How To Nightfall Destiny 2

Two Cosmodrome strikes from the original Destiny have made their way to Destiny 2 in Season of the Chosen. One of them, Fallen S.A.B.E.R., is one of the easiest strikes in the game. Guardians will have to face hundreds of Fallen enemies before facing a rather trivial Heavy Shank boss.

It turns out the Nightfall variant is just as easy. Comparable to the Lake of Shadows on Master, this particular Nightfall is easy to farm and isn't filled with many mechanics. If you've never tackled Fallen S.A.B.E.R. before, this guide should prove useful. Let's go over how this Nightfall works, along with a breakdown of the enemies and mechanics you can expect in each encounter.

Modifiers And Recommended Loadout

Fallen S.A.B.E.R. has quite a few modifiers on Master difficulty, two of which can spell immediate death for unprepared fireteams. Here's what you'll need to gear around:

Nightfall Modifiers

Scorched Earth:Enemies throw grenades significantly more often.
Champions: Overload:This mode contains Overload Champions, which cannot be stopped without an Overload mod.
Champions: Barrier:This mode contains Barrier Champions, which cannot be stopped without an Anti-Barrier mod.
Attrition:Regeneration is greatly impaired. Defeating enemies may create wells of Light.
Equipment Locked:You will not be able to change your equipment after this activity starts.
Match Game:Enemy shields are highly resistant to all unmatched elemental damage.
Champions: Mob:This mode contains additional Champions.
S.A.B.E.R. Protocol:Incoming Solar and environmental damage increased.

Key Traits

Champions:Barrier Servitors and Overload Captains
Shields:Arc (Captains) and Void (Servitors)
Recommended Power:1,330

Attrition forces you to play either passively or aggressively; playing a hybrid between the two will get you killed. S.A.B.E.R. Protocol also causes certain enemies to annihilate your health bar. Fortunately, this Nightfall has so many enemies that spawning wells of Light should be trivial. Bring Warmind Cells or Riskrunner to thin the herd as fast as possible. Besides that, this is by far one of Destiny 2's easiest Master Nightfalls.

Subclass

Hunter:Way of the Pathfinder, when paired with Omnioculus, is a fantastic support spec for your team. If you're playing solo, run The Sixth Coyote instead. Revenant is also useful for its crowd control capabilities.
Warlock:Attunement of Chaos and Grace are best for a team setting. Chaos provides excellent damage when paired with Contraverse Hold, and Grace can keep your team's health and Supers topped off with Phoenix Protocol. If you're attempting to solo this, Attunement of Hunger is a good option as well.
Titan:Code of the Siegebreaker is tough to beat, healing you after ability kills while generating sunspots. Alternatively, Code of the Commander with Ursa Furiosa nullifies most of this Nightfall's difficulty.

Weapons

Riskrunner:Nearly every enemy in this Nightfall does Arc damage. Riskrunner will provide excellent add clear and Arc damage resistance while Arc Conductor is active.
The Lament/Falling Guillotine:Both Swords are fantastic this season due to the return of Passive Guard, a seasonal mod that grants 50% damage resistance while you have a Sword equipped. Both weapons annihilate Champions once you stun them.
Any Sniper Rifle:Snipers can use Anti-Barrier mods this season, making them a perfect Special weapon to use for Nightfalls. The Long Shadow, Succession, and the IKELOS Sniper Rifle are all great options.

Mods

Solar Damage Resistance:This can only be applied to chest armor with a Solar affinity. Two mods will make you take 40% less Solar damage, practically negating the S.A.B.E.R. Protocol modifier.
Focusing Lens:If you have a Stasis user in your fireteam, use this mod! It increases your Light-based abilities by 25% if a target is affected by Stasis.
Passive Guard:If you're running a Sword, equip this mod. Passive Guard gains 50% damage resistance while your Sword is equipped.
Wrath of Rasputin:Solar splash damage can generate Warmind Cells. This works with Solar abilities and Solar AoE weapons (Xenophage, Code Duello, etc.).
Protective Light:Those not running Warmind Cell builds should use Protective Light. This will expend all of your Charged with Light stacks when your shields break, granting a 50% damage resistance buff for a short duration.

Reach And Defend The Warsat

Warsat Encounter Enemies

Two Overload Captains
One Barrier Servitor
Captains
Dregs
Marauders
Vandals
Wretches

When you spawn in the Forgotten Shore, hop on your Sparrow and travel south. The waypoint will guide you to The Grottos. When you arrive, a Warsat will crash near your location after a short delay. Scan the crashed object to start the encounter.

As with the Warsat public event, you'll need to protect your Ghost by standing near the Warsat. Enemies will rush you in waves throughout this process. The encounter will end once the progress bar reaches 100%, despawning any enemies you're facing.

Wave One

This Skiff will deploy enemies to the east, just beside the Warsat you're defending. Bait a Dreg grenade or Skiff turret to hit you, activating Riskrunner's Arc Conductor perk. Clear out the first wave of enemies, then direct your attention to the Skiff's turrets. A few rounds of a Sniper Rifle should blow them up. A second group of Fallen will spawn shortly after the first wave. Use Riskrunner to take them out.

A third wave of Fallen will spawn before this Skiff leaves, this time deploying an Overload Captain alongside Fallen Marauders and other fodder. If Arc Conductor is active, Riskrunner should have little issue stunning the Champion. Take it down as fast as possible. When all three groups of Fallen are eliminated, focus your attention towards the west side of the Warsat.

Wave Two

At around 50% Warsat progress, two Skiffs will drop off enemies from the opposite side of the first wave, this time spawning a Barrier Servitor and a melee Captain. Once again, focus on killing the Champion first. A few Vandals will reposition to the north side of the Warsat and attempt to snipe you. Focus on killing them after the Barrier Servitor is dealt with.

How To Counter Barrier Servitors:When a Barrier Servitor makes everything immune to damage, focus on spawning its shield. After it takes around 20-25% damage, it'll deploy a barrier. Break it with an Anti-Barrier weapon to remove all immunity tethers originating from the Servitor, giving you time to kill either the Champion or the enemies it was protecting.

Wave Three

After the second wave's Skiffs leave, the third wave begins. This Skiff spawns enemies from the east, just as the first Skiff did. The first group of Fallen will have an Overload Captain in the ranks alongside fodder enemies. Focus on killing the Champion before you capture the Warsat. You can focus on capturing the Warsat once the Overload Captain is defeated.

When the Warsat reaches 100%, jump down the cliffside on the east side to find a bunker entrance. Open the door, then head inside. A short walk will lead you to the bunker proper.

Entering The Bunker

Bunker Entrance Enemies

Four Overload Captains
One Barrier Servitor
Dregs
Marauders
Servitor
Explosive Shanks
Tracer Shanks
Vandals

If one of your fireteam members is using Warmind Cells, now's the perfect time to spawn them. This room is a narrow corridor with multiple Shanks, Dregs, Explosive Shanks, and Marauders that'll rush your position. At the end of the corridor are a Barrier Servitor and Overload Captain. Focus on defeating the Fallen adds before you kill the Champions at the end of the corridor. When you've defeated both Champions, a second Overload Captain will spawn at the entrance alongside a few Tracer Shanks. Eliminate the Overload Captain before you destroy the bunker's security system.

With all of the Fallen defeated, interact with the terminal the first two Champions were defending. It'll reveal a fuse. Shoot the fuse, then double back to where you entered the bunker from. Two Overload Captains and multiple Marauders will try to stop you. Snipe the Marauders before you close the gap on the Champion duo. Kill both Champions, then enter the catwalks to the right of the bunker entrance. Shoot a grate halfway on the catwalk to descend a floor.

Escorting The Arc Charge

Arc Charge Enemies

Shanks
Explosive Shanks
Tracer Shanks

Your fireteam must escort an Arc charge from one end of the corridor to the other. When you enter this room, focus on taking out the two Tracer Shanks before grabbing the charge. Once someone has the orb, escort it to the opposite end of the hall, avoiding any Arc lightning that's traveling in your direction. Various Shanks will spawn during this. Either drop the orb or have a fireteam member destroy the Shanks before you deposit it. Once you've deposited the orb, run to the other end of the corridor to exit the room.

Stairway Encounter

Stairway Enemies

Three Overload Champions
One Barrier Servitor
Dregs
Marauders
Explosive Shanks
Tracer Shanks
Vandals
Wretches

Before you enter the room, let the Dregs and Shanks activate your Riskrunner's Arc Conductor perk. It'll make this part much easier. Feel free to use your Supers during this part as well; it gets quite hectic.

Dozens of Fallen enemies will be rushing your location once you enter this room, one of which will be a Champion. An Overload Captain will be standing near the stairs when you enter. Focus on defeating the Captain once you dispatch the Fallen enemies next to you.

After the Overload Captain dies, a Barrier Servitor will spawn at the end of the room alongside a few Tracer Shanks. Stun this Servitor ASAP so you can eliminate the Tracer Shanks. Two Overload Captains will spawn soon afterward, accompanied by even more Tracer Shanks and Wretches. Focus on destroying the Servitor first, then eliminate the Shanks. Stun both Overload Captains, then focus your attention on one of them. Defeat both Captains to open the path to Bunker War-4, the penultimate combat encounter.

Bunker War-4

Bunker War-4 Enemies

Three Overload Captains
One Barrier Servitor
Dregs
Vandals

Depending on your loadout and/or fireteam, this part will either be a cakewalk or a royal pain. Have your Supers or Heavy weapons ready to nuke the Champions in this room.

There will be four Champions in this room: one Barrier Servitor and three Overload Captains. The Servitor and two Captains typically wander near the raised platform in the room. A third Captain patrols near the exit of the room.

Focus on defeating the isolated Captain first, stunning it with Riskrunner before nuking it with a Super or Heavy weapon. Now direct your attention to the Barrier Servitor protecting the rest of the enemies. Try to break its shield as soon as possible, then stun the Captains. Eliminate the Barrier Servitor, then pick off the last two Captains one by one. Run up the stairs at the end of the room to reach the final boss arena.

S.A.B.E.R. Fight

Boss Encounter Enemies

S.A.B.E.R.-2 Heavy Shank
Two Barrier Servitors
Servitors
Shanks
Explosive Shanks
Tracer Shanks

To spawn the Heavy Shank boss, eliminate the two Servitors and group of Shanks on both ends of the room. The S.A.B.E.R.-2 Shank has four phases, most of which play out the same.

Before we explain the boss encounter, it's important to note that the arena will periodically activate electric pylons and traps that can deal serious damage to you. Steer clear of any activated pylons to prevent an embarrassing death. These traps can also be used to activate Riskrunner's Arc Conductor perk.

Phase One

This boss is immediately vulnerable when it spawns, so it's not a bad idea to quickly damage the boss now. Use your Special or Heavy weapons to drop its health bar, firing at its front thrusters to deal critical damage. Shanks will spawn periodically during this phase, giving you a means of spawning ammo from finishers or activating Riskrunner's Arc Conductor perk.

When it loses 25% of its health, S.A.B.E.R. will retreat to the back of the map, spawning a Barrier Servitor to make nearby Shanks immortal. The boss will periodically fire a Solar sniper during this part, instantly killing Guardians under 1,330 Power. Try to stay on the move as you damage the Champion so this doesn't kill you. Eliminate all of the adds to make the boss vulnerable again.

Phase Two

Phase two is nearly identical to phase one. A few more Shanks will spawn throughout the fight now, but that's the only real difference. Damage the boss until it reaches 50% HP. It'll retreat once again, spawning a Barrier Servitor along with a few Tracer and Explosive Shanks. Should the Shanks become immune to damage, stun the Barrier Servitor to remove their invulnerability tethers. Kill the Champion and Shanks to start phase three.

Phase Three

Now is the time to nuke the S.A.B.E.R.'s health bar. You can immediately start phase four and kill the boss by damaging its health bar here. The phase itself is just like the last two, except now the boss has its weak point on its face instead of its side thrusters. Get it down to 25% health to start the final phase.

Phase Four

The S.A.B.E.R. will enter a critical state and charge you. If the boss gets close to you, it'll explode and instantly kill you. Hunters can go invisible to gain some distance, and all Stasis specs can slow it down to make this part less stressful. The easiest way to handle this part is to nuke its health bar. Since most of its front plate is its weakpoint, Sniper Rifles can do massive damage to the boss. Use everything you have to nuke the S.A.B.E.R. Shank. Defeating the boss ends the Nightfall.

Solo tip:You can exploit the S.A.B.E.R.'s AI by crouching in the corner shown above. If the boss is directly in front of you, damaging it will cause S.A.B.E.R. to glide up the ramp, rushing to flank you. Since there's an elevation difference, it'll just sit directly behind you and never explode. Take out all of the fodder Shanks before doing this for an easy fourth phase.

Next: Destiny 2: Beyond Light Complete Guide And Walkthrough

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