Destiny 2: How to Get Defiant Keys in Season of Defiance

The Lightfall yearly expansion might be out for Destiny 2, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a new Season to enjoy as well. Season of Defiance, the companion content drop to Lightfall, sees you assisting Queen Mara in defense of Earth. At the end of this Season’s Battlegrounds, you’ll need to use Defiant Keys to open the chest for Seasonal Loot that you can then take back into the Battlegrounds and repeat.

Other Destiny 2 Lightfall coverage:

• How to Unlock Terminal Overload Keys
• How to Get the Quicksilver Storm Catalyst
• How to Get the Flamenco Emote

How to Get Defiant Keys in Destiny 2: Season of Defiance

If you’re familiar with how Seasonal consumables work, what you’re about to read should be no surprise. If you’re a new player, settle in because this process will become very familiar very quickly.

To get Defiant Keys, you need to complete activities across Destiny 2. Not everything awards them, with patrols, public events, and legacy content (all previous expansion content) not providing them. Also, you can only hold five at a time.

Here are all ways you can get Defiant Keys in Destiny 2:

• The Vanguard Ops playlist
• Completing Gambit matches
• Completing Crucible matches
• Completing Raids
• The Terminal Overload activity unique to Neomuna
• Completing weekly Lightfall campaign missions. The difficulty doesn’t matter.
• Reaching rank 7 and 13 at the War Table in the H.E.L.M.
• Reaching rank 2, 12, 52, and 92 on the premium Season Pass

So, as always, the core ritual playlists are your best bet.

Rely on Vanguard Ops, Gambit, and Crucible for Defiant Keys

Vanguard Ops remains the most consistent and low-effort means of getting more Defiant Keys, but both Gambit and Crucible matches are usually fast enough to be worthwhile.

Doubling up and being part of a Terminal Overload activity lets you farm both Seasonal and Lightfall-specific gear, though depending on how many people are helping, it can take a bit more time.

One thing to note: you aren’t guaranteed a Defiant Key for completing an activity. You aren’t even guaranteed one after several activities.

You’ll need to spend some time grinding to get your hands on enough Keys to run more than a few Battlegrounds. Then, you’ll repeat the cycle until either you have every weapon you want or until you tire of the activities.

And that’s how you earn Defiant Keys in Destiny 2 Season of Defiance. Not the most immediately exciting gameplay loop, but Bungie has said future Seasonal offerings will finally change up how the systems work. For more Destiny 2 content, check out our guides hub.

Featured image via Bungie.