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Destiny 2: How to get Heir Apparent and the catalyst

The Guardian Games can net players an exotic Machine Gun and the catalyst for it simply by following some easy steps.
Destiny 2: How to get Heir Apparent and the catalyst

Destiny 2's Guardian Games have arrived, and although they don't bring new exotic weapons like in past years, fans can get their hands on previous exotic rewards with more ease, as the focus in 2021 the catalyst of said weapon.

We're talking about the Heir Apparent exotic machine gun, an incredible weapon that's many people favourite to run in the heavy slot thanks to its amazing arc shield perk.

Without further ado, let's get right down to every step you need to complete to get your hands on Heir Apparent and its catalyst.

Destiny 2 - How to get Heir Apparent 

heir apparent destiny 2
(Picture: Bungie)

The steps to get the gun itself in 2021 are relatively simple. First up, after you pick up your class item from Zavala, talk to Eva Levante and start The Games Begin quest. 

You'll need to get 100 Laurels to complete it, we have an entire guide dedicated to the Guardian Games so check it out if you need specifics, but basically, these are motes that drop whenever you get kills in activities like Strikes, Lost Sectors, Raids, etc. 

Once you do this, a new quest will pop-up, asking you to complete a single Contender Card. There's plenty to choose from with Eva, but the easiest is the Strike Card, so if you're looking for speed, pick that one up, pay attention to the requirements as they may differ from player to player.

Destiny 2 Top of the Class exotic quest

destiny 2 heir apparent
(Picture: Bungie)

Doing this will automatically trigger the exotic quest, which is a cakewalk compared to other quests. To complete it simply follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Get 50 Laurels
  • Step 2: Get 100 Machine Gun kills

Easy as that! Congratulations, you are the proud owner of a Heir Apparent. Now, the real grind begins.

Destiny 2 - How to get Heir Apparent catalyst

Hang tight, we're about to say two words that scare every Destiny 2 player -- random drop. That's right, much like other catalysts, Competitive Catalyst, the Heir Apparent one is a random drop that will pop whenever you exchange Gold or Platinum medals on the Tower.

Now, let's run you through the steps to finish the quest.

Step 1: Earn 50 Guardian Games points

guardian games catalyst
(Picture: Bungie)

You accumulate points by turning in medals. Medals can be acquired by completing activities across Destiny 2, but the best way is to grind them via the Contender Cards. 

Here's how much each medal is worth:

  • Platinum: 15 Points
  • Gold: 5 Points
  • Silver: 2 Points
  • Bronze: 1 Point

Step 2: Complete three Contender Cards

By the time you hit this step you should be well versed in what Contender Cards do, so pick the three that best suit you, whether you're a PvP or a PvE player, and get going.

What are you doing? You should be completing them instead as you read this!

Step 3: Earn 90 Competitive Spirit

destiny 2 apparent catalyst

What is Competitive Spirit you ask? Nothing but a fancy title to getting precision kills with machine guns is all. That's right, don't be overwhelmed by it, you just need to jump into the Daily Focus playlist, which rotates from Strikes, Crucible, or Gambit, and shoot away. You can check your medal case to see which activity is the focus.

We recommend you do it on Strikes as you'll be less bothered by the PvP nature of the two other modes, making your grind easier.

Step 4: Get kills with Heir Apparent

heir apparent

By this point the quest is complete and you just need to charge the catalyst by racking up kills with Heir Apparent. The kills are retroactive so we recommend that you equip it to complete any bounties, cards, or even the previous quest step, as you'll be essentially knocking two birds with one stone.

Don't be pressured to finish the kills before the end of the event, as you'll be able to complete them after the Guardian Games, the important thing is getting to this step.

Destiny 2 - Heir Apparent catalyst perk

With this catalyst, you'll earn the Legion's Bulwark perk. Here's what it does:

  • Increases the Arc Shield's durability and partially reloads the magazine if it is destroyed.

There you have it, it's quite the grind but definitely worth it. Good luck Guardian, and may the best class win.


For more Destiny 2 news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or take a look at some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

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