How to Complete Scission (Root of Nightmares) in Destiny 2
The second encounter of Root of Nightmares is Scission.
This encounter does not have a boss, and it expands on mechanics from the Cataclysm encounter
Check out our Cataclysm guide here if you missed it.
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Root of Nightmares’s Scission Infographic
Check out our infographic below for a compact overview:
Player Roles
Just like Cataclysm, the first role is the runners. It is standard to use two players as runners, one for the dark plates, and the other for the light plates. The rest of the team will be on add/shield clear duty. There are 3 levels, and the same mechanic will be repeated once for each level.
Runner
Now there are two sets of plates, one dark and one light. The runners can elect to each stay within their own set of plates, or intertwine the two to make the encounter go faster. The latter is recommended for the master mode challenge and will be explained in more depth below.
Each respective runner will shoot their color plate with the orb and aura around it to receive the Field of Light and Flux of Darkness buff. While holding the buff, run to the next plate in the sequence and shoot the helix in the middle which will connect that plate into the chain, and rid the player of their buff. Each level has 6 plates of each color, and the first plate of each level will contain the aura.
Once a level is started, a 2 minute time of Imminent Expulsion will begin. If this timer finishes before both sets of plates are completed, the encounter will wipe. This role is best suited to utilize lightweight weapons and swords with Eager Edge for faster movement speed.
The plate that needs to be completed in the chain will alternate from one side of the arena, to the other. In order to get to the opposite side of the arena, utilize the launchers. Stand at the base of the launcher and shoot the diamond that is hovering towards the center.
Add and Shield Clear
While the runners are linking together the plates, the other players will need to clear out enemies. Some enemies will contain shields that match the color of the first plate on that side.
The left side will contain enemies with dark side, orange shields, and the right side will contain enemies with light side, white shields. Enemies with these shields can only be damaged with the corresponding buff; orange shields with the Flux of Darkness buff and white shields with the Field of Light buff.
To receive these buffs, stand in the aura with the runner, and receive the buff alongside them. From then on the wave clear player will have the buff for 20 seconds, and can clear out enemies on their side of the arena. Do NOT shoot the aura to get the buff while the runner is still connecting the plates, this will disrupt their buff and ruin the chain.
Once the runner completes the chain for that floor, Interlopers, all of which are shielded, will appear. At this point any player on that side can shoot the aura to receive that side’s buff to kill the Interlopers. Once both sides defeat the Interlopers, the launcher to the next level will become available.
The other enemies of note for add clear players is that a Barrier Champion will spawn on each floor on both sides during the middle of the sequence. So be sure to bring anti-barrier weaponry, or a means to continually suspend this champion.
Challenges and Master Mode
Each encounter will have a Master Mode challenge and an encounter challenge, both of which are required for the Dream Warrior raid title, and the former which gives an extra loot piece when it is the challenge in rotation.
Encounter Challenge – Shields Up
- Do not kill any of the shielded enemies until both chains of plates are completed
- Do not receive the buff alongside the runner to avoid accidentally defeating the shielded enemies
- Blinding effects and Suspend works on shielded enemies without the buff to contain them
Master Challenge – Crossfire
- When activating the launcher, a player on the other side must shoot the diamond to activate it
- Designate one add clear player on each side to activate the launcher for players on the opposite side
- If runners reach the launcher at the same time, they can activate the launcher for one another at the same time
- Lessen amount of crosses needed by having the runners move in this pattern (be sure to have the other runner complete their current link, before shooting the aura of the buff they may have to avoid stealing their buff)
Loot Rewards
Next up are even more jumping puzzles and a few secret chests. The loot for the Scission encounter includes the gloves, chest, and leg pieces as well as the following weapons:
- Nessa’s Oblation Slug Shotgun
- Acasia’s Dejection Trace Rifle
- Koraxis’s Distress Grenade Launcher
- Mykel’s Reverence Sidearm
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