How to trigger all Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

Destiny 2 Lightfall Heroic Injection Rig Public Event on Neomuna
(Image credit: Bungie)

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events are activated by completing a hidden objective during a regular Public Event to get extra loot and a massive Glimmer payout. There are lots of different Public Events to play across all the destinations in Destiny 2, and each one is made Heroic in a different way, so it’s important to know exactly how to achieve this to get the best possible rewards while patrolling. They're not great sources of high-level loot, but they are excellent for getting Rare gear for levelling and loads of Glimmer – a Heroic event dishes out at least 10,000 Glimmer to each player! Here’s how you trigger every Destiny 2 Heroic Public Event, including Destiny 2 Lightfall events.

Destiny 2 public events on map

(Image credit: Bungie)

Make sure you check your map regularly for any incoming Public Event icons so you can see how much time you've got until an event starts. Rock up to the event’s location to get stuck in or even get there early and you'll be able to rally to the Public Event banner, which'll max out all your ammo and ability energy, including your Super. Make sure you loot the chest at the end of the Public Event before you move onto the next one to get your loot! You can also try out special, multi-stage Public Events that usually offer unique destination rewards, such as the Blind Well in the Dreaming City, Altars of Sorrow on the Moon, and Destiny 2 Terminal Overload in Neomuna.

All Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

Glimmer Extraction Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ, Cosmodrome, Nessus, and Europa

Fallen foes will appear across three different Glimmer extraction sites during this Public Event and you just need to clear out all three sites to complete the event normally.

To make it Heroic, look out for the little generator-like objects that spawn after you kill the first wave of enemies at each extraction site. You need to destroy three in total - one at each site - to up this Public Event to Heroic difficulty. These little generators have a surprising amount of health, so make sure you focus on them as soon as they appear. However, any generators that don't get destroyed, will reappear at the next extraction site, so you'll get more chances to destroy any you missed and make the event Heroic.

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Making the event Heroic will destroy the final extraction site, leaving a pile of Glimmer on the ground that must be secured by standing in the circles until it reaches 100%. At the same time, lots of Fallen enemies will be coming to get you.

Ether Resupply Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ, Nessus, the Moon, and Europa

This is one of the easiest Public Events in Destiny 2 and you just have to destroy the massive Servitor to beat it. Luckily, making it Heroic isn't much harder. Once the Servitor reaches about 50% health, it'll spawn three smaller Servitors at once. Destroy these Servitors as quickly as possible to anger the big Servitor enough to make the event Heroic. We don't know the exact timing but killing all three smaller Servitors in less than 15 seconds should be enough.

Weapons Exchange Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ and the Moon

Simply destroy the Fallen Arsenal Walker to complete this Public Event. You can make it Heroic by depositing an Arc charge into six receivers that power blue bubble shields protecting some Scorch Cannons in the area - there are three of these shields and each one has two receivers. You can get Arc charges by destroying one of the Fallen Walker's legs to temporarily disable it, causing it to spit out three charges at once. Deposit those charges, disable the Walker again to get the next three charges, and finally deposit those to make the event Heroic. This'll cause a second Walker to get dropped in, and you'll need to destroy both within the time limit to complete the event.

Cabal Excavation Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ and Nessus

Completing this Public Event normally just requires you to capture the Cabal drill, but you'll need to destroy a Cabal ship to make it Heroic. At around 30% and 60% capture progress, a Thresher will appear and fly around the area, eventually settling near the drill to fire a few missiles, then it'll fly off. Destroy the Thresher before it can get away, and you'll make the event Heroic, causing a Cabal boss to crash down that you need to defeat to complete the event.

Injection Rig Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ and Nessus

For this Destiny 2 Heroic Public Event, you need to defeat all the Elite Cabal Psions that appear one by one. However, if you want to make the event Heroic and completely destroy the rig, you also need to destroy some vents. The Injection Rig has three tiers of three vents that open after defeating an Elite Psion, and to make the event Heroic, you'll need to destroy one vent on each tier, starting from the top.

After defeating an Elite Psion, don't evacuate the Rig's orange shield dome and instead stay inside and shoot one of the three vents at the Rig's top section - it'll stop glowing orange and will spout smoke once it has been destroyed. Repeat this for the Rig's middle vent section after the second Psion is killed. For the bottom vent section, only one of the three vents will open. With all vents destroyed, you'll trigger Heroic difficulty and will just need to defeat the Cabal boss to complete the event.

Disrupt Vex Construction Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: Nessus and Europa

Ordinarily, you just need to wait out the clock and prevent Vex integrating with the spire to complete this Public Event. Although you might notice three white beams shooting out from the central spire, and each beam links to an invisible capture plate that is only revealed when you get close to it. Trigger Heroic difficulty for this Public Event by capturing all three plates within the time limit - you still need to defend the spire from Vex sacrifices like the normal event, which is tough to do since the plates are quite far from the spire.

Once all three plates have been captured, the Vex will throw everything they've got at you, including more powerful Harpies, Minotaurs, and now Hydras. Survive until time runs out to complete the Heroic event and get the extra loot.

Taken Blight Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: EDZ and the Dreaming City

To make the Taken Blight Public Event Heroic, you need to avoid destroying the blight domes! Instead, enter and exit these domes to get a five-second buff called Blight Receding – it lets you damage the big blight ball that hovers in the air. Damage the big blight as much as you can and be sure to follow it when it inevitably moves.

Once you've damaged the blight enough to destroy it, the Heroic event will trigger and a Taken boss will appear, so kill the boss to complete the event. This is arguably one of the most annoying Public Events to make Heroic, and don't let anyone fool you into thinking that making it Heroic is random!

Warsat Down Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: The Moon and the Cosmodrome

To make this a Destiny 2 Heroic Public Event, you need to destroy the three Hive Shriekers that surround the Warsat. Each Shrieker is immune to all damage but also won't attack until a pair of Wizards are defeated. Destroy the Wizards to make one of the Shriekers vulnerable, quickly destroy said Shrieker, then carry on with the event until the next pair of Wizards spawns and so on. Destroy all three Shriekers before you fully capture the Warsat and you'll trigger the Heroic event, causing a giant Ogre boss to spawn in. Slay it to end the event and get some Heroic rewards.

Witches' Ritual Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Location: Moon and Savathun's Throne World

Within the area of this Public Event, you'll find two Hive plates on the ground. Stand on them like normal to bring down the shields of the two Wizards, then defeat the Wizards. As you prepare for the incoming Hive, stand on the plates again to lower the shields on two purple crystals spawn high up and near the portal frame. Destroy both crystals to start the Heroic Public Event, then wipe out everything that comes through the portal.

Rift Generator Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Location: The Dreaming City

During this Public Event, waves of scorn will swarm the Rift Generator. At the end of each wave, you'll spot a Taken blight spawn over the shoreline. Destroy all three of the blights when they appear and a Giant Blight will spawn over the Rift Generator alongside three Taken Wizards. Defeat the Wizards before the generator is destroyed and you'll be absorbed into the Ascendant Realm for the Heroic Public Event. All you need to do to complete the Heroic version is survive the waves of enemies in the Ascendant Realm.

Ether Ritual Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Location: The Dreaming City and Savathun's Throne World

For this Public Event, you'll notice a destroyed Servitor and lots of Scorn spawning around it. Seek the first Scorn Chieftain and then destroy all the blue Ether spheres that slowly fly towards the destroyed Servitor. Repeat this for the next two Chieftains that spawn to make this a Destiny 2 Heroic Public Event.

It seems like there's a bit of leniency in that you don't have to destroy every single drop of Ether, but aiming to get them all is definitely the best approach. Once the event is Heroic, destroy all the Scorn, including the big boss that will appear.

Crux Convergence Beyond Light Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 heroic public events crux convergence drones

(Image credit: Bungie)

Location: Europa

To complete this Destiny 2 event normally, you just need to stand under three Darkness Cruxes and fully capture them to bring down the shields on the Brigs – destroy all Brigs and the event is over! However, to trigger the Heroic Public Event, you need to destroy the trio of scanner drones that fly around each of the three Cruxes too. These drones are hard to hit and don't hang around for long so speed is key. Once you've cleared all drones from the three Cruxes, the Heroic event will start and a mega Brig known as the "Fallen Commodore" will drop in. Take it down, along with all the smaller Brigs if you haven't already, to get your Heroic loot.

Resonant Splinter Witch Queen Heroic Public Event

Destiny 2 Heroic Public Events

(Image credit: Bungie)

Locations: Savathun's Throne World

This Destiny 2 The Witch Queen Public Event is exclusive to Savathun's Throne World and sees you escorting a bit of Darkness Pyramid technology - a Resonant Splinter - across a portion of the Throne World. To make it Heroic, you need to pick up Resonant Charges dropped by certain Scorn enemies and throw them at the Splinter. Hit the Splinter with all six charges and you'll trigger the Heroic Public Event and extra Scorn bosses to spawn. These glowing balls can be surprisingly easy to miss so make sure you keep an eye out for them!

Vex Strike Force Lightfall Public Event

Destiny 2 Lightfall Strand Titan facing Vex Minotaur

(Image credit: Bungie)

Location: Neomuna

The Vex Strike Force Destiny 2 Public Event cannot be made Heroic, although with good reason as the base rewards for this super-rare event include a guaranteed Exotic item! This event (also called Supernumerary Blitz) has a chance to spawn in the current Vex Incursion Zone only – it’ll show on the map with a normal Public Event icon but hover your cursor over it and you’ll see the message “Vex Strike Force Incoming!”, so head over to the event and get stuck in.

Essentially, you’ll be battling Vex and must kill six Minotaurs Supernumeros bosses within the time limit to beat the event. If you’re successful, you’ll be rewarded with a loot chest containing one Exotic Engram. Although, be aware that it will not contain Exotic armor that can only be acquired from Legend Lost Sectors that you haven’t already unlocked, so you won’t be able to get any of the new Strand Exotic armor pieces for any Destiny 2 Strand builds.

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Will Sawyer
Guides Writer

Will Sawyer is a guides writer at GamesRadar+ who works with the rest of the guides team to give readers great information and advice on the best items, how to complete a particular challenge, or where to go in some of the biggest video games. Will joined the GameRadar+ team in August 2021 and has written about service titles, including Fortnite, Destiny 2, and Warzone, as well as some of the biggest releases like Halo Infinite, Elden Ring, and God of War Ragnarok.

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