Encounter 1: Spire Activation
The first encounter of the Vault of Glass is the Spire Activation, an introductory sequence that requires players to defend and activate three Vex plates. The raid opens with a trio of "Sync Plates" that need to be controlled and defended from waves of Vex enemies. By holding these plates, players activate a massive Spire that slowly builds over time. As players fend off the Vex, including Minotaurs, Goblins, and Hobgoblins, they must prevent the Vex from overwhelming the plates, which would cause the Spire’s progress to halt. Communication and awareness are key, as failure to defend the plates means the Spire will reset, and the encounter must be restarted.
Encounter 2: The Templar and the Oracles
After successfully activating the Spire and opening the gate, players descend into the Vault of Glass, where they face the Templar and the Oracles. The Oracles are glowing Vex constructs that appear in specific patterns throughout the area, which players must destroy in the correct order. Failing to do so results in the "Marked for Negation" debuff, a mechanic that can wipe the entire fireteam if players don’t cleanse themselves in a nearby pool. This encounter is a test of memory, coordination, and accuracy, as each wave of Oracles grows increasingly complex.
Once the Oracles are defeated, the team faces the Templar, a massive Vex Hydra who uses teleportation and an array of powerful attacks to keep Guardians at bay. One key mechanic here is the Relic, a shield artifact that one player must wield to protect the team from the Templar's attacks and clear the debuff that builds over time. The Relic-bearer is also responsible for breaking the Templar’s shield, creating windows of vulnerability that the rest of the fireteam can use to damage the boss. The Templar fight requires precise teamwork, as any player can be marked for death if they don’t follow the mechanics. Defeating the Templar is a satisfying and chaotic feat, leaving the team ready for the next depths of the Vault.
Encounter 3: The Gorgons' Labyrinth
After the Templar encounter, the fireteam ventures deeper into the Vault and arrives in the Gorgons' Labyrinth, an infamous area that is as much about patience and timing as it is about skill. The Gorgons are powerful, nearly invincible Vex Harpies with the ability to wipe the entire fireteam if spotted. This encounter is more about stealth and navigation than combat, requiring players to quietly make their way through a maze-like structure without being detected. Players must coordinate their movements, avoiding the Gorgons' gaze and finding safe pathways through the area. Some teams choose to eliminate one or two Gorgons for safety, but this requires careful timing and high damage output, as any Gorgon left alive after an attempted kill will activate the wipe mechanic.
Encounter 4: The Gatekeepers
Once through the Gorgons' Labyrinth, players reach the Gatekeepers encounter, a chaotic and fast-paced test of multitasking and coordination. The team must defend two Confluxes on both sides of a central area while handling waves of increasingly powerful enemies, including Minotaurs and Praetorians. Players are required to use a Relic to clear specific enemies and travel between different dimensions - a mechanic called the "Time Gate."
Two portals appear during this encounter, each leading to an alternate dimension: one set in the past, and the other in the future. These portals are used to retrieve Relics and defeat shielded Praetorians that appear in both dimensions. At any given time, players must manage threats across multiple locations, and those holding the Relic must cleanse teammates while maintaining control of the Relics to prevent the Vex from overwhelming them.
Final Encounter: Atheon, Time’s Conflux
The last encounter pits the fireteam against Atheon, Time's Conflux, a massive Vex boss who controls time and space within the Vault. Atheon’s mechanics are some of the most challenging in any Destiny 2 raid, requiring precise timing, communication, and high DPS (damage per second) from the team. The fight begins with Atheon summoning Guardians randomly into one of two alternate timelines (Mars or Venus), where they must destroy a set of Oracles to prevent the fireteam from being marked for death.
Meanwhile, the players left in the main arena need to defend against waves of Vex enemies while preparing to open the portal to bring their teammates back. The team members trapped in the alternate timeline must destroy Oracles in the correct order to ensure their survival. Additionally, Atheon’s fight includes the "Time’s Vengeance" buff, which significantly boosts players' damage, creating a window in which the team must maximize their DPS to defeat Atheon. This phase is a race against time, with players balancing the pressure of dealing damage with staying alive.