Grandmaster Nightfalls are perhaps the most challenging endgame activity in Destiny 2. With an insane Power Level requirement and unforgiving modifiers, Grandmaster Nightfalls will challenge all but the top fireteams out there.
This guide will give you everything you need to tackle and conquer the Scarlet Keep GM, including loadouts, preferred subclasses, tactics, and more.
Art | Nightfall | Threat | Shields | Champions | Requires |
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Loadout and Subclasses
Updated as of Season of the Seraph (S19).
The following guide was heavily inspired by Mac‘s excellent video covering all Grandmasters this season.
Subclasses & Exotics
For class loadouts, Hunters want to rock an “Invis” Nightstalker build with Omnioculus. Warlocks want to spec into Well of Radiance with Starfire Protocol. And Titans want to run Arc Striker with Heart of Inmost Light.
Armor | Class | Type | Requirements | Source | Released | Requires | Exotic Perk |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Starfire Protocol | Warlock | Chest | Free-to-Play | Exotic Engrams | Season 1 | ![]() Free-to-Play | Fusion Grenades have an additional charge and recharge from empowered weapon damage, with empowered weapon final blows granting more energy. Defeating targets with Fusion Grenades grant Rift energy. |
![]() Omnioculus | Hunter | Chest | Beyond Light | Lost Sectors | Season 13 | ![]() Beyond Light | You gain a second Smoke Bomb charge and have damage resistance while invisible. When you make an ally invisible, they gain damage resistance while invisible and you gain melee energy. |
![]() Heart of Inmost Light | Titan | Chest | Forsaken Pack | Exotic Engrams | Season 4 | ![]() Forsaken Pack | Using an ability (grenade, melee, or Barricade) empowers the other two abilities. Empowered means abilities have faster regen, melees and grenades do more damage, and Barricades have more hit points. |
Loadout
With Barrier and Unstoppable champions, Arc and Solar shields, and an Arc elemental singe, loadouts for this strike are simple, with all players wanting Arbalest, an Arc hand cannon with an Unstoppable mod, such as the Waking Vigil, and either an Arc linear fusion rifle, such as the Stormchaser.
Art | Name | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Arbalest | Linear Fusion Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Kinetic | Lightfall | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | B › Average | - | Exotic Quest | ![]() | ![]() Lightfall | Season 6 | Kinetic | No | ||
![]() | Stormchaser | Linear Fusion Rifle | Aggressive | Legendary | Heavy | Arc | Witch Queen Dungeon Key | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | B › Average | PvE | Duality Dungeon | ![]() | ![]() Episode 3: Heretic | Season 17 | Heavy | No | ||
![]() | Waking Vigil | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | B › Average | PvP | Shattered Throne Dungeon | ![]() | ![]() Free-to-Play | Season 13 | Energy | No | Voltshot |
As always, these are simply recommendations. if you have something in mind that you feel would work better, feel free to throw it on. With all that being said, let’s get into the strategy.

The Scarlet Keep Grandmaster Nightfall
GM Power Level
If you’re interested in running this GM, you need to have a proper Power Level:
Nightfall Difficulty | Required to enter | Power Level of activities | Adept drop rate |
Grandmaster | 1580 | 1620 | Common+ |
More Grandmaster guides for Season 19:
- The Insight Terminus GM
- Birthplace of the Vile GM
- The Corrupted GM
- The Glassway GM
- Warden of Nothing GM
Scarlet Keep GM: A Step-by-step guide
According to Mac’s guide, the Boss room is the only part of this strike. His number one recommendation is not to phase the boss until all three Supers are available. You can simply hide until your Supers are up, use them and then take care of the ads.
For the second phase, two Unstoppable Ogres will appear. Deal with them using your Hand cannons and proceed with finishing up the final third phase of the boss.
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