The Ascendant Challenge This Week is one of Destiny 2’s most mysterious and rewarding weekly activities, hidden deep within the Dreaming City. Each week, players have the opportunity to enter the Ascendant Plane and take on one of six rotating challenges that test combat skill, platforming ability, and perseverance. Completing this challenge offers valuable rewards, lore progression, and triumphs toward rare titles like Cursebreaker. Whether you’re a seasoned Guardian or a returning player, completing the Ascendant Challenge this week is worth your time.
What Is an Ascendant Challenge?
An Ascendant Challenge is a weekly mission set inside the Ascendant Plane, an alternate dimension tied to the lore of the Awoken and the Dreaming City. To access it, players must use a special consumable called the Tincture of Queensfoil, which reveals hidden portals that lead to different Ascendant Realms.
Inside, players face unique challenges—some are heavily combat-focused, while others demand precise platforming and timing. Each of the six possible challenges offers a new experience and rotates weekly, making them a staple part of the endgame PvE grind for gear and completionists.
How the Weekly Rotation Works
The Dreaming City operates on a three-week curse cycle—Weak, Medium, and Strong. Each week, Petra Venj (the Awoken vendor in the Dreaming City) moves to a different location, and a different Ascendant Challenge becomes available. The six challenges cycle in order, allowing dedicated players to track and plan their completions.
This cycle is important because it not only determines which challenge is active but also changes enemy difficulty, available quests, and the location of Petra’s map marker.
Ascendant Challenge This Week (Example: May 20–26, 2025)
As of this week, the Ascendant Challenge is:
- Challenge Name: Shattered Ruins
- Portal Location: Spine of Keres
- Petra Venj Location: Divalian Mists
- Curse Strength: Medium
Shattered Ruins is a vertical platforming challenge with a final boss encounter at the top. Players must ascend multiple floating platforms while avoiding Taken enemies and traps, making good jumping skills essential.
How to Access the Ascendant Challenge
Accessing the challenge is simple if you follow these steps:
Step 1: Get a Tincture of Queensfoil
This consumable reveals hidden Taken portals. You can get it from:
- Petra Venj (in exchange for Dark Fragments)
- Loot chests in the Dreaming City
- Completing public events and lost sectors in the area
Step 2: Find Petra Venj
Her location changes based on the curse cycle:
- Weak Curse → The Strand
- Medium Curse → Divalian Mists
- Strong Curse → Rheasilvia
This week, she is in Divalian Mists.
Step 3: Locate the Portal
Go to Spine of Keres, and use the Tincture. Once active, look for a glowing Taken portal. Interact with it to enter the Ascendant Plane and begin the challenge.
Tips to Complete the Challenge
- Power Level: At least 1800+ is recommended for solo players. With a fireteam, lower levels may be manageable.
- Loadout:
- Primary: Scout Rifle or Hand Cannon for mid-range control
- Special: Shotgun or Sniper for powerful enemies
- Heavy: Sword or Rocket Launcher for boss damage
- Subclass Recommendations:
- Hunter: Void (Invisibility + Orbs)
- Titan: Solar (Hammer spam + Sunspots)
- Warlock: Void or Arc (Devour or Chaos Reach)
- Tactics:
- Take your time on platforms—there’s no rush.
- Use movement abilities like Icarus Dash or Blink to recover from bad jumps.
- Clear adds before progressing to avoid being knocked off.
Rewards and Loot
The Ascendant Challenge offers a wide range of rewards:
- Legendary Dreaming City Weapons and Armor
- Powerful Gear from Petra’s Weekly Bounty
- Triumph Progress toward the Cursebreaker title
- Lore entries from Marasenna
- Dark Fragments, which can be used for purchases in the Dreaming City
These challenges are also tied to unlocking the Dreaming City Seal and various triumphs, making them essential for collectors and lore hunters.
Ascendant Challenge Rotation List
Here are the six Ascendant Challenges and their portal locations:
- Agonarch Abyss – Bay of Drowned Wishes
- Forfeit Shrine – Gardens of Esila
- Shattered Ruins – Spine of Keres
- Keep of Honed Edges – Harbinger’s Seclude
- Cimmerian Garrison – Chamber of Starlight
- Ouroborea – Aphelion’s Rest
Each challenge has unique mechanics, enemies, and designs, so it’s worth learning each to improve completion time.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Not Using a Tincture: Without it, the portal won’t be visible.
- Wrong Petra Location: Check Petra’s location every Tuesday reset.
- Low Light Level: If you’re underpowered, consider bringing a fireteam.
- Falling in Platforming Segments: Equip mobility gear or jump-enhancing mods.
Why Ascendant Challenges Matter in 2025
With Destiny 2’s current seasonal and expansion structure, Ascendant Challenges remain relevant for:
- Leveling up gear
- Completing seasonal triumphs
- Obtaining hard-to-get Dreaming City gear
- Unlocking lore and title achievements like Cursebreaker
Even years after Forsaken, these challenges remain one of Destiny 2’s most unique and satisfying activities.
Conclusion
The Ascendant Challenge this week is more than just a checklist activity—it’s a gateway to some of Destiny 2’s most compelling lore, unique environments, and challenging encounters. With six rotating challenges, Dreaming City secrets, and valuable loot, there’s always something worth chasing inside the Ascendant Plane. So grab a Tincture of Queensfoil, head to Petra Venj, and tackle the Shattered Ruins before the next reset!
FAQs About Ascendant Challenge This Week
- What is the Ascendant Challenge This Week in Destiny 2?
The Ascendant Challenge This Week is Shattered Ruins, located in Spine of Keres via Petra Venj in Divalian Mists. - How do I enter the Ascendant Challenge This Week?
Use a Tincture of Queensfoil to reveal the portal at the weekly location and enter the Ascendant Plane. - What do I get from the Ascendant Challenge This Week?
Completing the Ascendant Challenge This Week grants Dreaming City gear, lore pages, triumphs, and XP. - Why is the Ascendant Challenge This Week important?
It helps you progress Dreaming City triumphs, earn loot, and complete Petra’s bounties for powerful gear. - Can I solo the Ascendant Challenge This Week?
Yes, with the right loadout and power level, the Ascendant Challenge This Week can be completed solo.
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