Hi all! (I'm re-editing this after awhile since I've been running VoG with some of Destiny's amazing and friendly players both in NM and HM. I will try my best to explain in more details on the mechanics of each stage. I will also share my personal choices of weapons/armors/stats/builds for the raid. Here goes...) - 6 man team for awesome firepower - I'd recommend all to save exotic slots for either your special/heavy slot. If you have a good legendary special/heavy, then you're free to switch around. (MAXED weapons are highly recommended for maximum firepower) - Be at least lvl26 for NM and lvl29 for HM - Having a mic is a must for communication - Have loads of fun! I'm a warlock.. and I don't have a particular favorite for raids. But I usually go for this throughout the entire raid for both NM and HM. Class: Sunsinger (Radiant Skin/Solar Grnde) Armor/stats: high Discipline! (Grenade spamming!) Sunsingers have no damaging super but, once radiance is on, they can spam grenades and still be able to withstand mobs firepower. With high discipline, the cd for your grenades will let Sunsingers be the artillery in the fireteam. (Fireborn is useless in HM especially if you're the only Sunsinger) Main differences in NM and HM: - Revivable in NM and not in HM - Mobs at level 26 NM and 30 in HM 1) The entrance. "The Spire is Forming" phase. Keep the vex plates up while defending against waves and waves of vexes. Keep a lookout for Praetorians! They'll turn the vex plates red and interrupt the forming spire. Since there's a team of 6, just split into grps of 2 to defend the 3 vex plates. The mechanics for both NM and HM are the same for this part. To know you're done, a pillar/spire will form and a beam will shoot towards the circular gate (like the black garden mission when entering the last part). When the gate opens, you'll be in a maze of descending tavern. Just follow the lead (for 1st timers), and don't die falling. You'll get to your first loot chest (yay! Ascendant Materials!) Moving on... My personal equipped items for this phase: Primary: Fatebringer (TFWPKY 1969 is good too! For the firefly perk!) Special: The Trolley Problem (void fusion) Heavy: Truth (Rocket Launcher) 2) The Templar. Before you can do anything to the Templar, you need to go through a series of phases. Here are the phases. Special: change to Patience and Time 2a) Defend The Confluxes. Once you jump down to the main battle area, you'll trigger the 1st phase. You'll have to defend the central conflux. How me and my team do it is by splitting into 2 grps of 3. Each defunding one side (left, mid, right). For this phase, the mid guardians must ensure that no vexes come close to the central conflux. Once "Ritual of Negation" starts, waves and waves of vexes will pour in which includes some minotaurs and fanatics. In between the Conflux phase, the Templar will summon his legions. You can either fight them or hide from them. Personally, I'd rather save my ammo. You can hide in the secret passage way to the left (team lead will guide). The legion phase ends when "ritual of negation" starts. Come out from hiding and time to defend the left/right confluxes. Now, the mid guardians have to split to help the left and right. Can remain in the mid to help sweep all the vexes pouring in the middle. The mechanics are the same, when legions start, hide or fight. The last phase for this phase, defend all confluxes. You know what to do. More minotaurs and hobgoblins will start coming in. (Thus, the reason I use a primary with firefly perk. Shoot one, and the rest will poof!) When legions come, hide or fight. The last ritual of negation will mean.. Next phase! 2b) The yellow oracles. The Templar will summon oracles in between waves or "ritual of negation". There'll be a total of 7 waves of oracles to complete this phase. However, if you miss one oracle and get marked at any point, that wave won't count. This could take awhile or a very long while. There are a few popular ways to do this. I've tried 2 ways. 2bi) The first way, all 6 guardians stay on the battle field and do the 2x3 (left, mid, right) like how you defended the confluxes. The oracles have fixed spots. 3 left, 1 mid, 3 right. The mid guardians will look out for the back left and back right (and mid of course). While the 2 lefts and rights will try to remain ard the oracle spots. BEWARE of HOBGOBLINS! They'll spawn at faraway platforms. Can either take them down (they'll respawn non-stop) or dance around and hide whenever your life is critical. In this case, I usually ask one team mate to do snipe duty (usually someone with ice breaker). This is a more fun way of doing it than the next way I'm gonna share. 2bii) For this way to happen, you have to wipe the raid (everyone dies). You'll respawn at the top platform above the battlefield where you came from earlier. This is an easier (much too easy) way to go through the oracle phase. Just spread the team and jump up to the higher platform behind. Some will take the left and some the right. Anyone can keep an eye on the mid oracle. One guardian will be jumping towards the battlefield onto a platform high enough for the ads to not fire. That guardian will only be keeping an eye on the left hidden oracle. (Team lead will guide). Now, this method have been used a lot of times. Patches after patches and it can still be used. Not sure if this method will last or intended to last (since it's not how the mechanic is intended to be played), but it's always better to try and do the phase legitimately before trying other methods. 2c) Finally, the Templar fight. The Templar will now let you fight it. But! It won't be an easy task. Similar to the oracle phase, the Templar will summon his oracles. The frequency of oracle waves for both NM and HM are the same but the only difference is, the Templar will summon 2 oracles each time in HM while only 1 for NM. The combination of spots are random.. So.. Keep a look out! The mechanics for this phase of the raid may vary on how your team fights the Templar. The intended way, all 6 teams will be at the battle platform and fight the Templar on ground while killing waves of harpies. This time, a relic shield will appear before you fight the Templar. Once you take the relic, the Templar will appear and the fight starts. Originally, the team will have to take down oracles before the relic holder can use the relic super to take down the Templar's shield.. One team mate will then go to the spot where the Templar will try to teleport to next (will be marked with a verticals light beam) to avoid the Templar from teleporting. This is so that the other team mates can take it down faster! However, minotaurs will start spawning! Be careful! For the other method, it's the same with the oracle phase and the guardian below just have to hold the relic and take down the Templar shield frm below. 3) Gorgon's Labyrinth. This can either be the easiest part of the raid or hardest. But before venturing into the maze, don't forget to take the new and upgraded Exotic Loot Chest! Though not a guarantee, still a chance. After taking the exotic chest, continue your descend into the maze. Follow the lead to the right side of the maze for another loot chest. (Keep a lookout for Gorgons) from here on, the lead will have to guide the team towards the almost unseeable exit into the next part of the raid.. See.. It's simple.. 4) The leap of faith phase.. This is where warlocks (like myself) enjoy.. Oh yea.. We can fly! Be reminded to wait for the platforms to appear one by one and by the 3rd platform, you shld be able to jumpe to the ledge.. Experienced guardians shld watch out for 1st timers.. Chances of falling is quite high.. (Even I fall from too much joy flying). 6) Gatekeepers. Take down the first gatekeeper you see when the door opens (far ahead) with snipers. Beware of hobgoblins! Recommended way, all to the left (Mars) side first and take down the gatekeeper inside to spawn the first relic. Guardians inside will be marked by void (gradually blinded). Get the relic and cleanse. After that, 2 will defend the mid conflux. The relic holder will help with the next portal (right/Venus). Help throw in grenades or super in the Venus side as vexes are cluttered and will kill you.. Kill the gatekeeper to spawn the 2nd relic. Once out, all will go to mid to defend conflux. Relic holders.. Station yourselves at the portals where major (yellow bar) minotaurs will spawn. Take them down. After a few waves. We're done! 7) Next, is Atheon himself. Usually, we just wait until 3 gets randomly teleported. In NM, the 3 outside will just have to kill supplicants. But in HM, the 3 outside should not move until you take down the detain sheild!!! And then go to the vex plate to open the portal of whichever side your team mates are in. Team portal, just take down those oracles and come out safe. In Venus (right), there will be a Minotaur. Take it down fast. Relic holders must be of the higher level of the 3. Relax, don't panic. Once you're out, start attacking Atheon. I usually will ask the relic holder to go to a middle platform and open the shield for a close range firepower to Atheon. "Time Vengeance" will have a timer. Once it's "0:00", relic will disappear and the whole process starts from the random teleporting of 3. Do this for a few rounds and you should be good. :) This guide is not all complete. This is just an intro I thought would at least help new comers on what to expect.