How to complete Exegesis mission in Destiny 2 The Final Shape

Exegesis is the third mission of Destiny 2 The Final Shape expansion, so here’s how you can access and complete the mission in the game.

Destiny 2 The Final Shape has a total of eight missions in the campaign that you can complete. For Exegesis, you will need to find Ikora Rey, the Warlock Vanguard.

The mission is quite elaborate and will introduce you to a new mechanic that will help you progress through the different segments of this mission.

So, here’s how you can complete the Exegesis mission in Destiny 2 The Final Shape.

Destiny 2 The Final Shape Exegesis mission full walkthrough

To launch the Exegesis mission in Destiny 2, you need to make your way to the Pale Heart and then launch it from the campaign mission node there. Alternatively, you can also launch it from the activity banner at the Old Tower within the Pale Heart of the Traveler, but you can only do this if you’re playing the campaign from the very beginning.

Here are the steps that you will come across while playing this mission:

Pick up the Crystalline key

To start the Exegenis mission in Destiny 2, you need to pick up a Crystalline key and deposit it in the marked area beside the gate. There are barely any enemies here, so you can pick up the key and bring it to the gate. The moment you deposit it, the gate opens.

Bear in mind that the key is a Heavy Object so your movement will be restricted. While this won’t really be an issue during the opening segment, in the rest of the mission there will be areas where you will have to use the key in enemy-dense areas, so be careful.

Unlock the Darkness barrier

After you’ve unlocked the door, you’ll come across a door that’s locked behind a Darkness barrier. To dispel the barrier, you need to cleanse the plate beside it.

Whenever you kill a named Hive Knight with a weapon, it’ll drop Dark motes. When you kill it with the Aegis, it’ll drop Light motes.

For this, you don’t need any Light motes, so kill the Hive Knight, collect three Dark motes, and then go stand on the plate. This should automatically dispel the door for you and let you progress.

Clear the view

After clearing the Darkness barrier, you will come to a big room with a view that is covered with Corruption. You need to dispel this Corruption by shooting three orbs.

The first orb is located on the floor that you’re on, right behind the Corruption, while the other two can be found on the upper floor.

Before you can clear this Corruption, you will have to defeat multiple Dread enemies. After you’ve defeated the enemies and cleared the Corruption, the Aegis will spawn in the middle of the room.

After you’ve cleared the room, you will get access to the lower section. You will have to do the mote deposit mechanic again to access the next area of the Exegenesis mission in Destiny 2 The Final Shape.

Solve the plate puzzle

After you’ve moved out from the big room, you will come to an area where a Prismatic Subjugator will spawn. There’s a Prismatic well that spawns on the outer ledge, so if your Transcendence bar isn’t charged up, you can stand here to charge it.

After you’ve cleared out this area, you will be taken to another area where there are four plates: two Light and two Dark.

Like the other encounters, you’ll need to use the Aegis as a weapon to defeat the enemies to get a Light mote. But to get the Aegis, you’ll have to open the door beside the Light plate.

So, head to the door and then take the passage that leads to the right. Look to the left wall, and you should see a crevasse on it where you can find the Crystalline Key.

Pick it up and bring out the Aegis, and then proceed with solving the puzzle. Here’s how you can do it:

1. After you’ve brought out the Aegis, defeat the named Hive Knight and collect three Light motes.
2. Take it to the first Light plate that you see and stand on the plate.
3. If you’re on the correct plate, you will see a bright beam of light, but if the plate is wrong, you’ll see dark beams appearing on the edge of the plate.
4. The number of beams on the edge indicates the order in which you need to deposit the motes on the plate.
5. The order of deposit is Light – Dark – Light – Dark, and takes place in a clockwise direction. So, after you’ve submitted the motes on the first Light plate, the Dark motes will go to the Dark plate to the right of the Light plate that you’re facing.
6. Completing this puzzle successfully will give you access to a brand new Prismatic Chest and the next area.

Scan Ikora’s ship

After you come into the clearing, you will notice Ikora’s crashed ship during Exogenis. Climb the ship and interact with it.

You’ll receive a small dialogue sequence where Ikora will ask you to meet her at the Cradle. Move away from the ship and follow the marker to find the Aegis and the Ogre boss called the Pillar of Silence.

Wait for the Aegis super bar to fill up and use it to break the Ogre’s shield, and then start damaging this boss. After you’ve eaten away at 33% of its health, it’ll disappear.

Follow the marker until you come to a cavern with a Rally zone. Rally to the Banner you’ve placed and then head into the cavern. You’ll see the Aegis here but don’t pick it up just yet.

Defeat the enemies and activate the Darkness plate first and then pick up the Aegis and go for the Light plate. Doing this successfully will bring forth the Ogre once again, triggering yet another damage phase.

Use the Aegis to break the Ogre’s shield, and then damage him with whatever weapons you have at your disposal. You’ll have to do this again when to get to the final damage phase, which ends once you’ve depleted his health.

Reach Ikora

After you’ve made your way out of this area, you’ll come to an open zone with the Tree of Silver Wings in the distance. Approach the Rally Zone and when you start the encounter a lot of Dread will spawn.

As you clear the enemies, you’ll notice Ikora standing on a ledge, with a Prismatic well right behind her. Stand in this well and dispose of all the enemies that spawn here including the Tormentor.

After you’ve done that, talk to Ikora and that will trigger a new cutscene, which will mark the end of the Exegesis mission in Destiny 2 The Final Shape.

That sums up how you can complete the Exegesis mission in Destiny 2 The Final Shape. Here’s a list of all the other missions in the campaign, and how you can unlock the full list of Prismatic abilities in The Final Shape expansion.