Various Events are available as high-level endgame activites designed to be played after reaching level 20. The rewards can include high-end loot, but are only available after a single completion with each character. [1]
Regular Events
These events are always available at a regular basis.
Daily Crucible Event
Every day one Crucible gametype is chosen at random to be that day's Crucible event. This can include one of the rotating playlists not in regular circulation. The daily event offers more rewards than are normally available from a single match, including Passage Coins to get into the Trials of Osiris.
Rewards
- Year One
- Random - Rewards can include 3 Passage Coins, crafting materials, or Legendary gear
- Year Two
Weekly Crucible Playlist
Each week a Crucible playlist is chosen at random and featured for the entire week. Similar to the Vanguard Heroic Strikes, players can earn rewards for the first three matches completed in the playlist each week. Rewards are account-wide, rather than per character; completing three matches with one character and switching to another character will not grant any further rewards until the weekly reset.
Rewards
- 10 Legendary Marks (Up to 3 times per week)
Daily Heroic Story
Every day a random Story Mission is selected. The mission features the Heroic modifier, and offers more rewards than are normally available from replaying a Story mission. A minimum Light level of 240 is required.
Rewards
- Year One
- Level 20/22/24: 1 Engram, 10 Armor Materials, 1 Primary Weapon upgrade, 5 Vanguard Marks, 4800 Experience
- Level 26/28/30: 1 Ascendant Material, 1 Engram, 12 Upgrade Materials, 1 Primary Weapon upgrade, 5 Vanguard Marks, 6000 Experience
- Level 30/32/34: 2 Ascendant Material, 1 Engram, 16 Upgrade Materials, 1 Primary Weapon upgrade, 5 Vanguard Marks, 7500 Experience
- Year Two
- 15 Legendary Marks
Alternate Endings
Certain Story missions have alternate endings which can only be accessed when that mission is selected for the Daily Heroic Story. Known missions with these endings include:
- Lost to Light - players can access the normally-sealed Traitor's Ketch area near the end of the mission and have 10 minutes to clear the ship of all enemies, including a Taken Captain boss. Successfully completing this challenge rewards the Black Spindle.
- Paradox - alternate paths in the Vault of Glass areas hide three Dead Ghosts containing the memories of the lost Guardian Praedyth. Collecting all three without dying in a Darkness Zone allows players to enter a portal where they must defeat a Taken Minotaur boss. Successfully completing this challenge rewards a total of four unique Grimoire cards and the "Cult Ghost" Mission Item, which can be turned in to Lakshmi-2 for a cache of materials.
Weekly Heroic Strike (Year One)
Weekly Heroic Strikes were removed in The Taken King and replaced by the Vanguard Heroic Strike playlist.[2]
Each week, a random Strike was selected for the Weekly Heroic Strike. This Strike had both the Heroic modifier and an additional random modifier. Selecting a higher difficulty increased the reward payoff. Matchmaking was allowed.[1]
Rewards
- Level 24/26/28: 1 Engram, 3 Strange Coins, 3 Vanguard Marks, 150 Vanguard Reputation
- Level 28/30/32: 1 Engram, 6 Strange Coins, 6 Vanguard Marks, 250 Vanguard Reputation
- Level 30/32/34: 1 Engram, 9 Strange Coins, 10 Vanguard Marks, 400 Vanguard Reputation
Vanguard Heroic Strikes (Year Two)
Vanguard Heroic Strikes replace the Weekly Heroic Strike. Players can play the Vanguard Heroic Strike playlist and earn rewards for the first three Strikes completed in it each week. Rewards are account-wide, rather than per character; achieving three wins with one character and switching to another character will not grant any further rewards until the weekly reset. All Strikes in the Vanguard Heroic playlist feature both the Heroic modifier and an additional random modifier. A minimum Light level of 260 is required.
Rewards
- 1 Legendary Engram (Rewarded on the first completed Strike each week only)
- 10 Legendary Marks (Up to 3 times per week)
- Experience
Nightfall Strike
The Nightfall Strike is an extremely difficult level 42 strike with 5 modifiers total, including the Nightfall modifier. One of the other modifiers is Epic, which replaces Heroic. The remaining three modifiers are random. Matchmaking is unavailable. The Nightfall is always a different Strike from the Weekly Heroic Strike; before House of Wolves, the two used the same Strike each week.[3] A minimum Light level of 280 is required.
Rewards
- Year One
- Random - Rewards can include up to a dozen Strange Coins, various crafting materials, and Legendary or even Exotic gear.
- Radiant Light buff - All experience and reputation gains are increased for the rest of the week. Radiant Light was removed in The Taken King; sources of XP and Reputation were adjusted accordingly to make up for its absence.[4]
- Year Two
- Random - Rewards can include up to a dozen Strange Coins, various crafting materials, and Legendary or even Exotic gear.
Special Events
These events are only available on rare occasions or under special circumstances.
Festival of the Lost
Coinciding with Halloween, the Festival of the Lost is a week-long celebration held at the Tower. Players can collect various candies and masks.
Iron Banner
Roughly once every month, the Iron Banner becomes available in the Crucible and lasts for a week. It is based on the Control gametype. See the Iron Banner article for more details.
Trials of Osiris
Every week, from Friday to the weekly reset on Tuesday 2 AM Pacific, the Trials of Osiris becomes available to those who own the House of Wolves expansion. Like the Iron Banner, it's a high-challenge event, but what sets it apart is that entry must be paid for. See article for details.
Queen's Wrath
For one week, Petra Venj appears in the Tower as the Queen's Wrath, offering bounties for wanted Fallen found on Patrol. A new bounty becomes available each day. Hunting down these enemies gives players the chance to open an ether chest, and buy emblems and shaders.