Here’s everything you need to know about Destiny 2 Edge of Fate raid: its name, launch timing across time zones, Contest Mode details, power level requirement, and more.
With Edge of Fate set to land on July 15 next week, Bungie is introducing sweeping changes across Destiny 2: a new campaign on the Kepler planetoid, the new Portal system, armor stat overhaul, new gear tiering, and a slew of sandbox changes, uncluding new Exotic gear, subclass updates, and ability overhauls.
Of course, no Destiny expansion would feel complete without a fresh raid, and Edge of Fate is no exception. The upcoming raid, officially titled The Desert Perpetual, has just been revealed, along with its Contest Mode details, entry requirements, World First race info, and more.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the raid, The Desert Perpetual, including its launch details, Contest Mode setup, power level requirements, and more.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Name
The official name of the new raid is The Desert Perpetual. Bungie hasn’t shared much beyond the name just yet, but it definitely gives off mysterious, time-warping, and possibly sand-swept vibes.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Release Date & Start Time
The Desert Perpetual raid in Destiny 2 kicks off on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT. Here’s what that looks like in other time zones:
- 1:00 PM ET (Eastern Time)
- 5:00 PM GMT (UK)
- 6:00 PM CET (Central Europe)
- 8:00 PM Gulf Standard Time (UAE)
- 9:30 PM IST (India)
- 2:00 AM JST (Japan) on July 20
Raid launch days in Destiny are always a major event, and this one might be the most exciting one yet, considering it’s potentially focused on the Nine.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Contest Mode Details
As expected, the Desert Perpetual raid will begin with Contest Mode enabled, offering the toughest version of the raid experience for the first 48 hours. This means all player power will be capped at a set level, regardless of how strong your gear is.
Once the 48-hour window closes at 9:59 AM PT on July 21, the raid will shift to its Normal mode, allowing players to run it at full power and with less stress.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Entry Requirements
You won’t be able to jump into the raid right away unless you’ve met a few key conditions:
- You must finish the Edge of Fate campaign before you can enter the raid.
- Completing the campaign on Legendary difficulty gets you Contest-ready instantly.
- Finishing on Normal means you’ll need to grind for Power to meet the raid’s minimum.
Exact Power Level requirements haven’t been confirmed yet, but Bungie has said it’ll share that info closer to launch.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate World First Race Rules
The race to World First is one of the most competitive and entertaining parts of a new Destiny 2 raid. For The Desert Perpetual, the first fireteam to beat every encounter and open the final chest, without leaving orbit, will be declared the winners.
“Similar to past raids, we will be working tirelessly with our analytics and security teams to maintain the integrity of the challenge and the raid,” the devs said in the latest TWID article. “When the first completion happens, we will verify through our internal systems and tools before we announce the winning team on our social channels and will then start our more thorough security review.”
And yes, those World First raid belts are back and will be themed around The Desert Perpetual for the lucky winners.
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Race: How To Watch, Twitch Drops, and Emblems
If you’re planning to watch the raid race unfold live, there are some rewards in it for you, too. Bungie has confirmed that viewers will be able to unlock the Power Hues emblem as a Twitch Drop. All you need to do is link your Bungie and Twitch accounts and watch a partnered stream during the event.
There’s also a bonus emblem, Golden Relief, which you can earn by gifting a sub to any eligible Twitch streamer playing The Desert Perpetual raid between July 19 at 6:00 PM PT and July 29 at 10:00 AM PT.
Here are some of the streamers Bungie is featuring during the raid race:
- Bungie Pre-Show: 6:45 AM – 10:00 AM PT
- Evanf1997: 6:45 AM – 6:00 PM PT
- WiseThug & Merj1 (FR), Nexxoss & EllyKnalltRein (DE), Masseo (IT), El Tío Toland (LATAM MX): 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT
Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Raid Loot
At the time of writing, Bungie hasn’t revealed any official details about the raid loot for The Desert Perpetual. That includes armor sets, weapons, cosmetics, and the raid Exotic.
We’ll update this section as soon as that info becomes available, but for now, all eyes are on Contest Mode and the World First competition.
Are you planning to raid on Day 1? Will you gear up for Contest Mode, or wait for a more relaxed experience? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
