Hunter's Guide: Mastering Week 5 Ascendant Challenge With Ease

how to cheese week 5 ascendant challenge with hunter

In Week 5 of the Ascendant Challenge in Destiny 2, Hunters can employ a strategic cheese method to streamline the encounter, particularly in the Shattered Ruins on the Moon. By leveraging the Hunter’s unique mobility and abilities, players can bypass much of the challenge’s complexity. The key is to use the Stomp-EE5 exotic boots to gain heightened jumps, allowing the Hunter to reach otherwise inaccessible areas and skip large portions of the puzzle. Additionally, pairing this with Wraithmail armor for invisibility or Witherhoard for crowd control can further simplify the encounter. This approach minimizes the need for precise platforming or extensive combat, making it an efficient way for Hunters to complete the challenge and claim their rewards.

Characteristics Values
Challenge Name Week 5 Ascendant Challenge
Class Hunter
Cheese Strategy Use Shadowshot (Tether) to stun and damage the boss from a safe distance.
Recommended Subclass Nightstalker (for Shadowshot)
Key Exotic Oathkeeper (allows dual wielding of bows for increased damage)
Weapon Recommendation Trinity Ghoul (for chain lightning damage) or any high-damage bow
Location Dreaming City, Ascendant Challenge portal (varies weekly)
Boss Mor'geth, the Devourer of Dreams
Difficulty High (requires precision and timing)
Team Size Solo or 3-player fireteam
Key Mechanics Avoid boss teleportation, dodge slam attacks, and stun with Shadowshot.
Ascendant Buff Required Yes (use Tincture of Queensfoil to see the portal)
Time Limit None, but efficiency is key
Rewards Powerful gear, Ascendant Shards, and progress toward triumphs
Additional Tips Stay mobile, use cover, and prioritize stunning the boss during attacks.

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In the Ascendant Challenge of Week 5, the initial platforming section can be a tedious and time-consuming obstacle, especially when coupled with the threat of early enemies. However, Hunter players, particularly those utilizing the Arcstrider subclass, have a unique advantage: the Blink ability. By strategically employing Blink, you can execute the Arcstrider Skip, bypassing the initial platforming challenges and gaining a significant time advantage while avoiding unnecessary combat.

To perform the Arcstrider Skip, begin by positioning yourself at the starting area of the challenge. Equip your Hunter with the Arcstrider subclass and ensure that Blink is active. As you approach the first platforming section, time your Blink ability to launch yourself forward, aiming for the elevated ledge that would typically require a series of precise jumps. With proper execution, you’ll bypass the entire platforming sequence, landing directly on the higher ground. This not only saves valuable time but also eliminates the risk of falling or engaging with the early enemies that patrol the area.

The key to mastering this skip lies in precision and practice. Blink’s trajectory can be tricky to control, so experiment with different angles and timing to find the optimal launch point. Keep in mind that Blink has a short cooldown, so plan your attempt carefully to avoid wasting the ability. Additionally, be mindful of your surroundings; while the skip avoids early enemies, improper execution could leave you vulnerable to nearby threats. Practice in a low-stakes environment, such as a patrol zone, to refine your technique before attempting it in the Ascendant Challenge.

Comparatively, other subclasses or classes lack this specific advantage, making the Arcstrider Skip a uniquely efficient strategy for Hunters. While Titans and Warlocks may rely on more traditional methods or class-specific abilities, Blink’s versatility and range give Arcstriders a distinct edge in this scenario. This skip not only showcases the subclass’s mobility but also highlights the importance of leveraging class-specific tools to optimize challenge completion.

In conclusion, the Arcstrider Skip is a game-changing technique for Hunters tackling Week 5’s Ascendant Challenge. By harnessing Blink’s potential, players can save time, avoid early enemies, and gain a competitive edge. With practice and precision, this skip becomes a reliable tool in your arsenal, transforming a potentially frustrating segment into a seamless transition. Whether you’re racing against the clock or aiming for flawless completion, mastering this technique will elevate your Ascendant Challenge experience.

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Spectral Blades Rush: Stealth past mobs with Spectral Blades, focusing on speed and invisibility

Spectral Blades, a Hunter's arcstrider super, becomes the linchpin of this Ascendant Challenge cheese. Its combination of speed, invisibility, and damage makes it ideal for bypassing enemy mobs with minimal engagement. The key lies in leveraging its short cooldown and mobility to maintain constant invisibility, effectively turning you into a ghost darting through the challenge.

"How to cheese week 5 ascendant challenge with hunter" searches reveal a recurring theme: Spectral Blades' utility in bypassing enemy encounters. This strategy hinges on maximizing its invisibility duration and minimizing direct combat.

Execution is straightforward but requires precision. Activate Spectral Blades just before entering a mob-heavy area. Sprint through, prioritizing speed over damage. The invisibility grants you a brief window to bypass enemies undetected. Time your dashes strategically, using them to close gaps and maintain momentum. Remember, Spectral Blades' invisibility resets upon dealing damage, so avoid unnecessary attacks.

Focus on reaching the objective, not eliminating every enemy. If detected, prioritize escaping and reactivating Spectral Blades rather than engaging in combat.

This strategy shines in areas with dense enemy clusters or tight corridors. The challenge's layout often funnels players through choke points, making Spectral Blades' speed and invisibility invaluable. However, be mindful of patrolling enemies and those with wide detection ranges. A well-timed dodge or a quick detour can prevent unwanted aggro.

While effective, this cheese relies heavily on Spectral Blades' cooldown. Consider using mods or abilities that reduce super cooldown time, ensuring you have it available when needed. Additionally, pair this strategy with other Hunter abilities like Smoke Bomb for additional crowd control or invisibility in a pinch. Remember, the goal is to bypass, not brawl. With practice and a bit of finesse, the Spectral Blades Rush can transform a daunting Ascendant Challenge into a swift and stealthy victory.

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Tether Strat: Use Shadowshot to group and weaken enemies for quick, efficient clears

The Tether Strat is a game-changer for Hunters tackling the Week 5 Ascendant Challenge. By leveraging the Shadowshot ability, you can manipulate enemy positioning and weaken their defenses, turning a chaotic encounter into a controlled, efficient clear. This strategy hinges on the Hunter’s unique toolkit, specifically the Tether, which not only groups enemies but also debuffs them, making them more susceptible to damage. Here’s how to execute it effectively.

Step 1: Positioning and Timing

Begin by scouting the challenge area to identify enemy spawn points and high-traffic zones. Position yourself at a vantage point where you can see multiple enemies without exposing yourself to immediate danger. Wait for the right moment—ideally when enemies are clustered together or moving in predictable patterns. Time your Shadowshot so the Tether anchors in the center of the group, maximizing the number of enemies affected.

Step 2: Debuff and Damage

Once the Tether is active, enemies within its radius will be grouped and debuffed, taking 30% more damage from all sources. Switch to your highest-damage weapon or super ability immediately. If using a super like Blade Barrage or Celestial Nighthawk, activate it while the Tether is still active for devastating results. For weapon-based clears, prioritize high-impact specials like slug shotguns or sniper rifles to capitalize on the debuff.

Step 3: Repeat and Adapt

After clearing the first wave, reposition and repeat the process for subsequent enemy groups. Be mindful of Tether’s cooldown (20 seconds without mods) and plan your engagements accordingly. If enemies are spread out, use mobility skills like Dodge to reposition quickly or pair with a teammate running a coordinating class ability, such as a Titan’s Bubble for added defense.

Cautions and Tips

Avoid using Tether in open areas where enemies can easily scatter. Instead, funnel them into tight spaces or choke points for maximum grouping. Equip mods like Quickfall or Marksman’s Dodge to reduce Shadowshot’s cooldown, increasing your efficiency. If playing solo, prioritize survival—use Tether defensively to weaken enemies before engaging in close combat.

The Tether Strat transforms the Hunter into a crowd-control powerhouse, streamlining the Ascendant Challenge with precision and speed. By mastering positioning, timing, and weapon synergy, you’ll turn overwhelming encounters into methodical, manageable clears. This strategy not only saves time but also reduces the risk of wipes, making it an essential tool for any Hunter’s arsenal.

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Knife Trick: Throw knives to trigger enemy aggro, pulling them away from key areas

In the Ascendant Challenge, every second counts, and crowd control is key. The Knife Trick leverages the Hunter's throwing knives to manipulate enemy behavior, creating strategic openings. By tossing knives at distant targets, you can draw aggro from key areas, such as choke points or objectives, allowing you to navigate the challenge with reduced resistance. This technique is particularly effective in Week 5, where enemy density and placement can make progression cumbersome.

To execute the Knife Trick, equip a throwing knife ability like Gambler’s Dodge or Young Ahamkara’s Spine. Position yourself at a safe distance from the area you want to clear, ensuring you’re out of immediate enemy range. Throw your knife at a single target, ideally one that’s isolated or has a clear line of sight. The knife’s impact will trigger aggro, causing the targeted enemy and nearby allies to charge toward you. Use this distraction to slip past defended areas or complete objectives without interference.

While the Knife Trick is powerful, it’s not without risk. Enemies drawn by the knife will pursue you relentlessly, so be prepared to disengage or eliminate them quickly. Avoid using this tactic in tight spaces or near environmental hazards, as cornered enemies can still deal significant damage. Additionally, time your throws carefully—overusing the ability can deplete your knife charges, leaving you vulnerable. Pair this strategy with mobility skills like Dodge or Stompees for a swift escape.

Compared to other crowd control methods, the Knife Trick stands out for its precision and low cooldown. Unlike grenades or supers, throwing knives allow you to target specific enemies without alerting the entire area. This makes it ideal for bypassing high-priority threats, such as Wizards or Captains, that could otherwise stall your progress. Combine it with invisibility perks like Vanish in Smoke for maximum stealth efficiency.

In practice, the Knife Trick is a game-changer for solo players or fireteams lacking coordinated crowd control. For instance, in Week 5’s Ascendant Challenge, use it to clear the initial wave of Taken Thrall near the first plate, granting uninterrupted access to the next phase. Pair it with a bow or long-range weapon to pick off stragglers without breaking stealth. Master this technique, and you’ll transform the challenge from a chaotic scramble into a calculated dance through the Dreaming City’s dangers.

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Safe Spot: Find elevated positions to snipe or dodge, minimizing direct combat exposure

Elevated positions are your best friend in the Week 5 Ascendant Challenge, especially when playing as a Hunter. The challenge often throws waves of enemies at you, making direct combat a risky and time-consuming affair. By finding a safe spot above the fray, you can turn the tide in your favor. Look for platforms, ledges, or any structure that gives you a height advantage. These positions allow you to snipe enemies from a distance, picking them off one by one without exposing yourself to their attacks. For instance, near the challenge’s spawn point, there’s a raised platform to the left that offers a clear line of sight to the enemy spawn points, making it an ideal sniping location.

The key to mastering this strategy lies in patience and precision. Equip a high-damage sniper rifle or a long-range special weapon like a bow or scout rifle. Focus on taking out high-threat targets first, such as Wizards or Knights, before moving on to weaker enemies. Use your Hunter’s dodge ability to reload or reposition quickly if needed. Remember, the goal is to minimize direct combat exposure, so avoid getting greedy and pulling too many enemies at once. If you’re playing solo, this method can significantly reduce the challenge’s difficulty, allowing you to complete it efficiently.

Comparing this approach to ground-level combat highlights its effectiveness. Engaging enemies at their level often leads to getting overwhelmed, especially during the challenge’s peak enemy waves. Elevated positions, however, create a natural barrier, forcing enemies to come to you while limiting their attack angles. This not only reduces incoming damage but also gives you more control over the engagement. For example, enemies like Thrall or Shanks will struggle to reach you, while larger foes like Ogres become easier to dodge and pick off from a distance.

To maximize this strategy, pair it with Hunter-specific abilities and perks. The Omnioculus chest piece, for instance, grants additional dodge charges when using the Nightstalker subclass, allowing for more frequent reloads and escapes. Alternatively, the Way of the Wraith subclass’s Vanishing Step ability provides invisibility after dodging, further reducing your exposure. Combine these with high-mobility gear, such as Stomp-Eater boots, to quickly reach and reposition between safe spots. With practice, this method becomes second nature, turning a daunting challenge into a manageable task.

In conclusion, finding elevated positions in the Week 5 Ascendant Challenge is a game-changer for Hunters. It transforms a chaotic combat scenario into a controlled, strategic engagement. By prioritizing sniping, leveraging Hunter abilities, and maintaining patience, you can minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Whether you’re solo or in a fireteam, this approach ensures you stay alive and complete the challenge with ease. So next time you face this task, look up—your safe spot is waiting.

Frequently asked questions

The Ascendant Challenge is a weekly rotating activity in Destiny 2's Dreaming City, available during the curse week rotation. It requires players to complete a specific task in the Ascendant Realm, often involving platforming, combat, or puzzle-solving.

Hunters can use the "Spectral Blades" Super ability to cheese Week 5 Ascendant Challenge. By activating Spectral Blades, you become invisible and gain increased movement speed, allowing you to bypass most enemies and obstacles.

The Nightstalker subclass is recommended for this cheese strategy, as it provides access to Spectral Blades and additional perks like "Keen Scout" for increased mobility and "Stylish Execution" for faster Super regeneration.

While not mandatory, using mods like "Ashes to Assets" (for Super energy on grenade kills) and "Distribution" (for ability energy on Super casts) can help sustain your Spectral Blades ability. Additionally, equipping a sword with the "Heavy Guard" perk can provide damage resistance while blocking.

This cheese strategy can be effectively used in solo play, as Spectral Blades allows you to avoid most enemies and complete the challenge quickly. However, having a fireteam can still be beneficial for added support and faster completion times.

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