With the release of the Warmind expansion, the new event Escalation Protocol has come to Destiny 2. We explain in our guide what to consider in this new event so you can master it successfully and loot the best rewards.
Almost a week after the launch of the Warmind DLC for Destiny 2, there are still open questions among fans about the Escalation Protocol. We aim to clarify the last uncertainties and provide you with some tips to make your experience easier during this event. Here’s what you should know:
What is the Escalation Protocol?
The core features:
- Hive Escalation is a kind of horde mode
- You fight against the Cabal in increasingly stronger waves
- There are a total of seven waves
- Each wave has a mini-boss, while the final boss awaits in the seventh wave
- There are a total of five unique final bosses with their own loot that rotate each week
- There are 3 reward chests – after the third, the fifth, and the final boss in the seventh wave
Where can you find the event?
The Escalation Protocol only exists on Mars. It can be started in the Braytech Futurescape zone and in the Glacial Drift. Both areas have their own landing zones. You should have no trouble finding the right area.
What are the requirements for participation?
To start the event itself, you must have completed the story of the Warmind DLC. Participation is already possible beforehand – you can join an ongoing event even before completing the campaign. However, due to the power level requirement of the Escalation Protocol, this is not particularly advisable. You will die more than you will play.
The recommended power level for this event is 370. The Escalation Protocol starts at 370 and becomes progressively harder with each wave. The final boss has a power level of 400. If you are under 340, you will hit your limit by the third wave when it comes to effectively contributing to the battle.
How to start the event?
You trigger the event by interacting with a hatch in one of the two zones. Red energy waves rise up from these hatches. They are easy to spot.
What loot is there and how can you get it?
We have explained in a separate article what loot is available in this event and how you can obtain it.
More on this: Here’s how generously the new Escalation Protocol event rewards you
How many people can participate?
A maximum of three fireteams of three Guardians – a total of 9 players – can participate in this event. Normally, it is only possible to start such an event with two friends or to join an ongoing event. The remaining participants will be random.
However, there is a way to tackle the Escalation Protocol with up to 8 friends!
More on this: Escalation Protocol with 8 friends? A glitch makes it possible
How to use the Valkyrie relic weapon?
You can activate the Valkyrie using the Rasputin weapon codes. To do this, you need to interact with a ventilation shaft. Look for ventilation shafts that emit green gas. Only there will the new relic weapon spawn upon activation.
You can obtain the codes from chests, mini-bosses, and other “Yellow Bars” as well as after public events and other activities on Mars. One code is consumed for each activation of the Valkyrie Spear.
What should be done to successfully master the event?
During the event, you will face 7 waves of Cabal. The enemies will become increasingly stronger as the event progresses.
Each wave consists of four rounds: for three rounds, you will deal with different Cabal enemies, followed by a mini-boss.
All waves have a time limit. In waves 1-6, you have three minutes for the first three rounds and one minute for the wave boss (except for public events). If you fail to complete the tasks within this time frame, the wave is considered failed and the event is finished.
If you master the wave, you subsequently have one minute to activate the next tower and thus the next wave.
Waves 1-6
The first 6 waves follow a similar pattern. The goal is to solve various tasks under time pressure and defeat the mini-bosses before the timer runs out. You resolve the individual elements as follows:
- Eliminate the Cabal: Here, the goal is to eliminate charging enemy hordes.
- Locate and disable one or more Shadow Rifts: Here you must find greenish shimmering circular rifts and stand in them to capture them. The more people stand in the rift, the faster it goes. Then, the floating crystals around the rift must be destroyed. Only then is the rift considered disabled.
- Eliminate all Cabal bosses: Here, the goal is to send the mini-bosses of the respective waves to the virtual afterlife within the allotted time.
- In one of the waves, you must survive the onslaught of the Cabal while completing a public event taking place nearby (for example, WarSat). The event must be completed heroically. If you fail to trigger the heroic version of the public event, the wave is considered failed. Moreover, all bosses of the Escalation Protocol must also be defeated.
You can follow the entire process in a video by Esoterickk:
Wave 7
In the seventh wave, the game throws pretty much everything at you – from Witches to Screebs and even massive Ogres, everything the Cabal has to offer is involved. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- The key here is to survive. So find a good cover where you are well protected and can effectively engage the enemies.
- Additionally, you should face the Cabal with as large a group as possible in the last wave. It’s important to stick together as a group. This significantly simplifies the frequent revives.
- First, you should eliminate all appearing enemies. This prevents you from being overwhelmed. Furthermore, the enemies also feed the energy shield of the boss, making him immune to incoming damage.
- Once the shield is gone, you can then take on the final boss.
- Fresh adds will spawn again. You repeat the last two steps accordingly until the final boss is defeated.
- Use power weapons primarily – sufficient ammunition should be available.
- Use your super and abilities as often as possible. This will generate orbs for other players and contribute significantly to the group’s damage output.
This video guide by Nexxoss Gaming explains the entire Escalation Protocol in detail:
More tips?
- Bring enough Rasputin weapon chamber codes. The Valkyrie will become an important ally on the way to the final boss. The relic weapon is particularly effective against the mini-bosses.
- Remember the spawn points. Particularly Nightstalkers can greatly ease the team’s life with their super and pave the way for further effective super uses from other classes.
- Also use the swords dropped by some Cabal Knights when possible. They can effectively eliminate entire groups of enemies without wasting super or power ammunition.
- Bring different power weapons. Snipers, rocket launchers, and shotguns should definitely be included. Don’t hesitate to switch these weapons multiple times depending on the situation. Sufficient ammunition should almost always be available.
- Rasputin weapon chamber codes cannot be used during the wave with the public event.
- If a public event is active nearby, the Escalation Protocol cannot be started.
- If you fail in the first two waves of the Escalation Protocol, you start over. If you fail at a higher level, you have one minute to restart the activity at the last successfully completed level. If you fail again upon restart, you have one minute to restart the event at the next lower level.
What do you think of the Escalation Protocol? How far have you managed to get in this event?
