The release of a new raid is a highly anticipated part of a new expansion for Destiny 2. For players looking for a challenge, raids are the perfect place to find one. There is no hand holding done of any kind in raids, and players must figure out how to complete each encounter through no small amount of trial and error.
During the second week of Lightfall, the new raid has finally been released. This raid is called the Root of Nightmares. Here is how Destiny 2 players can complete the first encounter of the raid and claim some nice new rewards.
Follow the Path
Unlike Vow of the Disciple, there really isn't much of an opening encounter. There is a brief cutscene and then players can immediately head toward the first encounter. There is some basic platforming along with some Shadow Legion forces that will attempt to stop players, but that is about it. Follow the path and eventually the objective will update to say "Survive the Onslaught". There will be a spot to drop a banner, which means the first encounter is about to begin.
Sweeping Terror Explained
Before beginning the encounter, make sure to be ready to deal with Barrier Champions. In order to start the encounter, players will need to shoot the small glowing orb directly in front of them. Pay attention to the location of this orb, as it will be important for this encounter.
At the start of the encounter, Destiny 2 players will get a 30 second debuff called Sweeping Terror. If this debuff expires, everyone in the group will die immediately. The only way to extend the timer is by killing Tormentors. Killing a Tormentor will give players more time to work with. Tormentors will only spawn when both Psions in bubbles are killed. Throughout the encounter, players will need to stay on top of this mechanic to make sure that they don't run out of time.
Aside from the Tormentors and Champions, there are no bosses that players have to fight during this encounter. So players should bring along add clear builds for this first encounter. Communicating where Tormentors are will make it easier to kill them faster.
How to Complete Cataclysm Encounter
Scattered across the arena are large white circles with a slowly spinning helix in the middle. These nodes are how players will progress through the encounter and eventually complete it. This mechanic is also in other encounters throughout the raid, so it is important that players understand how it works. While one team is busy with killing Barrier Champions and Tormentors, the other team will be activating these nodes. Here is how it works.
At the start of the encounter, there will be just the one active node which is the same one that was shot to start the encounter. Whoever is standing in the aura around that node when it is shot will get a buff called Field of Light that lasts for 20 seconds. When the first node is shot, a beam of light will point in the direction of one of the nodes scattered across the arena. Go in that direction to find a dark shape floating in the middle of the helix. If players have the Field of Light buff, they can shoot this shape, and it will turn into a glowing white orb. This orb will then point toward the next node in the chain.
Keep in mind that the buff will expire when a node is activated. When this happens, players will need to return to the starting node and shoot the orb again to regain the buff. Try to remember where the last activated node was. Before the next orb can be activated, a Tormentor will need to be killed. Repeat this process until a message in the lower left-hand corner of the screen says: "His Hatred Halts...". At this time, Sweeping Terror will disappear and players will have a moment to kill adds and pick up an ammo that has dropped.
Before long, Sweeping Terror will resume and players will have to keep killing Psions and then Tormentors to survive. At this time, another node will activate and this will be the starting point where players can get the Field of Light buff. It won't be in the same place as it was at the beginning of the encounter, so players will have to look for it quickly. Continue to activate nodes until "His Hatred Halts..." pops up again. After a brief pause, Sweeping Terror will return. Repeat the process above and eventually the encounter will be completed, and a chest will appear. Move across the bridge to reach the next encounter in the Root of Nightmares.
Destiny 2 is available now on Epic Games Store, PS4, PS5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.