Where to find the Ascendant Challenge location this week in Destiny 2, plus how to get Tincture of Queensfoil and the Toland location.
The Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge is a weekly activity you can find while exploring the mysterious Dreaming City.
Not only do these allow you to access new areas within the end-game Patrol space, but completing them helps you complete Petra's bounties - including Toland located - giving you access to valuable Powerful Gear.
It's not the easiest activity to find, however - requiring access to some Tincture of Queensfoil and some know-how of where it'll turn up.
On this page:
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge this week
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 1
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 2
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 3
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 4
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 5
- Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 6
- How to get Tincture of Queensfoil, access Ascendant Challenges and complete Toland located in Destiny 2
There are a total of six Ascendant Challenges, which loop around in a linear order - so Week 2 will be followed by Week 3 at the weekly reset, and after Week 6, it'll return to Week 1.
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge this week
You can find out which Ascendant Challenge is active, and whether the Shattered Throne and maximum Curse is available, through to the end of April:
| Start of Week | End of Week | Ascendant Challenge this week | Max Curse / Shattered Throne availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 24th | January 30th | Week 2 | No |
| January 31st | February 6th | Week 3 | No |
| February 7th | February 13th | Week 4 | Yes |
| February 14th | February 20th | Week 5 | No |
| February 21st | February 27th | Week 6 | No |
| February 28th | March 6th | Week 1 | Yes |
| March 7th | March 13th | Week 2 | No |
| March 14th | March 20th | Week 3 | No |
| March 21st | March 27th | Week 4 | Yes |
| March 28th | April 3rd | Week 5 | No |
| April 4th | April 10th | Week 6 | No |
| April 11th | April 17th | Week 1 | Yes |
| April 18th | April 24th | Week 2 | No |
| April 25th | May 1st | Week 3 | No |
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 1
This is found within the Aphelion's Rest Lost Sector. Enter and in the final room, on the left side, is the portal.
Once inside, the challenge begins. The aim is to destroy all the Taken Blights on the outskirts of the area, then when you get the 'An opportunity' message, return to the centre and smash all the crystals, all while avoiding enemy fire.
Above is a video from Esoterickk showing it in action.
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 2
To find the Ascendant Challenge in the game's second week, you need to visit the Gardens of Esila location. It's not named on the map, but it's at the very south of the Dreaming City.
To get there, travel to The Strand from the opening Divialian Mists area, and when you arrive, there is a path on your right as soon as you emerge. Take it up and follow the rote until you arrive at the Gardens of Esila location.
Once there, you'll want to progress just a little further, passing two large rock structures on your left. Behind the second one - which is next to a plaza of sorts - is the portal.
You'll have to climb some rocks on the cliff edge to see it. Leap into the portal when ready.
Inside is the Forfeit Shrine. The solution is fairly simple - there are three Orbs located on the outskirts of the area, which must be collected and deposited in the centre.
The Orbs are located on-screen, and the area you take them to is directly underneath the massive glowing sphere. Once done, you then have to clear out all the enemies nearby.
Of course, this is easier said than done. There are Blights along your path, which slow your movement, as well as regular enemy spawns, many of which can one-shot you if you get too close. Having a higher power level will help with this, but you can get away with completing the challenge if you are careful.
Also, where you deposited the final Orb will generate a well that refills your Super gauge, which can make things easier in the final stages.
It should also be noted if you die during an Ascendant Challenge, it will reset, but you'll respawn close enough by outside that you can easily give it several more attempts before the Tincture of Queensfoil buff ends.
If you're struggling, then here's Arekkz with some tips on taking down those enemy spawns:
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 3
The third week's Ascendant Challenge portal is found in the Spine of Keres, which is where you hand in the Oracle Engine Offering.
You'll want to go to the same building as the Oracle, but instead of turning right up the steps, go left and outside. At this point, you'll want to use your Tincture of Queensfoil, as you can cut across the gap on the right thanks to some newly-revealed platforms.
Then, from the bridge, you can see the portal in the distance. This video by Arekkz shows the location, as well as a playthrough of the actual challenge.
The challenge is pretty simple - it's a jumping puzzle all the way up to an area up above. There are multiple hazards along the way - such as bombs and sniping enemies - and a confusing route to take, but the above video can help guide you through it.
Once at the top, you then need to take down a boss. Take your time and keep your distance, then once done, open the chest and the Ascendant Challenge is complete.
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 4
Ascendant Challenge week 4 clue: 'Crush the first queen's crown beneath your bootheel.'
The fourth week's Ascendant Challenge portal is found at the top of a pillar on an outside balcony, through Harbinger's Seclude (entered via the door in the north-east corner of the Rheasilvia part of the patrol area).
Once you get to the pillar, pop the Tincture of Queensfoil and then do your best to platform up to top of it, as shown in the video below. Start by hopping onto the large sphere round the back, then work your way up and around the column to the portal above it.
You'll come out in the Keep of Honed Edges, in the Ascendant Plane, and you now have a mixture of platforming and combat ahead of you if you want to complete the challenge. Here's a video showing the location and a full playthrough of the challenge.
After a brief bit of platforming across floating rocks near the start, you'll come to a structure with a ritual happening. The first thing you need to do is clear all the additional enemies that spawn.
Once they're down, a waypoint marker will pop up over the central podium where the ritual was happening - there's a weapon there (a 'relic') for you to pick up. It's a sword, and when you grab it the real challenge starts, which is a boss fight including a large number of additional enemies and multiple bosses.
Kill the first that attacks - the others will be invulnerable while they kneel for now - then stay mobile and clear some additional enemies around the sides of the room.
The other two bosses will then activate at the same time. Try to stay away from edges so you don't get knocked off, but otherwise offence is your best form of defence here, so go all out using the powerful sword to take them down.
When they're down, follow Toland - the little ball of light - to a platforming section, which is much harder than the first. Work your way across the floating rocks and rubble, using the glowing enemies as some guidance, but beware that some platforms will crumble away beneath you, so be quick!
Eventually you'll end up back at the place you started, with a chest spawning in front of you - note that you need to keep the sword equipped for the chest to spawn!
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 5
The location for the Week 5 Ascendant Challenge is pretty straightforward - it's in the Bay of Lost Wishes Lost Sector, which is the one directly behind you when you load into the Dreaming City spawn point.
You'll find the portal just before the tunnel at the end of the beach.
The challenge itself is also one of the simplest we've seen so far. It's a jumping puzzle, where you have to leap down a series of platforms to an area at the bottom. Once there, you must clear everything - specifically several Blights and some Wizards.
If you are doing it solo, then you may want to sprint around this final area in a wide circle. Doing so will allow you to avoid all the advancing enemies and their fire. Then, when your Super has charged, find the right opportunity to use it against the Wizards. once they are down, the reward is yours.
Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge location - Week 6
Ascendant Challenge Week 6 location clue: 'Starlight, star bright, first untruth she'll craft tonight...'
You'll find the entrance to Ascendant Challenge Week 6 in the Chamber of Starlight Lost Sector, which you'll find in Rheasilvia, the area to the north of The Dreaming City. Once you have used a Tincture of Queensfoil, the portal is located towards the end of the first area, near some snipers.
As for the challenge itself (Cimmerian Garrison) it's not unlike Week 5 where you have a linear route and have to clear specific enemies - an Ascendant Knight - at the end to complete it.
However, one big difference is the route is littered with tough enemies. As shown by Arekkz in the below video, it is possible sprint past them all if you have the Power level advantage and the skill, meaning all you have to do at the end is take down the Ascendant Knight while keeping other enemies at bay.
It's a tough challenge either way, so if you can do it with others, it'll certain make life easier.
The Season of the Deep is here alongside the Into the Depths quest. You can know go fishing too!Don't forget to keep an eye on the Lost Sector and King's Fall challenge rotation schedule!
How to get Tincture of Queensfoil, access Ascendant Challenges and complete Toland located in Destiny 2
If you plan to access Ascendant Challenges or complete the Toland located bounty, you need to unlock The Dreaming City, the end-game destination after completing the Forsaken walkthrough.
Once you have access to the patrol space, you'll want to find some Tincture of Queensfoil. This is a consumable which 'opens your mind to the secrets of the Dreaming City' according to the in-game description.
What this means is it'll give you a buff that opens up new discoveries - such as new platforms and portals, including one to the Ascendant Challenge - for 30 minutes.
To get Tincture of Queensfoil, you'll find it as a drop from anywhere within The Dreaming City - much like Dark Fragments.
This means you should complete Patrol Activities, Public Events, open Chests and complete Bounties. They are uncommon drops, but keep playing and one should drop in time.
Alternatively, you can buy one for 50 Baryon Boughs from a 'secret vendor' named Huginn, found in the Harbinger's Seclude area of The Dreaming City - though the route to get there is a little long winded. Here's the way to go (thanks to aGelatoo on Twitter for the tip!):
When you are ready, note the Ascendant Challenge changes every week, with not only a new location but the actual challenge itself. There are a total of six that rotate round. Make sure you collect the Weekly Bounty from Petra, which note only gives you a clue of its location, but also gives you Powerful Gear rewards.
Another daily bounty to look out for is Toland Located. Toland is found within the Ascendant Challenge area, as a wisp that is hovering somewhere in side. It's location changes each time but is usually on the critical path. Simply approach it to complete the bounty.
It should also be noted if you die during an Ascendant Challenge, it will reset, but you'll respawn close enough by outside that you can easily give it several more attempts before the Tincture of Queensfoil buff ends. And if you fail after that? Get another Tincture of Queensfoil and try again.
