Decoding the Disciple: Finding the Easiest Path Through Vow of the Disciple

For Guardians venturing into the ominous Pyramid ship and braving the Vow of the Disciple raid, the journey can seem daunting. But fear not, fellow Lightbearers! While the entire raid demands communication and coordination, one encounter stands out as the most approachable: the Acquisition encounter.

The Acquisition encounter, the very first challenge after the initial jumping puzzle, is arguably the easiest. It’s the most straightforward in terms of mechanics, demanding less precise timing and complex coordination than the encounters that follow. Its accessibility makes it a great entry point for newer raiders to learn the basic symbolism of the raid and get comfortable with the rhythm of callouts and teamwork. Although it requires coordination, the mechanics are not as complex when compared to others like the Caretaker or Rhulk encounter.

Breaking Down the Acquisition Encounter

The encounter revolves around activating three obelisks by depositing knowledge represented by a Darkness Crux. Teams must split into smaller groups, clear ads, decipher symbols, and transport the Crux safely. While quick ad clear is important, the mechanics for this are quite simple and easy to learn.

The key to success lies in:

• Clear Communication: Precise callouts of symbols are crucial.
• Efficient Ad Clear: Prioritize eliminating threats quickly to ensure safe Crux transportation.
• Strategic Crux Carriers: Designate reliable players to carry the Crux between obelisks.

How It Compares to Other Encounters

Compared to the complex symbol-calling dance of the Caretaker, the intense DPS phases of the Exhibition, or the intricate geometric challenges of Rhulk, the Acquisition encounter presents a more manageable learning curve. You’re focusing on one core mechanic: pick up, deposit, and repeat, with the primary challenge being add clear and swift symbol recognition.

Mastering the Easiest Encounter

While the Acquisition encounter may be the easiest in Vow of the Disciple, that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to conquer it:

Team Composition and Roles:

• Divide your fireteam into three teams of two. Designate roles that everyone understands.
• Each team will be assigned to one of three rooms: Left, Middle, or Right. These are designated when the raid banner is placed.
• Ensure at least one person on each team can quickly identify the symbols.

Understanding the Mechanics:

• Each room contains an obelisk that needs to be activated by depositing the Darkness Crux.
• The Darkness Crux is found in the central room. You have to shoot the correct symbol combination above the locked container to open the glass.
• Once the Crux is picked up, the carrier gets a debuff which can be cleansed via the totems in the corresponding rooms.
• Once all three totems are activated, the damage phase begins.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Initial Setup: Assign teams to their respective rooms (Left, Middle, Right).
2. Symbol Identification: The team assigned to middle will have to shoot the symbols above the box that hold the darkness crux.
3. Crux Acquisition: Have a designated player pick up the Darkness Crux and head towards one of the rooms.
4. Crux Cleansing: Once you are inside the correct room. You will see a totem that requires cleansing. A player will need to stand on top of this to start the process.
5. Repeat the Process: After cleansing and using the Darkness Crux, return to middle and start the process again.
6. Damage Phase: Once all obelisks are activated, the damage phase begins. Focus fire on the boss.
7. Repeat: Repeat the process until the boss is defeated.

Tips and Tricks:

• Use weapons with good add clear such as Trinity Ghoul or Osteo Striga.
• Communicate clearly and call out the symbols as quickly as possible.
• Prioritize taking out major adds that can disrupt your progress.

FAQ: Navigating the Vow of the Disciple Raid

Still have questions about Vow of the Disciple? Here’s a comprehensive FAQ to help you prepare:

1. What is the hardest encounter in Vow of the Disciple?

Most players agree that Rhulk, the final boss, is the most challenging encounter due to its complex mechanics, demanding DPS checks, and the requirement for near-perfect coordination.

2. What light level should I be for Vow of the Disciple?

It’s recommended to be at least the recommended light level of 1530 to stand a fighting chance. Higher light levels will obviously make the raid more manageable.

3. Is Vow of the Disciple harder than Last Wish?

While opinions vary, Vow of the Disciple is generally considered more challenging than Last Wish. It requires a deeper understanding of its mechanics and demands more precise execution.

4. Can you solo Vow of the Disciple?

Parts of the raid, like the first secret chest, can be soloed, but completing the entire raid solo is extremely difficult and not intended by the developers.

5. What exotic weapons are good for Vow of the Disciple?

Trinity Ghoul, Osteo Striga, and other weapons with strong add-clearing capabilities are highly effective. Divinity is also crucial for damage phases.

6. How many chests are in Vow of the Disciple?

There are two secret chests hidden within the raid, in addition to the encounter completion chests.

7. Can you get Spoils of Conquest from Vow of the Disciple?

Only the secret chests award Spoils of Conquest when completing the raid multiple times within the same week with the same character. Standard encounter completions do not award spoils.

8. What is Collective Obligation and how do I get it?

Collective Obligation is an Exotic Void pulse rifle that drops from the final encounter, Rhulk.

9. Is it worth farming Vow of the Disciple?

Yes! Farming Vow of the Disciple is worthwhile, especially for the chance to obtain the unique weapons and armor, as well as Adept weapons from Master difficulty.

10. What does Void Leech do?

Void Leech is the perk on the Exotic weapon, Collective Obligation. It allows the weapon to leech Void debuffs from enemies and apply them to itself, enhancing its damage and utility.

11. Can you get Deliverance from the secret chests in Vow of the Disciple?

Yes, you can get Deliverance from the secret chests once you have obtained it once from an encounter. This applies to all weapons available from the raid.

12. What are the best subclasses for Vow of the Disciple?

Void subclasses are generally favored, especially for applying debuffs and utilizing Void-centric builds. Other subclasses can be viable depending on your team’s strategy.

13. How long did the World First Vow of the Disciple raid take?

The World First completion of Vow of the Disciple took approximately seven hours.

14. Who is the final boss of Vow of the Disciple?

The final boss of Vow of the Disciple is Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness.

15. Is Vow of the Disciple an easy Destiny 2 raid?

While not the easiest raid overall, Vow of the Disciple is manageable with good communication and a competent team. The initial encounter is the most forgiving to learn and is considered one of the easiest raids in Destiny 2.

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