Conquer the Witness in Destiny 2: Salvation’s Edge

Destiny 2 Salvation’s Edge Guide: How to Beat the Witness

Salvation’s Edge is the latest raid in Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion. Players must climb the spire in the Pale Heart and confront the Witness. The raid is known for its challenging mechanics, and this guide will provide a breakdown of each encounter.

Encounter 1: Substrate 

Part 1: Slaying adds 

Divide into two teams of three. One player grabs the yellow pyramid energy in the center, opening two doors and initiating the “Final Shape Looming” timer. Teams enter separate rooms and face enemies. Each team must eliminate a Minotaur, a Hydra, and an Overload Champion. After the Overload Champion is defeated, a Tormentor spawns in the central room. Players return to the central room to eliminate the Tormentor and then repeat the process in their side room, killing the Overload Champion and returning to the center to kill the Tormentor again.

Part 2: Plates, Conductors and Resonance 

After eliminating the Tormentors, a plate in the Overload Champion room glows. One player runs through the glowing plate to send energy to the second plate, indicated by a black monolith. Another player runs through the second plate, sending the energy back to the first. This process spawns Pyramid Resonance, which players collect. Once everyone has collected two or three Pyramid Resonances, the plate runner closest to the black monolith shoots the monolith and then runs through the plate, closing both plates. The team returns to the center room to kill the Subjugator and deposit their Pyramid Resonances into a box to extend the Final Shape Looming timer. Repeat Parts 1 and 2 three more times to complete the encounter.

Encounter 2: Herald of Finality 

Part 1: Plates and Stolen Favor 

Each team of three takes a designated area (left, right, or middle). Similar to Encounter 1, players manipulate plates and collect Resonances. The encounter starts with destroying Taken Blights, which spawn Knights and Trammels. Killing them starts the boss mechanic. A random player on each side gains “Call to Reckoning” and must destroy Blights in the main arena to expose the Herald’s weak spot. Players with “Stolen Favor” destroy the weak spot.

Part 2: Reading black monoliths using Stolen Favor 

With “Stolen Favor,” players read the symbols on the black monoliths, which indicate either a Sphere Resonance or a Pyramid Resonance. Players with “Stolen Favor” collect the OPPOSITE Resonance type, while the other player on each side collects the SAME Resonance type. Players with the matching Resonance shoot the black monolith. Once all three monoliths are activated, the boss DPS phase begins.

Part 3: DPS phase 

Before damaging the boss, everyone deposits their Resonances. Swords are the most effective weapons for DPS. When the boss becomes immune, players return to their plates and repeat Parts 1 and 2. Yellow bar enemies spawn, demanding careful resource management during the final stand.

Encounter 3: Repository 

Part 1: Plates, Resonance and Stolen Favor 

The same plate mechanics are used, but with two new Resonance types: Cube Resonance and Tetrahedron Resonance. Random players receive “Stolen Favor,” allowing them to read the symbols on the black monoliths and communicate the shape to the team. Players collect the matching Resonances to activate the monoliths.

Part 2: Opening the door to the next arena 

Once all three monoliths are activated, deposit all Resonances to spawn an Unstoppable Champion and adds. Defeat all enemies to open the door. Repeat Parts 1 and 2 twice more to complete the encounter.

Encounter 4: Verity 

Note 1: Transmog 

Choose unique transmog sets for each player to distinguish statues. Unique Ghost shells are also recommended.

Note 2: Encounter callout legend and chart 

Use in-game chat for callouts with these abbreviations:

• Square = S
• Triangle = T
• Circle = C

Combine shapes to create 3D shapes:

• Square + Triangle = Prism
• Triangle + Circle = Cone
• Circle + Square = Cylinder
• Square + Square = Cube
• Triangle + Triangle = Pyramid
• Circle + Circle = Sphere

Note 3: “The Witness notices your efforts.” 

The Witness will occasionally “kill” all inside players. This is a mechanic and does not consume revive tokens. Outside players collect the Ghosts of the “dead” players and deposit them on pedestals near the entrance, matching the Ghost with its respective player’s statue.

Part 1: Inside players 

Three players are teleported to the inside realm, where they find statues displaying 2D shapes. They type the order of the shapes in the chat (e.g., TCS for Triangle, Circle, Square). Inside players kill Knights, collect two 2D shapes that are DIFFERENT from their own statue, and deposit them into the statues of their teammates who need them. Once they have two different shapes, they return to the outside.

Part 2: Outside players 

Outside players transfer shapes between statues to create 3D shapes. The goal is to create a 3D shape on each statue that does NOT use the 2D shape from the inside realm. For example, if the order is Square, Circle, Triangle, the outside team swaps shapes to create a 3D shape on each statue using ONLY Triangle, Circle, and Square. Once all three statues have the correct 3D shapes, the next mechanic begins.

Part 3: Fake “wipe” 

The Witness “kills” all but one player. The survivor collects Ghosts and deposits them on the correct pedestals. Repeat Parts 1 and 2 three times to complete the encounter.

Final Encounter: The Witness  

Two players are designated as runners, while the rest focus on clearing adds. Linear fusion rifles and sniper rifles are recommended for damage.

Part 1: Destroying The Witness’ arms 

Players destroy the Witness’s arms by targeting the armbands. The armband displays a shape (Circle, Triangle, or Square) and a color (Yellow, Red, or Green). Players must obtain two Resonances based on the shape and color. To obtain a Resonance, stand in the marked area where the Witness’s hand attacks for about two seconds.

• Darkness “bees” = Circle/Spherical and Yellow
• Triangular ground blasts = Triangle/Pyramidal and Green
• Lasers = Square/Hexahedron and Red

After destroying an arm, receive the “Glyphbreaker” buff and shoot the glowing buttons on the Witness’s chest. The damage phase starts once all buttons are destroyed.

Part 2: “The Witness tests you…” 

The player who destroyed the most recent arm goes to the center. The Witness spawns Darkness objects, and the player must shoot only the objects that DO NOT form the shape of the arm they destroyed. Once the correct shape is formed, the player can return to their team.

Part 3: DPS phase 

Players stand on the center platform for the DPS phase. The Witness attacks with various attacks, including a dangerous attack where its eyes shine and it unleashes a ground attack. Jump to avoid the ground attack. When the DPS phase ends, the Witness will slam its hand, killing anyone on the platform. The Witness enters its final stand at 20% health. Defeat it to claim raid rewards.