Ascendant Shard

"A self-stabilizing knot of spacetime geometry."

- Item description, Destiny

"Required for forging Masterwork gear. Obtained from challenging activities or purchasable from the Gunsmith in the Tower."

- Item description, Destiny 2

Ascendant Shard is a type of material in Destiny and Destiny 2.

Gameplay
Originally used to upgrade the attack value on Legendary Armor during Year 1, they have since been phased out of use in favor of other material systems. It is still currently required to level of Year 1 Vault of Glass Armor, and can be obtained from the Vault itself, or purchased from The Speaker with Ascendant Energy.

In Destiny 2, Ascendant Shards were reintroduced as an Exotic material used to masterwork Legendary and Exotic Armor, unlock Exotic catalysts from craftable Exotic weapons by reshaping it at the Relic on Mars, and purchase Exotic weapons from past content at the Monument To Lost Lights in the Tower. They are acquired from challenging activities such as higher difficulty Nightfalls, Trials of Osiris, the season finale quests from the Season of the Haunted onwards, resetting ritual reputation ranks for the first time, or bought from Rahool.

Ascendant Shards can also be obtained from the paid track of the current Season Pass at varying ranks. Rarely, in-game events may reward Ascendant Shards such as 2020's Dawning.

List of appearances

 * Destiny
 * Destiny 2