Every time a new expansion of Destiny 2 is launched, it brings a fresh Power level cap increase. Previously, seasonal updates would offer minor enhancements to the Power cap, but the recent episodic approach has shifted focus away from relentless grinding for Power. The significant boosts to Guardian Power are now primarily tied to the release of expansions, such as the highly anticipated Final Shape.
At the start of a new expansion, all players reset to the same initial Power level. This effectively establishes a new baseline that remains pertinent for the succeeding year. To assist you in achieving this new cap, we’ll delve into the mechanics of Power levels, the Power gains associated with various activities, and strategies to rapidly level your main and alternate characters.
Updated October 17, 2024, by Charles Burgar: The latest episode, Revenant, has raised the Power cap by ten levels. To reach the new Pinnacle cap of 2,010, players will need to engage in ritual content, pinnacle activities, alongside Pathfinder and more. We’ve refreshed this guide to reflect the latest sources of Powerful and Pinnacle Gear in the current season.
Understanding Power Level Mechanics
Power level in Destiny 2 directly influences two critical factors:
- The damage you deal to enemies
- The damage you can withstand from enemies
With a higher Power level, both your offense and defense improve significantly. If your Power level falls below an activity’s recommended level, you’ll find yourself taking increased damage while dealing less in return.
To elevate your Power level, you need to acquire new weapons and armor with higher Power ratings. Any gear you collect, which is not sun-setted, will boost your Power level until you hit the ‘soft cap’. This soft cap varies with each expansion; for Episode: Revenant, it is set at 1,950 Power.
Once you reach this soft cap, you’ll need to earn Powerful Gear rewards through weekly milestones and activities to continue increasing your level. The Director will indicate available activities that provide Powerful Gear, which we will outline in more detail later on.
If you hit a Power level of 2,000, you’ve reached the ‘hard cap‘. However, this is not the final limit; you can further enhance your Power by obtaining Pinnacle Gear from the game’s more demanding challenges (raids, Trials of Osiris, etc.). The current ‘pinnacle cap‘ is set at 2,010.
To elevate your Power level beyond 2,010, you’ll need to focus on leveling your Seasonal Artifact, which progresses as you gain XP in Destiny 2.
Power Level Bands for Episode: Revenant
The Power level bands for Episode: Revenant are as follows:
- Soft Cap: 1,950
- Hard Cap: 2,000
- Pinnacle Cap: 2,010
Achieving the Soft Cap
You can reach the soft cap by collecting any non-sunset gear, including:
- Rares
- Legendaries (non-sunset)
- Exotics
Purchasing vendor packages is an efficient method to quickly hit the soft cap.
Reaching the Hard Cap
The key to achieving the hard cap involves earning Powerful Gear rewards from various activities. Prime Engrams can also help in this progress.
Obtaining Pinnacle Cap
Pinnacle Gear rewards are your only option for surpassing 2,000 in Power level.
Comprehensive Sources for Power Leveling
Below you will find all sources that provide Powerful and Pinnacle Gear, organized by type. Note these activities are character-specific, so if you have multiple characters, you can use them to level up quicker.
General Power Sources
- Seasonal Artifact: Increases Power based on earned XP.
- Artifact Power does not apply in contests or Trials of Osiris.
- World Drops (Soft Cap Only): Items found before reaching the soft cap can raise your Power level.
Sources of Powerful Gear
The following activities provide +3 to +5 Power. Most of these are weekly missions available via your Director.
- Legendary Campaign (Final Shape): Complete the campaign on Legendary difficulty for a full set of 1,960 Power gear.
- Prime Engrams: Rare items from fallen enemies or vendor rewards grant +3 Power.
- Core Playlists: Engage in Strikes, Crucible, or Gambit for a chance at Powerful gear.
Sources of Pinnacle Gear
These activities can yield +6 levels higher than your current Power. If you’ve already obtained the hard cap, these will provide gear that is +2 high than your existing Power, up to the pinnacle cap.
Each of these activities should be completed in order to maximize gear rewards effectively:
- Clear the Final Shape campaign for a significant gear boost.
- Complete seasonal Challenges that yield bonus XP directly influencing your Artifact’s Power.
- Take on Pinnacle dungeons for each encounter.
- Participate in the newest raid for top-tier gear each week.
Reaching the Pinnacle cap promptly is certainly feasible if you follow a systematic approach to leveling and utilize all available resources efficiently.
General Tips for Leveling Up
For efficient leveling, focus on earning gear that presents substantial Power jumps. Completing seasonal challenges will not only boost your level but will also enhance your Artifact’s rating over time.
If you have multiple characters, capitalize on additional sources for Powerful gear. Your highest Power level will benefit all of your characters equally, easing the leveling process across the board.
