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Season of Defiance has a new Artifact forDestiny 2players to unlock. The Ascendant Scepter is arguably the strongest Artifact we’ve seen in any season, bringing back favorites like Volatile Flow while releasing some new S-tier effects. Unlike previous Artifacts, the Ascendant Scepter is completely passive and doesn’t require you to socket any mods.
Related:Destiny 2: Every New Weapon In Lightfall
This means that unlocking your Artifact perks is a little different this time around, and the passive effects themselves are much more varied this time around. This guide will cover how the new Artifact progression works, and we’ll give a brief overview of what all 25 Artifact mods do in Destiny 2’s Season of Defiance.
Updated July 04, 2025, by Charles Burgar:Now that we’ve had time to test all 25 mods, we’ve updated this guide with an in-depth explanation as to how each Artifact passive works. All mod columns now have an expandable section that explains how each passive effect works, providing exact values and tips on how to maximize each bonus.
Counterweave
Prismatic Transfer
Destiny 2: Lightfall has overhauled how the Artifact works.The Artifact allows you to select up to 12 passive bonuses that are always active, regardless of armor mods. If you’re not satisfied with the 12 effects you chose, you can reset your Artifact for free at any time from the Artifact interface.
Unlocks on the Artifact must be done in a specific order:
Additionally, you might notice the termOverchargedappear on a few mods.Overcharged is an endgame modifier that grants a 25% damage bonus to any Overcharged weapon types.The activity will typically have one weapon archetype Overcharged already, but any anti-Champion mods you select on the Artifact will give you additional Overcharged options. This Overcharged buff doesnotstack with elemental singes. Activities with Overcharge include Nightfalls, Legendary Lost Sectors, Master-tier Raids and Dungeons, and Legend Dares of Eternity. Overcharge isnotpresent in PvP activities.
Anti-Barrier Pulse Rifles
Your equipped Pulse Rifles pierce Barrier Champion shields.
Additionally, Pulse Rifles are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
Additionally, Sidearms are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
Overload Bows
Damage by fully drawn arrows from your equipped Bows stun Overload Champions.
Additionally, Bows are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
Unstoppable Scout Rifles
Aiming down sights with a Scout Rifle for a short time loads an explosive payload, stunning Unstoppable Champions.
Additionally, Scout Rifles are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
Automatics Overload
Uninterrupted fire from your equipped Auto Rifles and SMGs grants overload bullets that stun Overload Champions.
Additionally, Auto Rifles and Submachine Guns are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
Column One Perks Explained
Anti-Barrier Pulse Rifle and Sidearmcause all your Pulse Rifles and Sidearms to bypass Barrier Champion shields and other physical barriers—notably Vex Hydra shields, the Hobgoblin’s immunity auras, and physical shields carried by Cabal soldiers. All Pulse Rifles and Sidearms you own will also be Overcharged in endgame content, dealing 25% more damage. This doesnotstack with elemental surges.
Overload Bows and Automatics Overloadloads your weapons with an Overload Shot upon expending 25% of the magazine, stunning Overload Champions on hit. Non-Champion combatants can also be afflicted with Overload, reducing their outgoing damage. Overload has a small effect on ability regeneration in PvP but doesnotreduce the enemy’s outgoing damage. These weapons are also Overcharged in endgame content.
Unstoppable Scout Rifleloads an explosive shot upon aiming for a few seconds, stunning Unstoppable Champions on hit. Non-Champion targets hit by this round are staggered. Unstoppable has no effect in PvP. Scout Rifles are also Overcharged in endgame content while this mod is active.
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Column Two
If you unlock one of these perks, be sure to reinstall your armor mods to receive the discount.
All armor mods that affect grenades are significantly discounted.
Multi-Siphon Mods
Unlock additional armor mods that combine the effects of Strand Siphon, Solar Siphon, and Void Siphon.
Column Two Perks Explained
Authorized Modsreduce the cost of all associated mods to one energy. For example, Authorized Mods: Solar reduces the cost of all Solar-related mods to a single point on your armor. This affects targeting, loader, dexterity, reserve, elemental resistance, scavenger, and holster mods.
Authorized Mods: Grenadereduces the cost of Ashes to Assets, Firepower, Bolstering Detonation, Impact Induction, and Momentum Transfer to one energy each.
Multi-Siphon Modsadds two helmet mods, each allowing you to spawn Orbs of Power on Strand multikills and an additional element—either Solar or Void. Each mod costs three energy. Stacking copies of the same mod increases the potency of each orb. Using Strand Siphon and this mod doesnotspawn multiple orbs on multikills.
Column Three
Shatter Orbs
Generate an Orb of Power upon breaking a combatant’s shield that matches your weapon’s damage type.
Defiant Armory
Greatly improves the following Origin Traits: Noble Deeds, Nanotech Tracer Rockets, Tex Balanced Stock, and Ambush.
Untangler
Destroying a Tangle with a Strand weapon suspends targets damaged by the explosion.
Collecting a Firesprite grants x1 Armor Charge.
Volatile Flow
Picking up an Orb of Power grants your Void weapons Volatile Rounds.
Column Three Perks Explained
Shatter Orbsspawns an Orb of Power at the target’s feet upon breaking their shield for the first time, provided your damage source matches their shield type. The potency of this orb is comparable to a Siphon mod and can only be triggered once per enemy. Shatter Orbs doesnotwork in PvP.
Defiant Armoryincreases the potency of the Tex Balanced Stock perk and makes Nanotech Tracer Rockets hit much harder. Noble Deeds' effect is more potent, and Ambush lasts slightly longer.
Untanglercauses your Tangles to suspend targets caught in the blast radius if you detonate them with a Strand weapon.Osmosis weapons donotworkwith this perk; it must be a Strand weapon. Targets are suspended for roughly eight seconds which can be extended withThread of Continuity. This passive works in PvE and PvP.
Solar Surgegrants x1 Armor Charge upon grabbing a Firesprite, affected by Stacks on Stacks. There’s no limit to how many times this perk can trigger, giving it excellent synergy with the Flare Up perk in the third column.
Volatile Flowgrants 15 seconds of Volatile Rounds to all Void weapons upon grabbing an Orb of Power. This works onany subclass, not just Void subclasses. You must have a Void weapon equipped for this perk to trigger, although Harsh Language and Tractor Cannon don’t seem to activate Volatile Flow on their own. This perk can be refreshed by picking up an Orb of Power. Volatile Flow works in PvE and PvP.
Column Four
Bricks From Beyond
Defeating a powerful combatant with a Void weapon has a chance to drop Heavy ammo for you and your fireteam.
Flare Up
Firebolt Grenades apply more Scorch stacks and spawn Firesprites on hit.
Origin Hones
Weapons with the following Origin Traits are Overcharged in endgame activities: Noble Deeds, Nanotracking Rockets, Tex Balanced Stock, and Ambush.
Allied Unraveling
Multikills with a Strand weapon grant your weapon Unraveling Rounds, with a longer duration near allies.
Gain energy for your least-charged Strand ability when you or your fireteam stuns or defeats a Champion.
Column Four Perks Explained
Bricks From Beyondgives your Void weapons a chance to spawn Heavy ammo when they defeat a powerful combatant. This includes majors, ultras, Champions, and bosses.All allies receive the Heavy brick, not just you. Ammo from this perk is comparable to a standard Heavy brick and is affected by scavenger mods. Bricks from Beyond makes it possible to fully sustain ammo for a Void Machine Gun or Sword.
Flare Upgreatly buffs your Firebolt Grenades on your Solar subclass. With this passive active, your Firebolt Grenades inflict x80 Scorch stacks and spawn a Firesprite on the first target hit. Ember of Ashes doesnotaffect how many Scorch stacks your grenade inflicts, although direct impacting a target with a Firebolt Grenade will cause them to immediately Ignite. The Firesprite benefits from the Flare Up passive and Stacks on Stacks. If you have Flare Up active, you’ll gain additional Armor Charge for each enemy struck by the Firebolt Grenade, up to three Armor Charge stacks per grenade.
Origin Honesforces all weapons with Nanotracking Rockets, Noble Deeds, Ambush, and Tex Balanced Stock to become Overcharged in endgame content. This increases their damage output by 25% regardless of the active surge. This doesnotstack with elemental surges.
Allied Unravelingtriggers upon a triple kill with any Strand weapon, infusing your Strand weapons with Unraveling Rounds for the next ten seconds. If you have allies nearby, this duration is extended slightly. you’re able to refresh this perk by landing additional multikills with your Strand weapon. This passive works in PvE and PvP.
Counterweavegrants ability energy to your lowest-charged Strand ability when a Champion is stunned or killed. The energy gains from this passive are immense and can make Strand much easier to use in endgame content. Since Champions are only present in endgame PvE content, this passive only works in PvE content.
Column Five
Stranded Reach
Destroying a Tangle with a Strand weapon creates a larger and more damaging explosion.
Rain Of Firebolts
When you have Firebolt Grenades equipped, gain a second grenade charge.
Void Weapons Channeling
Gain a temporary bonus to Void weapon damage after you defeat a target with a Void weapon while you have at least one Void ability fully charged. This damage bonus increases based on the number of fully charged Void abilities you have.
Medieval Champion
Glaives fire projectiles that stun Unstoppable Champions. Swords stun Overload Champions on consecutive hits.
Additionally, Glaives and Swords are always Overcharged when that modifier is active.
When you cast your Super, each member of your fireteam with a subclass damage type different than yours gains a bonus to weapon damage.
Column Five Perks Explained
Stranded Reachenhances your Tangle explosions when detonated with a Strand weapon, increasing the explosion’s damage and blast radius by 50%. Enemies tagged by the larger blast radius will also be suspended if the Untangler passive is active in your Artifact.
Rain of Fireboltsgrants a second Firebolt Grenade charge to your Solar subclass, regardless of game type.
Void Weapons Channelingbehaves identically to Void Weapon Surge mods found on leg armor. Killing an enemy grants a ten-second damage buff to all Void weapons, the potency of which is determined by how many Void abilities are charged (10/18/22/25% bonus damage). Abilities include grenades, melee abilities, your class ability, and Super. Exotics or perks that grant additional ability charges also work with this passive. Void Weapons Channeling stacks with empowering buffs like Radiant butdoes not stackwith weapon surge mods found on leg armor.
Medieval Championallows your Glaives to stun Unstoppable Champions, and your Swords can now stun Overload Champions. Both weapon archetypes are also Overcharged in endgame content, dealing 25% more damage regardless of singe. Thisdoes not stackwith any active singes.
Prismatic Transfergrants nearby allies with a different subclass element a 20% damage buff for ten seconds upon casting your Super. This buff counts as an empowering buff anddoes not stackwith Radiant or Weapons of Light, although this buffdoes stackwith weapon surge mods and damage perks.
