Prepping

Some tips on how to prep for a new expansion and (more importantly) contest mode raids.

If you intend on prepping, you should start at least 6 weeks before the release date due to how weekly bounties rotate.

This list is roughly in order of priority.

Prep Checklist and Calculator

Bounty Prepping

A key part of prepping is bounty prepping where you keep completed bounties in your quests screen and do not turn them in for rewards. You can keep bounties between seasons/expansions, so when the new season/expansion starts, you can claim your completed bounties to gain a lot of XP very quickly.

You can only keep so many bounties/quests at a time, so you need to make them count. You can also have bounties on all 3 characters.

In order of priority:

• Weekly bounties from all vendors
  • Note that some vendors have rotating bounties each week (i.e. Petra Venj)
• Daily bounties
• Repeatable bounties

Remember to keep some quest space open for new quests for new content. Bounties count against your total quest space.

Remember to claim bounties while in a fireteam and on a destination for fireteam XP bonuses!

Stored XP Calculator and Checklist

Bounty Prep Checklist Last updated as prep for The Final Shape

Exotic Engrams

Since exotic engrams are a key part in unlocking new exotic armor, you should keep some on-hand to quickly level up Rahool in the Tower.

• You can keep up to 10 engrams on each character
• You can purposely fill your engram slots on your character so new exotic engrams go to your postmaster to claim later
  • Note that enhancement cores will deceptively appear in your postmaster as exotic engrams at 0 power

Make sure to free a couple slots in your engram inventory before new content releases so you can have space for new items.

Resources

List of resources to farm and keep in your inventory before new content releases so you have plenty to use.

• Glimmer (max 500,000)
• Ascendant Shards (max 30)
• Enhancement Prisms (max 100)
• Enhancement Cores (no max)
• Upgrade Modules (max 25)
• Ascendant Alloys (max 30)
• Exotic Ciphers (max 5)

Glimmer Banking

Glimmer can be quickly used up when new content drops, so it sometimes can be useful to “bank” glimmer so that you can get some back quickly. Here are some methods to do so:

• Keep sunset planetary materials that you may still have
  • These can be traded for glimmer at Rahool in the Tower
• Keep any Rainmakers you may still have
• Claim exotic ghosts to keep in your inventory
  • These can be dismantled for glimmer later
  • Sparrows and ships no longer cost/provide glimmer

Other Banking

Like Glimmer, other resources can be banked. You should only bank resources if you know you can get to the resource cap again before the release date.

• Bank enhancement cores/prisms by masterworking exotic armor
  • Exotic armor can be dismantled later for some resources back
  • Other gear can also be masterworked/dismantled but for less resources

Content completion

Some general things you should make sure to complete. Note that seasonal content generally will not persist between content releases, including exotic missions.

• Acquire all exotics
• Acquire all exotic catalysts and complete them
• Acquire Strand, Stasis, and Prismatic subclasses
• Acquire all grenades, fragments, etc. for your subclasses
  • This may require a significant amount of time and/or glimmer
  • Make sure to check Ikora for things you may be missing on your Light subclasses
• Complete campaigns and seasonal stories
• Claim all season pass rewards on all characters
• Claim all vendor and seasonal engrams
• Claim all seasonal challenges
• Acquire exotic class item rolls
• Acquire craftable weapon patterns
• Free up vault space

Hazards to avoid

The first day of new content can be quite buggy or you may be unable to connect to certain services like DIM.

Here are some things to do before the release date:

• Keep items you’re likely to use during the first day in your inventory and not in your vault and not on other characters
• Keep a couple spaces open in each slot for new item drops
  • Remember to clear your postmaster when possible
• Keep some quest slots open for new quests
• Remove mods from all weapons, armor, ghosts, ships, etc.

FAQ

What should I focus on?

Bounty prepping is probably the most impactful form of prepping for new content. You can do the other stuff if you have the time and willpower.

If you have limited time, you can bounty prep a character at a time, focusing on weekly bounties.

Should I prep for an expansion/season/raid?

For just an expansion or seasonal content? No, unless you really want to.

For contest mode raids? Probably, but it’s not required. It’s just a helpful boost and can give you a slight advantage in contest mode.