Destiny 2’s latest Heresy episode introduces a new reward system called the Tome of Want. This unique artifact allows players to perform powerful rituals that can yield seasonal gear, crafting materials, and even Exotic Engrams. While it isn’t as potent as traditional crafting, the Tome of Want simplifies the process of acquiring the specific items you’re after.
Before you begin collecting these items, you must first obtain the Tome of Want. In this guide, we’ll explain how it operates, how to acquire it, and provide an overview of its scripture and ritual mechanics.
Updated March 14, 2025, by Charles Burgar: With Act 2 now released, we have details on unlocking additional Artifact perks from the Tome of Want. This guide has been updated to include information on the mastery system related to the Shaping Slab, an essential part of acquiring new perk bonuses for the seasonal Artifact.
What Is The Tome Of Want?
The Tome of Want serves as the main source of rewards in Heresy. This device enables players to specifically target seasonal and ritual rewards, much like the tonics used in the Revenant expansion. However, the Tome of Want allows for more precise adjustments through Scriptures, which can be installed within it. If you participated in the Forsaken expansion, think of the Tome of Want as being similar to the Chalice of Opulence.
After reaching rank 3 with the Shaping Slab, the vendor for this season, you will gain access to the Tome of Want. You can find the tome in the inventory section of your character menu, just like where tonics are consumed. Open the tome to initiate the ritual process.
Scriptures And Rituals
Installing scriptures into your Tome of Want will activate a ritual. Every activity you engage in—be it from The Nether, Vanguard Operations, Crucible, and more—will gradually build up ritual energy. Once it’s complete, the Tome of Want will automatically provide your rewards and consume the installed Scriptures.
However, you’ll need to have scriptures in place before the Tome of Want can generate rewards. Scriptures come in two varieties: categories and modifiers. Categories dictate the type of reward you receive, while modifiers affect the specific item you’ll get. For instance, if you insert a seasonal weapon scripture, you can modify which seasonal weapon you’ll obtain.
Additionally, there are rare, one-time use scriptures located on the Dreadnaught, often found in chests. When you socket these Exotic scriptures into your Tome of Want, they will change the category reward to something completely different, like an Ascendant Shard or an Exotic Engram.
Unlocking New Tome Engravings
Similar to the previous season, the Tome of Want can enhance Heresy’s Artifact mods. While a ritual is active, the Tome of Want will amplify all selected Artifact mods on your Tome Engravings grid. These engravings unlock progressively as you move through the various tracks of the Shaping Slab’s progression system.
Tome Masteries
The Shaping Slab differs from most vendors in that its reward track can be adjusted based on your Guardian’s chosen Taken discipline. As you enter Eris’ Apartment, you will find a pillar beside the Shaping Slab vendor. Upon starting Act 2, you will gain access to a new mastery type: Mastery of Ambition, which greatly changes the Shaping Slab’s reward structure, unlocking new passive bonuses for the Tome of Want.
To fully optimize your Tome of Want, it is crucial to level up your Shaping Slab as efficiently as possible. There are three types of masteries available, with two accessible as of Act 2:
- Mastery of Resolve: Default option that unlocks perks themed around Arc and Void.
- Mastery of Ambition: Unlocks with Act 2 and provides perks associated with Strand and Rockets.
