Destiny 2 Pantheon guide: All bosses, encounter changes, best builds, rewards, and more

Destiny 2 Pantheon event is live with old Raid bosses and new mechanics. Players will find the associated loot from the encounters, alongside triumphs, Spoils of Conquest, and armor pieces. However, one of the main attractions of this activity is the emblem, which has been designed based on the final boss each week.

This article lists all the basics of the Pantheon activity, alongside the bosses available every week, rewards, changes to the encounter, and more.

Disclaimer: This article mentions the best builds and changes made to the boss encounters in Pantheon. Note that the core mechanics will not be mentioned here.

All Week 1 Pantheon bosses in Destiny 2 Into the Light

Here is a list of all boss encounters of the Pantheon activity in order:

Golgoroth
Caretaker
Planets
Atraks-1

All encounters will put you five levels below the enemies and the boss. While you won't feel any substantial spike in the increasing damage, some changes to the mechanics might frustrate your fire team in the long run.

All changes to the Pantheon encounters in Destiny 2

During your run through each boss of Pantheon, you will find certain changes to each encounter. This has been done to ensure a bit more challenge than usual runs. Here is a list of changes made to each encounter in Week 1 Pantheon:

Golgoroth: Additional enemies spawn during the encounter. Multiple players can get the "Unstable Light" debuff inside the DPS puddle
Caretaker: Centurions spawn near the Caretaker boss, specifically near the stunners' location. Darkness-flying entities will spawn inside the dark symbol room.
Planets: Tornadoes will now spawn on plates. Cabal Incendiors spawn on the middle platforms. After all planets are assigned, an elite Tormentor spawns in the middle.
Atraks-1: Additional enemies spawn throughout the encounter. Servitors will have Void shields. Lastly, a Tormentor spawns in the surface arena.
Oryx: Servile Knights have Solar shields, while a wave of Light-Eater Knights spawn each time someone begins the plate sequence. Lastly, a Tormentor spawns in the damage phase, alongside a Light-Eater Ogrein the final stand.
Rhulk: Tormentors spawn after depositing Emanating buff to the pillars. An after-image of Rhulk walks beside the main boss in the arena, replicating most of his attacks.
Riven: Damage resistance and health buff in the lower room to prevent one-phase cheese. Added Minotaur and Taken Centurions in the Glass and Keep room.
Nezarec: Added a Cabal Centurion boss that can be damaged with only Light or Darkness buffs. Can be blinded too. Plates explode as well, forcing players to damage the boss from different locations.

The Surges available in Weeks 1 and 3 of Pantheon include Strand and Void Surges, alongside Arc and Stasis respectively. A new modifier called "Class Warfare" is active as well.

Class Warfare grants a 10% increased damage to allies when a player casts class ability, stacking up to three times.

All rewards in Weeks 1 and 2 of Pantheon of Destiny 2

All boss encounters will drop a standard and Adept version of the weapons tied to that specific Raid, alongside armor pieces and Spoils of Conquest. However, note that only the first run of each week will drop the Adept weapon per account.

Defiance of Yasmin Harrowed in Destiny 2 (Image via Bungie)

Hence, anyone that already got an Adept drop will only be able to farm standard weapons, armor pieces, and 5 Spoils each run.

Completing the Oryx triumph in Week 2 Pantheon will drop the Qullim's Terminus Harrowed Machine Gun.

Best builds for each encounter in Destiny 2 Pantheon Week 1

Some of the best builds inside an endgame encounter depend heavily on the Surges available in a given week. In Week 1, the Surges include Solar and Strand, which calls for the same elemental builds for eliminating enemy groups, and Heavy weapons with the same elements for damaging bosses.

Modifiers of Week 1 Pantheon in Destiny 2 (Image via Bungie)

Titans can run Banner of War with either Synthoceps or Precious Scars, alongside Warlocks with Well of Radiance with Phoenix Protocol or Lunafaction Boots.

Due to the Void Surge, Hunters can go for a single Shadowshot with Gyrfalcon Hauberk or Orpheus Rig. However, the former will be more efficient for add-clearing while paired with a Void weapon.

Alternatively, a Celestial Nighthawk with Marksman Golden Gun is great for DPS phases as well.

Gyrfalcon's Hauberk in Destiny 2 (Image via Bungie)

Lastly, regarding Heavy weapons, the new and improved Whisper of the Worm is great against Golgoroth, Caretaker, and the Planets' boss. Other weapons can be Gjallarhorn paired with Apex Predator Rocket Launcher, or Cataclysmic with Bait and Switch.

For Atraks-1, go for the Parasite Heavy Grenade Launcher in the DPS phase.

Best builds for each encounter in Destiny 2 Pantheon Week 2

The Surges available in Week 2 of Pantheon are Solar and Stasis, which increase any outgoing damage of those elements by 25%. The core modifier is called "Shot Caller," where each player can significantly increase damage after multiple precision hits with a Primary weapon. Hence, it is important to choose accordingly.

Apex Predator Rocket Launcher (Image via Bungie)

Some of the best builds in the Week 2 encounter include:

Celestial Nighthawk Hunter with Solar Primary weapon, preferably Sunshot or Zaouli's Bane
Lunafaction Boots with Well of Radiance Warlock
Loreley Splendor Helm Titans for increased survivability
Tractor Cannon Shotgun for weakening, or Shadowshot Hunters
Apex Predator with Bait and Switch perk in Heavy slot
Cataclysmic Linear Fusion Rifle with Bait and Switch as an alternative, for safer DPS phases

Parasite is still a mandatory option in the Atraks-1 boss fight.

Best builds for each encounter in Destiny 2 Pantheon Week 3

Week 3 of Pantheon includes Stasis and Arc Surges, leading players to get weapons and elemental subclass builds of those elements. However, a few things such as Well of Radiance or Shadowshot Hunter are mandatory. Apart from those, the Wendigo GL3 Grenade Launcher can cater to the Arc Surge in Week 3, alongside the Palmyra-B Rocket Launcher.

Hence, some of the best gear and build choices include the following:

Wendigo GL3 Grenade Launcher
Grand Overture Exotic Machine Gun
Palmyra-B Rocket Launcher with Gjallarhorn
Hothead Rocket Launcher with Gjallarhorn
Chaos Reach Warlock with Geomag Stabilizers
Well of Radiance Warlocks with Lunafaction/Apotheosis Veil

It seems that Whisper of the Worm is still a great weapon choice against Oryx, regardless of this week's Surges. Players are recommended to always activate the associated damage modifier, which is "Class Warfare" in Week 3.

Anyone who does not own a Wendigo should always go for an Edge Transit with Bait and Switch.

Best builds for each encounter in Destiny 2 Pantheon Week 4

The Surges for the final week of Pantheon are Solar and Strand, alongside the Shot Caller modifier. Readers can refer to the Week 2 section of the guide to get an idea of the modifier.

Regarding weapons, the Rocket Launcher combination with Gjallarhorn and Apex Predator will work almost in every encounter until Atraks. Use the Parasite Grenade Launcher against Atraks, and Whisper of the Worm against Riven and Oryx. Lastly, Rocket Launchers with one Divinity is enough to shoot down Nezarec.