Destiny 2 will be unveiling a new Epic version of its latest raid, The Desert Perpetual, next month. This update introduces Contest Mode, a new “Not Swap” rule, reward enhancements, and includes a World First race.
The Desert Perpetual originally debuted with Edge of Fate on July 19, 2025, initiating a 48-hour race that culminated in Team Nuts achieving World First after approximately 15 hours. Bungie is now broadening the experience by launching an Epic version aligned with the new content structures leading up to Ash & Iron, which accompanies Destiny 2 Update 9.1.0.
The Epic raid variant promises to enhance encounter mechanics, featuring new Legendary weapons, updated armor set bonuses, and a new quest. It will unlock attunement at the raid vendor and provide a catalyst for Whirling Ovation, the raid’s Exotic item.
Bungie commented, “Enhancing the original experience, this epic version will introduce a host of new challenges, rewards, and pursuits. The modified mechanics will challenge your fireteam’s coordination,” as shared in the latest This Week in Destiny blog post. “Conquering these challenges will grant you access to new Legendary weapons and armor bonuses.”
Desert Perpetual Epic Raid: Launch Date & Starting Time
The Desert Perpetual Epic Raid will go live on Saturday, September 20, at 10 AM PT. This translates to 1 PM ET / 5 PM UTC / 6 PM BST / 7 PM CEST / 9 PM Gulf (Dubai) / 10:30 PM IST / 2 AM JST (Sep 21) / 3 AM AEST (Sep 21).
Epic Raid Contest Mode & Race Details
Bungie has confirmed that Contest Mode will be active for 48 hours (from September 20 at 10 AM PT to September 22 at 10 AM PT) for the Epic Raid, introducing a fixed Power disadvantage.
During this time, players will receive Tier 5 gear upon their first clear of each encounter, and completing all encounters enables you to claim an exclusive emblem, the raid Exotic, and its catalyst. A World First broadcast will be hosted by Bungie, featuring creators CbGray and Evanf1997.
Desert Perpetual Epic Raid Entry Requirements
To participate in the Desert Perpetual Epic raid, you’ll need:
- The completion of the Edge of Fate campaign
- A six-player fireteam.
- The fireteam leader must have completed the standard Desert Perpetual.
- After the first team’s clear of the Epic version in Contest, normal Epic difficulty will unlock for all.
That concludes our overview of the Desert Perpetual Epic raid in Destiny 2. We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
