Destiny 2 is about to introduce a new raid called The Desert Perpetual, which will arrive a bit after the launch of the Edge of Fate expansion. This raid is will deepen the story surrounding the enigmatic Nine and their realm, Eternity. For those curious about the timing and details of this raid, here’s what you need to know.
The Edge of Fate campaign kicks off the new era for Destiny 2 with a surreal storyline focused on the Nine. However, The Desert Perpetual raid won’t be available right at expansion launch. Instead, it will become accessible at 10 am PT on Saturday, July 19, 2025. This timing will mark the start of the World First raid race in Contest Mode, giving players a chance to be the first team to conquer the challenges.
Release Date and Time Details
- 10 am PDT (West Coast US)
- 1 pm EDT (East Coast US)
- 6 pm BST (UK)
- 7 pm CEST (Europe)
- 3 am AEST, July 20 (Australia)
To enter the raid, players will need to have completed the Edge of Fate campaign. Bungie hasn’t yet specified the recommended power level, but finishing the campaign on legendary difficulty should prepare Guardians well for Contest Mode.
Contest Mode and Raid Race
Contest Mode will be active for 48 hours after the raid unlocks. This mode ramps up the difficulty, offering distinct rewards like emblems and a raid belt that won’t be available afterward. Interestingly, once the first team completes the raid, Normal Mode will unlock for all players immediately, while Contest Mode remains available for the full 48 hours. This change means players who want to experience the raid without the extra challenge can jump in sooner.
Twitch Drops for The Desert Perpetual
If you’re not racing to complete the raid but still want some exclusive rewards, Bungie is running a Twitch Drop campaign during the World First race. Watching certain Twitch channels at specific times will earn you the Power Hues emblem. Here are the participating streamers and their schedules (all in PT):
- Bungie pre-show from 6:45 am to 10 am
- Evanf1997 pre-show and full raid follow from 6:45 am to 6 pm
- WiseThug and Merj1 (French) from 10 am to 2 pm
- Nexxoss Gaming and EllyKnalltRein (German) from 10 am to 2 pm
- Masseo (Italian) from 10 am to 2 pm
- El Tío Toland (LATAM MX) from 10 am to 2 pm
After the raid race, you can also earn the Golden Relief emblem by gifting a subscription to any eligible Twitch channel streaming The Desert Perpetual raid from July 19 to July 29.
To participate in Twitch Drops, you’ll need to link your Bungie and Twitch accounts and watch the listed streams while the event is active.
Wow, the way Bungie is handling this raid race feels a bit friendlier this time, don’t you agree? Opening Normal Mode early after the first completion might be the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility. What do you think? Will you be joining the race or tuning in for Twitch Drops?
