How to get Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2

Maximise your armor's energy levels by getting more Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2.

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Ascendant Shards are a new type of currency in Destiny 2 that many players will be chasing. Getting enough Ascendant Shards can be troublesome, as not only are they expensive but quite rare. However, there are a few reliable ways you can get more of this valuable currency, which is good as you'll be needing it to increase your armor’s energy slots.


How to get Ascendant Shards

Much like its sister currency, the Enhancement Prism, there are three main ways to get Ascendant Shards: buy them, unlock them, or receive them as a reward. Given that this is the final upgrade material needed to fully max a piece of gear, it only makes sense that it’s quite rare. While you're out collecting Ascendant Shards, make sure you're also acquiring Ascendant Alloy, a new material needed in weapon crafting.

As for actually how to get Ascendant Shards, they are available from several sources:

  • Reach reputation Rank 16 at Banshee-44, the Vanguard, the Crucible, and Gambit
  • Unlock them by ranking up the Season Pass
  • Purchase from Rahool in the Tower
  • Uncommon reward for completing Nightfall on Master difficulty
  • Common reward for completing Grandmaster Nightfall

Rank 16 at vendors

destiny 2 ascendant shard reward rank 16
You can earn an Ascendant Shard by reaching Rank 16 at Banshee-44, Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit.

The first method of getting an Ascendant Shard is to hit Rank 16 at vendors. Each vendor will offer on Ascendant Shard when you hit its maximum rank. This means you are guaranteed at least four if you manage to max out Vanguard, Crucible, Gambit, and Banshee-44. Here is a guide for each of the ranks, excluding Banshee-44:

Unlock through the Season Pass

destiny 2 ascendant shard season pass
At level 80, you will receive your first Ascendant Shard from the Season Pass.

Another method of getting an Ascendant Shard is by ranking up the Season Pass. You will typically receive your first official Ascendant Shard when you surpass Rank 80. Most Season Passes contain multiple Ascendant Shards, so it's worth leveling this up each season. Keep in mind that they're usually only available on the premium track.

Buy from Rahool

destiny 2 buy ascendant shard

Previously, players could buy Ascendant Shards from Banshee-44, now that honor has been given to Rahool. This is by far the most expensive method, as a single shard requires a metric tonne of resources:

  • 10 Enhancement Prisms
  • 100 Planetary materials
  • 50,000 Glimmer

First off, 10 Enhancement Prisms are difficult enough to acquire. If you go the route of buying them all from Rahool in order to get an Ascendant Shard, that translates to a single shard costing 100 Enhancement Cores. That’s not a small amount.

Secondly, you will need 100 planetary materials. For a lot of long-term players, this shouldn’t be too bad. For newcomers, you may need to spend a bit of time on planets completing bounties and collecting resources.

Finally, 50,000 Glimmer is no small amount either. That’s a fifth of your total carrying capacity. Expect to need to earn a lot of Glimmer if you’re looking to go this route.

Rewarded from Nightfall on Master difficulty

destiny 2 ascendant shard nightfall the ordeal
Only the Master difficulty of the Nightfall has a chance of dropping Ascendant Shards.

An Ascendant Shard isn’t available from just any version of Nightfall, it has to be the Master difficulty. This is an activity that will be near the max Power level and will feature various types of Destiny 2 Champions. This is an extremely challenging activity, so come prepared for a fight. Even when it's all said and done, there's only a small chance one will actually drop.

Grandmaster Nightfalls

destiny 2 ascendant shard grandmaster nightfall
Ascendant Shards are a common drop from the Grandmaster Nightfalls.

Finally, you can also earn Ascendant Shards from the Grandmaster Nightfall. The shards are a Common reward from this endgame PVE activity, but it also comes with a high barrier of entry. You will need to ensure you're at the max Power level to be able to even launch the activity. You will need a fantastic fireteam to clear this, but if you're able to clear ot quickly, you'll increase your supply of Ascendant Shards in no time.


Getting more Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2 is no easy task. These are the pinnacle upgrade material, used in taking a piece of armor to its maximum energy potential, so expect to be spending a lot of time farming for more of these. While you’re farming, take a look over the Destiny 2 guide for even more tips and strategies.

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Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can message him on X: @SamuelChandler 

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