Destiny 2 is filled with materials players need to obtain in order to enhance their gear and Ascendant Shards are among the most important and rare.
There are various ways to obtain Ascendant Shards somewhat consistently. So if you're running out on them or are looking to stock up, here is what you'll need to focus on so you can get your hands on this precious commodity.
Since you're here, consider also checking how to farm Enhancement Cores in Destiny 2. You'll also need lots of these when it comes to upgrading your gear.
Best Destiny 2 Ascendant Shards farm
The Final Shape didn't particularly shake up the ways in which Guardians can get ahold of Ascendant Shards, but in case you're a newer player, here are all the ways to get them:
Rahool has very steep prices.
Master Rahool
Master Rahool sells Ascendant Shards at a very steep price, but if you're in desperate need of some, visiting the cryptarch at the Tower is your best and fastest method. The price for an Ascendant Shard with Rahool is:
- 10 Enhancement Prisms
- 50k Glimmer
There is no limit to the amount of Shards you can purchase from him at the above price. With that said, every week Rahool will offer three Ascendant Shards at a discounted price:
- 10 Enhancement Prisms
- 10k Glimmer
Not only that, but since Rahool now has rank rewards, he will give you an Ascendant Shard upon reaching rank 16. Speaking of vendors...
Vendors always have guaranteed Ascendant Shards.
Resetting vendor ranks
On top of Master Rahool, vendors offer an Ascendant Shard for resetting your rank once you hit level 16. These vendors are:
- Commander Zavala (The Tower)
- Lord Shaxx (The Tower)
- Suraya Hawthorne (The Tower)
- Banshe-44 (The Tower)
- The Drifter (The Tower)
- Saint-14 (The Tower)
- Xur (Dares of Eternity)
- Ghost (Pale Heart)
For Episode: Echoes, the seasonal vendor Failsafe also offers an Ascendant Shard once you reach rank 16.
GM Nightfalls are tough but very rewarding.
Nightfalls
Both Master and GM Nightfalls are a good source for Ascendant Shards. The only caveat is that they are random drops and not guaranteed after finishing an activity.
For Master Nightfalls, the drop rate is "Uncommon" while GM Nightfalls have Ascendant Shards as a "Common" reward. Do keep in mind that accessing this endgame content requires you to have a high enough Power Level. These are the requirements:
- Master Nightfalls: 2010PL
- GM Nightfalls: 2020PL
Trials of Osiris
If you're a hardcore PvP player, Trials of Osiris does have potential Ascendant Shards waiting on you.
It's perhaps the hardest way to acquire them, but if you manage to get a Flawless Passage, you'll get a guaranteed Ascendant Shard.
The Episode: Echoes pass has 200 tiers of rewards.
Season Pass
As always, the season pass offers a decent amount of Ascendant Shards. Right now, you can get seven Ascendant Shards from the premium track at the following tiers:
- Rank 87
- Rank 91
- Rank 99
- Rank 149
- Rank 169
- Rank 179
- Rank 198
Ascendant Shards are key to enhancing your gear.
How to use Ascendant Shards in Destiny 2
Ascendant Shards can help you improve your gear, allowing you to masterwork it which will boost its stats slightly. Since this is a rare item, it's only recommended you spend it on gear that has good base stats. In other words, gear you actually want to hang onto and use long-term.
On top of that, Rahool offers Exotic gear Focused Decoding, costing the following to guarantee specific Exotic drops:
- 1 Exotic engram
- 60k Glimmer
- 2 Ascendant Shards
How many Ascendant Shards can you have in your inventory?
Players can carry up to 30 Ascendant Shards in their inventory. If you reach this limit you won't get any more Shards until you go below the cap.
Previously, players could only hold 10 Shards at a time while the Postmaster could carry an extra 30. Now, the Postmaster does not take any Ascendant Shards, so beware that 30 is the hard cap now.