Precursors

This article is about the Vex Subtype. For for the ancient species that formed the Witness, see Precursors (Species).

Precursors
Overview
Objectives:	Defend the Glass Throne Defend Mercury and its secrets Defend the Undying Mind
Minds:	Primeval Mind Prevenient Mind Dendron, Root Mind
At war with:	Vanguard Taken Red Legion
Allied with:	Aphix Invasive Descendants Hezen Corrective Hezen Protective Proxies Sol Collective Sol Divisive
Encountered:	Vault of Glass Black Garden Echo Chamber Mercury Altars of Summoning

"It would be easy to assume these Vex are the ancestors of those we face today - but with the Vex it is never so simple."

— Grimoire Description

The Precursors (also known as the Sol Primeval) are a Vex collective believed to originate from the distant past of the Vex Network. They can be identified by their silver-white frames and angular headgear.

History

Origins

The exact origins of the Precursors are unknown, but it is generally believed that they originate from the ancient past; according to Ghost analysis, their casings were manufactured long before humanity appeared on Earth.

The Precursors were responsible for the creation of the Undying Mind, an ancient Vex Mind of the Sol Divisive feared even by other Vex.

The Collapse

When the Black Fleet began its assault on Sol, the Precursors took advantage of the situation, converting Mercury into a Machine World in a matter of days. The Precursor Axis Mind Dendron, Root Mind was tasked with overseeing the conversion of the planet and the construction of the Infinite Forest within its heart, with the algorithm used to generate the Forest being stored within the Gardener's Spire.

City Age

The Guardians would later encounter the Precursors on Venus within the Vault of Glass and Echo Chamber. When a six-Guardian fireteam led by the Guardian entered the Vault of Glass seeking to destroy Atheon, Time's Conflux, members of both the Precursors and Descendants attempted to stop them, but they were ultimately overpowered and Atheon was destroyed.

Destruction of the Undying Mind

When the Undying Mind attempted to seal off the Black Garden once more and recreate the Black Heart, the Vanguard sent a fireteam to stop it. The Precursors entered the Garden in an attempt to assist the Undying Mind, but they failed, and the Undying Mind was destroyed.

Curse of Osiris

Following the death of Dominus Ghaul, the Precursors began to gather on Mercury at the Infinite Forest alongside the Descendants, to unite under Panoptes, Infinite Mind.

The Guardian and Sagira entered the Simulant Past within the Infinite Forest to retrieve the Forest's algorithm from the Gardener's Spire, seeking to use it to find and destroy Panoptes, Infinite Mind. The Guardian destroyed Dendron and began downloading the algorithm, but Panoptes arrived and captured Sagira's consciousness before banishing the Guardian from the Forest. After the Guardian destroyed Panoptes and returned Sagira to Osiris, the legendary Warlock would ask for the assistance of a fireteam after he recreated and lost control of a simulated version of Dendron.

Clash of the Hive Gods

When Eris Morn transformed herself into the Hive God of Vengeance to challenge Xivu Arath, the Guardians would use the Altars of Summoning in the Court of Savathûn to tithe to Eris. They would call forth imprisoned Precursor Vex led by the Prevenient Mind, alongside the Proximate Mind and Prevailing Mind. Despite the Vex's efforts to fend off the Guardians, they would fail and be destroyed, with their deaths being tithed to the Hive God of Vengeance.

A Rising Chorus

After Maya Sundaresh gained possession of the Echo of Command, she began converting the local Vex on Nessus, dismantling their frames and dispersing their radiolaria before reconstituting them within new Precursor-styled housings.

Notable members

• Dendron, Root Mind
• Prevenient Mind

Unique forces

Harpy variants

• Precursor Axis Harpy
• Precursor Harpy

Goblin variants

• Depraved Goblin
• Precursor Axis Goblin
• Precursor Goblin

Fanatic variants

• Precursor Fanatic

Hobgoblin variants

• Barrier Hobgoblin
• Precursor Axis Hobgoblin
• Precursor Hobgoblin

Minotaur variants

• Arc-Charged Minotaur
• Overload Minotaur
• Precursor Axis Minotaur
• Precursor Minotaur
• Precursor Praetorian
• Shielded Minotaur

Hydra variants

• Precursor Axis Hydra
• Precursor Gatekeeper
• Precursor Hydra
• Precursor Malignant Hydra
• Wayward Mind

Cyclops variants

• Barrier Mind
• Precursor Axis Cyclops
• Precursor Cyclops

Wyvern variants

• Precursor Malignant Wyvern

Trivia

• In Destiny, regular Precursors appear as Majors.
• The description of the Undying Mind hints that Precursors created the Axis Mind. This is supported by the Strike of the same name, as you fight Precursors on your mission to destroy the Mind, thus destroying its protectors.

Gallery

Sol Primeval

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  Dendron, Root Mind

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  A Precursor Hobgoblin

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  Precursor Goblins

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  Precursor Hobgoblins in Destiny 1

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  Another Precursor Hobgoblin

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  Precursor Harpies

Destiny 2

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  A Shielded Minotaur

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  A Precursor Goblin in Destiny 2

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  A Precursor Hobgoblin in Destiny 2

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  A Precursor Minotaur in Destiny 2

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  A Precursor Harpy

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  A Precursor Hydra

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  A Precursor Cyclops

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  A Precursor Fanatic

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  A Precursor Malignant Wyvern

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
  • The Dark Below
  • The Taken King
• Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris
  • Forsaken (Mentioned only)
  • Season of the Undying (Mentioned only)
  • Season of Dawn
  • Season of the Splicer (Non-canon appearance)
  • Season of the Witch
  • Episode: Echoes (Mentioned only)