Patrol

"I don't have time to explain why I don't have time to explain."
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Patrol icon

"These are our worlds...Take them back. Inch by inch. Bullet by bullet."

— Grimoire blurb.

Patrols are the primary open-worlds of the Destiny series. These maps are open-ended and focused on exploration. Players touch down in one of several landing zones, and are able to explore at will, along with taking on tasks assigned to them. Minerals and other resources can be found that can be used on weapons and armor. This is a "lower intensity" game mode compared to others, as there are no Darkness Zones or other penalties for death.

Players can bring a fireteam alongside them with two other people, but can also encounter other players while on patrol. Patrols are useful for gathering miscellaneous loot such as materials, consumables, hidden chests, or rewards for exploration missions. Missions can be acquired on patrol by locating and activating beacons, and are always available.

Patrol is available for the Cosmodrome, Moon, Venus, and Mars. The Taken King also possesses a unique patrol location for the Dreadnaught. Destiny 2 introduces larger, much more expansive patrol locations, complete with Lost Sectors, Adventures, and new patrol missions. Destiny 2's patrol locations include Nessus, Titan, the European Dead Zone, and Io.

Destiny

Mission Types

Destiny

Activating a patrol beacon will enable Guardians to complete simple missions for a small reward of experience and reputation.

Patrol missions and their respective icons.

• Scan—go to a certain location and have Ghost scan an object.
• Item—collect drops from a certain type of enemy.
• Survey—go to a certain location and scout out a group of enemies.
• Kill—kill a set number of enemies.
• VIP—kill a specific enemy found in a private location (typically a named major or minor).
• Energy Spike—collect energy beacons to reach 100% charge before your charge slowly drains to 0%. Players can overcharge for a maximum of five levels for maximum Glimmer and other material payoff.
• Neutralize Taken Blight—go to a certain location and fend off waves of Taken; sometimes includes an Ultra at the end.
• Quarantine—kill a specific enemy at a certain location, then go to a second location and fend off enemy waves.

If the player has completed several patrol missions, they can receive a mystery transmission where the player has to figure out how to unscramble a message (such as doing an emote, kill enemies, getting headshots, etcetera). The player is given an encrypted prompt on what they have to do and must figure it out for themselves.

Destiny 2

• Salvage—hunt down select materials to salvage at certain locations, defending against enemy forces as you do so.
• Assassination—hunt down a high-value enemy target, collecting rewards for doing so.

Public Events

Though not strictly limited to Patrol mode, Public Events always occur in public areas, usually following a predictable schedule. Only players who participate in the event while it is available will earn any rewards. Performance in Public Events is scored as Bronze, Silver, or Gold, and rewards are automatically granted to players upon completion. In Destiny 2, public events contain heroic objectives to complete and are expanded upon.

World Events

Some events, such as Blade of Crota summons, Queen's Wrath "Wolf Packs", and Taken Lieutenant attacks, can occur in Patrol mode as well, but they are not scored and their timing is random. These events are colloquially known among players as "World Events".

Destiny 2

Lost Sectors

Lost Sectors are hidden dungeons scattered throughout the open worlds of Destiny 2, which include a variety of treasures and bosses that contain the key to them.

Adventures

Adventures are side missions given to patrolling Guardians by free-roaming NPCs throughout the worlds of Destiny 2.

Flashpoints

Flashpoints are a weekly event focused on one Destination. Play the specified activity there to complete the Flashpoint and earn a Prestigious Engram.

World Quests

World Quests are a series of questlines that detail the story of the world they take place on. World Quests are generally long and detailed, only being playable after the player has completed the main campaign.

Treasure Maps

Treasure Maps are maps that Guardians can pursue, which will reward the player with high tier loot if the treasure is discovered.

Salvage Missions

Salvage Missions are Patrol missions that can be pursued by Guardians, which entail Guardians to salvage specific materials.

Challenges

Challenges are heroic objectives that Guardians can pursue for rewards.

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
• Destiny 2