Destiny 2
Diablo 4 Guides
Guides & Tutorial > FPS > Destiny 2

Destiny 2: How To Unlock Empire Hunts & Master Difficulty

Here's how to unlock Empire Hunts in Destiny 2.
Destiny 2: How To Unlock Empire Hunts & Master Difficulty

The Beyond Light campaign in Destiny 2 added a bunch of new replayable activities for players to pursue, including Empire Hunts. These work similarly to the Wanted Bounties that Spider used to offer in Tangled Shore. The Empire Hunts send players to hunt Fallen commanders in Europa. These are post-campaign activities and can be pursued for some tantalizing Beyond Light gear, including the exotic Cloudstrike Sniper Rifle.

This guide covers everything players need to know about Empire Hunts in Destiny 2, including details on how to unlock them along with the more difficult Master Empire Hunts.

Destiny 2 Character Variks
After finishing the Beyond Light campaign, players will need to visit Variks the Loyal to start Empire Hunts

How To Unlock Empire Hunts In Destiny 2

Empire Hunts are unlocked after completing the Beyond Light campaign in Destiny 2. However, even after finishing the campaign, three are three post-campaign quests that players have to complete before they get access to the Empire Hunts. 

After finishing the Beyond Light campaign, players need to visit Variks, the Loyal, and pick up the quest, Reclaiming Europa. It could take over 25-30 minutes to finish, at the end of which players have to beat a gigantic enemy called Factory Brig.

The next quest in line is called Empire's Fall. It's a two-step quest where players have to complete two Sabotage missions and come face-to-face with one of the Fallen commanders, Kridis. 

The final quest is the Dark Priestess Empire Hunt (yes, it's an Empire Hunt), in which players have to slay Kridis. After beating Kridis, players will have access to three Empire Hunts, which they can pick from Varis. Every Empire Hunt costs 40 Herealways Pieces, which players can earn easily by completing bounties, public events, or pretty much any activity in Europa.

empire hunts
Players must finish the Beyond Light campaign and three post-campaign missions to unlock Empire Hunts. (Picture: Shreyansh/Bungie)

How To Unlock Master Difficulty Empire Hunts In Destiny 2

There are also higher difficulty weekly Empire Hunts, which players can unlock by completing more Sabotage missions and unlocking upgrades Europan Explorer 1 & 2.

Once players have completed 'Sabotage: Europan Explorer 2' you will have access to the more punishing elected Difficulty Empire Hunts. These' more challenging Empire Hunts are where you will be able to pick up the Cloudstrike Exotic Sniper Rifle, however, it is a rare drop and will require farming these master-difficulty Empire Hunts.

Empire Hunts Not Showing - How To Fix?

This is a common complaint by players now and again, but most of the answers tend to revolve around Guardians not understanding fully how to unlock empire hunts in the first place. So make sure you've completed all steps properly. So, to double-check:

  • Make sure you have completed the Reclaiming Europa quest from Zavala
  • Have you purchased all the upgrades
  • If you're still not seeing Empire Hunts, drop a note in the Destiny 2 Subreddit or contact Bungie Help.

That's everything players need to know about Empire Hunts in Destiny 2. 


For more Destiny 2 news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or take a look at some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

WEEKLY UPDATES - Destiny 2 Weekly Reset List | Lost Sector Rotation | Raid & Dungeon Rotation | Grandmaster Nightfall Rotation | Weekly Challenges List | Xur Location | Trials of Osiris Map & Rewards | Iron Banner Schedule

FUTURE UPDATES - When Does The Next Destiny 2 Season Start | Everything We Know About 'Destiny 2 The Final Shape' | All Destiny 3 Speculation

EMBLEM & SHADERS - Free Destiny 2 Emblem Codes | How To Get Photo Finish Shader | How To Get Bergusian Night Shader

BEST HUNTER BUILDS - 

Hunter Arc Build | Hunter Solar Build | Hunter Stasis Build | Hunter Strand Build | Hunter Void Build

BEST TITAN BUILDS - 

Titan Arc Build | Titan Solar Build | Titan Stasis Build | Titan Strand Build | Titan Void Build

BEST WARLOCK BUILDS - 

Warlock Arc Build | Warlock Solar Build | Warlock Stasis Build | Warlock Strand Build | Warlock Void Build

Exotics, Catalyst & God Rolls - Alter of Reflection Catalyst Quest | Austringer God Roll | Calus Midi Tool God RollDead Man's Tale God Roll | Fixed Odds God Roll | Hawkmoon God Roll | How To Get Come To PassHow To Get Dawn ChorusHow To Get Omnioculus | How To Get Star-Eater Scales | Mechabre God RollOsteo Striga Catalyst | Riptide God Roll | Queens and Worms Quest

Game Guides - How To Unlock All Subclasses | Enemy Strikes Guide | How To Get More Loadout Slots