Quick Links

Season of Defiance has a new Artifact for Destiny 2 players to unlock. The Ascendant Scepter is arguably the strongest Artifact we've seen in any season, bringing back favorites like Volatile Flow while releasing some new S-tier effects. Unlike previous Artifacts, the Ascendant Scepter is completely passive and doesn't require you to socket any mods.

Related: Destiny 2: Every New Weapon In Lightfall

This means that unlocking your Artifact perks is a little different this time around, and the passive effects themselves are much more varied this time around. This guide will cover how the new Artifact progression works, and we'll give a brief overview of what all 25 Artifact mods do in Destiny 2's Season of Defiance.

Updated March 8, 2023, by Charles Burgar: Now that we've had time to test all 25 mods, we've updated this guide with an in-depth explanation as to how each Artifact passive works. All mod columns now have an expandable section that explains how each passive effect works, providing exact values and tips on how to maximize each bonus.

Season Of Defiance Artifact Explained

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Background

Column One

Column Two

Column Three

Column Four

Column Five

Anti-Barrier Sidearms

Authorized Mods: Solar

Shatter Orbs

Bricks From Beyond

Stranded Reach

Anti-Barrier Pulse Rifles

Authorized Mods: Strand

Defiant Armory

Flare Up

Rain Of Firebolts

Overload Bows

Authorized Mods: Void

Untangler

Origin Hones

Void Weapons Channeling

Unstoppable Scout Rifles

Authorized Mods: Grenades

Solar Surge

Allied Unraveling

Medieval Champion

Automatics Overload

Multi-Siphon Mods

Volatile Flow

Counterweave

Prismatic Transfer

Destiny 2: Lightfall has overhauled how the Artifact works. The Artifact allows you to select up to 12 passive bonuses that are always active, regardless of armor mods. If you're not satisfied with the 12 effects you chose, you can reset your Artifact for free at any time from the Artifact interface.

Unlocks on the Artifact must be done in a specific order:

  • Column One: Automatically unlocked.
  • Column Two: Unlocked after acquiring three Artifact passive.
  • Column Three: Unlocked after acquiring five Artifact passives.
  • Column Four: Unlocked after acquiring seven Artifact passives.
  • Column Five: Unlocked after acquiring ten Artifact passives.

Additionally, you might notice the term Overcharged appear on a few mods. Overcharged is an endgame modifier that grants a 25% damage bonus to any Overcharged weapon types. The activity will typically have one weapon archetype Overcharged already, but any anti-Champion mods you select on the Artifact will give you additional Overcharged options. This Overcharged buff does not stack with elemental singes. Activities with Overcharge include Nightfalls, Legendary Lost Sectors, Master-tier Raids and Dungeons, and Legend Dares of Eternity. Overcharge is not present in PvP activities.

Return to Quick Links

Related: Destiny 2: A Complete Guide To Weapon Crafting

Column One

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Column One

Anti-Barrier Pulse Rifles

Your equipped Pulse Rifles pierce Barrier Champion shields.


Additionally, Pulse Rifles are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Anti-Barrier Sidearms

Your equipped Sidearms pierce Barrier Champion shields.


Additionally, Sidearms are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Overload Bows

Damage by fully drawn arrows from your equipped Bows stun Overload Champions.


Additionally, Bows are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Unstoppable Scout Rifles

Aiming down sights with a Scout Rifle for a short time loads an explosive payload, stunning Unstoppable Champions.


Additionally, Scout Rifles are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Automatics Overload

Uninterrupted fire from your equipped Auto Rifles and SMGs grants overload bullets that stun Overload Champions.


Additionally, Auto Rifles and Submachine Guns are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Return to Quick Links

Column Two

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Column Two

If you unlock one of these perks, be sure to reinstall your armor mods to receive the discount.

Authorized Mods: Solar

All Solar armor mods are significantly discounted.

Authorized Mods: Strand

All Strand armor mods are significantly discounted.

Authorized Mods: Void

All Void armor mods are significantly discounted.

Authorized Mods: Grenades

All armor mods that affect grenades are significantly discounted.

Multi-Siphon Mods

Unlock additional armor mods that combine the effects of Strand Siphon, Solar Siphon, and Void Siphon.

Return to Quick Links

Column Three

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Column Three

Shatter Orbs

Generate an Orb of Power upon breaking a combatant's shield that matches your weapon's damage type.

Defiant Armory

Greatly improves the following Origin Traits: Noble Deeds, Nanotech Tracer Rockets, Tex Balanced Stock, and Ambush.

Untangler

Destroying a Tangle with a Strand weapon suspends targets damaged by the explosion.

Solar Surge

Collecting a Firesprite grants x1 Armor Charge.

Volatile Flow

Picking up an Orb of Power grants your Void weapons Volatile Rounds.

Return to Quick Links

Related: Destiny 2: A Complete Guide To Arc 3.0

Column Four

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Column Four

Bricks From Beyond

Defeating a powerful combatant with a Void weapon has a chance to drop Heavy ammo for you and your fireteam.

Flare Up

Firebolt Grenades apply more Scorch stacks and spawn Firesprites on hit.

Origin Hones

Weapons with the following Origin Traits are Overcharged in endgame activities: Noble Deeds, Nanotracking Rockets, Tex Balanced Stock, and Ambush.

Allied Unraveling

Multikills with a Strand weapon grant your weapon Unraveling Rounds, with a longer duration near allies.

Counterweave

Gain energy for your least-charged Strand ability when you or your fireteam stuns or defeats a Champion.

Return to Quick Links

Column Five

Destiny 2 Ascendant Scepter Artifact Column Five

Stranded Reach

Destroying a Tangle with a Strand weapon creates a larger and more damaging explosion.

Rain Of Firebolts

When you have Firebolt Grenades equipped, gain a second grenade charge.

Void Weapons Channeling

Gain a temporary bonus to Void weapon damage after you defeat a target with a Void weapon while you have at least one Void ability fully charged. This damage bonus increases based on the number of fully charged Void abilities you have.

Medieval Champion

Glaives fire projectiles that stun Unstoppable Champions. Swords stun Overload Champions on consecutive hits.


Additionally, Glaives and Swords are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.

Prismatic Transfer

When you cast your Super, each member of your fireteam with a subclass damage type different than yours gains a bonus to weapon damage.

Return to Quick Links

Next: Destiny 2: How To Reach Max Power Level Quickly