Complete guide to Destiny 2’s Temptation mission with advanced strategies and combat optimizations
Mission Introduction and Story Context
The second campaign mission in Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, titled Temptation, presents Guardians with several challenging puzzles and combat encounters while searching for the missing Crow.
The Final Shape expansion thrusts players into direct confrontation with The Witness, beginning with Guardians entering the Traveler’s Pale Heart. Following the emotional reunion with Cayde-6 in the opening mission, players immediately face new urgency as Crow disappears during a scouting operation.
Crow’s investigation of a darkness anomaly within The Pale Heart leads to his separation from Ghost Glint, creating a time-sensitive rescue scenario. This mission introduces crucial mechanics and enemy types that will recur throughout the expansion.
This comprehensive guide covers strategic approaches, common pitfalls to avoid, and optimization techniques for both standard and Legendary difficulty completions.
Confronting the Tormentor
Your initial major adversary emerges as a Tormentor, requiring strategic positioning and weapon selection for efficient elimination.
Navigate through the Traveler’s reconstructed tower foyer and descend from the central balcony platform. Scout Rifles such as Hung Jury prove exceptionally effective here, especially on Legendary difficulty where maintaining distance becomes crucial. The environment features extended sightlines that enable safe engagement distances when utilizing appropriate weaponry.
Follow the linear path until reaching an expansive area where Cabal forces materialize. Eliminate weaker enemies from your elevated position before descending and moving immediately rightward.
Locate the Prismatic Flare on the ground to charge your Transcendence meter. Return to your original path and eliminate two Bound Attendants using your Transcendent state. Advanced players should note that timing your Transcendence activation just before engaging these enemies maximizes efficiency.
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Eliminating the Bound Attendants triggers the Tormentor’s appearance, which advances toward you along the main pathway. The optimal strategy involves damaging its shoulder weak points from range before retreating to the previously used Prismatic Flare location. Remain on the balcony adjacent to the Flare, as the Tormentor cannot reach this elevation.
This positioning allows continuous cycling between Transcendence activation and recharging with minimal risk. Maintain distance when the Tormentor launches Void projectiles, transforming an otherwise challenging encounter into manageable combat on both standard and Legendary settings.
Following the Tormentor’s defeat, recharge your Transcendence meter and proceed along the main road. Two additional Bound Attendants await elimination before concluding this mission segment.
Solving the Three Dial Puzzles
After defeating the Bound Attendants, continue along the relatively straightforward path until reaching an overlook position. Ahead lies a substantial cavern obstructed by Darkness, marked by three energy beams positioned before the entrance.
These beams indicate three distinct puzzles requiring solution. Clear enemies near the cavern entrance, then turn around and ascend the slope before turning left toward the initial puzzle location. While all three areas appear on your map, beginning at this first position provides the most logical progression route.
Each puzzle location contains a large conduit functioning as an eight-section clock face. The first dial features one darkened section where you must position the hand. Rotation occurs clockwise or counterclockwise once you obtain the Psionic Insight buff.
Acquire this buff by eliminating Taken Psions that materialize in the vicinity. The buff automatically applies to your character upon their defeat, enabling dial manipulation. A crucial mechanic involves the stacking nature of this buff—eliminating multiple Psions grants additional stacks, with each stack enabling movement through one additional section when rotating the dial.
Strategic Psion elimination becomes essential for efficiency. The first dial requires matching a single section, progressing to two sections on the second dial, and three on the final dial. Enemy reinforcements spawn after each successful alignment, beginning with Cabal forces for the first two puzzles, followed by flying Grims during the third puzzle.
Proceed along the roadway descending from the initial dial to locate the second puzzle, repeating the process. After completing the second dial, a Prismatic Flare becomes visible roadside, enabling Transcendence activation to eliminate the solitary Bound enemy appearing between the second and third puzzles.
Common mistakes include insufficient Psion elimination before dial interaction and misjudging required rotation distance. Advanced players can optimize by deliberately accumulating extra Psionic Insight stacks for faster puzzle completion.
Following the third dial’s completion, cross the adjacent bridge to the original cavern where Crow remains trapped. Prepare for immediate boss engagement upon arrival.
Defeating the Pillar of Denial
The Pillar of Denial represents the subsequent major boss encounter. Upon spawning, two Taken Blights materialize simultaneously, with the boss seeking refuge within one. These protective blights require destruction to enable damage dealing.
The boss features segmented health across four segments. Each quarter-health depletion triggers additional blight and enemy spawns. The optimal approach involves retreating up the steep incline to eliminate adds from safety before engaging the boss directly.
When only the Pillar of Denial remains, advance to rapidly destroy the protective blights before returning to the hilltop to target the subsequent health segment from distance. This hit-and-run methodology significantly reduces encounter difficulty.
The primary risk emerges during blight destruction, particularly on Legendary difficulty where proximity can cause rapid player elimination. Maintain constant movement and don’t hesitate to withdraw for shield regeneration. Since the boss typically remains stationary within the blight, disengagement presents minimal additional threat.
Weapon selection proves crucial here—high-damage special weapons like fusion rifles or grenade launchers excel at blight destruction, while precision weapons work best for boss damage from elevation. Following the boss’s defeat, the cavern entrance opens, enabling mission progression.
Overcoming the Enlightened Omen
Entering the cavern reveals a rally point preparing Guardians for confrontation with the Enlightened Omen. This encounter remains manageable with proper tactical execution.
After rallying, advance slightly and destroy the Witness affliction by shooting it. This action causes a Prismatic Flare to materialize, dramatically improving combat viability within the confined space.
The engagement unfolds across three distinct waves, each introducing Bound enemies requiring elimination. The combat sequence follows this pattern:
The initial two waves present minimal challenge. The third wave introduces the primary boss—the Enlightened Omen. Maintain similar tactics: achieve Transcendent state, then deploy your Super ability and enhanced grenades for concentrated boss damage.
Grim reinforcements continue appearing alongside Bound enemies; their prompt elimination remains critical. If enemy pressure overwhelms your defenses, retreat behind the cavern wall’s protective ledge near your entry point. Defeat the boss and proceed through the rear opening.
Optimization tip: Coordinate your Super usage with Transcendence activation for maximum damage output. Area-of-effect Supers like Nova Bomb or Blade Barrage work exceptionally well when combined with the damage bonus from Transcendence.
Mission Conclusion and Story Progression
The mission’s combat concludes at this stage, allowing players to experience the narrative conclusion. Discover Crow within a corrupted section of the Traveler that The Witness designates as an “incision” following temporary Ghost possession.
Follow the spectral bird marking the trajectory forward. The platforming remains straightforward, but reference crimson lighting if disoriented (reminiscent of The Whisper mission design). Eventually encounter a sequence of statues—pause for narrative development before locating Crow positioned before a shrouded statue.
Brief dialogue exchange concludes the mission, enabling advancement to the campaign’s third segment—Exegesis.
For comprehensive coverage of additional The Final Shape missions, consult the complete mission listing. Explore further The Final Shape content including newly introduced Exotics, expansion edition comparisons, and raid accessibility timing.
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