The most challenging experience in Destiny 2 exists through its raid content, which requires players to demonstrate exceptional skill and teamwork and maintain their endurance. The most challenging content in Destiny 2 exists in its raids since they surpass both Strikes and Nightfalls in complexity. Six-player activities in Destiny 2 require perfect teamwork and complete mastery of mechanics and high DPS output during time-limited challenges.
But here’s the big question so many players ask: “What is the hardest raid in Destiny 2?”
The answer isn’t simple. The lore-based raid Last Wish maintains its position as one of the most challenging content pieces from its time, according to several players. The community believes Salvation’s Edge surpasses all other raids because of its complex gameplay mechanics. The community has reached a consensus about the hardest raid difficulty through their combined experience with world-first achievements and blind runs, and extensive raid completion history.
Criteria for “hardest”
When players argue about the hardest raids, they’re often looking at very different factors. Difficulty isn’t just about dying to enemies — it’s about how many layers of pressure Bungie builds into an encounter. Here are the main elements that separate a routine raid from the hardest raids:
- Mechanics complexity and coordination: Some raids rely heavily on multi-layered mechanics that demand precision and communication. In Vow of the Disciple, for example, the symbol system forces teams to coordinate on the fly while also dealing with adds and DPS checks. In Salvation’s Edge, the Verity puzzle goes even further, requiring multiple players to balance roles under strict time pressure.
- DPS checks and failure conditions: Most bosses in the raids aren’t just about shooting — they’re about doing enough damage in small DPS windows. If your fireteam can’t burn the boss quickly enough, you’re guaranteed a wipe. Rhulk in Vow of the Disciple and the Witness in Salvation’s Edge are infamous for punishing low DPS output.
- Team synergy and role execution: In the raid encounters, everyone has a job. Miss a debuff application, fail to rotate a relic, or forget an add-clear role, and it’s game over. High-level raids force every member of the team to perform perfectly instead of letting a few players carry the weight.
- Legacy versus new raids: Raids like Last Wish or King’s Fall were once legendary for their difficulty, but with power creep, guide availability, and years of player experience, they no longer feel like the hardest raid. On the other hand, newer raids like Salvation’s Edge and Vow of the Disciple push mechanics and DPS checks to a level unmatched in earlier content.
- Community consensus and world-first performance: The time it takes for a world-first clear often signals difficulty. Salvation’s Edge took an infamous 84 hours before a team finally completed it — cementing it in history as arguably the hardest raid ever released. Meanwhile, raids cleared within hours are usually considered lower on the “Destiny 2 raids easiest to hardest” scale.
The toughest raids demand mastery across all these factors at once. It’s not just about having strong loadouts or great aim — it’s about adapting to high-pressure mechanics, executing roles flawlessly, and holding up against brutal DPS checks. That’s why the debate over what’s the hardest raid continues: each raid tests fireteams in unique ways, and difficulty shifts with updates, nerfs, and evolving strategies.
Top contenders: hardest Destiny 2 raids
Salvation’s Edge
Ask almost any veteran, and they’ll say Salvation’s Edge is the hardest raid in Destiny 2. The Witness encounters are brutal, the Verity puzzle is one of the most complex mechanics Bungie has ever designed, and DPS windows are incredibly tight.
Even top-tier teams struggled — one famous group took 84 hours on a blind run before securing a completion. That’s insane, even by raid standards.
Vow of the Disciple
If Salvation’s Edge is the king of pain, then Vow of the Disciple isn’t far behind. Rhulk, the final boss, pushes teams with high DPS checks and multiple shifting mechanics across phases.
The infamous symbol system requires clear callouts and near-perfect communication. Miss a role? Mismanage a symbol? Wipe. Many lists rank it among the top hardest raids Destiny 2 has ever seen.
Last Wish
Long before Salvation’s Edge or Vow, Last Wish stood as the measuring stick. Released during Forsaken, this raid introduced puzzle mechanics, Taken essence management, and instant team wipes if players slipped.
To this day, Last Wish is respected as one of the hardest raids, especially for fireteams attempting it blind or in Master difficulty.
Garden of Salvation
Garden is infamous for coordination-heavy encounters. Tether mechanics force players to chain themselves across the arena, and one mistake can ruin an entire run.
It’s less about raw DPS and more about synchronized execution, which is why many players still list it in “Destiny 2 raids easiest to hardest” rankings near the top.
King’s Fall
Originally from Destiny 1, King’s Fall was brought into Destiny 2 with balance tweaks. While not as oppressive as Salvation’s Edge, it still delivers punishing endurance tests. Multiple phases, combat-puzzle hybrids, and demanding DPS checks make this raid stand tall among the Destiny 2 raids still offer.
Together, these raids showcase the best of Bungie’s raid design — punishing yet rewarding, and guaranteed to test even the most prepared fireteams.
Other raids (easier but with spikes)
The most challenging raids in the game do not exist at the highest level but all raids present their own unique difficulties to players. The raids that new players start with and experienced players return to for both loot and fond memories belong to this category. The term “easy” does not guarantee that these raids will not punish players who make mistakes during their gameplay.
- Vault of Glass: As the first-ever Destiny raid, Vault of Glass is more accessible than modern counterparts. Mechanics like Oracles and relic duties are straightforward compared to puzzles in Salvation’s Edge. But Atheon, the final boss, can still wipe sloppy teams if callouts aren’t clear or damage phases are wasted. For many, it’s a great entry point before tackling the raids.
- Deep Stone Crypt: Often considered a mid-tier raid in terms of challenge, Deep Stone Crypt strikes a balance between mechanics and fun. Encounters like Atraks-1 require strong role clarity with operator, scanner, and suppressor mechanics, while Taniks pushes endurance in the final fight. While far more forgiving than Vow of the Disciple or Last Wish, it’s still not a raid you can walk through blind without wipes.
- Crota’s End: Originally notorious in Destiny 1, its Destiny 2 return came with streamlined mechanics. The raid is shorter and less complex, making it more approachable. However, Contest Mode and Master difficulty still punish teams that lack coordination, especially during the final Crota encounter, where DPS timing and add management can easily cause chaos.
- Root of Nightmares: Widely viewed as the easiest raid in Destiny 2. Its encounters, like Cataclysm and Nezarec, feel more forgiving than other raids’ mechanics. Still, certain moments spike in difficulty — especially if your fireteam mishandles mechanics like the Field of Light tether system.
These raids sit in the bottom half of difficulty rankings. That doesn’t make them trivial — it just means they’re less punishing than the likes of Salvation’s Edge, Vow of the Disciple, or Last Wish.
Community opinions & anecdotes
Every raid difficulty discussion is heated. On Reddit and Destiny forums, debates rage daily:
- The game’s mechanical complexity stands as the main reason why some players believe Salvation’s Edge is the most challenging content in the game.
- The Last Wish raid established the definition of Destiny 2’s most challenging raid content when it first released.
- A small number of players believe Vow of the Disciple surpasses other raids in difficulty because of its complex symbol system and Rhulk’s extremely high damage output.
The legendary 84-hour blind run for Salvation’s Edge still gets cited as proof that it’s the hardest D2 raid Bungie has ever dropped. Community experiences prove that raid difficulty isn’t just numbers — it’s about how players feel under the pressure.
What makes one raid “harder” than another?
Difficulty in Destiny 2 raids is never static — it evolves with time, player skill, and Bungie’s design philosophy. Several factors shape why one raid is labeled as the hardest raid while another feels more forgiving:
- The design approach of Destiny 2 raids has evolved because Vault of Glass required players to endure long battles, while Salvation’s Edge demands players to solve complex puzzles and navigate through multiple stages.
- The combination of power limits, enemy progression and game-changing elements in Master and Contest modes turns what seems like simple raids into potential candidates for the most challenging D2 raid content.
- The changes made to weapons through balance updates can turn what seemed like an insurmountable raid challenge into a manageable one. The difficulty level of content increases when developers apply nerfs to game elements.
- The initial attempts at any raid encounter prove to be extremely challenging until players learn optimized strategies and obtain guides that reduce the perceived difficulty level.
- The first-world-clearing attempts of Salvation’s Edge and Last Wish raids required days to complete, but now these raids are widely recognized as the most challenging content in Destiny 2.
In the end, raid difficulty is always subjective. The game becomes more challenging because Bungie continually updates mechanics, introduces contest-level modifiers, and requires players to excel at both damage output and precise execution during intense situations.
What’s the hardest raid in Destiny 2?
Based on current consensus, the hardest raid — no contest. The Witness encounter, Verity puzzles, and DPS demands set it apart from everything else.
But difficulty is always subjective. For some, Last Wish or Vow of the Disciple still feels more punishing. For returning players, even Garden of Salvation or King’s Fall can be overwhelming.
So, what is the hardest raid? The safe answer: Salvation’s Edge. The honest answer: it depends on your fireteam, your loadouts, and your ability to stay patient through wipes.
Tips for tackling the hardest raids in Destiny 2
Here’s how to prepare to face the hardest raids, like Salvation’s Edge, Vow of the Disciple, or Last Wish:
- Master communication and callouts: Clear, fast communication is the difference between a wipe and a clear in the raids. Assign symbol readers, DPS leads, and support roles before each encounter.
- Build optimized loadouts: Bring weapons and subclasses designed for raid DPS checks. Rocket launchers, linear fusion rifles, and debuff abilities are staples for any raid attempt.
- Learn mechanics through repetition: Whether it’s tether chaining in Garden of Salvation or puzzle-solving in Salvation’s Edge, mechanical mastery is key to beating the hardest raid.
- Use Contest/Master practice: Even if your fireteam doesn’t plan on farming, training in Contest or Master mode sharpens execution under raid pressure.
- Be patient with wipes: Every fireteam wipes in the raids. Treat each failure as progress — mechanical execution improves faster than you think.
- Study world-first runs and guides: Teams that cleared the raids first often set the blueprint. Watching their strategies helps cut hours of trial and error.
The most challenging Destiny 2 raids require players to reach their limits through complex gameplay systems and demanding DPS requirements, and strict coordination is needed. Fireteams require preparation and patience, together with synergy, to achieve success in Destiny 2 raids. Success in the raids depends on three essential elements: clear communication and proper loadout optimization, and continued determination.
Conclusion
There’s no single perfect answer to what’s the hardest raid in Destiny 2, but most agree that Salvation’s Edge leads the pack, with Vow of the Disciple, Last Wish, and Garden of Salvation right behind it.
Each raid experience depends on the abilities that your fireteam brings to the table. Your ability to conquer the most challenging Destiny 2 raids will grant you permanent respect from your friends whenever you join an orbit mission.
For players who don’t have the time to grind out raid prep, optimized Destiny 2 accounts can make the journey smoother. Having a well-prepared Guardian with strong weapons, raid-ready builds, and unlocked subclasses makes tackling even the hardest raid more achievable — whether you’re jumping in for the first time or farming for endgame loot.
So tell us — which is the hardest raid for you? Share your stories, your wipes, and your victories. The raid hall of fame is waiting.
