Learn how to complete the Destiny 2 Encore Vex Gate speedrun challenge, with tips on unlocking the hidden triumph in the Encore exotic mission on Nessus.
The Destiny 2 Encore exotic mission is part of Episode Echoes Act 3 and takes players deep into Nessus’ core. Similar to other exotic missions in the game, Encore has a bunch of secrets to offer, like hidden chests, collectibles, and puzzles.
In addition, fans can also unlock the new exotic auto rifle, Choir of One, a Void weapon that uses special ammo.
One of these secrets requires you to complete the speedrun challenge and activate the Vex Gate. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Encore speedrun challenge, how to activate the hidden Vex Gate, and how to unlock the secret “Datarunner” triumph.
Destiny 2: How to Activate the Vex Gate in Encore Exotic Mission
To activate the Vex gate in the Encore exotic mission, you need to open a hidden passageway. To do so, head to the Vex waterfall from the starting area. You can reach this gate in two ways:
First, follow the standard route through the giant sphere. Instead of progressing forward, drop down into a narrow opening, which leads directly to the waterfall. Alternatively, from the starting area, move to the far left and you’ll see small ledges at the very end. Jump down, follow the tunnel, and you’ll find the hidden passage leading to the Vex gate.
We have a detailed guide on how to get to this location which you can check out here.
Note
You can only access this challenge on the Expert difficulty of the Encore exotic mission. Attempting it on Normal difficulty will not trigger the hidden passage to open.
On the wall behind the Vex waterfall, you’ll notice a symbol resembling the Whisper of the Worm exotic sniper rifle. To unlock the sealed entrance, simply equip Whisper of the Worm. Once equipped, the passage will reveal itself, and you’ll see a text prompt on the bottom left of your screen that reads, “The way opens. A challenge awaits.”
As you enter this purple-ish room, you’ll see a massive Vex gate at the far end, radiating strange Taken energy. By stepping through this gate, you’ll spawn back at the mission’s starting point, but now an active timer begins ticking down.
This marks the start of the Encore speedrun challenge.
How to Complete the Destiny 2 Encore Speedrun Challenge
The Encore speedrun challenge has a strict 35-minute completion window. Failing to finish the mission within this time results in a failed attempt. Since it’s set to Expert difficulty, coordinating with a Fireteam of three is ideal. Having a Warlock with Well of Radiance is recommended for survivability, especially during boss fights where enemy numbers become overwhelming.
For high damage, the Microcosm heavy trace rifle is excellent during boss encounters, while a legendary sword with Eager’s Edge speeds up movement in puzzle sections. Max out Resilience to 10 for better defense.
Hunters can take advantage of the Golden Gun with Celestial Nighthawk for massive one-shot damage bursts on bosses. Simply complete the mission as you would on Normal difficulty. After defeating the final boss and looting the rewards chest, you’ll get unlock the secret triumph called “Datarunner”.
How to Get the Transient Whisperer Emblem in Destiny 2
After successfully completing both parts of the “Datarunner” triumph, all you need to do is redeem this triumph to unlock the Transient Whisperer emblem in Destiny 2.
To do so, open your character screen and navigate to the “Triumphs” tab. From there, select “Episode: Echoes”, then go to “Ritual”. Find the “Datarunner” triumph and click on it to claim your reward. Once redeemed, the Transient Whisperer emblem will be available in your collections.
In the Encore mission, there’s a cool detail hidden within the Vex gate. If you look through this gate, you’ll see a projection of the Vex portal room from The Whisper mission.
Interestingly, in The Whisper mission, the Vex portal displays a projection of this same purple-hued room from Encore.
That’s it for this guide! In other news, Bungie has now revealed some exciting details about the future of Destiny 2, and where the franchise is going in 2025. We have a dedicated article detailing every major change coming to Destiny 2 next year.
What are your thoughts on this exotic mission? Did it live up to the hype as one of the biggest exotic missions in Destiny? Let us know in the comments below!
