Deep within the icy peaks of the EDZ lies one of Destiny 2’s most atmospheric and lore-rich dungeons: Warlord’s Ruin. Introduced during Season of the Wish, this dungeon challenges players with corrupted enemies, deadly traps, and mysterious puzzles. Its snowy landscape, Dark Age aesthetics, and medieval-inspired bosses make it stand out among the game’s dungeons. Whether you’re in it for the loot, the lore, or the challenge, navigating Warlord’s Ruin requires coordination, strategy, and awareness of its unique mechanics.
How to Access Warlord’s Ruin Dungeon
To start Warlord’s Ruin, players must launch it from the EDZ map on the Director. The recommended Power level is 1790, so it’s wise to bring a fireteam that is well-equipped and experienced with dungeon-level content. Solo runs are possible but extremely difficult due to the dungeon’s mechanics and tight damage checks. Like other dungeons, it rotates in and out of pinnacle reward status, so planning your run around weekly objectives is ideal.
Recommended Loadouts and Subclasses
Weapons
- Primary: Scout rifles and bows work well for ranged engagements with adds.
- Special: Grenade launchers or sniper rifles for damage against mini-bosses and environmental interactions.
- Heavy: Rocket launchers or linear fusion rifles are ideal for boss DPS phases.
Subclasses
- Hunter: Nightstalker with invisibility for trap bypass and mob control.
- Titan: Bubble or Strand for damage resistance and crowd control.
- Warlock: Solar with Well of Radiance for survivability during boss fights.
Mods that improve survivability, ability regeneration, and grenade recharge are highly useful, especially in high-add areas and boss phases.
First Encounter: The Fortress Gate
Objective
When you enter the Warlord’s Ruin, you must breach the fortress gates while dealing with waves of Scorn enemies. This phase introduces the dungeon’s mechanic: the use of a relic blade that must be charged and placed in specific sockets.
Mechanics
- Defeat enemies to drop a blade relic.
- Pick up the blade and kill yellow-bar enemies to charge it.
- Once charged, place the blade into the designated socket to progress.
- Repeat this process multiple times while surviving enemy waves.
The arena is open with multiple vertical levels, so positioning and situational awareness are key. After completing the sequence, a passage will open leading deeper into the dungeon.
Second Encounter: The Warlord’s Tower
Trap Gauntlet
This section includes a platforming segment laced with traps floor spikes, swinging blades, and collapsing platforms. Hunter invisibility or high mobility can help here, but patience and observation are more important than speed. Watch for pressure plates and floor panels that look slightly raised.
Mini-Boss: Wyrmgut
At the end of the platforming section, you’ll face a powerful Scorn mini-boss named Wyrmgut. He uses area-denial abilities and summons explosive adds. Use cover wisely and save heavy ammo for burst phases.
Key Strategy
- Clear out adds before focusing damage on Wyrmgut.
- Rotate between corners to avoid splash damage.
- Use burst DPS with rockets or linears when he’s exposed.
Once Wyrmgut falls, players can move forward into the heart of the fortress where the next encounter awaits.
Third Encounter: The Cursed Ritual
Puzzle-Based Objective
This encounter mixes combat with puzzle-solving. You must activate sigils in a specific order while fighting off elite enemies. The sigils glow faintly on the walls, and matching the correct sequence triggers progression.
Combat Notes
- Sigil rooms are guarded by Scorn Captains who drop Void crystals.
- Place Void crystals at central altars to unlock the sigils.
- Wrong sigil order causes a reset and summons more enemies.
To avoid endless waves, memorize sigil locations and clear each room methodically. A good strategy is to assign each fireteam member to memorize one room’s sigils while one person handles crowd control.
Final Boss: Hefnd’s Vengeance
Setting the Stage
Hefnd’s Vengeance is a corrupted knight wielding both Void magic and Dark Age weaponry. The arena is circular with multiple pillars and lava pits, which can cause lethal environmental damage if you’re knocked off.
Boss Mechanics
- He uses slam attacks that push players back stay away from edges.
- Summons Warlord’s Echoes phantom versions of himself that must be cleared before DPS phase begins.
- Players must again collect relic blades to charge a damage phase.
DPS Phase
Once the echoes are destroyed and the blade is charged, Hefnd becomes vulnerable. Use Wells or Bubbles for survivability and unleash your highest-damage weapons. After a short period, he becomes immune and the cycle resets.
Key Tips
- Use mid-range weapons to deal with Echoes quickly.
- Call out when the boss starts a slam animation to avoid instant death.
- Rotate clockwise around the arena to keep movement fluid and avoid getting cornered.
Once defeated, Hefnd drops high-tier loot, including a chance at dungeon-exclusive weapons and armor themed after the Dark Age Warlords. These rewards can also be crafted if you collect enough Deepsight versions.
Loot Table and Rewards
Weapons
- Dragoncult Sickle: A unique Void glaive with high guard efficiency.
- Buried Bloodline: A legendary hand cannon with random rolls and a chance at Origin Traits.
- Ruinous Lash: Arc sword with aggressive frame, best in PvE boss fights.
Armor
The Warlord’s Ruin armor set features medieval designs with heavy fur and metal plating. Stats are high across the board, and each piece has a chance to drop with high resilience or discipline depending on the encounter.
Cosmetics
- Dungeon Emblem for completing it solo or flawlessly.
- Shader rewards for completing challenge versions of each boss fight.
- Dungeon Triumphs for seasonal seals.
Warlord’s Ruin stands out not only for its loot but for the atmosphere and layered mechanics. Its blend of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving makes it one of the most immersive dungeon experiences in Destiny 2. With its Dark Age lore, haunting visuals, and unique gear, it’s worth mastering for both casual and hardcore players. Whether you’re farming for god rolls or chasing titles, Warlord’s Ruin is a dungeon that rewards skill, patience, and team coordination.