Destiny 2 Power leveling guide — Fastest Pinnacle cap in Episode: Heresy
Learn how to level up fast in Destiny 2 Episode: Heresy. Reach the new 2020 Pinnacle cap with this complete Power Leveling guide for solo and fireteam players.
Table of Contents
Key takeaways:
- Destiny 2 Power leveling follows a three-phase path: Soft Cap (1960), Powerful Cap (2010), and Pinnacle Cap (2020).
- Legendary campaign gives a 1960 gear set, making it the best early jumpstart.
- Only Pinnacle gear raises Power past 2010, so focus on weekly endgame activities.
- Use multiple characters to speed up Power leveling by transferring high Power gear.
- Stack XP and manage gear smartly to increase Artifact Power XP and balance your slots.
Destiny 2 Power Leveling 2025 is all about increasing your Guardian’s Power Level (formerly Light level) so you can tackle endgame activities. With the release of Episode: Heresy in 2025, the Power Level caps have increased by +10 (Pinnacle cap 2020). This means Guardians will need to grind anew to reach the top.
Why does this matter? A higher Power makes you deal more damage and take less from enemies, which is essential for tough endgame content like Grandmaster Nightfalls, Master Raids, and Dungeons . In short, the higher your Destiny 2 Power Level, the stronger you become, and the more prepared you are for Destiny’s hardest challenges.
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In this Power Level Heresy guide, we’ll explain what D2 Power Level is and why it’s important, then dive into how to level up fast – whether you’re a solo player or part of a fireteam. We’ll list all the key Power Level sources (Powerful and Pinnacle rewards) available on all platforms, share general leveling tips (XP buffs, artifact, bounties, gear management, etc.), and provide a step-by-step strategy to go from the soft cap to the Pinnacle cap as quickly as possible in 2025.
Let’s get started!
What is Power level
Power Level in Destiny 2 is the average of your currently equipped gear, plus any bonus from your seasonal Artifact. It determines your effectiveness in PvE content—higher Power means you deal more damage and take less. Most PvP modes disable Power scaling, so this mainly matters in PvE or Power-enabled PvP like Iron Banner or Trials.
Progression is structured around three level bands:
- Soft Cap: Up to 1960 Power. Any gear drop will increase your level here.
- Powerful Cap: From 1960 to 2010. Only Powerful-reward activities raise your Power.
- Pinnacle Cap: From 2010 to 2020. Only Pinnacle-reward activities can increase Power.
As of Episode: Heresy (April 2025), all Guardians start at 1900 Power level. To climb, you need to focus on different loot types at each phase. The seasonal Artifact provides bonus Power on top of your gear, and it’s especially useful for endgame thresholds like Grandmaster Nightfalls.
How to Power leveling
Power leveling is the process of progressing through each cap efficiently. Start by hitting the Soft Cap, then gather Powerful rewards until you reach 2010, and finish with Pinnacle sources to cap at 2020. Below are strategies for both solo and fireteam players.
Solo Power leveling
1. Reach soft cap (1960):
Do any activity—campaign missions, playlist matches, public events, or patrols. Every gear drop counts until 1960. If you own the Final Shape expansion, completing its campaign on Legendary gives you a full 1960 set instantly.
2. Complete powerful gear sources (1960–2010):
After 1960, focus on activities that reward Powerful gear:
- Complete 3 matches in Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit playlists.
- Finish 3 Dares of Eternity runs.
- Turn in 8 Gunsmith bounties.
- Collect and decrypt Prime Engrams as soon as they drop.
- Level up vendors (Zavala, Shaxx, Drifter) to earn engrams at your current Power.
Keep gear slots balanced by replacing under-leveled pieces as needed. Use Season Pass gear or focused engrams to fix lagging slots.
3. Do Pinnacle activities (2010–2020):
Once near or at 2010, only Pinnacle activities will raise your Power:
- Complete Pathfinder progress in Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit for Pinnacle drops.
- Hit 200k in Nightfalls or complete a Grandmaster.
- Win 7 Trials of Osiris matches (Freelance mode is available on solo weekends).
- Finish seasonal or exotic Legend missions like Excision or Presage.
- Complete the Pale Heart weekly mission or Iron Banner daily Pinnacle challenges.
Use LFG for endgame Pinnacles like dungeons or raids when needed. Completing these each week ensures steady Power gains up to 2020.
Fireteam Power leveling
1. Soft Cap Together:
Play activities with your team or co-op the Legendary campaign for an instant 1960 gear set. This jumpstart makes group leveling much faster.
2. Tackle Pinnacles as a Team (2010–2020):
Most Pinnacle sources are group-based:
- Run the current and weekly raid for multiple Pinnacle drops.
- Clear dungeons like Warlord’s Ruin.
- Reach 200k in Master Nightfalls or complete Grandmasters.
- Play Trials as a squad or dominate Iron Banner challenges together.
- Knock out seasonal Pinnacle missions and rotators.
3. Use 3 characters:
Level one alt first, then transfer high Power weapons to the next character. Repeat until your main has the highest starting Power, then run Pinnacles on that character. This helps all three characters hit 2020 efficiently, making it the best Destiny 2 alt character leveling method.
Group play allows shared progression and easier access to every activity. Communicate your weekly goals and plan which activities to run together. It’s the smoothest path to max Power.
Power level sources
Below is a rundown of all major sources of Powerful and Pinnacle rewards in Destiny 2: Episode Heresy. These activities are the same across PC, Xbox, and PS5 (platform doesn’t matter). Use this as a checklist each week to ensure you’re getting all your upgrades.
Powerful Gear Sources (up to 2010)
These activities drop Powerful gear (marked with a golden circle icon) up to the Hard cap. They are generally weekly challenges or milestone completions. Powerful drops come in different tiers (Tier 1 ~ +3 Power, Tier 2 ~ +4/5, etc.), but the idea is to do them all for steady increases. Key Powerful sources include:
- Ritual Playlists:
- Complete 3 matches each in Vanguard Ops, Crucible, and Gambit for Tier 1 Powerful engrams. These are easy to matchmake and great to knock out early each week.
- Nightfall Strikes:
- Finish one Nightfall strike for a Powerful reward. If you can’t hit 200k points for a Pinnacle, a lower score still grants a Powerful drop. Try for higher scores as your Power rises.
- Dares of Eternity:
- Run this 6-player activity from Xûr three times per week for a Tier 1 Powerful reward. It’s fully matchmade and generally fast.
- Vendor Challenges:
- Complete 8 Gunsmith bounties for a Powerful drop. Other rotating challenges like giving Commendations also occasionally offer Powerful rewards.
- Seasonal Activities:
- Check the seasonal quest log or Helm for challenges that reward Powerful gear. These are usually tied to the current episode’s matchmade activity.
- Prime & Exotic Engrams:
- Earn Prime Engrams while playing (they drop randomly from enemies). These decrypt above your current average Power and help close gaps across slots. Exotic engrams from Xûr or events scale similarly up to the Powerful cap.
- Season Pass Rewards:
- Some armor pieces in the Season Pass scale with your level. Use them strategically to boost under-leveled gear slots. Wait to claim until your average Power is higher to maximize the drop.
- Pathfinder Progress:
- Complete objectives in Crucible, Gambit, and Vanguard to progress each Ritual Pathfinder. Completing a path grants a Tier 2 Powerful reward, which gives more Power than basic drops.
- Miscellaneous Sources:
- Exotic weapon quests, seasonal events like Guardian Games, and hidden challenges can reward Powerful gear. Watch your milestones and challenge tabs for hidden options.
Pinnacle Gear Sources (to reach the 2020 cap)
Once you’re at ~2010 Power, only Pinnacle sources will increase your level further (each Pinnacle drop is typically +2 Power up to the 2020 cap). Pinnacle activities are usually weekly endgame challenges. Here are all the Pinnacle sources available as of Episode: Heresy:
- Raids:
- The Salvation’s Edge raid (The Final Shape) drops Pinnacle loot per encounter. Each encounter in the weekly featured raid (rotating legacy raid) also gives Pinnacle gear.
- Dungeons:
- The latest dungeon and the rotating weekly dungeon both grant Pinnacle drops from final bosses and some mid-tier encounters. Dungeons are 3-player and usually offer 2–3 drops.
- High-Score Nightfalls:
- Score 200k or more in a Nightfall on Master difficulty to earn a Pinnacle reward. Grandmaster Nightfalls (when available) also drop Pinnacle gear and Adept weapons.
- Trials of Osiris:
- Earn 7 wins in a single weekend to receive a Pinnacle engram. The wins don’t need to be flawless. There’s also a milestone for 50 round wins some weeks.
- Iron Banner:
- During Iron Banner weeks, complete up to four daily subclass challenges for Pinnacle gear. Challenges stack across the event so you can catch up later in the week.
- Ritual Playlist Pinnacles:
- Complete full Pathfinder tracks in Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit. Each full path rewards a Pinnacle engram—these replaced the old three-match Pinnacle system.
- Legendary Weekly Mission:
- Each week, a Pale Heart campaign mission is featured at Legend difficulty. Completing it grants a Pinnacle reward and is matchmade or fireteam-friendly.
- Exotic Mission Rotator:
- Complete the rotating exotic mission of the week (e.g., Presage, Vox Obscura) on its highest difficulty to earn Pinnacle gear.
- Seasonal Pinnacles:
- Some seasonal activities on high difficulty (like Arena Breach: Expert) reward Pinnacle gear. Always check seasonal modifiers and challenge tabs for this.
- New Exotic Quests:
- Quests introduced in each Episode may offer Pinnacle rewards for clearing difficult modes. Look for “Expert” or “Challenge” variants of new content.
General leveling tips
Leveling up efficiently isn’t just about doing activities – it’s also about using buffs, managing your gear, and planning. Here are some general tips to make your power grind faster and easier:
- Stack XP for Artifact Power:
- Artifact Power adds bonus levels above your gear cap. Equip a Ghost with Blinding Light for +12% XP, group up with clanmates for Shared Wisdom, and take advantage of Well-Rested and Season Pass XP bonuses. More Artifact Power XP = higher effective Power.
- Use Season Pass Gear Smartly:
- Delay claiming gear from the Season Pass until needed to fill under-leveled slots. This keeps your Power balanced and avoids wasting drops. If gloves are low, claim a glove engram from the pass when you need it.
- Avoid Early Infusion:
- Don’t infuse gear every few levels—it wastes Upgrade Modules. Instead, equip the higher-level item, even if you don’t like it. Save infusion for the end of your grind or for specific high-end builds.
- Plan Your Weekly Route:
- Do Powerful sources first, then Pinnacles. Check the Director and challenge tabs right after the reset. Prioritize group content with higher yield like raids or dungeons. Sequence your rewards to maximize gains per activity.
- Use DIM to Track Gear:
- Destiny Item Manager helps track your highest gear in each slot. Use the Max Power button before claiming gear. Keep top items, even with bad perks, to raise drop averages across characters.
- Pace Yourself:
- The power climb is only +10 this season, so there’s no rush. You can reach 2020 over time, even casually. Avoid burnout—spread your activities throughout the week and play what you enjoy.
By following these tips – maximizing XP gains, using your rewards smartly, and managing your gear – you’ll streamline the leveling process. Destiny 2 Power leveling is as much about strategy as it is about grinding. With a good plan and efficient play, you’ll find yourself hitting that Destiny 2 Pinnacle Cap faster each season.
Destiny 2 Power leveling guide 2025: Fastest way to reach Pinnacle Cap
This section outlines the most efficient way to level from soft cap to the relevant Destiny 2 Pinnacle Cap in Episode: Heresy. Whether you’re racing for day-one raids or just want to reach endgame fast, this route ensures you’re not wasting time or effort.
Step 1: Complete the Legendary Campaign
If you own The Final Shape expansion, start with the campaign on Legendary difficulty. Finishing it grants a full set of gear at 1960 Power, instantly bringing you to the soft cap. This is the biggest jump you can get early on. If it’s too difficult solo, bring a friend—co-op makes it much easier.
If you skip the Legendary version, the normal campaign still gives decent rewards, but you’ll need to grind a bit more afterward.
Step 2: Hit the Soft Cap (1960)
If you didn’t do the Legendary campaign or are just below 1960, play any general content—strikes, Crucible, patrols, events. Every drop helps. Equip the highest Power items, even if stats or perks are bad. Power matters more than build at this stage. You’ll hit 1960 quickly through natural gameplay.
Once you’re fully geared at 1960 across all slots, stop relying on random drops and move on to Powerful rewards.
Step 3: Do All Powerful Gear Activities (1960 → 2010)
Focus only on Powerful-reward sources. Start with the easiest and save the most valuable for last. Begin with ritual playlists—complete 3 matches each in Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit for +3 Powerful drops. These are fast and matchmade.
Turn in 8 Gunsmith bounties, complete Nightfalls (go for 100k if possible), and claim any Prime Engrams you earn. They give consistent boosts and drop passively while playing.
Finish 3 Dares of Eternity runs and any seasonal activity challenges. Then, complete your Pathfinder progress in each ritual playlist for Tier 2 Powerful rewards. These give larger Power bumps and often align with what you’ve already been doing.
Keep your gear balanced—watch for slots falling behind. Use targeted gear (Season Pass armor, vendor engrams) to close gaps. Make sure to equip your highest gear before claiming rewards to maximize their Power.
Step 4: Start Pinnacle Grind (2010 → 2020)
Begin Pinnacles once you’re around 2008+, ideally at 2010. This avoids wasting Pinnacle boosts on what a leftover Powerful could have handled.
Start with high-reward Pinnacles first: full raids or dungeons drop multiple +2 gear pieces in a single clear. These can push you up several levels in one go if drops are favorable.
Then move to matchmade and easy Pinnacle activities: Pathfinder completions, weekly Legend story missions, and Dares or seasonal missions if they drop Pinnacles. Wrap up with Trials wins, Iron Banner challenges, exotic mission rotators, and Nightfall 200k scores as the week progresses.
Check for any under-leveled gear slots after each Pinnacle. Use leftover Powerfuls or saved Season Pass gear to patch gaps. One slow slot can block overall progress, so stay on top of it.
Most players reach 2020 with 1–2 weeks of Pinnacle grinding, depending on drop RNG and activity availability.
Step 5: Use multiple Characters for Maximum Speed (Optional)
If you want the absolute fastest leveling, use the leapfrog method across characters. Level your least-played class first with Powerful drops only. Once it’s around 2005 Power, transfer its best weapons to your second character.
Start the second character with those weapons, quickly raising its average Power. Run Powerfuls again to reach ~2010, then transfer gear to your main. Your main will start well above 1900, making its climb faster and more efficient.
Do all Pinnacles on your main once it’s set up. Then go back to the alts if you want to max them too. This method helps feed your best gear into your favorite character, minimizing grind time.It’s a time-intensive strategy but extremely effective. With coordination, you can reach 2020 within the first few days of a season reset.
Conclusion
This is it for our Destiny 2 Power Level guide Heresy. By following these steps, you’ll go from fresh Guardian to Pinnacle cap in the shortest possible time each season. In summary, complete the Legendary campaign for a jump start, hammer out all Powerful gear challenges, then slam through Pinnacle activities once you’re at the cap.
Use XP to your advantage for artifact levels and consider the multi-character approach if you’re hardcore. With the Pinnacle cap reached, you’re free to enjoy endgame content at full power and start optimizing your builds without worrying about Power Level. Having trouble leveling up? Grab a Destiny 2 Power Boost and take it easy.
Good luck, Guardian, and happy leveling – may your drops be plentiful and your grind be swift!
What is the new Destiny 2 Power Level cap in Episode: Heresy?
The new Pinnacle cap is 2020 Power, with the Soft Cap at 1960 and Powerful Cap at 2010.
Is the Legendary campaign worth doing?
Yes—completing it grants a full 1960 Power level gear set, instantly hitting the Soft Cap.
Can I reach Pinnacle cap solo?
Yes, but you’ll need to complete solo-accessible Pinnacle sources like Legend missions, Pathfinder tracks, and Trials Freelance.
How long does it take to reach 2020 Power Level?
Most players can hit the cap in 1–2 weeks of active play, depending on RNG and activity availability.
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