Destiny 2: A Guide To The Key Of Light & Darkness (2024)

By Charles Burgar

Updated

Fixing the Broken Awoken Talisman and embarking on The Key of Light and Darkness quest are all part of the Destiny 2 experience.

Destiny 2: A Guide To The Key Of Light & Darkness (1)

Quick Links

  • Clearing Up Some Common Misconceptions
  • How To Start The Key Of Light And Darkness Quest
  • Collect The Fragments
  • Defeat Taken
  • Absorb Darkness From The Scorn
  • Complete "A Hum Of Starlight"

Even when you complete an entire questline in Destiny 2, the game still makes it a point to leave you with at least one thread to keep you hooked in and playing. One of these threads is an Awoken Talisman that's tied to the Forsaken expansion.

Related: Destiny 2: Small Rice Cakes - How Do You Obtain Them And What Are They For?

A Key of Light and Darkness is one of the strangest quests in Destiny 2, but not because of the quest's objectives or story. This quest has changed multiple times throughout Destiny 2's lifespan, being decoupled from the Wish-Ender Exotic quest and the Dreaming City altogether. While there isn't much reason to embark on this quest, there is a fantastic story mission you get to experience if you can brave through this quest's vague objectives. We'll be going over how to complete this quest, repair the Awoken Talisman, and clear up some common misconceptions about this quest.

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Updated July 30th, 2021, by Charles Burgar: Arguably the most confusing quest in Destiny 2, A Key to Light and Darkness has been changed multiple times since its original release in Forsaken. It isn't required to enter the Dreaming City anymore, and this quest is no longer a pre-requisite for the Wish-Ender quest. We've updated this guide to clear up some common misconceptions about this quest. For those looking to play this quest, we've also updated each quest step to make it much easier to follow.

Clearing Up Some Common Misconceptions

Destiny 2: A Guide To The Key Of Light & Darkness (2)

If you just want a quest guide, skip to the next section. This section is meant to clear up the immense amount of confusion surrounding this quest and its ties to obtaining Wish-Ender, a bow linked heavily to the Cursebreaker title.

Is This Quest Tied To Forsaken?

Yes. Petra Venj is supposed to give it to you in the Tangled Shore near the end of Forsaken's campaign. If she doesn't give you the talisman, you can claim it from the Quest Archive Kiosk in the Tower.

What's the Reward For This Quest?

Nothing. The Wish-Ender quest is separate from this one. Play this quest if you want to experience the "A Hum of Starlight" story mission, an introduction to the Dreaming City and its Ascendant Plane.

Do I Need The Talisman To Enter The Dreaming City?

No.

Didn't Bungie Remove The Awoken Talisman Altogether?

They removed the Balanced Awoken Talisman. Update 2.6.1 removed the talisman from player inventories, decoupling its connection to the Dreaming City. The Wish-Ender quest was then moved to Petra Venj in the Dreaming City, requiring players to speak to her in order to start it.

Beyond Light changed this somewhat. A Quest Kiosk was added to the Tower that brought back many old quests from previous years, one of them being The Key of Light and Darkness. The Wish-Ender quest was also moved here.

How To Start The Key Of Light And Darkness Quest

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Destiny 2: Beyond Light completely changed how you start this quest. You'll find the quest in the Quest Archive Kiosk in the Tower. It's directly left of the Postmaster.

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Where to find this hidden quest.

To start the quest, you need to:

  1. Visit the Tower.
  2. Visit the Quest Archive Kiosk.
  3. Under the "Exotics and Legacy" divider, select "The Past."
    1. It's the second/right icon.
  4. Grab the "Key of Light and Darkness" quest.

Once you grab the quest, head to your Quests tab. If you don't see the quest, click on "The Past" tab on the left of your screen. It has an hourglass icon.

Collect The Fragments

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The first step of this quest will ask you to find the talisman's missing fragments. There are three in total, each of them residing in a Tangled Shore Lost Sector. Clear the Lost Sector and open the chest to receive the fragment. Only vague hints are given for which Lost Sectors you need to clear. If you don't feel like going on a Lost Sector hunt, here is where you'll find each fragment:

Fragment #1 Location: Shipyard AWO-43

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"In an old Corsair hideout" is referring to Shipyard AWO-43, a Lost Sector found beside the crashed Hive ship in the Jetsam of Saturn.

Fragment #2 Location: The Empty Tank

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"In the heart of the Spider's web" can be found in The Empty Tank. You'll find this Lost Sector on the western end of Thieves' Landing, located just north of Spider's hideout entrance.

Fragment #3 Location: Trapper's Cave

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"In a rare green place" is referencing Trapper's Cave, the only Lost Sector in Four-Horn Gulch. Take the gravity lift on the east end of Thieves' Landing to reach Four-Horn Gulch.

Related: Destiny 2: The Best Warlock Builds For PvP And PvE

When you've looted each Lost Sector chest, return to Spider to start the mending process.

Defeat Taken

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Spider will explain that the talisman must now be imbued with the power of the Darkness. In gameplay words, you'll need to kill a lot of Taken to finish this step. The quest step specifically mentions Taken in the EDZ's Sludge area, the Lake of Shadows strike, and Gambit. However, these are only recommendations. Any slain Taken grant progress.

Good Taken Kill Farms

A few good Taken farms include:

  • Lake of Shadows strike: It's one of the shortest strikes in the game and has quite a few Taken.
  • Shattered Throne: Enter the Thrall hallway encounter partway through the dungeon and kill as many Taken Thrall as needed.
  • Aphelion's Rest Lost Sector (Dreaming City): Since the Dreaming City is no longer locked behind the talisman, you can go to the Dreaming City to farm this objective. Aphelion's Rest is the best Lost Sector for this.

Completing this step will turn the quest item into an Imbalanced Awoken Talisman. Make your way back to Spider to start the next quest objective.

Absorb Darkness From The Scorn

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Despite how many Taken you killed, the talisman isn't fully charged. To charge the talisman, you must defeat one Chieftain during the Ether Harvest Public Event located in Four-Horn Gulch.

Related: Destiny 2: All Dreaming City Ascendant Chest Locations

There are three Chieftains that spawn during the event, so this should be a fairly easy challenge to complete. You only need to kill one. Return to Spider once you've killed a Chieftain.

Complete "A Hum Of Starlight"

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Your talisman is now charged enough to help you enter the Dreaming City. After you've spoken to Spider, a new story mission named "A Hum of Starlight" will appear on your Tangled Shore map. It's set to 1,100 Power, and there are no unique modifiers present. This serves as an introduction to the Dreaming City world space and the Ascendant Plane. Once you've finished this mission, the quest ends. You won't keep the talisman after the quest ends. The completed talisman is now given out in the Wish-Ender quest, located in the same Quest Archive Kiosk that you obtained this quest from.

Next: Destiny 2: Beyond Light Complete Guide And Walkthrough

Destiny 2: A Guide To The Key Of Light & Darkness (2024)

FAQs

How to complete the key of light and darkness quest in Destiny 2? ›

To complete this part of the quest, head to the Strikes in the EDZ and the Lake of Shadows strike. Complete the strikes here a few times and you should fill the talisman with Darkness, turning it into the Imbalanced Awoken Talisman.

How to complete step 6 of darkness in the light? ›

Step 6: Lights Out

You will need to either invade the enemy team within a gambit match and rapidly defeat four Guardians or have one of your teammates do the same, either will count.

How do you complete the Born in Darkness quest in Destiny 2? ›

Destiny 2 Born in Darkness Part 4

For the final Born in Darkness quest, complete these objectives in this order: Defeat 50 combatants on Europa using Stasis abilities. Complete three Nightfall Strikes and defeat 60 combatants affected by Stasis in Nightfall Strikes. Defeat the House Salvation platoon in Creation.

Where is the key to unlock the gate on the Darkness? ›

Before rushing to the locked gate, look for a small building to the right of the underground opening. Activate Creeping Dark and crawl through the small hole at the base of the building. You can sneak behind an enemy, kill him, devour his heart and simultaneously collect a key that'll open up the gate.

How do you get Malfeasance in 2023? ›

How to Get the Malfeasance. In order to unlock and get the Malfeasance, you'll need to obtain the Exotic Weapon Quest from Gambit matches. When you summon your Primeval, an Ascendant Primeval Servitor could randomly summon instead of the other usual Primevals. A Seething Heart quest drops after killing the Servitor.

What is the fastest way to complete the darkness in the light quest? ›

The fastest way to complete this City of Secrets quest step is to play the Blind Well activity in the Dreaming City. At the end of the activity, several boss-level Taken will spawn. Make sure you damage them, or else they won't count toward your goal.

Can I buy Malfeasance? ›

Malfeasance is an Exotic Hand Cannon in Destiny 2 that is an excellent weapon for players that enjoy Gambit. The weapon deals increased damage to Taken enemies and other Guardians in the game mode. Previously, this Exotic was locked behind the purchase of the Forsaken DLC, but now anyone can obtain Malfeasance.

How do you unlock Malfeasance? ›

How to get the Destiny 2 Malfeasance
  1. Kill a Primeval in Gambit.
  2. Speak to the Drifter in the Tower.
  3. Defeat 25 Taken yellow bar enemies.
  4. Complete 'The Corrupted' Strike.
  5. Deposit Motes and win matches in Gambit.
  6. Defeat 25 opposing Guardians in Gambit, and team wipe as an invader yourself or have an ally do it three times.
Feb 18, 2022

What do you get for completing darkness in the light? ›

Completing the Darkness in the Light Side Quest is essential if you want to be one of the very best Destiny 2 players. Finishing the quest will grant you one of the best hand cannons in the game, Malfeasance.

How do I start the dark below quest? ›

To start this questline, complete A Guardian Rises (quest), Against the Fall, and the first mission on the Moon. Eris Morn will summon you when you can start the quest. Eris and Master Rahool will send you into the depths of the Moon to find the sword oft Crota.

How to start born in darkness part 4? ›

How to complete Born in Darkness Part 4 in Destiny 2. Players need to complete the first three parts of the Born In Darkness quest line by talking to the Exo Stranger on Europa in Destiny 2. Once the three missions are completed, players will have to talk to the Exo Stranger once again to activate the quest.

How do I get the Necrochasm quest? ›

To unlock the quest The Crux of Darkness for the Necrochasm, you need to get a Husk of the Pit. This is a random drop that looks like a white engram from Hive enemies, and it's recommended you play story missions and Strikes against the Hive.

How do you destroy the darkness gates? ›

To destroy a Darkmess Gate, the heroes must use Bob-ombs to blow up the gate. The heroes can pick them up and throw them at the gate, or have them explode close to the gate.

Is Malfeasance a good weapon? ›

As an anti-Champion Exotic Weapon, the Malfeasance had plenty to offer players even before it received its new Catalyst. The Malfeasance is able to stun Unstoppable Champions just by landing a few shots, and the Exotic perk also gives the weapon a lot more range over other hand cannons.

Is Malfeasance exotic? ›

Malfeasance, of course, is the Gambit exotic hand cannon that was somewhat tricky to get, and was very much designed for Gambit at first with its bonus damage against Taken and Gambit Invaders.

What is the exotic weapon in darkness in the light? ›

The Darkness in Light quest in Destiny 2 rewards players with the exotic hand cannon, Malfeasance, which deals a significant amount of damage to enemies.

Is Malfeasance good in PvE? ›

That alone makes this gun a great pick for all PvE content. It also gains Vorpal Weapon through its Catalyst to further improve its DPS against tougher units. What makes Malfeasance truly spectacular is its synergy with the Hunter's Lucky Pants Exotic.

How rare is darkness in treasure quest? ›

Rarity. The Darkness is one of five Ultimate weapons that can be acquired after a full 28 day cycle from the Daily Rewards, equating to a 20% chance per cycle.

Can you do the corrupted solo? ›

Any tips for the missions version of the Corrupted? You need to do it for the “Darkness in the Light” exotic quest, and it's painfully difficult, because you have to solo it.

Can you buy Fatebringer? ›

How to Get Fatebringer. You can only obtain the Fatebringer in the Vault of Glass raid. Not counting opening the door, this weapon can drop from the third (Templar) and fourth encounter (Gatekeeper). Once the weapon drops, it has a chance to appear in any of the secret chests hidden throughout the activity.

Can you buy Touch of Malice? ›

Touch of Malice is a drop exclusive to the King's Fall Raid. It's much easier to acquire than in Destiny 1, where it was the prize at the end of a long scavenger hunt and quest chain. In Destiny 2, all you need is a good raid team, and some luck. Touch of Malice drops from Oryx, the final boss of the Taken King raid.

How many motes do you have to deposit for Malfeasance? ›

If ten gambit wins seems strenuous to anyone, crucible works as an alternative for this step. unfortunately you will need to deposit around 500 motes along with the wins to complete the quest step.

What hand cannon does the drifter use? ›

Malfeasance
Manufacturer:The Drifter, The Guardian
Style:Taken
Rarity class:Exotic
Weapon type:Hand Cannon
16 more rows
May 4, 2023

What does Symphony of Death give you? ›

Complete the Symphony of Death quest to earn the Deathbringer Exotic rocket launcher.

What do you get at the end of Beyond Light campaign? ›

The final step of the Destiny 2: Beyond Light campaign is to return to the Tower and speak with Commander Zavala. He will offer you a new quest, Reclaiming Europa. Pick up the quest and then go visit the Drifter so you can start The Stasis Prototype, a quest to unlock Salvation's Grip.

Where is the Exo Stranger? ›

Meet the Exo Stranger in the Bunker E15 Lost Sector on Europa. You'll find her at the very end of the Lost Sector standing near a computer terminal. Use the Skeleton Key here to progress the Born in Darkness Part 1 quest.

What is the reward of born in darkness Destiny 2? ›

Born in Darkness is a quest in Destiny 2 that becomes available after the completion of the Beyond Light expansion's main storyline. Completing this quest will give players an aspect for the stasis subclass as well as stasis fragments, unlocking a whole new array of abilities for the Darkness-based subclass.

How do you unlock the dark priestess quest? ›

The Dark Priestess quest is unlocked after the Empire's Fall quest. Finishing this new quest will allow you to continue on the Stasis Prototype quest for Salvation's Grip.

How do I start the Melina quest? ›

Melina is first met after resting at Gatefront Site of Grace, by Gatefront Ruins or another overland Limgrave Site of Grace, after activating a certain number of them. Other potential Sites of Grace: Church of Elleh, Seaside Ruins, and Agheel Lake South.

How do I start the soon quest? ›

The first thing that needs to be done to start this quest is to complete the Beyond Light campaign. After doing so, head to the Exo stranger and she will give you the gun No Time To Explain. A reference to the first Destiny, the pulse rifle comes with a new ability.

Can you still shatter skate in Destiny 2? ›

Yes, you can grapple to Hunter Shatter Skate.

Did Bungie patch shatter skate? ›

No, they said in a TWAB they were gonna fix them, but never did. That would be my guess as well, as the mechanics of well skating and shatter skating are likely tied into weird quirks of the engine, similar to some of the stuff you see that facilitates rocket jumping in certain engines.

How do I start the key of light and darkness? ›

How To Start The Key Of Light And Darkness Quest
  1. Visit the Tower.
  2. Visit the Quest Archive Kiosk.
  3. Under the "Exotics and Legacy" divider, select "The Past." It's the second/right icon.
  4. Grab the "Key of Light and Darkness" quest.
Jul 30, 2021

How many kills does it take to upgrade the Husk of the Pit? ›

In total, players will need to kill 500 Hive enemies using the Husk of the Pit to fill out its single upgrade ability. Any mission with lots of Hive is a solid candidate for completing the kills, but we'd recommend running the early "We've awoken the Hive" section from 'The Dark Beyond' mission on the moon.

How do you get the quest more than a weapon? ›

When you load into Destiny 2 for the first time during Season of the Seraph, you will be pulled into the Hierarchy quest. Once this is done, visit the Exo Frame at H.E.L.M., and More than a Weapon will begin.

How do you beat the Malfeasance quest? ›

Defeat 25 Taken yellow bar enemies. Complete 'The Corrupted' Strike. Deposit Motes and win matches in Gambit. Defeat 25 opposing Guardians in Gambit, and team wipe as an invader yourself or have an ally do it three times.

What is the key of light and darkness in Destiny 2? ›

A Key of Light and Darkness is one of the strangest quests in Destiny 2, but not because of the quest's objectives or story. This quest has changed multiple times throughout Destiny 2's lifespan, being decoupled from the Wish-Ender Exotic quest and the Dreaming City altogether.

Can you get forerunner without 30th Anniversary? ›

The Forerunner was a sidearm that was introduced to Destiny 2 along with the 30th Anniversary expansion. Unlike the Gjallarhorn, this weapon can be acquired without purchasing the 30th Anniversary expansion.

What does the mysterious key open? ›

The only use of the Key is to open Flameheart's Lair at The Devil's Thirst. As such, it has no value to other crews. The Mysterious Key can be stored inside Container Chests.

What does the exotic Strange Key do? ›

Players that want to obtain the Forerunner exotic sidearm in Destiny 2 must complete a quest called Magnum Opus. Near the end of this quest, fans will be instructed to use a Strange Key, which they will have obtained in a preceding step, to open a path that leads to a mysterious object.

What does key of night drop? ›

The Key of Night is a craftable item that spawns a Corrupt Mimic or a Crimson Mimic when placed in any slot of any empty Chest, depending on whether the world generated with The Corruption or The Crimson, respectively.

How many wins do you need for the Darkness in the Light? ›

Business as Usual requires players to win 10 Gambit matches and deposit 400 dark motes, which can be a time-consuming step. In the next step “Lights out” players can either eliminate 25 guardians or kill 3 invading enemies. Teammates can also prove useful and help you kill enemies during invasion.

Is Titan a patrol zone? ›

But we are now down five patrol zones, Titan, Mars, Mercury, Io and the Tangled Shore, along with nearly all the strikes from those (plus Leviathan, Crown and Scourge).

What is stronger light or dark powers? ›

Which is more powerful, the light or the darkness? Darkness is more powerful than light. Because our universe is in full of darkness and it is expanding due to black energies of the universe.

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