sov at the Farm. The first set of sets are quite simple, requiring you to complete a Defiant Battleground and access the War Table's progression system. Completing this quest shouldn't take you more than a couple of hours at most.
Legion's Bounty
Legion's Bounty: Spend a Defiant Key to earn bonus rewards at the end of a Defiant Battlegrounds playlist activity. Defiant Keys can be earned by completing Lightfall campaign missions, Terminal Overload in Neomuna, raids, Vanguard Ops, Gambit matches, and Crucible matches.
Rewards
- War Table Upgrade
- 12,500 XP
Defiant Keys are a unique currency introduced this season, allowing you to open a bonus chest at the end of a Defiance Battleground to earn some additional loot. You can get your hands on Defiant Keys from ritual activities, Lightfall campaign missions, Neomuna activities, and the Season Pass. You'll need to use two keys to finish this Seasonal Challenge.
If you own this season, we highly recommend grabbing the Defiant Key at rank one and running a ritual activity for the second key. We find Vanguard Ops to be the fastest, but fans of PvP might enjoy Crucible instead. Gambit is also an option if you want to chase this season's Trust Hand Cannon.
Silver Lining
Silver Lining: Reach Rank 12 with Nimbus in Neomuna.
Rewards
- 50,000 XP
Nimbus serves as Neomuna's main vendor, giving you access to unique bounties, upgrades, and a unique armor set. You can rank up with Nimbus by completing the Lightfall campaign, Neptune activities, and Nimbus bounties. We highly recommend you finish the campaign first before farming Nimbus bounties and Neptune's Terminal Override activity—a wave-based activity that's similar to Altars of Sorrow.
Keycard-Operated
Keycard-Operated: Use keys to unlock Terminal Overload Key Chests in Neomuna. After completing the quest "Stargazer," Terminal Overload Keys can be earned in Neomuna by completing public events, looting chests, and completing patrols.
Reward
- 25,000 XP
Terminal Overload is Neptune's destination activity, a multi-stage public event that's similar to Altars of Sorrow on the Moon. For this challenge, you'll need to open two bonus chests at the end of a T3 Terminal Overload clear. Terminal Overload can be launched directly from your map or from the destination itself at any of Neptune's core combat spaces.
As for the keys, you'll need to complete Neomuna content to get your hands on one. We recommend farming patrols and public events to get Terminal Overload Keys. Grab an elimination of resource patrol in the middle of a public event to maximize your time. Alternatively, you can also equip the Expert Tracker mod on your Ghost and farm destination chests, although these seem to have a low drop rate for keys.
Neptune Activities
Neptune Activities: In Neomuna, complete bounties, patrols, public events, and Lost Sectors.
Rewards
- 25,000 XP
- 75 Bright Dust
You'll need to complete destination activities on Neomuna to finish this challenge. Your first clear of the campaign will not count, so we recommend you farm Terminal Overload. It counts as a public event and has tons of enemies, making it a great way to complete any Nimbus bounties you've picked up beforehand. If Terminal Overload proves too difficult, consider farming patrols and Lost Sectors instead.
Taking All Challenges
Taking All Challenges: Complete weekly playlist challenges.
Rewards
- 25,000 XP
- 75 Bright Dust
Weekly playlist challenges refer to Powerful and Pinnacle gear sources found on the Director—Destiny 2's star map. Completing three weekly challenges will finish this Seasonal Challenge. If you just want to finish this challenge quickly, complete the weekly ritual challenges for Vangaurd Ops, Crucible, and Gambit. Vendor challenges also count, so be sure to stock up on bounties beforehand.
For optimal leveling and information on each weekly challenge, check out our Power leveling guide.
Spark Defender
Spark Defender: Score points in Rift. Bonus progress is awarded for igniting the Rift.
Rewards
- 25,000 XP
- 75 Bright Dust
Rift is a rotating PvP playlist. If it is not the weekly playlist, you can occasionally play Rift inside the Competitive Playlist.
Rift is Destiny 2's version of one-flag CTF, requiring both teams to fight over a Spark before depositing them to the enemy team's Rift. Score can be earned by carrying the Spark, defending Spark carriers, eliminating enemy Spark carriers, and detonating Sparks at the enemy's Rift. Focus on playing the objective, and you should have this challenge complete in a few matches.
Anti-Cabal Sweep
Anti-Cabal Sweep: Defeat Cabal combatants in Vanguard playlists or strikes. Earn bonus progress for defeating tougher combatants.
Rewards
- 25,000 XP
- 75 Bright Dust
Defeating any Cabal enemies in the Vanguard Ops or Nightfall playlists will grant progress toward Anti-Cabal Sweep, majors and minibosses granting more progress. We recommend completing your Vanguard Ops weekly first before attempting to finish this challenge. If you don't have enough kills after three strikes, boot up the Proving Grounds strike on Nessus.
Deadly Horizons
Deadly Horizons: Calibrate long-range weapons—Pulse Rifles, Bows, and Trace Rifles—in Neomuna. Bonus progress awarded in Lost Sectors.
Rewards
- 25,000 XP
- 75 Bright Dust
Deadly Horizons requires you to defeat 100 enemies with long-range weapons. We highly recommend using Bows for this challenge, notably Exotic Bows to benefit from their 40% damage buff against red bar enemies. Neomuna Lost Sectors grant accelerated progress, so farm enemies within any of Neptune's Lost Sectors to quickly finish this Seasonal Challenge. As for Bows, we recommend using Trinity Ghoul, Ticuu's Divination, or Le Monarque.