The incidence of light annual extension could be off destiny 2, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a new season to enjoy as well. Season of Defiance, the companion content that will be dropped incidence of light, sees you helping Queen Mara defend Earth. At the end of this season’s Battlegrounds, you must use defiant keys to open the chest for seasonal loot, which you can then take back to the Battlegrounds and repeat.
How to get Defiant Keys in Destiny 2: Season of Defiance
If you’re familiar with how seasonal consumables work, what you’re about to read shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you are a new player, get used to it, as this process will become familiar to you very quickly.
To get Defiant Keys you need to complete activities in Destiny 2. Not everything rewards them as patrols, public events and legacy content (Witch Queen, Beyond Light, Shadowkeep, Forsaken) don’t offer them. Here are all sources of Defiant Keys:
- The Vanguard Ops playlist
- Complete Gambit matches
- Complete Crucible matches
- complete raids
- The Terminal Overload activity unique to Neomuna
- Complete weekly Lightfall campaign missions. The difficulty doesn’t matter.
- Reached rank 7 and 13 at the War Table in HELM
- Reach Rank 2, 12, 52, and 92 on the Premium Season Pass
So, as always, the core ritual playlists are your best bet. Vanguard Ops remains the most consistent and low-effort means of getting more Defiant Keys, but both Gambit and Crucible matches are usually fast enough to be rewarding. If you double up and are part of a Terminal Overload activity, you can farm both seasonal and Lightfall-specific gear, but depending on how many people are helping, it may take a little longer.
One thing to note: you don’t get a Defiant Key for completing an activity. They are not guaranteed even after multiple activities. You’ll need to spend some time getting your hands on enough keys to run more than a few battlegrounds. Then repeat the cycle until you either have all the weapons you want or until you get tired of the activities.
And this is how you earn Defiant Keys in Destiny 2 Season of Defiance. Not the most immediately exciting gameplay loop, but Bungie has said future seasonal offerings will finally change how the systems work. For more destiny 2 content, see our guides hub.
