Last week, Bungie detailed Destiny 2’s Desert Perpetual Epic raid. Now we’ve got a first look at leaked rewards, including a Heavy grenade launcher, an Exotic Sparrow, and more.
The Epic version of The Desert Perpetual raid goes live on Saturday, September 20, at 10 AM PT with a full World First race and a 48-hour Contest Mode. Bungie says this variant adds new challenges and changes to encounter mechanics.
Similar to previous Contest Mode weekends, the Power level will be fixed, and players will be able to unlock an exclusive emblem for completing the full raid during the first 48 hours. Bungie also outlined updates to the “Not Swap” modifier that will be active during Contest: if you change certain gear mid-run, your ability energy and ammo are reset. The goal is to minimize the loadout swapping mid-encounter or during the DPS phase.
And yes, new content means new rewards. In fact, it looks like a few of them have already been leaked online ahead of launch.
Destiny 2 The Desert Perpetual Epic Raid Leaked Loot
Earlier today, Bungie posted its annual expansion artblast for The Edge of Fate on ArtStation, featuring a ton of behind-the-scenes concept art. Tucked in there is a weapon called “The Ever-Present.” From the renders by Bungie artist Chase Markham, it’s a Heavy grenade launcher with the same white/green/gold look as the six Desert Perpetual raid weapons released with the base version of the raid.
Based on the weapon aesthetics, it’s reasonable to think this drops with the Epic version of the raid. For now, it’s not in the game, and there are no confirmed stats, element, or perks.
Second, more rewards have popped up in the Bungie API. The standout is an Exotic Sparrow called Skimmed Surface. Its look closely matches the Desert Perpetual aesthetic, this time lining up with the raid armor and the Exotic Ghost Shell, which strongly suggests it’s part of the updated raid loot pool.
Check it out below.
Bungie has also said that with the launch of the Desert Perpetual Epic raid, players will be able to unlock Tier 5 (shiny) versions of the raid’s Legendary weapons. The current list includes:
- Antedate (Arc SMG)
- Finite Maybe (Solar Fusion Rifle)
- Opaque Hourglass (Arc Bow)
- Lance Ephemeral (Strand Sniper Rifle)
- The When and Where (Stasis Rocket Launcher)
- Intercalary (Auto Rifle)
You can check out the in-game preview of these Tier 5 weapons below.
We also have the full lore entry for the leaked Skimmed Surface exotic sparrow, which you can read below.
Skimmed Surface Lore
A liquid, separated.
Radiolaria—unicellular eukaryote—acantherea, nassellaria, spumellaria, phaeodarea—match unsuccessful.
Radiolaria—VEX
WE ARE WE ARE WE ARE WE AREWEAREWEAREWE
Initialize—frame—division specification hobgoblin
HEAD || ARM [primary.firearm|secondary.support] || LEG [leg.leg] || TAIL || COUNTERBALANCE || AXIOM || INTEGRA [primary|tertiary] || PROPRIA
Colony adapts. Hobgoblin deploys. Goblin deploys. Goblin deploys. Harpy deploys. Harpy deploys. All network protocols active. Unit pattern in motion.
Pattern broken. Units report. Hostile check—negative. Hazardous environment—parameters acceptable, change unnecessary. Query: pattern broken?
Hobgoblin out of alignment. Reassess—redeploy. Configuring…
WE ARE: Hobgoblin
Initialize—frame—division.
Colony recombine || split. Balance—Hobgoblin|Goblin|Goblin|Harpy|Harpy
We are comfortable together. WE ARE: Hobgoblin. We do not split. We do not recombine. We deploy—head-arm-leg-tail-counterbalance-axiom-integra-propria-iterateiterateiterate
Deployment issue confirmed. Radiolaria separate: skim layer floating on surface. [These ones] are not [Those ones].
This radiolaria—hobgoblin. That radiolaria—goblin|goblin|harpy|harpy.
Pattern broken. Units report. Vex local networked: 5617900 and dropping. 5300819 and dropping. Hostile check—positive.
We are: hobgoblin. I am: hobgoblin. I am: us, together, and not them, together. I am:
VEX VEX VEX VEX VEX VEX RADIOLARIALARIALARIAVEX NOT. NOT. NOT.
I run.
As always, remember this is early info pulled from official art and public database entries. Things can change before Epic goes live, and Bungie hasn’t officially announced any of the updated raid loot pool. So, we suggest taking everything with a grain of salt until officially confirmed.
What do you think? Will you be playing the Desert Perpetual Epic raid? Let us know in the comments below!
